Guitar Center fail - but with a twist

[40Hz]

It was somewhere in between they were nice about it and they felt that they deserved it, if that makes sense.

It does. Most people tend to behave nicely as long as they still think they're going to get their own way.

In situations like that it's not impolite to ask: "How long is it going to take?"

If the answer you receive isn't reasonable (say ten or fifteen minutes) or politely given, you're perfectly within your own rights to remember that you too are a customer of the store and simply but politely decline - or suggest they resume their video shoot after you've finished.

I'm guessing the store would feel the same way about it.

 

[Spectrum]

I would've complained to the staff, and make it their problem. Probably make some stuff up, tell them the guy with the video device was mishandling the instruments or stealing something.

Then, I would've paused at the door on my way out to watch the uncomfortable confrontation. Maybe come back to check out the amp some other day.

I prefer to stir sith up and observe rather than get caught up in it myself. Call me evil if it suits me. More entertaining that way.

 

[bassman1820]

Guitar center almost always messes up their real customers. I bought a MM Stingray and they volunteered a "gear rewards" card that they now won't honor. Go figure!? I guess I'm getting old. We used to have working musician perks

 

[buldog5151bass]

Yeah, a minute. That's about it.

 

[Space Pickle]

what a TWEEEST

 

[Killed_by_Death]

If you said that at the 7 Corners GC in Northern Virginia, there's a good chance you'd have gotten back a reply in Thai, "Why, yes, I do. Now can you please be quiet so I can film my daughter?"

I've been to all of the ones in NoVa (& two in MD), but only once to the one in Falls Church.
If they looked Thai, I'd do the bit in Spanish.

I do recall eating Thai food on the corner of Wilson & Arlington boulevards & then getting lots of pot noodles at the Good Fortune supermarket not far behind there.

 

[five7]

A dollar a minute and I will be quiet.

 

[DrummerwStrings]

If the request to stop playing was done politely, I would've indulged them for a few minutes. After which, I'd continue trying out the amp. If they were jerks about it, I'd be the bigger jerk.

Please & thank you goes a LONG way.

 

[Gizmot]

This is one situation that you can't blame GC for - after all, they let nearly anyone into the store. If you were there first then they should have let you do your thing. If they were there first, I think you have to give them a couple of minutes even though you were a more legitimate customer.

 

[Ritchie_Darling]

My initial reaction is to say "Koon pood pahsah Thai dai mai?" (Can you speak Thai?)
and when they look at me quizzically, I just go back to what I was doing.

Once upon a time, in the 90s, I'd ask if they can speak Spanish, but these days often the answer is affirmative.

I often do the same with Punjabi...

I get the strangest looks!

 

[George1962]

GC is a zoo! I can't ever hear myself think besides trying to hear what I am testing. Sorry but I buy online.

 

[Jeff Scott]

GC is a zoo! I can't ever hear myself think besides trying to hear what I am testing. Sorry but I buy online.

Fair warning: Never go to a NAMM Show, then.

 

[Stumbo]

Yes, you're getting old.

 

[40Hz]

I would've complained to the staff, and make it their problem. Probably make some stuff up, tell them the guy with the video device was mishandling the instruments or stealing something.

Then, I would've paused at the door on my way out to watch the uncomfortable confrontation. Maybe come back to check out the amp some other day.

I prefer to stir sith up and observe rather than get caught up in it myself. Call me evil if it suits me. More entertaining that way.

That's pretty sad. You sound like a textbook example of the cure being worse than the problem.

 

[JimmyM]

I would've complained to the staff, and make it their problem. Probably make some stuff up, tell them the guy with the video device was mishandling the instruments or stealing something.

Then, I would've paused at the door on my way out to watch the uncomfortable confrontation. Maybe come back to check out the amp some other day.

I prefer to stir sith up and observe rather than get caught up in it myself. Call me evil if it suits me. More entertaining that way.

Wow, you're a ball of fun. Maybe you could have punched her in the face, too, and doubled your enjoyment.

Rich, that was a great story and a great way to cap off my evening. I would have totally complied and sat there and watched. Sometimes people pull such ballsy moves that all you can do is laugh.

 

[dxb]

A couple weeks ago I went to a local Guitar Center, headed to the bass section and plugged into the Markbass Ninja 122 that I was interested. Barely got two notes out and was asked to stop playing. But - it wasn't by an employee. Someone was videoing their sister trying to play a scale on a bass and apparently my shopping was interrupting their video shoot. My initial reaction was not what I wanted to say, so I just walked away which was probably a wise choice. I went back later, but at that point I really wasn't in the mood to buy anything.

Anyways, that was something new for me. Someone claiming the entire bass area as their own so they can video someone playing. Maybe I'm getting old.

You should've offered to help the girl impress her friends by playing an awesome bass solo off-camera while she pretended to play along in the video.

 

[DrummerwStrings]

It was somewhere in between they were nice about it and they felt that they deserved it, if that makes sense.

I should elaborate: a sincere Please & Thank You goes a LONG way - more people know when you're going through the motions than you expect.

 

[somebrains]

Was she hot?

I would have played a couple scales while telling here to look up a clip when I crashed a Playboy sponsored event in Hollywood using a stolen Chihuahua.

Then I would have told her to stand in the sweetspot of a cab and out her foot on it for video reasons, and to keep her wrist straight.

Then I'd go with the whole directing thing in a positive and reinforcing manner, and maybe offer to shoot B roll with my phone of the most attractive yet serious angles.

Slide in there and reposition her for a series of stills, and let her go thru the ones she likes best.

Yannow, text them to her bc I'm helpful like that.

Oh wait, wasn't there a dude with her?
Has he gotten tight jawed and left yet?
We could both use some coffee, coffee sounds good, let's make him go get us some coffee.

Bc I'm a really helpful person who values other people's activities in a public place.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Your reaction will be a reflection of your own wisdom and tolerance.

 

[Hounddog409]

A couple weeks ago I went to a local Guitar Center, headed to the bass section and plugged into the Markbass Ninja 122 that I was interested. Barely got two notes out and was asked to stop playing. But - it wasn't by an employee. Someone was videoing their sister trying to play a scale on a bass and apparently my shopping was interrupting their video shoot. My initial reaction was not what I wanted to say, so I just walked away which was probably a wise choice. I went back later, but at that point I really wasn't in the mood to buy anything.

Anyways, that was something new for me. Someone claiming the entire bass area as their own so they can video someone playing. Maybe I'm getting old.

Seriously?? This put you in the mood not to buy anything?
Did you tell them to get off your lawn?