Do I trust Guitar Center?

[NC_Rob]

I bought a Custom Shop Jazz Bass from them earlier this year because it was on sale (I was hoping it went on sale because it was just too expensive at the original price to attract a buyer), but when it showed up the neck was BADLY twisted. Like the worst twist I've ever seen. Luckily when I took it back the manager at my local GC was like "WHOA this is really bad!" and sent it back to the store it came from, because it would never sell. All this to say, you don't have a lot to lose buying from GC, but still, and hour and a half drive each way to deal with pickups and returns, etc., is a hard sell.

I always have it shipped to my house so I don't have to make the initial trip. If it shows up trashed then I will make the drive otherwise no reason to drive twice. No difference than buying from Reverb. And you can also call the store where you bought it and have them send you a UPS label or schedule a pickup (I've done both in the past).

 

[singlemalt]

I live in the sticks of southern Washington state. Portland, OR is about an hour away. Getting a delivery in WA means paying sales tax. Picking it up in Portland saves the tax, but is a minimum of three hours, and $15-20 in gas.

Add some more time for a Costco run.

Do the math, and it makes sense to have anything used, that might be a reject, shipped to the N Portland store and pick it up during the next Costco run. Same for anything that would incur $20 or more in sales tax. They will hold the item until I get there.

A recent order through Musicians Friend ended up going through the local GC anyway. They did OK. Not perfect, but OK. A follow up call to get the stuff like, trem bar, truss rod and intonation wrenches, manual, and any other case candy that should have come with a new guitar, never got me anything. The guitar was repackaged, but packed well enough and arrived on schedule. Was it 100% spanking brand new? Maybe. Close enough at the discounted price for my purpose.

Follow up on the missing accessories: fail. I ordered a bar from the manufacturer. I’m good.

Other orders on new gear to be picked up in store went just fine. Ordered for open box, scratch and dent deals and discounted gear went fine.

About what you’d expect from any retailer these days. If things go right, great. If they have and issue, good luck with anything besides taking it back to the store for a return.

 

[GIBrat51]

I am wanting to learn to play bass so that I can jam with friends and play at church. My wife plays violin and our Pastor plays everything and he has challnged me to learn bass so that I can travel with them and play confrences. So I am looking for a bass that I can learn on but also transition to playing live with. That being said after researching I really really like two basses. The Gretsch G2220 Junior Jet II and the Ibanez Talman TMB100. The closest reputible store near me is Guitar Center which is a little over an hour and a half away. I work full time and I am a youth pastor so since my time is limited I really dont want to drive for nothing. I would like to get one used if possible so that way if I decide that playing bass just isn't for me then I can sell it and I wont be out a lot of money. I have noticed mixed reviews when it come to Guitar Centers used inventory. Should I trust guitar center? If not what do you sugest? Also willing to take first bass recs!

To be honest? My impression is that Guitar Centers can vary wildly. The two that I dealt with in Las Vegas, NV? One was a total waste of time; the other? Other than miscellaneous accessories, and strings - which I had to go behind the counter to find, since the pimply teenager there was totally clueless about bass strings -, the only thing I ever bought from them was a very beat-up, headless Kramer Duke Bass, and a couple of guitar cases. Otherwise? Pretty much a waste of time...
On the other hand... the GC here in South Bend is pretty nice. The staff all seem knowledgeable; friendly; and, if they don't have what you want, they'll order it. The only instrument I've bought there so far was a Hofner 500/1 Icon Pro for a friend's Christmas present, but when I took it off the wall? It was pretty well set up -and basses like that can be a royal pain to set up, sometimes. I'd probably do more business with that store, but... like all GC's, they don't seem to realize that left handed players have money to spend, too. In any case?
Buying used from any store is a crap shoot to some extent. If you can, check on customer feedback regarding that store. My impression, though, is that it's probably a safe bet - especially since you can return the bass, if it's not a good one. I had to do that with the first Hofner 500/1 I bought, but it wasn't because there was anything wrong with it (long story). There was no problem, but... they aren't a 90 minute drive away, either...