Guitar Center in trouble?

[selowitch]

Anyone who has the money, knows what they want, and is serious about buying is not going to let a bad set up get in the way.

If that’s what you think, I’m sure glad you don’t work for me!!

Contrary to your statement, a bad setup is indeed a potential deterrent to a sale because some issues that could merely be the result of a bad setup can also be explained by an actual functional or structural defect in the instrument that is difficult to detect without proper tools in a well equipped workshop (as opposed to on a sales floor full of instruments belonging to the dealer).

For example, fret buzz could be caused by the neck being too backbowed; often that can be remedied by loosening the truss rod but sometimes not if the neck shaft is warped or defective, not merely out-of-adjustment.

Do you consider a new guitar with sharp fret ends to be ready for sale, or are dressed fret ends something that GC should do for you before/after the sale?

Having a showroom full of instruments that are simply unpacked, stuck on the wall, then pounded on for months by youthful wankers with no maintenance performed and inadequate humidity control definitely inhibits sales because it undermines the confidence of a potential buyer that he or she is going home with a purchase worth what was paid for it—even one with sufficient money and adequate knowledge.

GC’s indifference toward its inventory and its customers is a big reason fewer folks are buying from them, though surely not the only reason.

 

[selowitch]

I'm still in a bit of an ethical pickle about that situation, knowingly buying something for much less than I should be paying for it.

Don’t worry. GC makes money selling used items. Sure they screw up and mislabel and misprice things sometimes. It’s a cost of being in the used market. I sleep fine knowing I paid less than fair market on a handful of the used GC items I have purchased.

 

[flojob]

If that’s what you think, I’m sure glad you don’t work for me!!

Contrary to your statement, a bad setup is indeed a potential deterrent to a sale because some issues that could merely be the result of a bad setup can also be explained by an actual functional or structural defect in the instrument that is difficult to detect without proper tools in a well equipped workshop (as opposed to on a sales floor full of instruments belonging to the dealer).

For example, fret buzz could be caused by the neck being too backbowed; often that can be remedied by tightening the truss rod but sometimes not for instances wherein the neck shaft is warped or defective, not merely out-of-adjustment.

Do you consider a new guitar with sharp fret ends to be ready for sale, or are dressed fret ends something that GC should do for you before/after the sale?

Having a showroom full of instruments that are simply unpacked, stuck on the wall, then pounded on for months by youthful wankers with no maintenance performed and inadequate humidity control definitely inhibits sales because it undermines the confidence of a potential buyer—even one with money and knowledge.

GC’s indifference toward its inventory and its customers is a big reason fewer folks are buying from them, though surely not the only reason.

Cool man. Yall are right. GC's woes can be remedied by carrying more expensive instruments, and doing meticulous setups.
Someone tell them the problems are solved.

 

[selowitch]

If I ran a guitar store, my techs would be checking neck relief, nut slots, and string heights all day on guitars/basses.

Cool man. Yall are right. GC's woes can be remedied by carrying more expensive instruments, and doing meticulous setups.
Someone tell them the problems are solved.

I said nothing whatsoever about carrying more expensive instruments. Beware, your straw man could catch fire!

A true, full, professional setup is perhaps not realistic for the entire inventory; however, a basic setup (e.g., neck relief somewhat close to manufacturer specs) would help move a $1,500 Fender a heck of a lot more quickly. How else is the customer expected to decide on that instrument if it feels lousy and plays even worse?

“Gee, this Precision Bass sure plays and feels like dirt. But once I pay a tech $75 to set it up properly, this baby’ll sing! I think I’ll buy it!” said no customer ever.

I have passed on a lot of poorly set up instruments I suspected would be fine with a setup—but I thought why bother when Sweetwater offers a 55-point inspection for free? To make the sale, the vendor has to create at least a somewhat pleasant experience for the customer.

It also helps if the instrument plays well and makes it easier for the customer to imagine she is B.B. King for a few moments.

Sales is a game of probabilities. You want to make it more likely that the customer will pick up an instrument, play it, and experience enough pleasure that he or she might actually take the item to the checkout counter.

 

[ThudThudThud]

If I ran a guitar store, my techs would be checking neck relief, nut slots, and string heights all day on guitars/basses

I said nothing whatsoever about carrying more expensive instruments. Beware, your straw man could catch fire!

A true, full, professional setup is perhaps not realistic for the entire inventory; however, a basic setup (e.g., neck relief somewhat close to manufacturer specs) would help move a $1,500 Fender a heck of a lot more quickly. How else is the customer expected to decide on that instrument if it feels lousy and plays even worse?

“Gee, this Precision Bass sure plays and feels like dirt. But once I pay a tech $75 to set it up properly, this baby’ll sing! I think I’ll buy it!” said no customer ever.

I have passed on a lot of poorly set up instruments I suspected would be fine with a setup—but I thought why bother when Sweetwater offers a 55-point inspection for free? To make the sale, the vendor has to create at least a somewhat pleasant experience for the customer.

It also helps if the instrument plays well and makes it easier for the customer to imagine she is B.B. King for a few moments.

Sales is a game of probabilities. You want to make it more likely that the customer will pick up an instrument, play it, and experience enough pleasure that he or she might actually take the item to the checkout counter.

I bought a Squier CV 60s Precision some years back from a locally owned music store. They set it up for me for free (although it was already extremely playable) and put a new set of strings on, and when I went back to get it the next day the salesman was playing it.
"Can you put my guitar down?" I said (only half jokingly).
"No," he said, "I can't stop playing it. This thing is awesome!"
Fair enough.
That's the thing. This wasn't a super high end bass, just a nice bass set up well. It made it playable. It made people want to play it.
If I pick up a $1500 jazz bass at GC, it may be lucky enough to have the factory set up. Hit or miss.
If I pick up a $1500 Jazz bass at my locally owned store it will have a great set up. Period.

 

[IamGroot]

Btw, I could usually memorize jazz stds way faster than country tunes which all seem to run together. Subbed a 2 night gig for a pro and could not remember the tunes the next morning on the ride home.

 

[GIBrat51]

I've been in some GC's that I wouldn't inflict on my worst enemy (like one here in Vegas); one that's "sorta" OK in a Big Box Store kind of way (the other one here in Vegas); and some that are nice enough that I want to go back (the one in South Bend, IN). However...
If I was to enter a GC; walk around looking at instruments that I could buy, but didn't; just noted prices, and then went home to shop online for cheaper? Then I suppose they'd have some reason to blame their troubles - well, some of them, anyway - on me. BUT...
When I walk into a GC; look at every single bass/guitar in the place; and find exactly ONE left handed instrument (a used American Standard Strat) in the place, I really don't think they can blame me for much of anything - other than being left handed. It's GC's decision - and only their decision - to exclude me from their potential customer base. And their "take it or leave it" attitude ain't my fault, either...

This is my response to a post in the Lobby forum about GC blaming all their troubles on their nasty, mean-spirited customers. I think it's equally applicable here... And, AFAIC? Too bloody bad for them. The ones here in Vegas are useless to me while they're here, and I certainly won't miss them when they're gone....

 

[Stevorebob]

The two Music Mans — a StingRay and a Bongo — I got at my local GC were set up very well, almost perfectly, and the strings were very good quality and in excellent shape. Of course, I bought the basses online and had them shipped to the store. Factory-sealed boxes, both. So, the set-up is from the good folks at Music Man.

Was nice to show off these new basses in a store that never sees the likes. I received much respectful attention from staff and customers. I mean, you’d think I was Duff McKagan stopping in. Now, you don’t get that kind of gawking with Sweetwater or Reverb.

 

[Jeff Scott]

...For example, fret buzz could be caused by the neck being too backbowed; often that can be remedied by tightening the truss rod...

Loosening.

 

[swarfrat]

Got an survey invitation after a visit where I was mostly ignored, someone finally did ask me if I was looking for something, and then they didnt have what I was looking for. And I was tempted to cut loose on em, when I realized... For what? It was a minor slight, I still got what I really needed, and beating them up will only contribute (low performing score thing...) to them closing the only musical instrument retailer in a pretty good sized town / surrounding radius.

 

[selowitch]

Loosening.

Oops. Right. I’ll correct that.

 

[fdeck]

A good portion of the ownership has already been turned over to their main creditor.

Is that creditor Fender?

 

[selowitch]

Is that creditor Fender?

I thought it was Bain Capital.

 

[Stevorebob]

Ares Management LP is the primary owner. They took control from Bain Capital a few years ago. Bain is still a part owner. I have not seen creditors publicly identified.

 

[Brent Davenport]

Got an survey invitation after a visit where I was mostly ignored, someone finally did ask me if I was looking for something, and then they didnt have what I was looking for. And I was tempted to cut loose on em, when I realized... For what? It was a minor slight, I still got what I really needed, and beating them up will only contribute (low performing score thing...) to them closing the only musical instrument retailer in a pretty good sized town / surrounding radius.

It's hit and miss with GC around here. I drove all the way across town to check out a Stingray in person. The guy asked if I was buying today or researching. I told him I was researching today and buying in 2 weeks. He just walked off. On the other hand, I went through the same scenario at my local location, but the salesman was super nice and spent as much time with me as I wanted. I also had 2 other salesmen that knew I was going to be someone else's sale, but they still hung out with me and talked shop for quite a while.

 

[Badwater]

It's that time of the century. All the signs are there. Massive sell offs on Wall street, the super rich passing their fortune to the family so they can claim bankrupcy, and moving the cash resources overseas to buy back in when the stock market crashes (the old sell high buy low technique). Happens about once every 10 years. They call it a economic downturn, and they blame it on some sector of the market. And everyone falls for it. 1978 (oil crisis), 1988 (Japan's economy), 1999 (tech industry inventory), 2008 (housing market), And I suppose 2018 will be the (bond market or States in the US filing for bankrupcy).

But as they say, this speculation is based on previous patters of previous performance, and does not reflect the future performance of the economy.

 

[ll Rip ll]

Easily a dozen.

Lucky! The one by me has about 50% Sound Gear..

 

[ll Rip ll]

It's hit and miss with GC around here. I drove all the way across town to check out a Stingray in person. The guy asked if I was buying today or researching. I told him I was researching today and buying in 2 weeks. He just walked off. On the other hand, I went through the same scenario at my local location, but the salesman was super nice and spent as much time with me as I wanted. I also had 2 other salesmen that knew I was going to be someone else's sale, but they still hung out with me and talked shop for quite a while.

I've had similar experiences at GC. One rep was extremely helpful and answered my endless stream of stupid questions, will others were either condescending, or tried to steer me away from what i had came to the store for (special sale item). They fired the helpful guy for not having as good of numbers as the d bag reps.

 

[klejst]

Cannot really say I am surprised...nor really that mad about it honestly.

I'm just looking forward to that huge blowout sale hopefully soon!

 

[toowrongfoo]

Just got their super glossy "whooooooaaaaa dude" magazine that is in the trash already. It's a bunch of stuff I don't want and prices that scare me how people can afford them (some lower priced stuff, but mostly 2k up)

Seems to be designed by a ... designer vs. what people are actually looking for in instruments.

Fender is the next Gibson btw. They have two basses (jazz/p) that are about 2k that are not any better than their murican elite/professional basses. I feel sorry for the saps that will put that kinda cash into something that basic.