This is definitely an episode of Get Off My Lawn, just to be up front about it.
Prior to 2005 I lived in the St. Louis area. There were GC and Mars stores at the time, and I'd occasionally drop in to fondle the goodies before my oldest was born in early 2003. Probably before my wife was pregnant and the money dried up. Let's say 2001-ish. I recall both chains having clean, well stocked stores, staffed by people who seemed to know a little about their product. And I purchase from one of them, at the very least, a Mexican Telecaster and an American Standard Jazz.
Anywho, I left STL in 2005 and moved to PA. I've lived in the Harrisburg area since about 2007. Today, I noticed they had a TC Electronic BG250-115 in stock at the Harrisburg GC. I've always wanted to try one, and yes, I could have called to store to verify it was there, but I saw this as an opportunity to check out the store, too. So I hopped in the truck and headed over there.
First, the store was not clean. And the overhead music was too loud, which made all the customers play even louder. Apparently, everyone at GC except me is a fan of Korn, whether guitar or bass. Two laps later, and having looked at every single amp in the joint, I couldn't find the one I was after. I wandered up to the counter and one gentleman wasn't with anyone. He stared at me for a moment while I stared back. I decided to go first. "I'm looking for this amp that's on the website, but I can't find it in the store."
"Did you look around on the floor?"
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"TC Electronic BG250."
He punched something into his computer and scrunched up his face. Then he moved to a different computer. "What was it again?" I told him. "And you didn't see it out there?" He came out from behind the counter and proceeded to look at every amp in the store. Fair enough. If I have a super power, it's the ability to look right at something and not see it. Then he said, "Maybe it's in the back." He disappeared for a few minutes.
He came back out without the amp and again made a lap around the store looking at all the amps. Then he disappeared into the back again. I hung out by the counter. A few minutes later he reappeared, still without an amp, said nothing to me, and positioned himself behind the counter. Then he answered the phone. And then rang someone up. Lather, rinse, repeat. No "Sorry bud, couldn't find it." Nothing. At that point I left. I doubt I'll go back.
On a tangent, you cannot purchase a P-bass in the Harrisburg area. Cannot. Besides today's GC debacle, I've been to a handful of other shops around here. The closest I've found are a couple PJ instruments, including an SB-2 Tribute at the local G&L dealer. I find this odd, but if the customers I encountered in GC are the prevailing type, I guess I can understand why they had countless Ibanez 5-strings and not really much else to speak of.
Anyway, </grumpy old man rant>
Prior to 2005 I lived in the St. Louis area. There were GC and Mars stores at the time, and I'd occasionally drop in to fondle the goodies before my oldest was born in early 2003. Probably before my wife was pregnant and the money dried up. Let's say 2001-ish. I recall both chains having clean, well stocked stores, staffed by people who seemed to know a little about their product. And I purchase from one of them, at the very least, a Mexican Telecaster and an American Standard Jazz.
Anywho, I left STL in 2005 and moved to PA. I've lived in the Harrisburg area since about 2007. Today, I noticed they had a TC Electronic BG250-115 in stock at the Harrisburg GC. I've always wanted to try one, and yes, I could have called to store to verify it was there, but I saw this as an opportunity to check out the store, too. So I hopped in the truck and headed over there.
First, the store was not clean. And the overhead music was too loud, which made all the customers play even louder. Apparently, everyone at GC except me is a fan of Korn, whether guitar or bass. Two laps later, and having looked at every single amp in the joint, I couldn't find the one I was after. I wandered up to the counter and one gentleman wasn't with anyone. He stared at me for a moment while I stared back. I decided to go first. "I'm looking for this amp that's on the website, but I can't find it in the store."
"Did you look around on the floor?"
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"TC Electronic BG250."
He punched something into his computer and scrunched up his face. Then he moved to a different computer. "What was it again?" I told him. "And you didn't see it out there?" He came out from behind the counter and proceeded to look at every amp in the store. Fair enough. If I have a super power, it's the ability to look right at something and not see it. Then he said, "Maybe it's in the back." He disappeared for a few minutes.
He came back out without the amp and again made a lap around the store looking at all the amps. Then he disappeared into the back again. I hung out by the counter. A few minutes later he reappeared, still without an amp, said nothing to me, and positioned himself behind the counter. Then he answered the phone. And then rang someone up. Lather, rinse, repeat. No "Sorry bud, couldn't find it." Nothing. At that point I left. I doubt I'll go back.
On a tangent, you cannot purchase a P-bass in the Harrisburg area. Cannot. Besides today's GC debacle, I've been to a handful of other shops around here. The closest I've found are a couple PJ instruments, including an SB-2 Tribute at the local G&L dealer. I find this odd, but if the customers I encountered in GC are the prevailing type, I guess I can understand why they had countless Ibanez 5-strings and not really much else to speak of.
Anyway, </grumpy old man rant>
