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Guitar Center closes very first store ever

thebassguy86

thebassguy86

Guest
Mar 31, 2013
161
78
40
Terre Haute, Indiana
#1
So, Guitar Center closed its very first store ever today in Terre Haute, IN. I worked three and a half years at this location. The news came fast - they told us at 8a.m. that today would be our last day of business.

They explained that it's due to the landlords not compromising with executives about rent. Our lease was up in January and they've been in delegation since then. Obviously nothing came of it, so they closed our doors with no sign of relocation in the foreseeable future.
 
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#4
lixisoft said:
I wonder if this is the beginning of things to come. Pretty low class move, 8 hours notice, I'm sure the managers had no clue this was coming................yeah right :spit:
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You'd be surprised. Although I don't work for GC, I do work in management, and it amazes me how many last minute changes will be put into place by the one or two people in charge at the top with no warning or conversation with middle and lower management beforehand.
 
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#5
That's sad:

upload_2016-3-22_22-36-48.png


Their online inventory has already been taken offline as well. I would suggest they've known about it for a while & just chose not to spill the beans.
 
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#13
jmattbassplaya said:
You'd be surprised. Although I don't work for GC, I do work in management, and it amazes me how many last minute changes will be put into place by the one or two people in charge at the top with no warning or conversation with middle and lower management beforehand.
Click to expand...
Yes, this is a typically DELIBERATE move by mgmt. The short notice prevents theft, disgruntled employees, employee retaliations (property destruction, etc.).
Very common approach... and yes, MANY stores close (OR MOVE) because they cannot negotiate a new lease with the landlords. They often impose ridiculous increases to renew..happens all the time with fast-food locations.
1st I've heard for a GC tho'.
 
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#14
s0c9 said:
Yes, this is a typically DELIBERATE move by mgmt. The short notice prevents theft, disgruntled employees, employee retaliations (property destruction, etc.).
Very common approach... and yes, MANY stores close (OR MOVE) because they cannot negotiate a new lease with the landlords. They often impose ridiculous increases to renew..happens all the time with fast-food locations.
1st I've heard for a GC tho'.
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Exactly. Especially in a situation like there, where there is a big inventory of lots of stuff easily and often fenced. SOP. I am sure if they could have worked it out, they would have.
 
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#15
I have a little trouble believing that they've never closed down a store for rent or not-profitable reasons before, but I suppose it is possible.
It seems like in the last few years the rent on commercial spaces have pushed a lot of businesses out. I've seen locations that do good business and are part of large chains get squeezed out of location because of the rent.

As to the treatment of these GC employees: that's retail. You're treated like crap 24/7 and reminded that you are disposable, right up until you are. The store released the employees to avoid getting ripped off by angry employees. As far as severance, that's just too funny. They will get their vacation time, any remaining hours, a pat on the head, and told "don't let the door hit you on the way out."
If you want to know why any store anywhere has surly employees, the answer is always the same. They are treated terribly and are only there because they have to be so they can pay the rent or eat. They'd as soon stab you in the temple with a pen than help you because it doesn't matter to them, because they don't matter to the company or the customer. It is a lose-lose. Plus, you get minimum wage while you're getting DPed.
And one Holiday season in retail is enough to make anyone hate Christmas forever.
Retail truly ruined my already shaky faith in humanity.
 
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#16
socialleper said:
I have a little trouble believing that they've never closed down a store for rent or not-profitable reasons before, but I suppose it is possible.
It seems like in the last few years the rent on commercial spaces have pushed a lot of businesses out. I've seen locations that do good business and are part of large chains get squeezed out of location because of the rent.

As to the treatment of these GC employees: that's retail. You're treated like crap 24/7 and reminded that you are disposable, right up until you are. The store released the employees to avoid getting ripped off by angry employees. As far as severance, that's just too funny. They will get their vacation time, any remaining hours, a pat on the head, and told "don't let the door hit you on the way out."
If you want to know why any store anywhere has surly employees, the answer is always the same. They are treated terribly and are only there because they have to be so they can pay the rent or eat. They'd as soon stab you in the temple with a pen than help you because it doesn't matter to them, because they don't matter to the company or the customer. It is a lose-lose. Plus, you get minimum wage while you're getting DPed.
And one Holiday season in retail is enough to make anyone hate Christmas forever.
Retail truly ruined my already shaky faith in humanity.
Click to expand...

I worked under the GC umbrella for a year. They really weren't that bad a company to work for. The benefits are awesome, the pay was decent, and the work is pretty easy. Retail jobs have their negatives, but at least it's not food service.
 
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#18
Sorry about the job loss OP. Something very similar happened to me.

I was working in a local video game / entertainment shop in my hometown, I worked there for 3 years and worked my way from a part time employee to essentially the district manager of three stores. I got a call Friday night at about 9:30 PM from my boss informing me that Saturday was my last day, and all non essential personnel's as well. Part of it I'm sure was to prevent theft (it didn't do very good job) but the guy running it was genuinely a POS (which also didn't help the rampant stealing). Later on he didn't send any of us our W-2's for that year so we all reported him.

I sort of understand why they do it, but it still sucks. Again, sorry about the bad news OP. Best of luck.
 
#19
Bass'd on a true story said:
I worked under the GC umbrella for a year. They really weren't that bad a company to work for. The benefits are awesome, the pay was decent, and the work is pretty easy. Retail jobs have their negatives, but at least it's not food service.
Click to expand...
I worked for them for about 2 years, and it was OK. At the time they were still heavily commission vs draw, so if you weren't at least a middling salesman that could clear your draw, you were going to starve to death. The people were OK, but the holidays were BRUTAL.
As far as treatment, they were on the better side, and ironically they are one of the few companies I've worked for that still exists. Wherehouse Music, Crown Books, CompUSA, Learning Tree University, and PC Club all went out of business.
 
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#20
jmattbassplaya said:
You'd be surprised. Although I don't work for GC, I do work in management, and it amazes me how many last minute changes will be put into place by the one or two people in charge at the top with no warning or conversation with middle and lower management beforehand.
Click to expand...
I agree. I was a manager. I had been on medical leave since December 18 2015. Was scheduled to go back to work March 21 2016. I showed up for work and was given a termination notice. No warning at all. And I had been in communication with the office all along. Checking in at least once a week.
 

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