I just want to know if they hire anyone who doesn't dress like a rock star?
When are they going to roll out the makeup and hair care section??
When are they going to roll out the makeup and hair care section??
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Another Guitar Center Fiasco
- Thread starter sandmangeck
- Start date
Maybe it's unrelated, maybe it's not...
I used to work retail at Gamestop, and I learned a lot there about how stores work. It's more about management than anything. I had a GREAT manager. In fact I had about 3. Regardless of the DM (what JH is) we had good stores and bad one. We'd send people who treated us bad to the store managed by the girl who treated people bad. I also have a GREAT publix within under 10 miles of 3 other TERRIBLE ones.
The point being that I have two GC's within 40 minutes. No one at the one knows douche about bass. At the other I have a fulltime bassist that knows what he likes but is very hands off. You'll find out so much more in 5 minutes here.
I like to find one guy who seems straight up. I tell him i'm not there to buy anything and see if he doesn't walk off. That's step one. Then i take him to something I know and talk about it. 6 months ago that was a microkorg. One dude says "yeah, i love that thing, check this out, you'll love it too." we play with the ocsilators and delay and discuss it. like two musicians (or tinkerers with machines).
I just hope they hire people who are genuinely interested in music. not out to make commissions.
I used to work retail at Gamestop, and I learned a lot there about how stores work. It's more about management than anything. I had a GREAT manager. In fact I had about 3. Regardless of the DM (what JH is) we had good stores and bad one. We'd send people who treated us bad to the store managed by the girl who treated people bad. I also have a GREAT publix within under 10 miles of 3 other TERRIBLE ones.
The point being that I have two GC's within 40 minutes. No one at the one knows douche about bass. At the other I have a fulltime bassist that knows what he likes but is very hands off. You'll find out so much more in 5 minutes here.
I like to find one guy who seems straight up. I tell him i'm not there to buy anything and see if he doesn't walk off. That's step one. Then i take him to something I know and talk about it. 6 months ago that was a microkorg. One dude says "yeah, i love that thing, check this out, you'll love it too." we play with the ocsilators and delay and discuss it. like two musicians (or tinkerers with machines).
I just hope they hire people who are genuinely interested in music. not out to make commissions.
I think you just have to go into GC well informed on what the price should be on the item that you are looking at. The one by me had a "new" Sterling that was so beat up it was pathetic and it personally offended me that they were asking full "new" price for it that I actually said something, not that that did anything I just felt that I had to call them out on it, what was even worse was the used car salesman retort I got afterwards. The bass was there forever too, I wonder what ever became of it.......however, I will say that I have dealt with some very helpful people in the same store otherwise, so I think that GC is kinda like a box of chocolates......
I like going into a GC during lunch hour in my business attire which prompts a salesperson to assume I'm a dad shopping for junior's birthday present. "Do YOU play?"
They often don't expect my answer "I've been a bass player since 1968, and professionally since 1976. Do you have something interesting I might want to try?" That puts some pressure on them to think if there's anything in the store that doesn't weigh 11 pounds or need a setup. It's also telling if they pull down the highest priced axe vs. asking what type of music or even how many strings I need.
The Sam Ash stores in my area have been improving their bass and amp selections and you can usually talk to the staff.
They often don't expect my answer "I've been a bass player since 1968, and professionally since 1976. Do you have something interesting I might want to try?" That puts some pressure on them to think if there's anything in the store that doesn't weigh 11 pounds or need a setup. It's also telling if they pull down the highest priced axe vs. asking what type of music or even how many strings I need.
The Sam Ash stores in my area have been improving their bass and amp selections and you can usually talk to the staff.
I really hope this is a joke, or at least a wild exaggeration.
The best way to complain is calmly and rationally. As soon as you raise your hands, you're outside the law and they have every right to remove you from the store.
And as for waiting for the guy outside the store.... What did you think was going to happen?
I might of exaggerated but I was just having a bad day I guess good thing nothing happen...
I hate Guitar Center too. You can't walk in the place without getting hounded by multiple salesman looking for a commission. They never know what they're talking about either. I have to tell them about the product they're trying to sell me. I vowed never to buy anything from GC again a couple years ago when a USA standard Fender Jazz they sold me twisted up like a snake for no reason. They gave it to their tech to fix and it came back with the frets completely out of whack. The neck was straight but it was not playable. It took me 2 months to get them to listen to me. I think the manager just got tired of me making a scene in front of customers so he offered store credit. After 2 days of shopping through everything in the store I decided they didn't have anything I wanted, so I demanded my money back and eventually got it. I practically had to threaten them though. Guitar Center used to be a good store. They used to have vintage used gear, now all they have is crap. I used to go in there just to see the 7,000 dollar telefunken U47 they had. Now you can't tell the difference between GC and the music dept at Best Buy. They are a Joke.
I think it's asking a little much to ask a big store like that to give you something "interesting" to play. It's up to you to look and see something interesting. Interesting varies to so many people...you honestly sound sort of arrogant. Sorry.
so after starting this thread, i poked my head back into guitar center after 3 pages of sympathy. guess what? THE BASS IS STILL THE SAME PRICE. they wouldn't come down again. weak. weak. weak. i stopped by sam ash, tried out the phil jones suitcase, and a spector rebop, with a eden setup. and guess what? the sales people knew what they were talking about.......im thru with guitar center and will spread the word.
ps.
i dont work for sam ash.
ps.
i dont work for sam ash.
Heres my take on guitar center. Yeah they do cost a lot, but they also take care of you. A local guy took advantage of me when I was a younger player, and didnt know better. I basically paid $40 for a setup and the guy totally botched the job. When I bought my Dean at GH they told me to I told em what happend and asked how much itd be to fix my bass. The guy said that if I asked for him, since he sold me the guitar he would fix the bass completely free of charge, and he did it. He did a good job too. They have also replaced an amp for me, no questions asked. I broke my new line 6 on the way home cause someone ran a redlight and it was snowing so I had to slam the breaks, and the amp slammed into the back of the van and broke, I brought it back and they replaced quickley with no questions asked.
screw GC. I have bought every one of my guitars, every one of my amps, every one of my cabinets (and sold a bunch of them back too) on Ebay. Haven't had a bad experience yet and I've picked up some great deals.
Sam Ash is no better.
like I said above - screw 'em. Go to Ebay. I haven't had a bad experience yet with musical equipment.
quite the opposite when I go into the local music store.
If I ask for a price say for eg.
Me:"whats the price on this Ashdown Rig"
Them: "the cab is $799 and the head is $899, but for you I'd say about $1400 all up"
Me: "Thats pretty good"
I knew the price, but i was just checking to see what deal I could get
I guess it helps when your brother used to work their, and between the two of us have spent well over $5000
If I ask for a price say for eg.
Me:"whats the price on this Ashdown Rig"
Them: "the cab is $799 and the head is $899, but for you I'd say about $1400 all up"
Me: "Thats pretty good"
I knew the price, but i was just checking to see what deal I could get
I guess it helps when your brother used to work their, and between the two of us have spent well over $5000
I don't doubt that you can get good deals on ebay but I just can't by a bass without first playing it.
He sounds arrogant.
Talk to me in 40 years. I'm 58 and look it...and I play about 60 gigs a year and have for years. The last thing I need is some 18 year-old who couldn't find his ass with a road map talking uninformed nonsense to me at a music store when I stop in to buy something. You need to know what you're selling and you need to find out the customer's needs before showing them something. That is true in any sales job.
I have to admit that since the manager change at the Medford GC, it has definately been a better place to shop. The prices are still fairly in line, and they will deal with you. The other day my son and I were wandering around looking at stuff, and I found a Dean (guitar) that the finish was peeling of the back. Started kidding the manager about having crap on the wall, and he asked my son (who is the guitar player) how much money he had on him. Ended up getting it for $49.00. After I did a setup on it, it turned out to be a pretty decent axe.
Corey
Corey
I am just wondering if all of the unfortunate dealings with GC, are because of nationwide company policy or just lousy local staff. I mean there are some that are great from what I've heard from some of you guys, while some are downright horrible. Just wondering if it's the local employees and managers or just a nationwide policy. As there some small music stores that quite honestly aren't even worth your time, as the pull the same stunts as GC.
the bass department in the west palm one BLOWS. the one in hallandale is nice, more amps, variety. lot more basses(tho not big varierty). but i swear last few times i went there to try stuff out I was not approached by anyone. i was only person looking at basses, i actually wanted to try something out that wasnt hooked up and couldn't find anyone there to help me so i just left. Reason we went was cause my buddy was buying a behringer mixer that he called ahead to see if they had instock, so we drive from coral srpings to hallandale and do they have it? nope!
So, if I went into GC and while no one was looking stuck a knife in an ampeg CL or VR...they would not discount it ...maybe charge me more for it being used?
My favorite GC quote "We have had it (A tube amp set at 4 ohms going into an 8 ohm cab) like that for almost a year, it hasn't hurt it." followed 10 min later by "It hasn't been on the floor long, you are probably the first to play it."
So... www.sweetwater.com here I come.
My favorite GC quote "We have had it (A tube amp set at 4 ohms going into an 8 ohm cab) like that for almost a year, it hasn't hurt it." followed 10 min later by "It hasn't been on the floor long, you are probably the first to play it."
So... www.sweetwater.com here I come.
