Guitar Center dumping Mesa or new models?

[Phil508]

I almost pulled the trigger on an M6, I saw a used one for $799 then they had a new one for $900 at one of the local GCs. Gone now, would I pay $900-$1000 Yes, $1500 or whatever list is, not in any of your dreams. I also wouldn't pay $1500 for the SVT4, it was close to $1150 one day , had to think hard on that too.

One thing I will say for GC is they have a poor Bass department, but at least they have Ampeg.

Of course I'm just having fun and not making a living on this, but I keep buying more gear than people who are. go figure, constant GAS!!

 

[Downunderwonder]

Am I going to have to come over there and sit between you two?

Way to avert a political discussion breaking out.

 

[Ifriff]

One time I was at GC looking at a used Fender Bassman 300. I asked to try it out. Watching the guy struggle to set the amp atop a cab was hilarious. Even more hilarious, he hooked it up to a guitar cab with an instrument cable. I expressed my concern. He was like, naa. Then,! He hands me a guitar! HA ha ha ha! Oh oh ho! HA ha he he! They suck so bad

 

[RickenBoogie]

They don't ALL suck. You have to judge each store on its own merits, or lack thereof.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Two companies made a business decision. It doesn't mean that either "suck." Quite honestly, it's a match made in hell. GC's business model is to provide coupons and discounts, minimal customer service and maximized value. MB is the exact opposite. I'm sure it was tempting to MB to have such a large buyer, but they ultimately decided it wasn't worth the perceived risk to their reputation.

 

[Krügmeister]

Two companies made a business decision. It doesn't mean that either "suck." Quite honestly, it's a match made in hell. GC's business model is to provide coupons and discounts, minimal customer service and maximized value. MB is the exact opposite. I'm sure it was tempting to MB to have such a large buyer, but they ultimately decided it wasn't worth the perceived risk to their reputation.

^^ THIS ^^

 

[Nephilymbass]

The guitar centers around here are all switching over to selling beginner gear. I used to go and see a wall of warwicks, swr and mesa amps and so on. Now most of the basses they have are squire and ibanez, the amps are mostly low end peavey and gk stuff. I think it's just a result of a poor economy. Stores don't want to stock up with expensive gear that'll sit around for months and sometimes years. Its sucks but it can also be a good thing. I was able to get really good deals on some of my warwicks because of this, my neck through thumb 5 goes for like $4,600 most places online. I got mine new a guitar center for $2800. With guitar center in the red as bad as they are you can get some great deals

 

[Deedubs]

Two companies made a business decision. It doesn't mean that either "suck." Quite honestly, it's a match made in hell. GC's business model is to provide coupons and discounts, minimal customer service and maximized value. MB is the exact opposite. I'm sure it was tempting to MB to have such a large buyer, but they ultimately decided it wasn't worth the perceived risk to their reputation.

^^^nailed it!^^^

 

[Ifriff]

They don't ALL suck. You have to judge each store on its own merits, or lack thereof.

GC does suck. I had an issue they kept dragging out, beating around the bush, lying about and so on. I got so sick of dealing with it. I took my issue to corporate. There was a guy who took my statement/description of the situation. I was told somebody would get back to me with a resolution and not to worry. THEY DON'T CARE. They don't care they ripped me off. I never ever heard back from anyone. Months later I received an email coupon. Pathetic. A discount on something else. As if I want to spend more money with them. It's not just this particular store. GC definitely sucks.

 

[RaginRog]

The guitar centers around here are all switching over to selling beginner gear. I used to go and see a wall of warwicks, swr and mesa amps and so on. Now most of the basses they have are squire and ibanez, the amps are mostly low end peavey and gk stuff. I think it's just a result of a poor economy. Stores don't want to stock up with expensive gear that'll sit around for months and sometimes years. Its sucks but it can also be a good thing. I was able to get really good deals on some of my warwicks because of this, my neck through thumb 5 goes for like $4,600 most places online. I got mine new a guitar center for $2800. With guitar center in the red as bad as they are you can get some great deals

It may depend on the area you live in. I've noticed the GC 25 miles from my house carries a better selection of basses. My area is middle to lower middle class/blue collar, while the other location is in a higher income area.

 

[RaginRog]

GC does suck. I had an issue they kept dragging out, beating around the bush, lying about and so on. I got so sick of dealing with it. I took my issue to corporate. There was a guy who took my statement/description of the situation. I was told somebody would get back to me with a resolution and not to worry. THEY DON'T CARE. They don't care they ripped me off. I never ever heard back from anyone. Months later I received an email coupon. Pathetic. A discount on something else. As if I want to spend more money with them. It's not just this particular store. GC definitely sucks.

What was your issue...?

 

[gt96g]

GC was carrying Orange for awhile too. Maybe that's only the bigger locations. I had also hear that GC was running into serious debt issues, similar to Circuit City when they went belly up in '08. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/12/us-buyouts-bain-guitarcenter-idUSBRE95B1AG20130612

As far as mesa is concerned I have never been a huge fan of their bass gear, I just feel there are better option out there for less money. Their guitar amps also seem a bit over priced to me.

As far as GC is concerned The company has been on a downhill slide ever since they were take over by Bain cap. The inability to get the discounts you used to be able to is one thing but the selection there, especially within the bass section is really just sad.

 

[guy n. cognito]

The inability to get the discounts you used to be able to is one thing but the selection there, especially within the bass section is really just sad.

Can't get discounts? Unless you're living in a cave without email access, GC will send you a coupon for anywhere between 5-15% off almost every single week. The item you want is excluded?......just call, they will give you a discount anyway.

 

[uOpt]

Can't get discounts? Unless you're living in a cave without email access, GC will send you a coupon for anywhere between 5-15% off almost every single week. The item you want is excluded?......just call, they will give you a discount anyway.

Which is, BTW, probably a non-stated reason for terminating the relationship.

GC/MF live on giving rebates. Mesa are strong proponents of MAP and would like to drop the "A" from that, too, if they had it their way.

 

[Ifriff]

What was your issue...?

They sold me an amp with a cracked tube. The amp uses six power tubes. They just wanted to give me one tube. Properly done, the amp should have a matched sextet. They tried to tell me no such thing exists. Then they gave me a pair. I pointed all this out again. So next they give me four. Two different matched sets. They figure added to the original two, I have my six. No I tell them. A matched sextet. This went on for over a month. Dragging me down there every time they told me the order was in. Of course every time was a different order. The first order they just totally lost..... The story goes on and on. There are also prerequisites to this tube issue. The story is much to long. Believe me. They don't care. Or they wouldn't be as big a company.

 

[Dave W]

They sold me an amp with a cracked tube. The amp uses six power tubes. They just wanted to give me one tube. Properly done, the amp should have a matched sextet. They tried to tell me no such thing exists. Then they gave me a pair. I pointed all this out again. So next they give me four. Two different matched sets. They figure added to the original two, I have my six. No I tell them. A matched sextet. This went on for over a month. Dragging me down there every time they told me the order was in. Of course every time was a different order. The first order they just totally lost..... The story goes on and on. There are also prerequisites to this tube issue. The story is much to long. Believe me. They don't care. Or they wouldn't be as big a company.

Why couldn't you just exchange it? If they said no, then return it.

What amp was it? A matched trio probably would have been fine.

 

[guy n. cognito]

They sold me an amp with a cracked tube. The amp uses six power tubes. They just wanted to give me one tube. Properly done, the amp should have a matched sextet. They tried to tell me no such thing exists. Then they gave me a pair. I pointed all this out again. So next they give me four. Two different matched sets. They figure added to the original two, I have my six. No I tell them. A matched sextet. This went on for over a month. Dragging me down there every time they told me the order was in. Of course every time was a different order. The first order they just totally lost..... The story goes on and on. There are also prerequisites to this tube issue. The story is much to long. Believe me. They don't care. Or they wouldn't be as big a company.

Actually, they were closer to right than you were.

 

[DigitalMan]

Which is, BTW, probably a non-stated reason for terminating the relationship.

GC/MF live on giving rebates. Mesa are strong proponents of MAP and would like to drop the "A" from that, too, if they had it their way.

Here are the first few paragraphs of the letter Mesa sends to its retailers explaining their pricing program:

"Explaining the Benefits of Mesa/Boogie’s Suggested Pro Net Pricing Philosophy:

The first step is to NEVER refer to it as Retail Pricing… The second step is to NEVER say there is no discounting on Mesa/Boogie Products because Mesa sets the price or restricts what a Dealer can sell the product for… Both of these statements are completely inaccurate (the second being grossly inaccurate and actually illegal) and you will do your customer, yourself and us a great disservice if you misrepresent the facts in such ways.

Mesa’s Pro Net Pricing is and always has been a suggested selling pricing that is completely voluntary and at the Dealer’s sole and absolute discretion in terms of what the Dealer elects the final selling price to be – This is without exception or any recourse from Mesa. Representing it in any other way to a customer is actually a violation of the terms set forth in the current Mesa/Boogie Dealership Agreement."

 

[Deedubs]

Here are the first few paragraphs of the letter Mesa sends to its retailers explaining their pricing program:

"Explaining the Benefits of Mesa/Boogie’s Suggested Pro Net Pricing Philosophy:

The first step is to NEVER refer to it as Retail Pricing… The second step is to NEVER say there is no discounting on Mesa/Boogie Products because Mesa sets the price or restricts what a Dealer can sell the product for… Both of these statements are completely inaccurate (the second being grossly inaccurate and actually illegal) and you will do your customer, yourself and us a great disservice if you misrepresent the facts in such ways.

Mesa’s Pro Net Pricing is and always has been a suggested selling pricing that is completely voluntary and at the Dealer’s sole and absolute discretion in terms of what the Dealer elects the final selling price to be – This is without exception or any recourse from Mesa. Representing it in any other way to a customer is actually a violation of the terms set forth in the current Mesa/Boogie Dealership Agreement."

Good read! Nice bird doggin

 

[Ifriff]

Actually, they were closer to right than you were.

Care to elaborate?

Don't know how you could make that judgement when you don't know the whole story