• 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 Commentary

#21
Easiest way to find the salesperson who'll care is this: Look for the angry one. He's the one who has been hassled by the management to do cold calls while the one or two "top" salespeople get to do all the business. He's the guy that probably also knows the most in the store, but you'll never get to talk to him because as soon as you approach, he will be whisked away and replaced by one of the "top" people.

Mom and Pop is the way of the future.
 
#23
There are only 2 reasons to go to Guitar Center

#1)Many people go there to try out an instrument or amp, then walk out and buy it online

#2)Many people want to play what they are going to buy, but want the lowest possible retail price

So, how the heck is GC going to offer the best price AND the most knowledgeable salespeople AND the best customer service?

Really now. It is a WalMart that sells musical instruments - what do some of you think you're going to get? Red Carpet treatment? These kids don't even earn enough to move out of Mom and Dad's house.

It is what it is - I'm just surprised that so many of "us" expect more

Get Real!

(IMHO)
 
#24
Johnny Alien said:
I know people like this attention but it was the thing that turned me off of them. They relentlessly cold called me once they got my info.
Click to expand...

Same here, I don't like those emails and phone calls that are just there to try to sell me more gear. It all started when I purchased a $5 strap from Sweetwater.

Now, people like complain about GC but at the same time the economics of scale makes it possible for GC to sell Fenders and Squiers for really low prices as well as import in big scale amps from small companies in Europe such as MarkBass.... Speak about irony.
 
#27
The only reason I dislike GC is because their basses on the wall all need restrung and set up so I would actually want to buy from them. Outside of that, the GC in Columbus, Ohio is pretty good. I only had one issue with a guy who thought that just because I wanted to try something but wouldn't have the until money next week, he would treat me like a high school kid. I haven't seen that guy in over a year so we're cool again. I still won't buy anything off their walls though. They have great deals on music stands and pedals though.
 
#28
The only reasons I go to GC are to kill time, look for clearances and browse what I call "The Boulevard of Broken Dreams", AKA the used bass/guitar sections. I can recall the days when GC used to carry high end stuff like Alembics, Rics, even Modulus or Zon. Those were the daze, although not long ago...
 
#29
The GC in Allen Park, Mi. May possibly be worse. The majority of thier basses are are in a tiny corner room, mounted so high up that it's difficult for even the sales people to get them down.

My ladt trip there I encountered difficulty getting help, because the kids that work there were too busy playing with each other. After I finally did manage to get them to get a bass down and tried it out, I walked out of the closet o' basses to see one of the kids just repeatedly smacking an acoustic bass (I think he was trying to pretend to play "slap"). Telling the other kids "this is how you play bass". Words cannot express how upset that made me.

I also needed some parts for a vintage guitar I was working on. So I was directed to thier "guitar tech", a girl with a huge chip on her shoulder about being a girl who plays guitar. You know the type, apparently it's everyone's fault one person didn't take her seriously once. Anyway talking to her it was clear that she had very little knowledge about brands, players, parts, and would just get more dismissive with me each time I corrected her on stuff I would expect someone who calls themself a "guitar tech" to know.

And there was not one fretless in the whole store. Not that there was much diversity in thier selection outside of that.

I complained on thier website, and did get a call from the store manager who rattled off degree in music, 30 years managing music stores, ect. She did seem ok tho. But she claimed they don't hire kids, and the tech is oh so great, ect. Just a lot of stuff that was hard to believe.

Unfortunately they've run every Mom and Pop around me out of buisness.
 
#30
I have to say while I have never been to a GC, recently I called the one in Louisville Ky. To see if they had a few items on hand, because most of what I was interested the web site said they didnt, and it finally seemed easier to just call the store.

After talking to the guy on the phone and discussing what all I was looking for includein a few pedals. He took my name and what I was interested in and told me when I come in call ahead of time and he'll get a set up together for me to test the pedals and amps I was looking for. I was highly pleased with that. Only problem is thats a 2 hour drive dont know if I'll make it or not.

The one thing that bugs me about mom and pop shops where I live. Is when they say, "no but I can order it", and then want $50 more than what it cost me online including shipping and sales tax. I understand that is in part due to my area and the fact NO ONE can stock nice stuff without it sitting for a good while. Recently we had a guy who is a G&L dealer, but last few times Ive been in his store he hasnt stocked any sticking to lower cost Peavey items and lesser known cheap guitars. There is one guy though who played guitar and recorded for some country artists in Nashville for years before moving back to the area due to a illness in his family. That constantly tells me anything I order from him he'll sell cheaper than I can get it online. To me basically he's saying I'll take a loss to keep in the store. But not even that is working for him cos he is about to move his studio to his house and run everything out of there cos he cant afford the bills. There is another guy in town who I like as a person and tried to help out in the past, but his price points are the MSRP. I once asked about a set of 12 string acoustic strings he wanted $12.99, could get the same strings from MF for $3.99.

I guess my point is even when the service is bad, sometimes you at least have to feel fortunate enough to have a place where you can at least test drive what your wanting. Even if you have to go somewhere else or online to buy. Heck I can barely find bass string within a 20 minute drive from my house and when I do its normaly a cheap set, priced high. I have to drive 45 minutes to get my GHS Boomer and they want with sales tax a little over $30 a set.
 
#32
The Guitar Center in Langhorne/Oxford Valley is TERRIBLE. TERRRRRRRIBLE.

It's unbelievably bad.

Seriously.

Their bass room is the worst, and all the creepy critter bass-players like to crawl out of the woodwork and hang out there some nights. They have no selection or fresh stock, ever. It's a sad, scary, weird place. The only time I go there is if I need to run a return.

Drive a little further and go to the Plymouth Meeting GC. Ask for Antonio, he's an assistant manager and he's the man. Helps me every time I'm there and never fails to give me discounts (both promotional and managerial) when I buy a bit of stuff. A nice guy to BS with, and he tries to keep the stock fresh. I like him and his store a zillion times more than the Oxford Valley store.

The Wilmington store is nothing to write home about, although the tax-free shopping is nice. I can't ever get good service there.

My co-worker has a home studio and deals with Sweetwater. Says that their service is second-to-none. They assign you a sales assistant (as you've seen) and, from what my co-worker has said, he or she will guide you in the right path. They'll talk to you over the phone for as long as you want and genuinely want you to find what you need. Seems pretty good!
 
#34
SolarMan said:
"a $5 strap from Sweetwater"

shipped for FREE -

Sweetwater is sweet - just ask them not to call you, Done.

So, lousy customer service sucks, and Sweetwater calling to make sure your are happy with your $5 strap sucks too.

I just don't get it.
Click to expand...

Well, after the fourth call I would think they would know I'm happy. And anyone with a brain knows why they are calling.
 
#35
Fletz said:
Irony of ironies:

I just got an email from Sweetwater:

Pete,

This is *** ****** with Sweetwater Sound. I just tried calling and was unable to get a hold of you. I was wanting to introduce myself as your direct point of contact here at Sweetwater. If there is anything that I can be doing for you, please don't hesitate to call. I have a background in studio recording, anything from voice overs, to demos, to major label albums. It would be great to hear from you and learn about your involvement with music. If you can reply to this message to let me know that you got it, I would appreciate it.

Maybe they are the answer ...
Click to expand...

I've dealt with Sweetwater for years, both for my personal needs, and for my school. Every communication with them has been positive and professional. If you leave an email or phone message, you get a prompt return. If they don't know an answer to your question, they find out right away.

With major purchases, they also follow up to make sure everything is to your satisfaction.
 
#36
capnsandwich said:
This piqued my interest. Just curious as to how you get tax-free shopping at the Wilmington store. Is it a church thing or does Wilmington have some law that exempts them from charging sales tax?
Click to expand...

Delaware doesn't charge sales tax. It's a haven for people in the southern/western Philadelphia Metro area when there's a big purchase coming up, and Wilmington (and its surrounding areas) cater to the clientele. Although one is supposed to report things such as TVs bought out-of-state during tax return season!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back