I havn't had any problems with my local GC in Millbury, MA. I can go in and browse all I want, and I don't get bothered, possibly because I'm old and I sound like I know what I'm doing. It is what it is.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Guitar Center Opinion?
- Thread starter bordinco90
- Start date
pablomigraine
Commercial User
I'm on their email distribution list.... from what I see there's like maybe 10 days in a year where there isn't some kind of 10% off / 15% off / $100 off $750 or more / buy two get one coupon or special or something going on.... I don't think I've ever paid full price for anything there ever.... but from reading around talkbass it seems each location is kinda an island to itself and is a reflection of that particular store's management....
A GC just opened up in the SW Houston area during the holidays which prevents me from now going to the other one on Westheimer (close to downtown Houston) and the staff has always been very helpful and courteous. I've purchased 90% of my equipment from them and on plan on doing so in the future.
There was one time the bass salesman was rude to me after he heard me play and I told him (at the time) I had been playing the bass for 2 years. After that he ignored me completely everytime I went into the store but oh well.
There was one time the bass salesman was rude to me after he heard me play and I told him (at the time) I had been playing the bass for 2 years. After that he ignored me completely everytime I went into the store but oh well.
pablomigraine
Commercial User
Being a former manager for a similar company, hearing that sort of thing ticks me off. Make sure to mention it to his manager next time you're there.... sure they don't make a lot but their JOB DESCRIPTION is to be friendly and helpful....
I have gotten some great deals at GC. I've bought two basses there and my GK 700RB II's as well as one of my Acoustic 106 cabs. I go there for Rotosounds and just bought a Peterson Stmp Classic tuner there. I don't really have any complaints except that they really should try to have the guitars that are for sale set up so that they are playable. I've seen some basses there where the necks were total ski jump ramps and were completly unplayable.
I do have one major complaint about them that is rather recent but will refrain from discussing here in an open, public forum.
I do have one major complaint about them that is rather recent but will refrain from discussing here in an open, public forum.
I have a long, multiple level detailed story about GC. and so avoid them like the plague. Normally I encourage my friends and any one who will listen to shop mom and pops if they can. And avoid GC with purpose and vim. My hope though somewhat against the whole mom and pop thing, is Best Buy gets their music instrument thing going, as to me they are the anit-GC, in many categories.
There are two GC's in Baltimore area and one in DC area.B'more stores have a little bit better used selection but the staff @ DC store is slightly better.No one can touch Chuck Levin's though,my go to store.
My feelings about our local Guitar Center is the employees I have dealt with are just short of used car salesman.
I recently went in with hopes of finding a nice used different kind of guitar than one I already had. After finding a Black Strat with Maple neck, marked as a 1989 Am Std for $749, I looked for a salesman to ask about if it had a case, whammy bar and missing rubber cap for the pickup selector.
He said it should as he looked at the back of the tag and went in back for about 5 minutes. Upon his return he said there was no case that he could find belonging to that guitar.
The cynic in me says it had a nice tweed case that they would be able to sell separately to make up $$$ they were taking off the guitar to move it to me. I almost told them I did not want it unless they found the case. Then the salesman said he could throw in a cheap case all for $700 something. Well, I said nah, how about a price w/o case. He said he could do $660.
Well, I said I could come back the next day with my check book and prior to leaving I told him I could leave a deposit. He said no need but he would not be there the next day. So he had his co worker hear us discuss the price so he could handle it when I'd come in to pay. Well, the next day I called 45 minutes ahead of time to speak to the co worker to ready my guitar. He asked me if he could call me back because he had to verify that it was still there. I then asked him why would it NOT be there? He said well I never put a deposit on it so heck someone in Alaska could have bought it online out from under me.
BS is what I said to myself. Also, I took a chance to ask him to look for the missing case. He said "if the other salesman could not find it, it wasn't there." Anyway, he called back to say the guitar was still available so I drove to get it. My last effort for me to restore my good faith feeling or still have that "used car saleman" feeling came when I asked if he could throw in a pair of strings. I was flat out refused as he said they were already cutting off nearly $100 bux off marked price and "he was doing the other salesman a favor" by handling his deal during his day off.
If I didn't like this Maple Necked Strat so much I would have told them to pound sand. I guess Y'all know how I feel about GC now!! Usually I buy all New Gear at my mom and pop music stores, and my used gear off Ebay or Craigs.
I recently went in with hopes of finding a nice used different kind of guitar than one I already had. After finding a Black Strat with Maple neck, marked as a 1989 Am Std for $749, I looked for a salesman to ask about if it had a case, whammy bar and missing rubber cap for the pickup selector.
He said it should as he looked at the back of the tag and went in back for about 5 minutes. Upon his return he said there was no case that he could find belonging to that guitar.
The cynic in me says it had a nice tweed case that they would be able to sell separately to make up $$$ they were taking off the guitar to move it to me. I almost told them I did not want it unless they found the case. Then the salesman said he could throw in a cheap case all for $700 something. Well, I said nah, how about a price w/o case. He said he could do $660.
Well, I said I could come back the next day with my check book and prior to leaving I told him I could leave a deposit. He said no need but he would not be there the next day. So he had his co worker hear us discuss the price so he could handle it when I'd come in to pay. Well, the next day I called 45 minutes ahead of time to speak to the co worker to ready my guitar. He asked me if he could call me back because he had to verify that it was still there. I then asked him why would it NOT be there? He said well I never put a deposit on it so heck someone in Alaska could have bought it online out from under me.
BS is what I said to myself. Also, I took a chance to ask him to look for the missing case. He said "if the other salesman could not find it, it wasn't there." Anyway, he called back to say the guitar was still available so I drove to get it. My last effort for me to restore my good faith feeling or still have that "used car saleman" feeling came when I asked if he could throw in a pair of strings. I was flat out refused as he said they were already cutting off nearly $100 bux off marked price and "he was doing the other salesman a favor" by handling his deal during his day off.
If I didn't like this Maple Necked Strat so much I would have told them to pound sand. I guess Y'all know how I feel about GC now!! Usually I buy all New Gear at my mom and pop music stores, and my used gear off Ebay or Craigs.
I have always had a good opinion of Levins. Not so much can be said for my Baltimore GC's. Just read my long winded post if it appears here ----->>>My feelings about our local Guitar Center is the employees I have dealt with are just short of used car salesman.
I recently went in with hopes of finding a nice used different kind of guitar than one I already had. After finding a Black Strat with Maple neck, marked as a 1989 Am Std for $749, I looked for a salesman to ask about if it had a case, whammy bar and missing rubber cap for the pickup selector.
He said it should as he looked at the back of the tag and went in back for about 5 minutes. Upon his return he said there was no case that he could find belonging to that guitar.
The cynic in me says it had a nice tweed case that they would be able to sell separately to make up $$$ they were taking off the guitar to move it to me. I almost told them I did not want it unless they found the case. Then the salesman said he could throw in a cheap case all for $700 something. Well, I said nah, how about a price w/o case. He said he could do $660.
Well, I said I could come back the next day with my check book and prior to leaving I told him I could leave a deposit. He said no need but he would not be there the next day. He had his co worker hear us discuss the price so he could handle it when I'd come in to pay. Well, the next day I called 45 minutes ahead of time to speak to the co worker to ready my guitar. He asked me if he could call me back because he had to verify that it was still there. I then asked him why would it NOT be there? He said well I never put a deposit on it so heck someone in Alaska could have bought it online out from under me.
BS is what I said to myself. Also, I took a chance to ask him to look for the missing case. He said "if the other salesman could not find it, it wasn't there." Anyway, he called back to say the guitar was still available so I drove to get it. My last effort for me to restore my good faith feeling or still have that "used car salesman" feeling came when I asked if he could throw in a set of strings. I was flat out refused as he said they were already cutting off nearly $100 bux off marked price and "he was doing the other salesman a favor" by handling his deal during his day off.
If I didn't like this Maple Necked Strat so much I would have told them to pound sand. I guess Y'all know how I feel about GC now!! Usually I buy all New Gear at my mom and pop music stores, and my used gear off Ebay or Craigs.
I recently went in with hopes of finding a nice used different kind of guitar than one I already had. After finding a Black Strat with Maple neck, marked as a 1989 Am Std for $749, I looked for a salesman to ask about if it had a case, whammy bar and missing rubber cap for the pickup selector.
He said it should as he looked at the back of the tag and went in back for about 5 minutes. Upon his return he said there was no case that he could find belonging to that guitar.
The cynic in me says it had a nice tweed case that they would be able to sell separately to make up $$$ they were taking off the guitar to move it to me. I almost told them I did not want it unless they found the case. Then the salesman said he could throw in a cheap case all for $700 something. Well, I said nah, how about a price w/o case. He said he could do $660.
Well, I said I could come back the next day with my check book and prior to leaving I told him I could leave a deposit. He said no need but he would not be there the next day. He had his co worker hear us discuss the price so he could handle it when I'd come in to pay. Well, the next day I called 45 minutes ahead of time to speak to the co worker to ready my guitar. He asked me if he could call me back because he had to verify that it was still there. I then asked him why would it NOT be there? He said well I never put a deposit on it so heck someone in Alaska could have bought it online out from under me.
BS is what I said to myself. Also, I took a chance to ask him to look for the missing case. He said "if the other salesman could not find it, it wasn't there." Anyway, he called back to say the guitar was still available so I drove to get it. My last effort for me to restore my good faith feeling or still have that "used car salesman" feeling came when I asked if he could throw in a set of strings. I was flat out refused as he said they were already cutting off nearly $100 bux off marked price and "he was doing the other salesman a favor" by handling his deal during his day off.
If I didn't like this Maple Necked Strat so much I would have told them to pound sand. I guess Y'all know how I feel about GC now!! Usually I buy all New Gear at my mom and pop music stores, and my used gear off Ebay or Craigs.
GC's parent company Bain Capital has been in the news a lot lately.
They now own GC, Musician's Friend, Music 123, Woodwindand Brasswind, Music and Arts, ...
I actually doubt GC would be in business if Bain Capital had not bought them, but I sure have mixed feelings.
I have never had a problem with the people that work at the GC's. Or really any of the other internet companies. I don't see some systemic hiring practices where they hire only jerks. Maybe some of the good people working there will quit and start their own store.
They now own GC, Musician's Friend, Music 123, Woodwindand Brasswind, Music and Arts, ...
I actually doubt GC would be in business if Bain Capital had not bought them, but I sure have mixed feelings.
I have never had a problem with the people that work at the GC's. Or really any of the other internet companies. I don't see some systemic hiring practices where they hire only jerks. Maybe some of the good people working there will quit and start their own store.
Here in Richmond the GC and Sam Ash are literally spitting distance, so when I go shopping I just hit both places since you can walk from one to the other if you're healthy. I had the stereotypical bad experiences with them until the last trip I took and actually found a good knowledgeable guy to help me out even though I was just looking for a case. They do have some good used stuff in our store though.
I will never buy another bass from them ever again. bought a used G&L ASAT from the guitar center in NYC and the truss rod was maxed out on it. When i went in there again to pick up a new bass i bought with the store credit, the same ASAT was right back on the wall for sale. I told the manager it was wrong to sell it and he basically told me hes not taking it down
The new GC in Omaha Nebraska has been nothing but good to me. We got one of their larger outlets, with rehearsal studios for rent available, etc. I got my first Ampeg PF500 head, which had some issues, exchanged with no hassle. The staff is great, and I've nothing to gripe about so far.
My experiences have been very unsatisfying. It seems like there are always too many people banging away on equipment they will never buy, poorly maintained demo equipment, and staff that doesn't know their products and who try to push gear on you that is of no interest.
sj_bass
Supporting Member
+1
My local GC's practice are at the least ignorant (not knowing the difference between an instrument cord and a speaker cord) and at the most criminal (mis-marked prices on said cords).
Because someone that dosen't know any better might buy it.
You either make the sales numbers they expect you to make or you are toast. Why take the chance at taking away a sale to pad your stats??
Guitar Center makes a lot of quality gear available to people who could not try it out any other way. Their Markbass and Acoustic amps alone make them a business that provides a great service to bassists. As an experienced bassist, I know that they don't maintain their stock very well. Buying a bass that has been on the wall at GC for a while, I know that I will have to set it up myself or pay someone to do it. Their return policy is great so if I do buy a bad product, it is not a problem to return it.
It's just a store! What do you expect?
If they have something that you want or need, buy it. If not, leave.
My guess is that the wannabe "rock stars" that work there get tired of having to babysit the wannabe "rock stars" that hang out there.
If they have something that you want or need, buy it. If not, leave.
My guess is that the wannabe "rock stars" that work there get tired of having to babysit the wannabe "rock stars" that hang out there.
I live in clearwater and the one I have here has a small room just for bass and cabs. I like it and I ussually go there for jammin on basses and random guitars.
They are really cool crew.
They are really cool crew.
