Another Guitar Center gripe thread...

[electracoyote]

GC on-line is wildly hit and miss.

Assuming you mean "used on-line," I fully agree. Indeed, "used on-line" is hit-and-miss just about everywhere IME.

I buy used stuff from GC on-line once in awhile, but only because I live about 10 minutes from a GC store. If it's junk, I'm driving it to my local store and getting a remedy on the spot. Otherwise, I'd be very careful ordering used from GC.

I also call the remote GC store about used gear and talk to a staff member. I have him open it up, plug it in, test it out, look it over with a magnifying glass, and have him help me decide if it's a keeper or if I'm going to end up returning it.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Assuming you mean "used on-line," I fully agree. Indeed, "used on-line" is hit-and-miss just about everywhere IME.

I buy used stuff from GC on-line once in awhile, but only because I live about 10 minutes from a GC store. If it's junk, I'm driving it to my local store and getting a remedy on the spot. Otherwise, I'd be very careful ordering used from GC.

I also call the remote GC store about used gear and talk to a staff member. I have him open it up, plug it in, test it out, look it over with a magnifying glass, and have him help me decide if it's a keeper or if I'm going to end up returning it.

Being able to inspect the piece you buy before taking delivery is key; The ability to return directly is also important. Blindly ordering from GC's used inventory with no direct recourse is just... risky.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

They shipped me a faulty G-K amp, and when I drove to their store to return it, I just mentioned that I wanted shipping expenses returned as well, since it was faulty.
It was not a problem. They returned the full amount to me w/o even checking if the amp really was faulty.

BTW, it was back on their sales floor the very next day, and is still with GC, but they transferred it to another store, where it's now listed as faulty with a price tag of $269 & "AS IS" on the listing.
I know it's the same amp, because I had a look at it while I was down there recently.

BTW, it wasn't listed as faulty at first, and I noticed it disappeared from my regular GC store.
Surprise surprise when it turned up in the other store with the correct condition listed, LOL!
I doubt it got sold, because it was really horrible sounding on both channels.

 

[Adamixoye]

Assuming you mean "used on-line," I fully agree. Indeed, "used on-line" is hit-and-miss just about everywhere IME.

I buy used stuff from GC on-line once in awhile, but only because I live about 10 minutes from a GC store. If it's junk, I'm driving it to my local store and getting a remedy on the spot. Otherwise, I'd be very careful ordering used from GC.

I also call the remote GC store about used gear and talk to a staff member. I have him open it up, plug it in, test it out, look it over with a magnifying glass, and have him help me decide if it's a keeper or if I'm going to end up returning it.

While my experience with GC Used has been more positive as I detailed above, this is all good advice. Leverage your local GC if applicable/possible, and call the selling store to talk to someone about the item. I usually have done the latter.

Contrary to Harry, considering the return policy, I would not consider it "risky." "Risky" implies a high probability of significant loss. I would describe GC as having a very low probability of significant loss and a moderate probability of slight inconvenience (like this case).

 

[electracoyote]

Being able to inspect the piece you buy before taking delivery is key; The ability to return directly is also important. Blindly ordering from GC's used inventory with no direct recourse is just... risky.

They'll take it back, it's their policy (30 days last time I checked). But I don't even like the prospect of having to re-package it and stand in line at the post office, so I'll drive it to the store first. If OP doesn't have a store nearby, at least he can ship it back, maybe at GC's expense.

FWIW, 30 day returns on used gear is pretty generous. I feel reasonably certain that, after you factor in what it takes to deal in used gear, GC is just breaking even on the whole used department and it's more a courtesy to customers than anything.

 

[Salicete]

I love gripe threads where people use the Internet, and in particular forums to basically slam someone, or something, or some entity for something they did or didn't do, especially when the problem could have likely been quickly resoled to everyone’s satisfaction with a phone call or visit in-person.


This society isn’t “connected;” it is almost completely disconnected.

 

[gustobassman]

I once bought a "new" boss pedal at my GC. After trying one out, the guy grabs me a "new" one as I requested. I opened the "new" pedal at home only to find initials carved into it and bent/broken pots. So even in store and off the shelf a "new" pedal my not be what it seems.

They will make good. Things slip but hit-or-miss is the name of the game with GC online.

 

[electracoyote]

While my experience with GC Used has been more positive as I detailed above, this is all good advice. Leverage your local GC if applicable/possible, and call the selling store to talk to someone about the item. I usually have done the latter.

Contrary to Harry, considering the return policy, I would not consider it "risky." "Risky" implies a high probability of significant loss. I would describe GC as having a very low probability of significant loss and a moderate probability of slight inconvenience (like this case).

Agreed. All that being said, I have had nothing but good experiences buying used from GC with about the same level of satisfaction as anywhere else.

There is much that can be done on the buyer's end to ensure a happy transaction. These threads usually don't entertain the buyer's obligation to be proactive.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I once bought a "new" boss pedal at my GC. After trying one out, the guy grabs me a "new" one as I requested. I opened the "new" pedal at home only to find initials carved into it and bent/broken pots. So even in store and off the shelf a "new" pedal my not be what it seems.

They will make good. Things slip but hit-or-miss is the name of the game with GC online.

That is true with almost any big box retailer. They take returns at the store, and don't always do a good check before sending it back to be put back on the shelf.

 

[two fingers]

That guy at the Cadillac dealership I bought my used Chevy from forgot to check the tuner knob on my truck. I got home and it didn't work. All of GM sucks and I will never buy from them again.

That's pretty much what you just said OP.

THE GUY at THAT GC forgot to check the switch. That has nothing to do with all of GC.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...they just didn't bother checking it, or they did and literally just plugged it in and shrugged "it powers up".

This is very likely.

...truth in advertising...

I think that went out the window with the internet, it seems.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

How long does it take them to start shipping an item bought online?

I've been waiting several days and they still haven't started shipping my bass.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

So recently I bought a Line 6 Liqua flange off their site, it was listed as decent condition with no details. Well when it finally showed up I excitedly tried it out only to notice the footswitch is busted!

This is my first real annoyance with GC aside from them generally overpricing everything they can...

Unless I am very happy with their response I will probably avoid them in the future now when I can.

I once bought a used Ampeg B-15 from them. It was DOA when I had it shipped to me. I returned it to my local store with no problem. If you buy something that's supposed to work and it doesn't, just return it. Not worth the hassle. You'll be able to find another.

 

[njones89]

GC is okay, but their online system sucks. I called once to ask about a drum machine listing. I was happy with what they had to say, and then a week later, they called me up to tell me the item was incorrectly listed, and they would either charge me a new higher price or they would refund me everything including shipping. It was an inconvenience, but they refunded me. Online shopping in general used to be a lot better than it is today. What happened?

 

[okcrum]

How long does it take them to start shipping an item bought online?

I've been waiting several days and they still haven't started shipping my bass.

Conversely, the item may arrive today, regardless of what the internet says...

This post is wasted here. It would have been better used to start a new GC bashing thread.

 

[1954bassman]

The OP would have spent less time returning the item than it has taken to post several negative posts here. GC has a 45 day return policy on used gear, no questions asked and full refund on shipping if item is defective. I do not know of a better return policy on used gear out there. Not only that, but if you want, they offer service plans on most of their used gear as well.

I bought two used amp heads about two weeks apart from them this year that ended up having minor issues with them. Both were shipped directly to my house. I ended up returning both of them on the same day, got a full refund of price, tax, and shipping. All I was out was a trip to the store, which I don't mind taking every so often anyway.

 

[ThuzzleFump]

I love gripe threads where people use the Internet, and in particular forums to basically slam someone, or something, or some entity for something they did or didn't do, especially when the problem could have likely been quickly resoled to everyone’s satisfaction with a phone call or visit in-person.


This society isn’t “connected;” it is almost completely disconnected.

At the moment, you are my favorite hippie.

 

[Plutonium244]

I HATE Guitar Center.... but I LOVE Musician's Friend...

 

[Adamixoye]

I HATE Guitar Center.... but I LOVE Musician's Friend...

I'm presuming by your phrasing that you appreciate the irony.

 

[Plutonium244]

I'm presuming by your phrasing that you appreciate the irony.

And I am presuming from your phrasing that you are perhaps too young and therefore not familiar with this portion of the Star Trek episode "Mudd's Women"?

Old guys like me and 1954Bassman remember that stuff.

So, Spock confuses these two robot women who are identical by telling one that he loves her but telling the other that he hates her. The second one says "but we are identical, why do you love her and hate me?' Spock says "that is exactly why I hate you, and love her."

Needless to say, robots in the future are prone to smoke coming out of their ears and shutting down when confronted with self-contradictory logic.