Guitar Center - no complaints from me

[Runnerman]

I've never bought a bass from them but have come close a time or two. I have bought an acoustic guitar that they price matched to Sam Ash....really appreciated that. I've bought a couple amps over the years also and the experience was fine. My biggest beef is the new display method of putting all the US made Fenders and "expensive" basses at the very top of the wall. The only way to play one is to have an associate take it down for you.

The turnover of associates is also huge, there are different people working every time I go in and almost every one assumes I know absolutely nothing about anything music related. Kind of funny actually. I found that if I get into big ticket items, the manager usually steps in to negotiate anyways....and this has always been good. And finally, I never go on a Saturday unless it's an emergency.

 

[JRA]

catering to the impulses and whims of 'entitled' musicians would be a chore. ignoring that 'market behavior' is perilous. some stores are 'cultured' to get it right, at least on some days --- at least at certain times. other stores don't seem to care, at least on some days --- at least at certain times.

what's funny to me: thinking that one experience, or one person's experience = the rule about anything, anywhere, anytime.

i've found GC and SA to be OK for some things...sometimes.

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

Except for a a few moments of fantastic, knowlegeable service from a few highly motivated, awesome individuals, guitar center has mostly been a suckhole of negative experiences for me.

That said, my gc experiences have been no worse than any other brick and mortar shops I've been to over the years. Sam Ash, Daddy's, Alto, even the smaller boutique or "ma and pa" stores mostlty felt like a cross between the apathy of the DMV and the predatory vibe of a car dealership.

I've only had consistently great experiences online.

 

[Skillet]

Oh look, it's a customer in his 40s or more. Engage condescension level 2 and disinterest level 3.

 

[bikeplate]

No complaints from me but then again i never go into GC

 

[Lava]

GC usually works for me as long as I go in knowing exactly what I want and am not at the mercy of an employee for advice. I almost always only go there as a last resort for strings or cleaning supplies. While there I'll usually peruse the used effects case and almost always end up buying a pedal that I don't need and end up giving it away.

 

[rmayer]

I've had similar experiences as Basscapes, trying to get a motivated salesperson to help me. I've bought the assortment of cables, strings (last minute) and an occasional gig bag, but never a bass. They seem to have some of the worse set up basses on display that I've ever seen in any store. It almost seems that they don't want to sell them. I'm a bit of a specs nerd, so I usually go into a store knowing more about the bass I'm looking at than the salesperson. This happens a lot at GC. In their defense, the A/C and heating systems in a large "box" store doesn't make for a friendly environment for guitars that need a regulated temperature and humidity. Wood shrinks (or swells) frets move, etc.
While up in NJ, shortly after I retired, I went to a local GC to apply for a sales position. My last job was management but I had previous sales experience. They didn't seem to want any individual drive, just to mold you into one of their drones. Plus, you bounce from dept to dept, and even store to store. I asked about their commission plan, which is most of your salary, and the store manager got bent out of shape. He was an idiot. Big surprise, I declined to go any further in the job process.

 

[ghostinthemach]

The last several times I've gone to my local Guitar Center, I've had absolutely positive experiences. I needed a small mixer for my in-ears, the salesperson found me exactly what I needed and it was cheaper than expected. The other day I stopped in there to buy a new cable. I was about to purchase a nice BOSS right angle, but the salesperson recommended I check out their store brand because if there's ever a problem you can exchange it for a brand new one, no questions asked. I was impressed with the quality of the cable so I bought it. They also had the correct battery for my Snark tuner. Aaaaaaand I almost waked out of there with an SVT! They had a used SVT 2-PRO head (all tube) for $749!!! If I didn't already have one, I would have grabbed this one. I was thinking it would be cool to have a second one as a back up... but I just couldn't justify spending the money so close to the holidays. I know GC gets ragged on alot around here, but it's really not fair. They're not all bad!!

GC online is ok too, their used gear often contains hidden gems if you dig.
Picked up my avatar (great condition $149) and a few other un-common items of interest for dirt.
Love their cash return policy, 45 days now, I think.

 

[Chrisk-K]

My local GC has paid me 60-65% of the original street price of the gear I sold. I have no complaint.

 

[TBPlayerOC]

I recently bought a used microphone from a GC in the south that was listed as "Excellent Condition". The mic arrived and I hooked it up to my mixer and got tons of static. Took it back to my local GC and the manager refunded everything, including the shipping fee

I have 4 GCs near me and have really not encountered any negatives.

 

[lfmn16]

Somebody goes into guitar center 20 times without a problem, they don't post anything. They go in the 21st time and there's a problem all of a sudden guitar center sucks and they feel a need to tell the world.

 

[rmayer]

Yes, you'll get good and bad stories about GC. Personally, I just don't like their business model. But that's what comes from parent company Bain Capital. Every month you hear that GC is closing because Bain pulled out as much cash as they could and left GC to pay the bills. The local GC, when I was in NJ, bought a local music store, then got rid of most of the great sales and tech people, gutted the store of interesting instruments and became Walmart.

 

[Chrisk-K]

a cross between the apathy of the DMV and the predatory vibe of a car dealership.

Perhaps the most profound remark ever made at TB!!

 

[Williethump]

They are middlemen like a pawnshop so expect trade offers ~ 50-60%-normal. I got a nice mim jazz for $250 and my beautiful used Yamaha mango top student bass was only $109 plus tax. They recently gave me a 10% discount on the entire purchase cause the textbook was shopworn. Best of all, you can walk back to the thumproom and try

every bass on the wall that you can reach! Highly recommended.
WT

 

[wintremute]

There are so many other online options for quality instruments, be it value priced or high end, that's where I spend my time.

I think that applies to pretty much everything these days. The internet, by default, has a larger selection to shop from for pretty much everything. I do very little shopping in stores these days.

However, whenever I go to my local GC, I almost always have a positive experience.

 

[bearfoot]

Just because you're there to buy something doesn't mean the staff are obliged to kiss your posterior.

More often than bad staff, I see grumpy old dudes with zero social skills, engaging in the strange ritual of purposely flashing around a hundred bucks, and expecting everyone to jump up and down for them, and then using their lack of enthusiasm as an excuse to go off and behave like a jackass.

Expect minor incompetence at GC, and all will be well.

More often than not, the staff there forget to take down sale signs. If you catch this, you'll get the sale price every time. When buying used gear, get the extra plan from them. It makes returns much easier, even months later.

A Guitar Center is not a shoe-shine station, in other words. Get used to it. Most of the time, the staff are allright.

 

[Charlzm]

The last several times I've gone to my local Guitar Center, I've had absolutely positive experiences. I needed a small mixer for my in-ears, the salesperson found me exactly what I needed and it was cheaper than expected. The other day I stopped in there to buy a new cable. I was about to purchase a nice BOSS right angle, but the salesperson recommended I check out their store brand because if there's ever a problem you can exchange it for a brand new one, no questions asked. I was impressed with the quality of the cable so I bought it. They also had the correct battery for my Snark tuner. Aaaaaaand I almost waked out of there with an SVT! They had a used SVT 2-PRO head (all tube) for $749!!! If I didn't already have one, I would have grabbed this one. I was thinking it would be cool to have a second one as a back up... but I just couldn't justify spending the money so close to the holidays. I know GC gets ragged on alot around here, but it's really not fair. They're not all bad!!

Totally store-to-store and a lot of it depends on management's tone and who they get in to work.
The GC's in my area are places I am sorry I visited every time I go in. That would be the flagship Hollywood store, Sherman Oaks and Santa Clarita.

Example: I recently needed a set of flatwound strings for a 5 string long scale bass.

ONE SET. The Hollywood store had ONE SET. Elixirs, and they were $50.00 after tax. I was going to ask one of the associates at the counter in the string section if there were any others, but there was one guy who was swamped with about a dozen customers.

I walked across the street to Sam Ash and... they had ZERO sets to choose from.

With Jason shutting down Bass Strings Online recently, I wound up ordering strings from... TalkBass.

But back to GC - the last time I was in the Sherman Oaks store about a year ago, I tried to just buy a strap. I wound up leaving after 30 minutes because there was literally nobody to ring up all the customers waiting to make a purchase. I alerted the corporate office through their feedback form and they emailed me back and apologized and assured me this wouldn't happen again.

Having worked at that very store for a few years a few years ago, I know what that promise was worth.

There are some good and some great people working at the GCs I am familiar with; if you can find them, stick with them. Call ahead to make sure your guys(s)/woman/women are there before you make the trip. Only deal with that person.

 

[Charlzm]

Your experience is particular to that store with that particular crop of employees. My local GC (Braintree Mass) used to be pretty good, but has tremendous turnover in employees. I get in their 3-4 times a year and literally never see the same employees twice. It's not surprising given the poor pay, no benefits, and lack of commissions. The bass department is small and rarely upgraded, the salesman all guitarists who don't know much about bass. It's a franchise, so what kind of service you get depends on who's running it, like your local Macdonald's. People gripe about what they see personally. Count yourself lucky to have a good GC in your area, enjoy it while it lasts!

All GCs are owned by the company. As of now, there are no franchised locations. So, blame goes to corporate for anything that's not right.

 

[basscapes]

i've found GC and SA to be OK for some things...sometimes.

I'll call it out publicly- the store I was at twice was in Wichita, KS.

 

[Charlzm]

Stopped in today for strings. As usual, there is a line to check out and a GC employee just watching. Another GC employee, a true hero, rushed over, took me over to his register and got me checked out pronto.

I wish they had a comment box by the door.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/customer-service/