Guitar Center Screwed Me Again

[rogerbmiller]

That means this has to happen all the time. This can't be good business practice. How many disgruntled customers are out there because of this?!

Also, it's only in about the last year that they put everything on this new online system. Before that, it was a lot harder for a store to sell the same item to multiple people. That said, it did happen to me a couple of times back then. Law of large numbers I guess!

 

[DeliriumTremens]

The bolded part is what gets me. I hope you didn't have any issues getting the payment reversed.

It doesn't charge the card until the order is confirmed and ships.

 

[inluvwithsara]

Having worked retail, even in the pre computer dark ages, there is no excuse for piss poor inventories. It is a bad system or bad employees or bad management or a little of each. Many times have I seen something out of stock and yet there is 10 on their shelf, or there system says there are 15 and their coworker says they have not had them in weeks. Multiple locations. The sad part is that it is so corporate run, making it impossible to stock things not dictated.

 

[rogerbmiller]

The bolded part is what gets me. I hope you didn't have any issues getting the payment reversed.

I don't think it will be an issue. But even if they hold it for a short while, multiple this by thousands of pieces of used gear that can potentially be sold to multiple people, and they could be trapping a lot of cash.

 

[RyanJD]

The exact same happened to me. I bought a bass from their site and a day later I got an email saying that the item was "back ordered". Called support and they told me it had been sold in store. Is it possible it actually had sold in store before I pulled the trigger? Yes. Is it likely it was "sold" in store after I had purchased it online? I think yes.
It sucked. I was pretty disappointed. But there was nothing I could do. I found a similar deal down the road, at least.

 

[rogerbmiller]

The exact same happened to me. I bought a bass from their site and a day later I got an email saying that the item was "back ordered". Called support and they told me it had been sold in store. Is it possible it actually had sold in store before I pulled the trigger? Yes. Is it likely it was "sold" in store after I had purchased it online? I think yes.
It sucked. I was pretty disappointed. But there was nothing I could do. I found a similar deal down the road, at least.

It's unacceptable. And it's also unacceptable that they send an email saying it is "back ordered."

Because it's not backordered. And they won't find you another. And if they have another asking more $ at another stor, they won't always price match it for you to make the situation right.

They have to know this. Such deceptive practice.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

This morning while perusing the GC used website I found a MusicMan USA Sub bass in Blue for a good price so without hesitation, I pulled the trigger and ordered online.

Immediately after placing the order, as I would expect, the listing on their website changed to read "This Item Is No Longer Available."

I go about my day only to receive an email later saying "Your Order is Out of Stock."

GC Sold the bass to someone else. They had the bass listed as abailable, took my CC payment, and later told me they sold it to someone else.

This has happened to me several times even though once is far too many times.

There were no other 4 strings in inventory and even if there were, they would not guarantee giving me one at the same price because it is up to each and every store. Which is the line I got the last few times this happened.

This makes me wonder what is the point of using their website. I am livid and wanted to share this with the world because this is horrible customer service.

They told me that several people could order the same item online so they take the first one that comes up in the queue.

We read about them being in financial duress so I wonder if this is a ploy to trap cash.

Livid! I have bought over 200 used basses from them. You would think they would want to help me figure something out...

No excuse for this, especially since they charged your card and the deal went through. Their excuse that someone made the purchase at the same time doesn't fly -- If eBay can prevent two people from pushing the "Buy It Now" button at the same time, then GC can do the same.

 

[rogerbmiller]

No excuse for this, especially since they charged your card and the deal went through. Their excuse that someone made the purchase at the same time doesn't fly -- If eBay can prevent two people from pushing the "Buy It Now" button at the same time, then GC can do the same.

Excellent point.

 

[Turnaround]

Stuff can sell in store before the website updated. This isn't 'bad customer service'. Call the store first to see if it's still available

Yah but what's the excuse for not immediately updating the web site? Too busy to be in the game?

 

[buldog5151bass]

Yes we do. All of their used gear is for sale in a store. All of it. And no, you don't get rain checks for used gear.

That's my point. If it were a new item which would be restocked, he could get a rain check for it. And we DON'T know if the person who got the bass bought it on line or in a store. Especially if it were in a store, you could understand why the website was not immediately updated.

 

[rogerbmiller]

I doubt it. I think Reverb is mostly taking business from eBay as local guitar stores who had used it to expand their market switch to Reverb.

I think not also affects GC. Think about it. You have a platform where you can sell your gear to an international market place. And there are tons of resources included for 3.5% including a team of musicians who work there and develop price guides and other content that makes your gear more attractive.

GC has to trade in gear and offensively low prices to sell at market price profitably.

They list gear usually with one poor quality photo and no meaningful item description.

And stuff like this can happen to buyers.

Torched.

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

That's my point. If it were a new item which would be restocked, he could get a rain check for it. And we DON'T know if the person who got the bass bought it on line or in a store. Especially if it were in a store, you could understand why the website was not immediately updated.

The website may not be updated, but once the sale is made, it should be impossible to charge it on CC, PayPal or anything else.

 

[Turnaround]

And I can tell you for a fact that the in store system and the online one are two different entities.

Then don't use the online system to sell in-store products. It's just a gripe waiting to happen.

 

[RyanJD]

It's unacceptable. And it's also unacceptable that they send an email saying it is "back ordered."

Because it's not backordered. And they won't find you another. And if they have another asking more $ at another stor, they won't always price match it for you to make the situation right.

They have to know this. Such deceptive practice.

I 100% agree with you. But other than boycott Guitar Center (lol) what is there to do?
Anyways, it comes down to sleezeball practices of employees at the individual stores, I would imagine...

 

[Turnaround]

The website may not be updated, but once the sale is made, it should be impossible to charge it on CC, PayPal or anything else.

BINGO!

 

[BassFishingInAmerica]

I 100% agree with you. But other than boycott Guitar Center (lol) what is there to do?
Anyways, it comes down to sleezeball practices of employees at the individual stores, I would imagine...

You can always get on TB and rant.

 

[Anachronism]

If Guitar Center spent the money to update their online inventory and sales system, they would also have to raise their prices. You clearly love the bargains that their low-cost approach gives you (200 basses, really?) but complain about the inevitable drawbacks. You want better customer service? Shop somewhere with better customer services.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Then don't use the online system to sell in-store products. It's just a gripe waiting to happen.

Exactly.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

This morning while perusing the GC used website I found a MusicMan USA Sub bass in Blue for a good price so without hesitation, I pulled the trigger and ordered online.

Immediately after placing the order, as I would expect, the listing on their website changed to read "This Item Is No Longer Available."

I go about my day only to receive an email later saying "Your Order is Out of Stock."

GC Sold the bass to someone else. They had the bass listed as abailable, took my CC payment, and later told me they sold it to someone else.

This has happened to me several times even though once is far too many times.

There were no other 4 strings in inventory and even if there were, they would not guarantee giving me one at the same price because it is up to each and every store. Which is the line I got the last few times this happened.

This makes me wonder what is the point of using their website. I am livid and wanted to share this with the world because this is horrible customer service.

They told me that several people could order the same item online so they take the first one that comes up in the queue.

We read about them being in financial duress so I wonder if this is a ploy to trap cash.

Livid! I have bought over 200 used basses from them. You would think they would want to help me figure something out...

You didn't get what you wanted - you weren't "Screwed" - you were disappointed. You'll get your money back - and please explain: "This has happened to me several times even though once is far too many times." - if all you do is watch their web site for great deals so you can flip a bass / make a buck, guess what - you're not alone and I don't think you'll find a lot of sympathy here.

 

[RobBottom69]

I recently bought a G&L and a Sterling Ray34 online at GC and the G&L went straight to "This Item no longer available" but the Ray34 showed as still available for a couple more days or so. I almost thought I was going to have an issue with it.