I did a bunch of research on compressors, and my local GC had the one I wanted, the Markbass Compressore (Which I now own and love). The pedal comes with its own adapter, but the employee I was dealing with grabbed some random 12 v adapter to accompany it. The pedal starts smoking and a burning smell enters the air. He panics and unplugs it, then goes to get another of the same pedal with the adapter. So I'm standing there and testing the pedal out. He starts asking me questions about compressors.... Are you kidding me? I gave him a half hour lesson on what threshold and ratio mean. GC needs to take a long hard look at its help.
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Guitar Center discrace
- Thread starter Pat The Bassist
- Start date
The thing about GC is this...they're not going to hire people who actually know about the gear that they sell. They want people who they can mold to be pure salesmen.
Because they will make more money selling the Line6 to the aspiring musician than the Mesa and say "Oh yeah..you can sound just as good as the Mesa with this...and is great for beginners." When in actuality...the knowledgable musican employee will say "yeah its good for a beginner rig, but if you want the Mesa sound, then you'd have to save for the Mesa"--which would lead to no sale and loss of commission for the employee.
but this is just my observation.
Because they will make more money selling the Line6 to the aspiring musician than the Mesa and say "Oh yeah..you can sound just as good as the Mesa with this...and is great for beginners." When in actuality...the knowledgable musican employee will say "yeah its good for a beginner rig, but if you want the Mesa sound, then you'd have to save for the Mesa"--which would lead to no sale and loss of commission for the employee.
but this is just my observation.
Hopkins
Commercial User
I've had the opposite experience at the GC's in my area. They have a pretty knowledgeable staff. I'm starting to think that people go into Guitar Center to get a reason to start another GC bashing thread on Talkbass.com.
+1 rimtism. They`re glorified gophers and cashiers, mostly. It`s really no different a lot of places you go. A lot of Napa employees don`t know how to work on cars, alot of Home Depot ppl don`t know anything about lumber, and alot of Walmart ppl don`t know anything about, well, anything lol. Rimtism: you ever used a L6 head ? Have to disagree with you - they are not "just for beginners". Do they sound like Mesas ? Or Ampegs? Etc? No. They sound like L6`s, and there is nothing wrong with that. They sound great. But I digress 
Edit: Rimtism - hello fellow `Hammer ! Your welcome to come try my L6 rig out anytime !
Edit: Rimtism - hello fellow `Hammer ! Your welcome to come try my L6 rig out anytime !
+1 rimtism. They`re glorified gophers and cashiers, mostly. It`s really no different a lot of places you go. A lot of Napa employees don`t know how to work on cars, alot of Home Depot ppl don`t know anything about lumber, and alot of Walmart ppl don`t know anything about, well, anything lol. Rimtism: you ever used a L6 head ? Have to disagree with you - they are not "just for beginners". Do they sound like Mesas ? Or Ampegs? Etc? No. They sound like L6`s, and there is nothing wrong with that. They sound great. But I digress
My intention wasn't to bash the Line6, it was just what I came up with for an example...but I was hoping we would all just see the point.
you know how many people probably come in during an average day at guitar centre and ask about compressors?
you. and no one else.
I know what you meant - no offense taken; wasn`t trying to be snarky. I just think L6 gear is unfairly stigmatized, and I love showing people just how great it is.
actually that observation is very astute......successful sales managers will tell you that more often than not,not knowing about a product is better......
I refuse to make any purchases (Basses, Amps, Etc) from GC. Due to my experience.
I had a Schector Stiletto Extreme 4 on layaway and I was paying it off little by little. Well once I had the Guitar paid Off. the Sale person was bringing it up from from the back and even across the Store I saw that my brand new Bass was covered in Finger prints, dust and the likes. The Sales person then just hands it to me like it was a lump of dead fish. I was very disappointed. I thought their customer service was severely lacking. My opinion was that before even handing me the guitar, they should have cleaned it up so it looked nice. Heck I am paying good coin for it.
A little background on myself as to understand my belief. I work in a Harley Shop. Every bike that rolls out of our building is washed or at the very least wiped down to remove finger prints. Be it a brand new sale bike or a customer's bike that is in for an simple oil change. The only time we don't clean up the bikes is if the customer specifically request that we don't.
I had have people tell me that it wasn't the same. That people expect more from paying 15,000+ dollars for a motorcycle over a 400+ dollars on a Bass. I don't see any difference. Good Customer service is exactly that. Good customer service. Whether i am buying a $150 POS bass or a $32,000 CVO Harley. You need to take care of your customers.
Cause if you don't. Someone else will.
I had a Schector Stiletto Extreme 4 on layaway and I was paying it off little by little. Well once I had the Guitar paid Off. the Sale person was bringing it up from from the back and even across the Store I saw that my brand new Bass was covered in Finger prints, dust and the likes. The Sales person then just hands it to me like it was a lump of dead fish. I was very disappointed. I thought their customer service was severely lacking. My opinion was that before even handing me the guitar, they should have cleaned it up so it looked nice. Heck I am paying good coin for it.
A little background on myself as to understand my belief. I work in a Harley Shop. Every bike that rolls out of our building is washed or at the very least wiped down to remove finger prints. Be it a brand new sale bike or a customer's bike that is in for an simple oil change. The only time we don't clean up the bikes is if the customer specifically request that we don't.
I had have people tell me that it wasn't the same. That people expect more from paying 15,000+ dollars for a motorcycle over a 400+ dollars on a Bass. I don't see any difference. Good Customer service is exactly that. Good customer service. Whether i am buying a $150 POS bass or a $32,000 CVO Harley. You need to take care of your customers.
Cause if you don't. Someone else will.
+1
People have to understand that there are those that still want service with a smile. The last time I went to GC, which it was about 4 years since going before this time, the GC rep was super nice. All I bought was a Speakeon adapter. But, it takes a few more good experiences to right the one bad one.
Unfortunately, the people that work in the Harley shop are probably proficient bike mechanics and detail-oriented people that know the value of the bike in question. GC is the polar opposite. It's a big box store that employs "musicians"....musicians aren't really the most detail-oriented, strong-work-ethic-people in the world. I've had two friends work at GC (both quit). They went to work there for three reasons: employee discount, hang out with other "musicians", and have the knowledge that the doors close at 8:00 on Saturday night for the "gigging musicians".
