Guitar Center dumping Mesa or new models?

[Dave W]

I have owned (and do) more Mesa equipment than any other manufacturer. Most of it is guitar amps, but I've got my fair share of bass gear too.

None of it has been purchased at GC. I don't think they're going to be hurting over this in the least.

 

[Britbonic]

The issue had nothing to do with discounted pricing. From our press release:

Mesa/Boogie discontinues with Guitar Center

Mesa/Boogie Ltd. has elected not to renew Guitar Center as an Authorized Mesa/Boogie Dealer. The decision was made in response to a growing number of customer complaints about poor service, selection and merchandise condition throughout the 86 GC locations Mesa had authorized.

Mesa/Boogie Founder, President and Chief Designer, Randall Smith, commented, “It’s with regret -- and we certainly wish GC well, but it's important for us to provide musicians with a thorough and professional representation of our products. We work hard to exceed expectations in everything we do so it's vital that we have a focused network of dealers who share our commitment and ideals."

Thanks for jumping in and clarifying this. Good to hear from the source and so quickly.

 

[Ifriff]

I'm glad Mesa pulled the plug on GC. GC screwed me so bad. I had a horrible experience with GC and it makes total sense that a company like Mesa would not want GC selling their product. GC just flat out deOs not give a $h/+. That's not how you do business. It doesn't get repeat business.
TRUST ME. GC SUCKS

 

[Ifriff]

By the way I do have Mesa gear which of course I love and did not buy from GC. I would never buy anything from GC again.

 

[chiplexic]

I love Mesa and won't buy anything else and I'm thrilled they are cutting ties with GC giving smaller shops the opportunity to have alternatives to compete with them.

I'm glad too. It's not as though we will have to pay more, given the fixed pricing. And now we will be shopping in non-chain stores for these premium products...in independent shops where they belong.

 

[Deedubs]

I'm all for the mom and pop shops, but if you NEED to buy from a big online retailer, Sweetwater is fantastic! Their customer service and personal touch, sets them apart from their brethren. I ordered a mesa traditional ph410 from them last weekend. 24 months interest free, plus my cab qualified for free shipping!

P.s.
I don't work for, and am in no way affiliated with Sweetwater.

 

[leegreenman]

It's unfortunate, but its also big business. Call me cynical, but I doubt press releases from either side tell the complete, accurate story.

I agree. I always assume the truth is somewhere in the middle.

 

[Blankandson]

You found a GC with bass equipment?! I bet they also have at least 2 or 3 basses selling for over $300. Maybe 4. I visited a GC in the KCMO metro area a few days ago and they had about 30 bases hanging on the wall for maybe $90 - $299. And a LOT of Markbass - at least one of every model. Jimmy they had one micro CL stack and one BA110. I was in-out the door in 10 minutes. The security dude at the door never even noticed me entering or leaving - he had his nose in a music magazine. Not trying to compare but the SA store in Madison, TN has a drum room larger than the entire KCMO GC store.

 

[JimmyM]

Funny...the GC stores in Winter Park and Kissimmee have a halfway decent bass section. They're no Bass Central but you'll see some of the better models of the name brands, along with a lot of sub-$400 basses.

 

[bradjonesbass]

I'm all for the mom and pop shops, but if you NEED to buy from a big online retailer, Sweetwater is fantastic! Their customer service and personal touch, sets them apart from their brethren. I ordered a mesa traditional ph410 from them last weekend. 24 months interest free, plus my cab qualified for free shipping!

P.s.
I don't work for, and am in no way affiliated with Sweetwater.

Indeed! I'm very fortunate to live here and I get to utilize their knowledge frequently - no, I don't work there, but a good number of the local musicians do. They carry a lot of nice bass amps, but their basses are mostly mid range stuff, except Lakland, and they don't stock the showroom with any US models. They do have the Godin acoustic basses too and that 5 string ultra SA is SWEET! For recording gear, I won't go anywhere else, even to save a couple bucks, just because they are so knowledgeable. They also seem to have a very low turnover rate, and repeat customers are automatically sent to the salesman they have purchased from in the past, so chances are you'll be dealing with the same sales pro for 10-20 years. They also do a lot of really cool stuff for the local community and give back a LOT. They're international, but treat Fort Wayne like their home... Highly recommend if you need something they carry.

 

[two fingers]

I stand corrected.

Man, wouldn't it be nice if someone from the other major manufacturers of bass gear would swing by and clarify what's going when something like this happens?????

cough cough GB cough SWR cough ........

 

[FourBanger]

Good for Mesa. All too often in retail the it is the retailer who gets fat while the customer gets forgotten and the supplier gets screwed. Merica!

 

[walterw]

Man, wouldn't it be nice if someone from the other major manufacturers of bass gear would swing by and clarify what's going when something like this happens?????

cough cough GB...

hey now, agedhorse is a G-B guy who posts here all the time.

 

[Munjibunga]

GC is no longer a dealer of Mesa as of April or May. I work there...I know. Its not that Mesa wasn't happy that we were lowering their prices, it was that GC wasn't happy we couldn't lower their prices. It wasn't possible to lower the prices on Mesa gear period...the computer wouldn't allow it.

So what is going on is all Mesa gear in store is being put on clearance so we can have room for (hopefully) more boutique brands in store. At least thats what I was told is the plan...as for what will actually happen who knows what the future holds. I just work there...

Maybe you could bring Eden back. Or even SWR and Genz Benz.

 

[darius8]

I'm sure GC will still sell used Mesa gear. It's just the new stuff that's affected.

 

[georgestrings]

I don't see why everyone's complaining...at least they have Ampeg.

I dunno - maybe because some people like to be able to turn their amp's knobs past noon, without the amp melting down on them???


- georgestrings

 

[RickenBoogie]

There's more to this than has been mentioned, (there always is). Mesa wanted GC to carry their new guitar pedals, (3 ea of their 4 new pedals, so 12 pedals per store), and GC did not wish to take on this amount of product. This is where the dispute began.
All my bass amps are Mesa, and I have affiliations w GC.

 

[lomo]

There's more to this than has been mentioned, (there always is). Mesa wanted GC to carry their new guitar pedals, (3 ea of their 4 new pedals, so 12 pedals per store), and GC did not wish to take on this amount of product. This is where the dispute began.
All my bass amps are Mesa, and I have affiliations w GC.

There's always more to the iceberg than the tip.....this sounds more believable to me......

 

[majortoby]

I guess I'm the only TB'er who doesn't even care, lol. I never found Mesa gear all that inspiring, and stupidly expensive for what you get. :/ Yeah, flame me all you like, but that won't change the fact that the Walkabout is a $1600 COMBO. I respect the US made, I respect the excellent customer service, but I REFUSE to believe I'm the only one who feels this way.

 

[agreatheight]

The issue had nothing to do with discounted pricing. From our press release:

Mesa/Boogie discontinues with Guitar Center

Mesa/Boogie Ltd. has elected not to renew Guitar Center as an Authorized Mesa/Boogie Dealer. The decision was made in response to a growing number of customer complaints about poor service, selection and merchandise condition throughout the 86 GC locations Mesa had authorized.

Mesa/Boogie Founder, President and Chief Designer, Randall Smith, commented, “It’s with regret -- and we certainly wish GC well, but it's important for us to provide musicians with a thorough and professional representation of our products. We work hard to exceed expectations in everything we do so it's vital that we have a focused network of dealers who share our commitment and ideals."

Not to bash on Guitar Center unnecessarily, but I won't shop there anymore, not even to purchase a heavily discounted item.

Guitar Center = Walmart.

Good luck Mesa!