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Guitar center wiped out!

#81
Peteyboy said:
More Guitar Center yadda yadda? I've been playing bass since 1982 and I think I've done business with GC twice. Judging by all the anxiety on TB about it I'm guessing I'm in the minority. If GC disappeared tomorrow what would we all do? Everyone seems to fluctuate between griping about them and freaking out over their perceived demise. Weird and pervasive retail co-dependance. Is there some reason why I should worry about the K Mart of guitars going away?
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Becuase they are the means of moving the majority of product for a huge number of manufactures.

Some will go on without it. Some would lose out of lots of money and then have nobody to display their stuff on a shelf for people to see.
 
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#82
MordBass said:
Well for starters, there is usually a goldmine of used gear available there at really good prices and a solid return policy in case it doesnt show up in the condition you want. Additionally, they might be the K-mart of guitars but theyre also the starting point for lots of kids getting into playing. If you like seeing companies that make gear, you're going to want new people to start playing.
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If Bed Bath and Beyond went under I'd probably find towels somewhere.
 
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#84
MordBass said:
Well for starters, there is usually a goldmine of used gear available there at really good prices and a solid return policy in case it doesnt show up in the condition you want. Additionally, they might be the K-mart of guitars but theyre also the starting point for lots of kids getting into playing. If you like seeing companies that make gear, you're going to want new people to start playing.
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Another great point Mordy:

GC is great for kids that just want to try stuff out without a salesperson(owner) breathing down their neck pressuring them to buy or freaking out that the kid may break the instrument.
 
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#85
Admiral Akbar said:
Another great point Mordy:

GC is great for kids that just want to try stuff out without a salesperson(owner) breathing down their neck pressuring them to buy or freaking out that the kid may break the instrument.
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and pre-covid, they had a huge variety of stuff. I remember being a kid and getting super motivated to keep learning and playing after my first trip to guitar center. So much stuff from that magazines that i was seeing in the flesh for the first time.
And think about the DJ's and guys that run sound for their bands. Most mom n' pops dont exactly stock subs, stacks and racks for PA gear.
 
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#87
Peteyboy said:
More Guitar Center yadda yadda? I've been playing bass since 1982 and I think I've done business with GC twice. Judging by all the anxiety on TB about it I'm guessing I'm in the minority. If GC disappeared tomorrow what would we all do? Everyone seems to fluctuate between griping about them and freaking out over their perceived demise. Weird and pervasive retail co-dependance. Is there some reason why I should worry about the K Mart of guitars going away?
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You shouldn’t! Feel free to move on to a blog you’re actually interested in!
 
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#92
GC does provide some value to musicians as a whole, I think. Comparing them to a local independent music store isn't really a good comparison because they offer different value propositions.

I really only go into GC to browse, or if I want something right now and they are the only place that has it. Generally I'll try to buy things at the local music store otherwise. They have the strings and picks and things that are my day-to-day needs, and can order anything else that I'm not in a hurry for.
 
#93
COYS said:
GC does provide some value to musicians as a whole, I think. Comparing them to a local independent music store isn't really a good comparison because they offer different value propositions.

I really only go into GC to browse, or if I want something right now and they are the only place that has it. Generally I'll try to buy things at the local music store otherwise. They have the strings and picks and things that are my day-to-day needs, and can order anything else that I'm not in a hurry for.
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Truth. I was looking up reviews of some multi-fx options last month and decided on a Line6 PodGo. Swung by GC on my lunch break and grabbed one as well as set of DR strings. Certainly didn't have that at the local shops that are still in business... and the ones that are gone never carried that stuff anyways. They mostly catered to starter gear since their margin was all focused on lessons.
 
#97
NortyFiner said:
It ain't haute cuisine, but it will keep you from going hungry. Same principle applies.
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Very well understood...and I have partaken in both Mickey D's and G.C. I am not above either if that's just the way it all falls together, situationally.

But the other dude was speaking of G.C. as if they are actually pretty good.

Sorry...but no. Just plain no. They occasionally attract and hold a good employee or two, but as a company and an "environment," they're pretty much tasteless garbage.

I have been known to shop there from time to time (I love it when they make big pricing mistakes)...but I have no strange illusions about what they are.
 

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