Guitar center wiped out!

there aren't many used basses I like being sold currently for some reason so sumpm's goin on

 

Right Now most Guitar centers only have 20 or so basses where normally they have 70+. From what I was told they can't even order new stock when they sell something. Don't know if this is the Predicted end of GC or not but it does not look good.

 

I didn't now Tascam recorders were also phones

I think you meant SD cards.

 

I went to my GC last week to take a peak at a few basses and their selection was lacking. I never even pulled one off the wall. They usually at least have options on most configurations/price points, but they did not have one single 5 string Jazz (or clone) that was under $1500. They typically have about 50 basses - only about 20 on this visit.

Maybe they aren't taking on used gear right now?

 

You do know they have filed for bankruptcy protection.

Low inventory would be inevitable.

 

They filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in November. There is a good chance that their ability to buy used/reorder stock is being limited. Likely a blend of...

1. Limited ordering capacity due to limitations in place while they go through bankruptcy. While I am not an expert on bankruptcy, I could see it limiting their ability to make purchases.

2. Inability to place order from suppliers on credit. Again not an expert, but even if they are allowed to still order on credit (and I am not sure if they are or not), I doubt any supplier is going to let them do it.

 

While they certainly had more stock pre-bankruptcy, they never had more than 1 or 2 in store that even remotely interested me. I’ve needed to order most everything from them for years. Even strings.

The guys were cool... I liked talking to them.

 

I was last in GC in orange CT 2 weeks ago. They had a variety of basses ( about 10) but lots of empty spaces. I was thinking due to the holidays.
The GC in Danbury had maybe a dozen if I recollect correctly, but they were all different manufacturers compared to the Orange location. But they did seem well stocked in everything.

 

Same with my local GC. I think what ahadl2500 said above regarding their limitations due to bankruptcy are spot on. I talked to the manager of my local GC and he says he's not worried about GC closing their doors. He could've just been selling me though!

 

I used to go to the local GC about once every other week (sometimes more frequently) just to see if they had anything I couldn't live without but since the pandemic started I haven't been there once.

 

I went in there a few weeks ago to get some cables that my local shop didn't have and it looked like they were in the middle of doing inventory, and there wasn't much there.

 

Mid December, I had a next-day need for a computer audio interface, so I stopped by GC. They didn't have any interfaces in stock! There was a Focusrite 2i2 sitting on a shelf behind the counter. I said, "What about this?" The guy said it was a return that the guy didn't need and wasn't sure if it was listed in the inventory. He checked, it was available, so I took it. One the way out I cruised through the store and there were a lot of empty shelves and empty wall hangers.

 

Went to a GC in the Phoenix area just after Christmas. They were wiped out. 7 Basses on the wall. The excuse, they got hit hard over the holidays. Went back 5 days later... the same. Checked out Sam Ash, they looked pretty rough, but not as bad. Still, less than 10 basses and a lot of wall space.

I'm thinking it's not just GC having a hard time.

 

The GCs in my area have gotten really sparse. But to a lesser degree so has the Sam Ash; about half the usual number of basses on the wall, and aside from a couple Fender Rumbles and Hartkes all the amps were used. Sam Ash doesn't have a credit line problem like GC has, so vendors should be happy to ship to them as usual. I think it's just the times.

 

Part of the problem may be in their used instrument handling. I made money off them over time.
On one bass I bought from them for $475 a few years back, last year they gave me $550 in credit toward another instrument. A used guitar I bought from them for $1700 regularly sells, in the condition mine is in (near pristine), over $2500. A used bass I bought from them last year for $900 regularly sells, in its excellent condition, for well over $1500.

Cash flow without profit is not a winning formula.

 

I think it may be a combination of: Holidays, covid, inventory reduction for asset value adjustment related to chapter 11 and credit limitations until bankruptcy is settled. So pretty much all of the above are factors.

 

Probably a combination of things - chapter 11, COVID limited production, Christmas, not wanting to carry as much inventory over into the next calendar year, etc. They did close a local GC that was in a small mall and not a very good location from the beginning. They had blowout sales on inventory rather than moving it to one of the local stores. That last part had me thinking that the end is nigh, but it could just be how they handle store closings.