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GC is unbelievable
- Thread starter xring
- Start date
In life there are 3 types of people, Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened! If there is something I want I go for it! If I need help I'm not to proud to ask! it's when I ask and get no response i'll walk out! The world does not stop for me or my couple of hundred dollars. If I walk in someplace and intend on buying a bass my main focus is the bass and not the people in the store, I rather be home with my new bass than worrying about some dude making passes at girls by the door! 
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
I am totally with silent method on this one. I'll add that to get annoyed to the point of NOT buying something you really want is IMO beyond silly. You're hurting them? Who's hurting more? All kinds of assumptions and judgements are being made and you don't have a clue what the salespeople are doing or thinking. MANY people (including myself) respect NOT being bothered by sales people and while some of you believe that a retail person MUST approach customers, I believe that's something you must have been taught early on that's just plain wrong. I've gone into many places where I was approached, and then felt uncomfortable and left because I really didn't feel like being bothered at all. I don't thnk there's any hard and fast rules here. If sales people see that you know they're there, then I think it's completely reasonable (even nice of them) to give you the respect of leaving you alone and thinking that if you want assistance, you'll ask for it. My guess is 99% of people WILL ask for help if it's wanted.
I work in a store where customer service is pushed. I'm a stocker and I usually don't have to interact with customers, but when I'm on the floor and the store is open we're encouraged to at least say good morning or hello to the customers. I don't have to ask them if they need help but by saying hello they know that if they need help I'm there. If you go into guitar center and make eye contact with a salesperson he/she should at least greet you and not stand there leaving an awkward moment.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
pyrohr said:In life there are 3 types of people, Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened! If there is something I want I go for it! If I need help I'm not to proud to ask! it's when I ask and get no response i'll walk out! The world does not stop for me or my couple of hundred dollars. If I walk in someplace and intend on buying a bass my main focus is the bass and not the people in the store, I rather be home with my new bass than worrying about some dude making passes at girls by the door!
+1. Where's the focus here? Who the hell cares that if the guy is trying to pick up the girl. GOOD FOR HIM!
never have and never willJugghaid said:
I have worked retail in a staple business depot and canadian tire. neither of which have anything to do with bass or music.
but that isnt the point what i am trying to say is that people when in a store to purches an item will let me know if they have questions or not. if they are walking around I will approach with a nice hello if we make eye contact and no hint of needing help is made i move on.
I can see why you would be upset by this, but personally I HATE when salespeople bother me. Even (or especially) when I'm going to be buying something. It just adds more pressure. And most of the time at GC, I know more about what I'm looking at than the sales guy does.
this is guitar center. usually they are like birds of prey flying over half dead bodies.silent method said:
last two times i went in gc, i had 4 people come up to me.
I work in a book and music store where I need to ask every customer what I can help them with, If I don't I won't make my sales goals. Im suprised that the guys at GC didn't swarm on you and try to help. Don't those guys get commission?
You left because you weren't satisfied with the way you were treated by the sales staff. So did xring. Why is one wrong and the other right? The street goes both ways.Joe Nerve said:
Mike
to the original poster,
you even said that you will go back later to buy the item, so what was the point in trying to raise a stink about it. obviously it wasn't that big of a thing as to make you take your $$$ elsewhere.
you even said that you will go back later to buy the item, so what was the point in trying to raise a stink about it. obviously it wasn't that big of a thing as to make you take your $$$ elsewhere.
I sympathize with xring. At least 48th street Sam Ash in nyc, the sales people are incredibly rude. I stood between two employees who were having a conversation and tried to get their attention, but to no avail. If youre spending $1,000+ on something, you should get attention. He was 100% right in walking out after 10 minutes. 10 minutes is an awfully long time to be ignored. Good guitar stores sell you products, you shouldnt ever have to sell yourself something. Perhaps a better way to get attention would be to actually try something out. If then no one talks to you, then you definitely have the right to walk out. Screw the guy hitting on the girl, your money isnt paying for his sex life, its for your bass.
The customer was the only one not getting paid to be there, he had absolutely no obligation to do anything but show up. The employees however are getting paid to make that customer happy. All that they had to do was say hello, good morning, hows it going, anything to acknowledge the fact that he was in the store in which they make their living. It is preposterous to blame bad customer service on the customer, sorry guys, it's not his job!
I usually tell the salespeople that I'm looking around and that if I need any help, I'll let them know...and I do. 
No offence... but... you need to lighten up. Is it that hard to ask for help? My local music store (L&M music) is kinda like that. They will not ask if you need help, untill they see you pick up a bass or guitar or whatever. Usually, when I see a bass I can't reach, ot can reach, but do not want to risk damaging it I ask for help, and they are always helpful, and patient with me. But, most of the time, they will not ask me if I need help. And I like that, cause most of the time, Im taking down prices and talking to myself while I browse.
- Oct 7, 2000
- 18,619
- 38,939
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
mike_v_s said:
Big difference. Sometimes I AM just browsing, like in a clothes store - or, even a music store for that matter. Not really wanting anything. If I'm not in the mood to have a salesperson hanging over me I might just leave. If I didn't leave, I might see something that catches my eye and buy it. It's happened. Bought a DEAN and a couple of other basses by simply being left along. If on the other hand I AM out to get something, I'm NOT going to leave regardless of the attention I'm getting or not getting. If a salesperson approaches me and I don't want help, I'll tell them I'm just looking. See the difference. I don't have any problem communicating my wants and needs. My point was that approaching everyone who enters the store could possibly hurt, not help sales.
There have been plenty of times tht I have been in a store and tried to get someones attention, but they were too busy chatting with their buddy or coworker to pay any attention. I've heard lot of people make this same accusation about GC in the past.silent method said:
I'm the type of person that will just walk up to them and say "Hey, I'd like to spend some money, you work on commission? How about you stop talking to him and help me out." But I'm a type A personality prick.
Some people aren't that forceful.
In my opinion, the clowns at GC were at fault. Customer service implies that the customer is greeted and asked if they need any assistance. If the answer is no, they can act accordingly, but if they say yes, get prepared to help the gentleman. That's all.
Standing somewhere for a while looking at a single bass generally means they they're interested. While on the other hand, I roam around the entire store, scouting out things I'd like to try, and someone notices I'm roaming seemingly mindlessly asking for help. IMO a CS employee should always ask if help is needed, no matter what.
Standing somewhere for a while looking at a single bass generally means they they're interested. While on the other hand, I roam around the entire store, scouting out things I'd like to try, and someone notices I'm roaming seemingly mindlessly asking for help. IMO a CS employee should always ask if help is needed, no matter what.
Joe Nerve said:
In your case, maybe. Xring is a different case. In my case, I'll walk out if not treated the way I want. Good price or not. My point (although not spelled out) was that each customer wants to be treated a certain way. You don't like to be appraoched. Xring does. Each of you should seek the kind of establishment that caters to this. In an argument about customer preferences, yours are no more correct that xring's.
Mike
I've been in a sales position before. I was told to do this, and it makes total sense to me: 1. Walk to the customer in an indirect fashion. (don't storm after them) 2. Say good morning or what ever, as you casually and slowly pass. This opens the door for any question the customer may have and acknowledges their presence. 3. After a short time, approach and see if there is anything they need. It's very low pressure for the customer and let's them know they are there.
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