I understand what you are saying about big music store staff. Some can be very accommodating and helpful, while many of them are 'way cool', and far too busy scratching their @r$$ to help you. I cop a lot of this 'attitude', not because I'm female, but because I'm in my fifties, and don't fit the 'mold' of what is cool, or I'm not in a band that is in the charts. Ask what the cash price is for that Alembic on the wall, and see their attitude change.
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Being a female bassist..
- Thread starter Radical Edward
- Start date
Don't go there anymore. Buy everything online. I use GC for emergencies only and that happens rarely.
Back in the day "A" music store in town was where the "good" players always hung. IMHO that no longer exists.
Back in the day "A" music store in town was where the "good" players always hung. IMHO that no longer exists.
I would have probably tuned it myself, thus eliminating the useless comments from the sales guy. He was probably just too lazy or too busy to do it for you so he came up with that excuse.
its a real problem i have to admit... everytime my gf or my best mate wants to go into a guitar store they always bring me because in the larger stores no one takes them sereously. my best mate wanted to try out a 77 p-bass and the reply she got was "thats a verry expencive bass guitar, theres a hair salon down the street"
it was quite funny what she said back
"i may be a girl but i can tell you 2 things for sure
1. that is a 1977 p-bass that your selling for £1000 more than its worth
2. if you ever say anything like that again ill carve the word "sexist" onto your forehead with a guitar pick"
it was quite funny what she said back
"i may be a girl but i can tell you 2 things for sure
1. that is a 1977 p-bass that your selling for £1000 more than its worth
2. if you ever say anything like that again ill carve the word "sexist" onto your forehead with a guitar pick"
I COULD tune it, but I'm not going to GC to tune their guitars for them. Is it too much to ask for them to do it?
theres a really good music shop where i live in glasgow AND its actually RUN AND OWNED by women
The key to avoiding GC is to know what you like and know where to find it online. If you find something online that may interest you, find a local store like GC, Sam Ash, etc. that will carry that particular product and try it out to see if it's for you. Then go back and get it online or somewhere else.
Also, a very good way to find out how other basses feel is to go to local GTG's and try out people's stuff. I like going to these and trying out a lot of my local bassist's gear. I hear and read so much about certain basses and amps but no one around will carry it. When I see a thread about a local GTG being organized I;ll subscribe to that thread and read through to see who's coming and who's got what to bring. The Cincinnati GTG's have been real cool and the Columbus GTG last year was a blast, especially with Tom Bowlus bringing a car load of high end gear. Get to know you local bassists and develop a relationship with them so they can trust you to let you try out their stuff.
I've never had this problem, but I'm also a guy so it could definitely make sense if that's why he was such a dick. Also, I don't know how old you are, but maybe he thinks you're really young. Still no excuse
Yeah GC isn't great, but you can still walk into their store and grab a guitar and start playing. At my local music shop, they bitch at you if you look at their stuff the wrong way. Plus, GC (at least mine) has hundreds of guitars, where local ones have a dozen or so. Even if you don't buy anything at GC, you can at least try a guitar, and if you like it, buy online. I've also never paid for anything at GC at sticker price.
That said, online is always great, but I'd rather try something before I buy, especially a guitar or bass.
I've also never had a bad experience at GC...I always talk to the same guy and he's really cool
Yeah GC isn't great, but you can still walk into their store and grab a guitar and start playing. At my local music shop, they bitch at you if you look at their stuff the wrong way. Plus, GC (at least mine) has hundreds of guitars, where local ones have a dozen or so. Even if you don't buy anything at GC, you can at least try a guitar, and if you like it, buy online. I've also never paid for anything at GC at sticker price.
That said, online is always great, but I'd rather try something before I buy, especially a guitar or bass.
I've also never had a bad experience at GC...I always talk to the same guy and he's really cool
i know its like taking your car to the shop to get fixed, paying them the money and then fixing it yourself
but if your ever in glasgow theres a great wee guitar shop called strung out guitars and its run and owned by women
Mikeala, many GC employees just aren't that well informed. I have also found that music retail has its share of predjudiced people, just like the rest of society. As a black person, I have often dealt with sales people who assumed I had no money or bad credit because I am black. Like an idiot, there were times where I actually bought stuff just to show I could to such dingbats. Before everyone says Dr. Cheese is bringing race into it again, I would like to say that I have even had black clerks make asssumptions like assuming my Ken Smith was a Burner until they saw it.
The bottom line is that if you are going to be a regular customer, establish a relationship with a few sales people, and deal with them only. If a place has no cool sales people, don't patronize it, no matter how nice their selection is. Be loyal to dealers who are courteous and give good service, and you will be happy!
The bottom line is that if you are going to be a regular customer, establish a relationship with a few sales people, and deal with them only. If a place has no cool sales people, don't patronize it, no matter how nice their selection is. Be loyal to dealers who are courteous and give good service, and you will be happy!
First, it's got to be tough-being in the bass playin' minority-known as women bass players. The GC in this area is better than some, and the manager was first in one of the largest stores in their chain. I don't have long hair or tatoos, but they give me the time of day, and I often ask very pointed questions about bass, music, and performing.
Keep on them, and let them know you want to be a customer, and want to develop your preferences 'with' their help.
Keep on them, and let them know you want to be a customer, and want to develop your preferences 'with' their help.
- Feb 10, 2006
- 379
- 14
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Mike Lull,MXR,Gruv Gear, Mono
It's a GC thing I think. Every time I go in there I want to kick somebody in the fellas. I HATE that chain...
It's not just GC, believe you me. I quit patronizing Sam Ash for the very same arrogant attitude from salesmen. I know I may not look like a rock star or smell like one but dude, I want to try out a freakin' bass!!!
When Going to GC:
Your Sex does not matter they are like that to everyone
They can never find a cord... so you will have to wait...
Learn to tune by ear, saves time.
You will have to do some more of that waiting...
The dude that was suppose to find you a cord got lost or saw a butterfly so you will have to wait...
Understand that the dude doesn't really know what he is talking about or what you are...
Inless you have a sales person following you around like a lost puppy even when you find what you want and decide to buy it you will have to do more of that waiting stuff...
I'd say that's about 75% of the time...
Your Sex does not matter they are like that to everyone
They can never find a cord... so you will have to wait...
Learn to tune by ear, saves time.
You will have to do some more of that waiting...
The dude that was suppose to find you a cord got lost or saw a butterfly so you will have to wait...
Understand that the dude doesn't really know what he is talking about or what you are...
Inless you have a sales person following you around like a lost puppy even when you find what you want and decide to buy it you will have to do more of that waiting stuff...
I'd say that's about 75% of the time...
I say nothing of the sort, but: racisim, sexism, and other hatreds remain out there, in varying degrees, and in divers flavors. If you have the mojo, fight it! Regardless, recognize it when it happens.
i havent been to GC, but Sam Ash seems pretty decent as far as customer service!!!! i just go in, try a few instrament, and leave. i dont really say to much to employees really....
I think I've been lucky enough so far at GC...the one near here is ok, one bass dude that works there is actually really friendly. He always says hi when I pop in; he remembered me from December doing research on all the different basses I can afford, then like a month later, I walk in and he remembers me.
But the other stores...meh...theyre not as clean and decent...we looked at a bunch of other GCs and not impressed.
oh forgot to mention..when i went to swap out my bass for another, the dude tuned and tested it himself with me right there to make sure it's ok. maybe the Ontario GC is a fluke, but I've never had a problem with them.
But the other stores...meh...theyre not as clean and decent...we looked at a bunch of other GCs and not impressed.
oh forgot to mention..when i went to swap out my bass for another, the dude tuned and tested it himself with me right there to make sure it's ok. maybe the Ontario GC is a fluke, but I've never had a problem with them.
When Going to GC:
Your Sex does not matter they are like that to everyone
They can never find a cord... so you will have to wait...
Learn to tune by ear, saves time.
You will have to do some more of that waiting...
The dude that was suppose to find you a cord got lost or saw a butterfly so you will have to wait...
Understand that the dude doesn't really know what he is talking about or what you are...
Inless you have a sales person following you around like a lost puppy even when you find what you want and decide to buy it you will have to do more of that waiting stuff...
I'd say that's about 75% of the time...
Well, fortunately, the Gc by where I live's staff has never taken any extended length of time to get me a cord... Hm.. Perhaps, because I'm a cute girl.. ? I guess it has it's perks. Lol. They're pretty good about getting what I ask for, or getting things down for me... and I have to ask often. ( I'm only 5.4''!) and their guitar tech seems knowledgeable and polite, but everyone else there seems to be dolts. But, unfortunately, he only works there on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Lol.
Some of the staff there are so dumb, they broke my boyfriend's Mesa Mark V amp head while he had it on layaway for a week. It's ridiculous.
- Feb 27, 2005
- 3,218
- 125
- Disclosures
- Full disclosure, I'm a certified Fender technician working in a music store that carries Fender, Yamaha, and Ibanez products among others.
What I've seen at GC is the same thing I've seen at other major retail chains...some people just want to collect a paycheck without being bothered by things like customer service.
While I'm sure some of them are bigots of one stripe or another, I don't think it's institutional at GC. Then again, I'm white, male, and in my thirties. This might lead some of them to think that I have money to spend, which may color their reactions to me.
Either way, your best bet at GC (and other chain stores) is to do as much research as possible and know more or less what you're looking for before walking in the door. Let them know all you need is a cable to try out gear, and that you'll holler if you need anything else. Minimize contact with sales staff until you need something rung up. It helps cut down on teeth-gnashing quite a bit.
Anyone starts giving you guff on how much something costs, and hedging to imply that they're not willing to get it for you, ask to talk to their manager immediately. Don't even tell them why. Don't be afraid to raise a ruckus if an employee gives you a hassle.
Now if there was only some way to get the teenager next to the Marshall combos to stop butchering Master of Puppets long enough for me to hear myself think...
While I'm sure some of them are bigots of one stripe or another, I don't think it's institutional at GC. Then again, I'm white, male, and in my thirties. This might lead some of them to think that I have money to spend, which may color their reactions to me.
Either way, your best bet at GC (and other chain stores) is to do as much research as possible and know more or less what you're looking for before walking in the door. Let them know all you need is a cable to try out gear, and that you'll holler if you need anything else. Minimize contact with sales staff until you need something rung up. It helps cut down on teeth-gnashing quite a bit.
Anyone starts giving you guff on how much something costs, and hedging to imply that they're not willing to get it for you, ask to talk to their manager immediately. Don't even tell them why. Don't be afraid to raise a ruckus if an employee gives you a hassle.
Now if there was only some way to get the teenager next to the Marshall combos to stop butchering Master of Puppets long enough for me to hear myself think...
