Guitar Center does me good. (sarcasm)

[Barrblues]

After multiple communication with guitar center customer dis-service I left this last communication. I don't expect to hear back.

To whom it may concern,

I would like to thank Nate (last unknown) Assistant Manger of the South Austin store. He took his time and made the phone calls and found a "New" in the box amp for me. Thank you Nate.

Guitar Center (GC)

I will no longer do business with you until you can demonstrate some quality control in the shipping of purchases.

1. I ordered a new bass amp.
2. I was sent from a GC store a broken b/floor stock item with no original packaging( manual/ warranty info etc.)
3. You asked me to drive 43 miles to return item.
4 Nate helped me.
5. I then had to drive 43 miles home, an 86mile round trip.
6. I finally received item in new condition today

Too much work to purchase. GC lost my dollars in any future transaction.

Sincerely,
Scott Barr
Bastrop TX

 

[Joe Nerve]

I think you might have left something out. I'm not getting what the problem was. You got shipped a damaged amp, and they exchanged it. Seems to me they made the offer for you to do the exchange yourself as opposed to going through shipping, which I'm certain they would have done had it been requested. A return authorization isn't a big deal to get if something is damaged.

Yes, they should have sent you a new amp if that's what you ordered, but mistakes sometimes happen. Did I miss something else?

 

[5port]

It really does Pxxx you off doesnt it? I really think that the company has grown too big to actually deliver customer service. I myself ordered a bass speaker cabinet from them only to receive it with footprints on the side. Electrically it was fine so I washed off the prints and kept it. Companies like Sweetwater just blow them away in mail order customer service and rightfully so. Sorry to hear about your encounter.

 

[Waterpilot]

I'm kinda with Joe on this. My guess is that they do tons of volume so mistakes do happen... I live about the same distance to a GC as OP but it's not GC fault I live that far out and don't expect them to drive out and pick anything up.

I understand why it would be frustrating and disappointing but they'd have to do much worse then that for them (Or any business) so lose my business.

 

[baba]

Joe/Waterpilot..it wasn't just damaged.


He was sent a broken floor model amp with no packaging, manual, warranty, etc. He ordered a NEW amp. It was a conscious decision on someone's part to send him this instead of a NEW amp. Bait and switch.

Not acceptable at all, even if it worked. Lame.

(I'm a bit raw on this topic as the same thing just happened to me with Musicians Friend. Sad truth is I'll do biz again if the price is right....)

 

[maxiegrant]

I'm kinda with Joe on this. My guess is that they do tons of volume so mistakes do happen...

Well, this wasn't a mistake. It sounds like an effort to fob crap off onto someone who might or might not complain. More a calculated risk.

GC is a big box, and I have this awful feeling from seeing how big-boxes operate that we the musicians are going to lose a lot of our better, smaller, more intimate, and most importantly, quality-conscious and customer-responsive local stores to the GC juggernaut. I do not enjoy the prospect of buying musical instruments from the local equivalent of ****ing Wal-Mart.

I bought a large quantity of cables from GC not too long ago. They were to support a new sound system my drummer picked up (at the same place, as it happens). The sound system is OK, but the cables were total crap. I'm getting the same kind of vibe from them I used to get from Radio Shack: you can buy certain things with confidence from there, everything else is guaranteed to be garbage.

So, I have this year specifically asked not to be given GC gift cards for my birthday (something I routinely got from my distant parents) so that I no longer have to patronize this cancer on the local music community. I have four really nice stores in the Louisville area I can take my business to. None of them would be so dumb as to try to fob off a used piece of junk when I paid new.

 

[Picktastic]

Joe/Waterpilot..it wasn't just damaged.


He was sent a broken floor model amp with no packaging, manual, warranty, etc. He ordered a NEW amp. It was a conscious decision on someone's part to send him this instead of a NEW amp. Bait and switch.

Not acceptable at all, even if it worked. Lame.

Yeah that's pretty lame. Seems like more of a douchebag employee problem that an overall GC problem though since they did make it right eventually. All businesses that get really big have problems and hire douchebags. Guitar Center seems to hire more than their fair share though.

 

[baba]

Well, this wasn't a mistake. It sounds like an effort to fob crap off onto someone who might or might not complain. More a calculated risk.

This is exactly right. Musicians Friend has a consistent record of doing this with merchandise. I'm sure this was the case with Guitar Center as well. You don't just send someone an out of package amp by accident.

 

[Waterpilot]

Well, this wasn't a mistake. It sounds like an effort to fob crap off onto someone who might or might not complain. More a calculated risk.

This is exactly right. Musicians Friend has a consistent record of doing this with merchandise. I'm sure this was the case with Guitar Center as well. You don't just send someone an out of package amp by accident.

None of us know that for sure. All we have are assuptions. Besides, they made it right.

The biggest item I have ever bought is a Pedaltrain 1 pedal board and case for $99 at GC so I'm not a huge fan but big companys are bound to make mistakes.

 

[Barrblues]

Sorry not to be clear. They instructed me to go to my nearest guitar center to return amp. Would not send shipping label and UPS to pick up. I did not get to exchange. Had to wait for shipment from Plano TX. Glad I was not asked to drive to pick it up.
Yes it was a bait and switch. I am sure that they would never admit to it being policy but who knows. It could of been just the employee, but no Quality Control in shipping is crap. To make me drive almost 90 miles for transaction is crap. I order from the online store front not from individual store that sent broken junk.
Just venting. Hope that makes it clear. I appreciate all replies. Thanks guys
Long time lurker first thread.

 

[nostatic]

MR and GC are the same company. There are plenty of great online dealers (Rocket comes to mind). There also may be a mom and pop local who can provide better service. Or you can look for the lowest price and get what you pay for. Being surprised by bad service at GC is kinda like going to a bar at last call and being surprised that the cute women are gone.

 

[Barrblues]

MR and GC are the same company. There are plenty of great online dealers (Rocket comes to mind). There also may be a mom and pop local who can provide better service. Or you can look for the lowest price and get what you pay for. Being surprised by bad service at GC is kinda like going to a bar at last call and being surprised that the cute women are gone.

I guess all the details would help. It was an amp that only GC carries. Acoustic B450. Sounds great great review and stupid ass cheap. I dont spend time in GC. I live in small Texas town East of Austin. I am glad you felt compelled to call me stupid in your back handed way. I forgive you for your ignorance of the situation or my intelligence and character. No need to be hateful.

 

[waynobass]

I would like to thank Nate (last unknown) Assistant Manger of the South Austin store.

I was in a band with Nate! He's a solid citizen and a very good guitarist.

 

[Mtnman]

If you order something from GC.com that they don't have in stock at their warehouse, but they do have it in stock at one of their retail stores, they will ship it from that store. They have pretty strict guidelines about doing this (original packaging, etc...). The stores like this because they get the credit for the sale and shouldn't, but sometimes do, sell an out of box item as new.

BTW, I'm not a GC basher. Just a former employee.

 

[Barrblues]

I was in a band with Nate! He's a solid citizen and a very good guitarist.

He way very cool. Took his time calling stores that had item in stock and made sure it was NIB. I called and left a msg, at his store, to thank him. Great guy indeed. Cool you know him. If you run into him thank him for me.

 

[dspellman]

Wait, this must not be the most recent edition of this forum software.
The new version comes with Guitar Forums Plugins, which include the...

[GuitarCenterSucks].....[/GuitarCenterSucks] tags as well as the
[GibsonSucks]...[/GibsonSucks] and
[OverPricedPieceOfDreck]...[/OverPricedPieceOfDreck] tags.

 

[DanRJBrasil]

seriously, that is and absurd, you should sue them!

 

[nostatic]

I guess all the details would help. It was an amp that only GC carries. Acoustic B450. Sounds great great review and stupid ass cheap. I dont spend time in GC. I live in small Texas town East of Austin. I am glad you felt compelled to call me stupid in your back handed way. I forgive you for your ignorance of the situation or my intelligence and character. No need to be hateful.

By your own admission, one of the attractions was "stupid ass cheap." Well, most of the time in life you get what you pay for. Not hateful or calling anyone stupid. Just that I think it is fascinating to see people gripe about high prices and constantly search for "a deal," and also complain about poor service or crappy products. Turns out there is no free lunch in life...

Then again, I'm sure there aren't many music stores in/near Austin

Ian Faith: The Boston gig has been cancelled...
David St. Hubbins: What?
Ian Faith: Yeah. I wouldn't worry about it though, it's not a big college town.

 

[Renaissance]

I don't understand some of the logic around here. If I buy a cheap product at a cheap price, well that's all on me. However if I shop around and find the best price on a product - and purchase it - am I suppose to just accept whatever is thrown my way because I found the best price? Am I suppose to expect less from the same product because I found the best price? Am I suppose to expect crappy service from WalMart or Guitar Center because they offer low prices? It seems to me the problem isn't the big box stores but the customer's willingness to accept the premise that "cheaper prices means crappy service and products". IMHO more people need to stand up and say "hell no" to poor business practices. It isn't my fault the big box stores have the "stack it high, sell it cheap" business model. Making money is their problem. Being treated fairly and getting what I paid for is my problem.

 

[adivin]

To my surprise GC has never let me down yet. I always get a decent deal with one of their sales. I like being able to get stuff shipped to the store so I can pick it up at my convenience. Lately they have been giving me decent money on my trades without the hassle of selling and shipping. Fender 610 Neo on the way.