Well, I always tell the salesman, "I don't want to put you on beans and franks, so make yourself some money, but make me feel special." Bottom line, they don't have to move on price, and I don't have to buy the item. There are no guns involved.
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How much will Guitar Center come down on a price ???
- Thread starter Davyo
- Start date
+10, buddy. It's not our job to support GC sales employees, it's GC's job. If they aren't doing it, time to quit.
1. I DO have a real job. And I DO work hard to the money to buy my gear. Please re-read my original post where I said I used to work there in the summers during college and that I completely understand the need to find something at the lowest price possible. This is why I suggest buying used. If you're buying new, you're forfeiting the opportunity to get the best deal automatically. If you don't have much money, you shouldn't do this.
2. I'm not saying the employees don't get screwed and misinformed by corporate in many ways, including with inaccurate pricing information. I don't see how that changes my argument. Plus, I think I talked about this in the post you quoted, in response to Munji's post.
3. I don't think you understand how the commission structure works. It isn't "some" of the commission, it's nearly all of it for modest discounts. I don't know about GC, but at Sam Ash, you have reach a certain threshold in sales before you get to see any of it anyway, which can be very difficult during hard times. Try comparing it to a gas station clerk? Guess what? It's exactly the same when you can't break your base. Minimum wage. There were weeks when the entire drum department didn't break base. NO one made any commission.
4. I was actually a very good salesmen when I was there, despite limited training and experience. I was consistently in the top three in monthly numbers throughout the store. I made more money than most everyone there, but that doesn't mean a lot of guys weren't struggling despite their best efforts.
5. It has NOTHING to do with being a good salesman anyway. If we're talking price and pinching pennies, the item is already sold for its benefits. This is simply a matter of self-righteous people that feel like they deserve something for nothing. You'd be pretty angry if your salary fluctuated with what your clients felt like they should pay. It isn't like this in every industry. Have you ever gone into Target and haggled the price of a desk chair? What about a gas station? What gives you the right do it in a guitar store?
The bottom line is that if you want the best deal on an item, you buy it used. There is no benefit to busting someone's balls at the store for you, unless it helps you boost your ego. If you can't afford an amp at $549, you can't afford it at $515. Buy it used for $300 and inspire someone to go out and get something else.
just get to become good friends with a manager @ one, and you'll never pay above cost ever again. on ANYTHING 
I always say "fair" price. Of course, I will not pass up on a steal, but I always offer a fair price.
Agreed. I am just saying that it is childish, and may taint future deals if you whip out cash and start waving around and ranting on your way out the door.
Being a good salesman does have something to do with it. Everytime I go into my local GC they make an effort to look away or find something else to do so they don't even have to say hi to you. And if I did buy something from there I wonder who would get the commission? The girl working the register at the door? Because when I'm there No one on the floor makes any effort to help, if I have a question I have to hunt someone down and they seem pretty pissed to have to work the entire time I've talked to them.
Also it's the same with waiters/waitresses. Tips are so expected that good service is going out of style. However when I do get good service (even though it's pretty rare) I always make sure to tip alot better.
Also if I ever got good service at a place like GC I'd say I'd be less likely to try to haggle with prices (new or used) because the service and info they gave are worth the extra few bucks. But if me just walking in is going to be a burden then I'll make sure it is for you then.
If I had cash and wanted to purchase the said cabinet I would walk in with $350 and tell them I will pay this for the cabinet out the door. Have an extra fifty in the other pocket just in case.
All they can say is no. They may be hurting more than you think and the salesman might just want to make some commish.
If they say no just thank them politely and head for the door. Come back in a week and make the offer again.
This stuff can be fun if you are not a "I have to have it right now" person.
Stay away from their credit card.
All they can say is no. They may be hurting more than you think and the salesman might just want to make some commish.
If they say no just thank them politely and head for the door. Come back in a week and make the offer again.
This stuff can be fun if you are not a "I have to have it right now" person.
Stay away from their credit card.
Very similar to my experiences at Guitar Center. They don't seem very happy to help people. The most useful employee's are usually found in the Pro Sound for some reason.
That's exactly my experience and I've talked with a store manager about it. It's crazy to walk in with money and not have anyone interested in taking it.
If they're not on commission I can see them not giving a crap. When I worked at Sam Goody (CD store) we were suppose to sell this and that, making min wage and no commission on anything whats the point of really pushing anything? I'd help customers because well I felt that was my biggest part of my job.
When you walk into an auto dealership you get hounded with people. But then again my friend went to look at Honda Fits and the salesman told them "we don't make anything off of Fits, if you need me come get me" and walked away.
+1 My guitarist wanted a Les Paul that was listed at like 2400 and the manager said the lowest he could go was 2300 because of the quality of the guitar. He then pulled out 1900 in cash and it was sold.
He doesn't usually carry that much cash around, but its a lot more effective trying to bargain with somebody when they can see the cash, rather than just agree to a number that will be charged on a credit card.
This was a freak incident tho. Happened a couple months ago when the economy was really really really ****** (was?) I wouldn't expect that much off, but they will definitely bargain with you.
The word 'you' is used in the general sense throughout most of this post
I'll ignore the rest 'cos it makes no real sense. What I'm getting at with the gas station thing is - you know what your salary is. As a GC employee salesman, you know you're gonna make minimum wage. You've got it BETTER than the gas station clerk because you can make more if you do a great job - it has nothing to do with your customers, everyone's got the same customers. Some guys make more money and some make less. It rewards the good salespeople and penalizes the bad ones.
And if you aren't good enough to make a good commission, you make what you'd make with your skill level at a gas station so what're you whining about?
If I have money saved up to buy a new bass and it's sticker price is 549, and I get it for 450 - a very common occurrence for me if I decide to buy something new - I get two things a used bass doesn't have:
1) a 1-year warranty or more in most cases
2) a return policy
And I also got it for 100 bucks less than I would have paid. 100 dollars may not seem like much to you with your awesome job, but for some people that's food for a family of four for a week or more depending on how frugal they are.
Hell even 30-50 bucks off is a pretty significant amount of money when it's spent on things other than music gear.
Even if the economy didn't suck I am not going to feel even a twinge of guilt about getting the absolute best deal I can and no one else should either. GC employees knew what they were getting into, and they're welcome to find other jobs if they don't like it.
I worked at GC for a few years.This is fact not opinion.The mark up is not very high on guitars and bass's.There is a pretty good margin on most accessorys.
And there is more mark up on the cheap stuff like Mitchell and Laguna than on
hi end stuff like MM and Fender.
It is tough for most salesmen to make a decent living.That is why there is such a high turn over of employees.I is a pretty fun place to work though.
And there is more mark up on the cheap stuff like Mitchell and Laguna than on
hi end stuff like MM and Fender.
It is tough for most salesmen to make a decent living.That is why there is such a high turn over of employees.I is a pretty fun place to work though.
I don't find it a bit self-righteous to want the best deal for my money. As Munji said the store doesn't have to lower its price and I don't have to spend my money in there. However, I'm not there to meet the sales reps wants & needs, I'm there to meet my own, so I can and do sleep very well at night if they make as little commission as possible off me.
I used to work at Thoroughbred Music before they were bought out by Sam Ash and have held other sales jobs since. I know full well the sales rep and higher ups at all these places do not give a damn about taking you for the most money they can, so that they can feather their nest, so why should I or anyone else care if they make little to no commission on us?
I have gone into other stores like Target, Sears, Best Buy, and asked to speak to manager and told them, I saw the same product cheaper in another store what can you do for me? They will come down in price. Most people just don't think to do that in the type of stores you mentioned.
[quote0The bottom line is that if you want the best deal on an item, you buy it used. There is no benefit to busting someone's balls at the store for you, unless it helps you boost your ego. If you can't afford an amp at $549, you can't afford it at $515. Buy it used for $300 and inspire someone to go out and get something else.[/QUOTE]
I do agree used gear is usually the best value. However, in places like GC and Sam Ash the bass you buy is the one you played hanging on the wall. Though most that I've seen are still in very good condition, they are still demo models, hence IMO making them "used." One should not have to pay new pricing on those and they should be marked down considerably.
Bottom line: It's my money, so I have the power, I am doing them the favor by shopping there. If I don't like the deal or feel I'm being jerked around then I will take my money elsewhere and eventually, find the right deal.
How much can I lowball you to play a gig? I don't think your band is worth what you're asking so if I whip out half of the cash that you want, do you want the gig or not?
It goes both ways. GC is not in the business of selling stuff at their cost and if you don't care about the salesperson and his commissions then go buy it online and shut up.
It goes both ways. GC is not in the business of selling stuff at their cost and if you don't care about the salesperson and his commissions then go buy it online and shut up.
