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Guitar Center Experience

ChuckO

ChuckO

Feb 3, 2010
83
22
#1
When I ordered my last bass, I had a negative experience with guitar center and I was quick to post my experience here. I wont drudge through the details since I intend to make this a positive post. I figured should post about my last trip to GC.

I went in to purchase some floor monitors and the model I wanted was out of stock. The associate I dealt with was very helpful, he priced matched online prices on three seperate items and saved me about 80$.

GC gets alot of hate, unfortunately people usually only remeber their bad experiences. My last trip was great,

Thank you Youngstown GC
 
#2
It's like any place, the salesperson can make or break the deal. I've been fairly fortunate to have had some good experiences. I do tend to seek out the knowledgeable salespeople and forget the rest. Unfortunately, the good ones tend to move on.
 
#3
Too true.

I'm not a GC fanboi as might be thought, but I find most satellite stores vary tremendously because of the manager's attitude and if he's hiring buddies or paying off Vegas losses.

In particular I liked the Fullerton GC a lot although it was outside my general commute range from where I lived in SoCal. It actually felt to me like a boutique gear facility, not a common store and CERTAINLY not one that would allow a bass player in it.

The Murrietta store was really nice, but I'll qualify that with a note that the manager (Randy) whom I liked a lot (and by extension: the staff in general and Mike in particular) has now moved to Florida - so he's out of my new commute range from Montana.

The Ontario GC was a let down, and I felt out of place and like an invader to their turf. As much as I tried to like them there, it just didn't jell. The store was messy and dirty too - kinda like nobody cared about the appearance and first impressions.

But I'd take that rather obtuse treatment over the fact that my nearest GC now is prolly a few hundred miles away.

I'd like to walk into a GC within 100 miles, but there are none in this state at all.
 
#5
most bad experiences i've had at gc are due to patrons, not staff. i don't like to go there more b/c there's always yaoos one-upping each other at ridiculous levels, and never any REAL good deals (at least at the 1 i have within areaonable distance). when i can actually get assistance (more that there's just not enough staff than being ignored) it's slightly pressured b/c there's aways somebody who needs rung up, and they take priority over my window-shopping ass anyway. i will say that i got the gc credit card, and do buy used stuff over the phone more than new at the store or online. never had a problem, and have actually been talked out of buying a few things that i was told were really crap condition, albeit were good items at one time. so i agree that most of what you read about them are the bad experiences, and people are too excited about their new toys to report the good.
 
#6
Every time I go in to try a bass, effect or amp out I work at a modest volume. Then some jerk wad (or 5 jerk wads) decide they've got to turn up the thrash and set the biggest amp in the room to 12 and wail away. Totally kills it for me. On the rare occasion there are no other patrons, or the ones that are there are considerate of others, the salesperson really makes or breaks the store for me.

I used to have to go to a store because they were the only ones in my city that stocked a certain brand, and always got served by this know-it-all little turd that would straight up lie to my face about products, among other undesirable traits.

He's gone now, and there is a guy who I think is an actual professional musician who really knows his stuff. It's now my favourite store to shop at.
 
#8
I have yet to have a bad experience with GC, no matter if I am ordering through them online or in store. Of course there is a first for everything, however like you said keeping this a optimistic and positive thread...
 

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