• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

guitar center and markbass--%$@#!!

Status
Not open for further replies.
#41
PB+J said:
I just got a nice email from Peter Murray explaining that the service charge should be included in the full price. I'll go back there tomorrow and try again, see what they say.


Thanks to all on this thread for your help
Click to expand...

If this is Seven Corners, I understand. After waiting months to get my LMII, I found out on here they sold it to someone who walked in off the street... knowing the only ones they had were special orders.

While it could be chalked up to their nefarious plan, it could also be just plain old fashioned ignorance of the product. The Rockville store was clueless as far as MB prices during their Black Friday sale. Like you I wasn't going to pay the erroneous price and hope to get it resolved later.
 
#43
Yes, I've often cut my nose off to spite my face before. So yeah, stick to your guns. Don't play Markbass. And don't buy an Acoustic reissue 360 when it comes out, either, no matter how much you may like it.
 
#45
JimmyM said:
Yes, I've often cut my nose off to spite my face before. So yeah, stick to your guns. Don't play Markbass. And don't buy an Acoustic reissue 360 when it comes out, either, no matter how much you may like it.
Click to expand...
I have had to live without being able to own every bass head that sounded good to me this long, adding another to the list isn not going to keep me awake at night. I like what I own enough that I'm not going to inconvenience myself to look for something else. Not for a 360, not for a great sale every Labor Day and not to buy a MarkBass head, especially if there is a better than average chance that they will screw up the sale or that I will have to walk them through it.

Sounds like you have had some great GC experiences. Me too. Then I moved to my present location and I got a bad apple. I don't view it as cutting my nose off. I view it as saving myself a metric assload of trouble. I get crappy service from subpar help. Why would I? I gave them a few chances and kept getting burned, so I won't shop there again.

Why is this a problem for you? Do you have a vested interest in others shopping at Guitar Center or buying the MarkBass head?

jp1994 said:
There are many stores in this world that sell bass equipment.
There are many manufacturers of bass gear.

Shop where you get good service.
Shop where you like.
Buy what you like.
I'll buy what I like.
Let everybody else do the same.
Click to expand...
Aaaaaaannnnnnnnnddddddd, this will get a big +1.
 
#46
He apparently has a vested interest in defending his own choices as the only reasonable or good choices, even when they are totally subjective. And he did have a thread bragging about how he was chosen to promote Markbass in a magazine ad.
 
#47
bongomania said:
He apparently has a vested interest in defending his own choices as the only reasonable or good choices, even when they are totally subjective. And he did have a thread bragging about how he was chosen to promote Markbass in a magazine ad.
Click to expand...
That last bit explains it some, I guess. I was starting to think he was a Guitar Center employee. I really don't have a huge problem with the chain, but my local one sucks and I am not driving much further.
 
#48
Boy, what a bunch of babies. I think it's silly to base your choices of gear based on where you can get it. You may not like the store but don't blame the equipment. Sorry it offends you so much.
 
#49
JimmyM said:
Sorry, but you DO get a better deal at GC usually. Why do people hate the big box stores so much? Is it just because they make money and put mom and pop stores out of business? Let me tell you, some of these mom and pop stores need to go out of business, because they have no selection and they're expensive ;)
Click to expand...

As someone who works at a small business selling and installing TVs, home theaters and home automation systems I feel like I have a better perspective of how difficult it is to compete with big box stores. Many manufacturers offer a large price break to the big box stores because they buy in bulk. This makes competition hard for two reasons; one, the can afford to sell the product cheaper and still keep a reasonable profit margin and two when they buy in bulk it often puts items on national back order for smaller companies as the large orders are filled first. How is a small business to compete with another store when they are selling it for cheaper than the other store can even buy it, if they can even get it?

Another tactic that we see used often is the bait and switch. They'll advertise something at a ridiculous price and then when a consumer comes in the salesmen are instructed to do all possible to sell the customer up to something more expensive. I understand that this is how capitalism works, but often times what they sell up to is no cheaper than what a small business sells at.

Lastly, are the service plans. A friend of mine a while back called me and told me that he saw a great deal at one of the big box stores and asked if i could match it. Unfortunately it was just not possible because the were selling at a lower price than our dealer cost. When he went to the store they wouldn't let him buy it without the service plan. Apparently it was required to get the price advertised. With that added to the price he was actually paying more than if he bought from us. Service plans are not inherently bad though, but in a situation like that, most big box stores do not have an onsite service center and usually not even in state. In our case though, we are a servicing dealer and if he were to have a problem; instead of sending his product out for service we would fix it at our service center and have it back to him in a few days.

I'm not saying that the people at the stores are bad people or shysters, just trying to shed some light on how the playing field is not exactly level, but riddled with land mines for small businesses. The only way to compete nowadays is to provide something the big box stores cannot... personal customer service. Our store has been in business for over 55 years and has outlasted many big box stores because of a loyal customer base, so it can be done; but it is by no means just a matter of equal competition.

As always, YMMV, IMHO etc. etc.
 
#51
#53
A few months ago, I had a nice-sized gift certificate for G.C. I wanted a Markbass 210 combo amp, which I wound up getting. Price was $999.00 - non-negotiable. I wound up getting some other items also while they were having their 14 months/no interest sale. After I got home and was checking my receipt, I saw that they charged me extra for the warranty (or service plan, or whatever they call it). I think it was something like $120.00 extra. I called the salesman, and he said that because I was using the 14 months same as cash, they had no choice - they HAD to charge extra for the service plan. Now that I'm reading this thread, I'm wondering if I got screwed like some of you. Maybe I'll have to send that Markbass rep an e-mail as well. I really do like the amp, but that is an awful lot of money. For that price, I'd think the service plan should be included.
 
#54
JimmyM said:
Boy, what a bunch of babies. I think it's silly to base your choices of gear based on where you can get it. You may not like the store but don't blame the equipment. Sorry it offends you so much.
Click to expand...
I never blamed the equipment. I said that the equipment wasn't worth it to me. I also said the insane deals on everything they offer every Labor Day are not worth it to me. Why is my preferred point of purchase of so much concern to you that you have resorted to name calling? I'm a baby? At the risk of exposing the irony, that's pretty immature.

You are getting pretty wired about an issue that's not really a big deal. For example: I do not care at all where you shop or why. It is one of the last things on my mind. Right next to my concern about the accuracy of my neighbor's Timex. It isn't all that hard. I just worry about things that matter and go on through my life.
 
#55
brian v2.0 said:
As someone who works at a small business selling and installing TVs, home theaters and home automation systems I feel like I have a better perspective of how difficult it is to compete with big box stores. Many manufacturers offer a large price break to the big box stores because they buy in bulk. This makes competition hard for two reasons; one, the can afford to sell the product cheaper and still keep a reasonable profit margin and two when they buy in bulk it often puts items on national back order for smaller companies as the large orders are filled first. How is a small business to compete with another store when they are selling it for cheaper than the other store can even buy it, if they can even get it?

Another tactic that we see used often is the bait and switch. They'll advertise something at a ridiculous price and then when a consumer comes in the salesmen are instructed to do all possible to sell the customer up to something more expensive. I understand that this is how capitalism works, but often times what they sell up to is no cheaper than what a small business sells at.

Lastly, are the service plans. A friend of mine a while back called me and told me that he saw a great deal at one of the big box stores and asked if i could match it. Unfortunately it was just not possible because the were selling at a lower price than our dealer cost. When he went to the store they wouldn't let him buy it without the service plan. Apparently it was required to get the price advertised. With that added to the price he was actually paying more than if he bought from us. Service plans are not inherently bad though, but in a situation like that, most big box stores do not have an onsite service center and usually not even in state. In our case though, we are a servicing dealer and if he were to have a problem; instead of sending his product out for service we would fix it at our service center and have it back to him in a few days.

I'm not saying that the people at the stores are bad people or shysters, just trying to shed some light on how the playing field is not exactly level, but riddled with land mines for small businesses. The only way to compete nowadays is to provide something the big box stores cannot... personal customer service. Our store has been in business for over 55 years and has outlasted many big box stores because of a loyal customer base, so it can be done; but it is by no means just a matter of equal competition.

As always, YMMV, IMHO etc. etc.
Click to expand...
You're absolutely right. There are land mines for small businesses that the big box stores don't even have to think about. It's been that way for centuries and nothing will ever change it in a free enterprise system.

And while I have had the bait and switch attempted on me at Best Buy, I never have at a music store. And I have been baited and switched far more at mom and pop home AV stores than I ever have at the big retailers. You have the unfortunate distinction of working in a business famous for bait and switch, and I've seen it go on at the big box store level and the small business level. Not so much at music stores. Once in a while you might get someone plugging Monster cables a little too hard, but I have usually not been hassled that way when buying at a music store. But bait and switch is another thing that's gone on for centuries and won't go away.

Any business that offers goods and services for money is only as good as the people running it. I've seen extreme competence at GC and Sam Ash and I've seen complete morons as well. Hey, seen 'em all at mom and pop stores, too! I once had a guy say he can work on my bass, then when I brought it in, he asked me what the heck these EMG pickups were. Needless to say I left with my bass. That business is now closed. It needed to be closed.

I don't know, I just think it's real easy to lump all stores in a chain as being horrible just because your local store is horrible, but it isn't like that. A store is run by people, and people are all different and all at various levels of competence. And you are free to shop at any store you want and not buy from people you don't trust. But if it's a piece of equipment I really want and it's only available at one place, I'm not going to hold it against the manufacturer. They just want their products to be sold. I'll suck it up a little and walk in with my guard up, but I'll still buy it. 10 minutes in a store with an irritating person vs. a lifetime with a great piece of equipment sounds like a good trade to me.

And it has nothing to do with Markbass, either, and it's pretty irritating to keep being called a shill when I paid the exact same price for my Markbass stuff as anyone else. Yeah, I love it. Sue me. Has nothing to do with anything. I'd say that about any equipment with an exclusive. The new Acoustic stuff is going to only be available at GC, too, and I don't like it. Never have. But if you really want a 370 reissue and there's only one place to get it, why should you let the salesman ruin your dream of owning it?

But hey, I can say that because my local GC and Sam Ash stores are pretty good with competent people who don't lie to you much. I know it can't be fun to shop at a store with people who creep you out, and all things being equal, I wouldn't shop at a store that creeped me out. But all things are not always equal and we don't have a chance in hell of changing it.
 
#56
Son of Sanford said:
I never blamed the equipment. I said that the equipment wasn't worth it to me. I also said the insane deals on everything they offer every Labor Day are not worth it to me. Why is my preferred point of purchase of so much concern to you that you have resorted to name calling? I'm a baby? At the risk of exposing the irony, that's pretty immature.

You are getting pretty wired about an issue that's not really a big deal. For example: I do not care at all where you shop or why. It is one of the last things on my mind. Right next to my concern about the accuracy of my neighbor's Timex. It isn't all that hard. I just worry about things that matter and go on through my life.
Click to expand...
You're commenting on it. Obviously you're interested a little. And I really didn't appreciate your insinuation that I'm some sort of paid shill. I paid the exact same price for my Markbass stuff that everyone else pays, and I haven't even got the t-shirt they promised me ;) If I had a deal, I'd disclose it. So yeah, I get a little "weird" about being called a shill when all I am is a fan.
 
#57
JimmyM said:
You're commenting on it. Obviously you're interested a little. And I really didn't appreciate your insinuation that I'm some sort of paid shill. I paid the exact same price for my Markbass stuff that everyone else pays, and I haven't even got the t-shirt they promised me ;) If I had a deal, I'd disclose it. So yeah, I get a little "weird" about being called a shill when all I am is a fan.
Click to expand...
All of my comments, this one included, have been an effort for you to better understand something you don't appear to understand: why I don't shop at my local GC. I am still available for questions if my reasoning is still a mystery.

I did not "insinuate" that you were a shill. I asked a question about your fervor. But since you're steering the discussion down that road, I will flat out state my opinion so there's no worry about what I mean: I think you are a "shill". I'm not offended by it in the least and you should not be either. You appear to be doing what you're supposed to. I have no doubt you love the product. I've really liked equipment in the past, too. What I didn't do was refer to anyone I talked to that had a reason for not purchasing something a "baby".
 
#58
Well then don't refer to me as a "shill" and I won't refer to you as a "baby." "Shill" offends me just as much as "baby" does you, and I resent that just because I stick up for GC and Sam Ash because I've had nothing but good experiences with them and play Markbass that I'm a shill. That's the argument of last resort.
 
#59
I am sure eveyrone agrees that not all the GCs deserve their bad press. I found the service at the Boston GC to be good whereby the assistant manager Jon Dusoe sold me a markbass CMD102.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back