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Does guitar center just not care?

#82
GC really isn’t that bad. Any guitar you want to buy you have to specifically request if they have it in a closed box in the store, and if not you just request they order you a brand new one from their distribution center.
Seems like a lot of people don’t realize you can ask this at no extra charge at all.
Any guitar I ever bought from them was always brand new out of the plastic and cardboard box.

For me at least, GC is a place I go to sometimes just to see if the guitar I’m interested in looks nice in person :roflmao:
Never buy floor models.
And take advantage of their 45 day return policy. :thumbsup:
 
#83
Not a GC fan, but not a basher either. Once in awhile you can find a jewel or sometimes a good deal. It's only about 25 minutes away from me so I stop in on occasion. Picked up my #1 bass there about a year and a half ago. I did not expect to buy one when I walked in. The action was high but I knew the bass would play great as soon as I got it home, changed the strings and did a setup. I was right. I love that bass!
 
#84
Gearhead17 said:
When I worked at GC back in 2009, I specifically brought this issue up to my manager. I stated, "If the basses are not periodically setup with new strings and at least made playable, how do you expect to move any inventory?" He agreed with me, but did nothing about it.
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This "manager" didn't even tell you that you were free to set them up yourself if you found it necessary?
 
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#85
AxtoOx said:
That's an endorsement?
Just my Opinion, but they got screwed by the internet.
People would try It out there and buy it no tax online.
That's when I noticed that attitude change.
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They got screwed by the internet just like they steamrolled countless decades-old brick and mortar/mom’n’pop stores, plus they are the internet...their own site, Musician’s Friend, Woodwind/Brass, Music 123, and so on.
 
#90
Everyone jumps on the Guitar Center bashing bandwagon. In my neck of the woods (CT) it’s the independent music stores that suck horribly. My closest Guitar Center blows any independent place out of the water as far as selection (especially used stuff) and knowledge and most importantly, attitude. If you want used beginner junk and ******* attitude go to a mom and pop joint.
I NEVER expect to buy a new or used guitar/bass and expect it to be “set up”. It’s foolish to do so. I ALWAYS set up every purchase to my liking. To me it’s part of the fun. I do all my own electronics, setups etc. I don’t pay anyone for that.
 
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#91
If I saw something I liked at GC I wouldn’t hesitate to buy it. As for setting it up there’s no way I let them do it.I know exactly how I like my action so I learned how to do it myself. It’s really not hard and it only requires a small investment for tools. There’s enough good vids on YouTube to learn from. Now if I see something I like I know how to evaluate it. I’ve seen some really good instruments ruined by poor setup work.
 
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#92
picker1974 said:
Everyone jumps on the Guitar Center bashing bandwagon. In my neck of the woods (CT) it’s the independent music stores that suck horribly. My closest Guitar Center blows any independent place out of the water as far as selection (especially used stuff) and knowledge and most importantly, attitude. If you want used beginner junk and ******* attitude go to a mom and pop joint.
I NEVER expect to buy a new or used guitar/bass and expect it to be “set up”. It’s foolish to do so. I ALWAYS set up every purchase to my liking. To me it’s part of the fun. I do all my own electronics, setups etc. I don’t pay anyone for that.
Click to expand...
 
#93
About 15 years ago I went to my local mom & pop to buy some strings. Hanging on the wall was a beautiful alembic epic bass (see pic) with a sign ‘this week’s special’. I couldn’t get to the bank fast enough. I’ve had that bass ever since. Best $1000 I ever spent.
 
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#94
I figure it's a couple things:
- there's probably only a few folks in the store that even know how to set up a bass. What manager wants to monopolize the time of those few, instead of having them do it as a service for which they can charge?
-most folks coming in are tire kickers, and aren't going to buy. Plus, if someone can look at a bass and know it's not setup properly, they probably also know how quickly that can be done if they just express interest in a purchase.
-bass players get very little love, comparatively.
Lastly, GC is still rocking 30 year old photos of Eric clapton, stevie ray, van halen, and that John 5 dude. The whole thing is tired.
 
#95
flojob said:
- there's probably only a few folks in the store that even know how to set up a bass. What manager wants to monopolize the time of those few, instead of having them do it as a service for which they can charge?
Click to expand...
Any store I've bought an instrument from would offer a free set up (not that I need, or would want, them to do so).
 
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#99
I’ve seen plenty of snapped truss rods because some hack in a music store didn’t know what he was doing. If I couldn’t set it up myself there are plenty of reputable people who I wouldn’t mind paying to do the job right.
 
#100
I’ve set up plenty of basses and I can tell you that to do it right takes a lot of time and patience. It’s not rocket science but if you don’t know what you’re doing you can have a big mess on your hands.
 

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