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How would you want

#21
bassestkkm said:
A bass sold to you?
Say you walked into your local GC and had no idea what you wanted or a vague idea of what you wanted. Other than being irritated with a guy telling you things you didn't want to know, how would you want the specs explained to you? If he person didn't know and looked them up for you would you be okay with that? And would you be okay if said person checked on you once in a while to see if you wanted to try others?
I work at GC and think I'm pretty good about letting customers mesh with the instruments, but I figured I'd ask as well.
Thanks,
Kish
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In the first place, I wouldn't go into a store needing to ask any questions...that's one of the reasons for a place like talkbass.
I feel sorry for anyone who goes into any store to buy anything not properly prepared...there's absolutely no reason to rely on a clerk in any store in this day and age when more reliable help is right at your fingertips.
However, if for some strange reason I did find myself in such a situation, I certainly wouldn't be irritated with someone telling me things I didn't know if I actually did have no idea what I wanted.
If someone took the time to look up any information, yes, that might be helpful, if someone took the time to explain the difference between a passive bass and an active one, if someone explained to me that spending a thousand dollars for a bass wasn't necessary for a beginner (we are talking about beginners, right?) and showed me several good entry-level basses, if someone let me try out a few basses and checked up on me, sure, I'd appreciate it.

The simple truth is, no one's ever sold me a bass. The bass itself does all the selling.
 
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#22
Personally I don't care about specs from a sales rep, I will pull out my phone to get that info if I don't already know, unless the rep is someone I know and respect. My GC seems to do a much better job at putting playable gear on the floor than it used to, although a few slip through the cracks. Can't stand picking up an instrument and its for all practical purposes unplayable. I'm fine with a rep asking me if I need anything, but I'm not a fan of one hovering over me like a drone. Don't like when they spout out BS like its a known fact when they really don't have a clue. Besides that I'm fine with reps!
 
#23
I would like for a salesperson to say, "I'll help you as much, or as little as you'd like me to. And if you have any questions at all, I'd be happy to answer them." And then if they didnt' know the answer, I'd want them to be honest. And if something was their opinion, I'd want them to be honest about that, too.

Should add that I'm not a fan of small talk. I don't like sales people that say things like, "So, you in a band?" That's just me though.
 
#26
1. Setup their basses to actually play.
2. If a bass speaks to me, it will sell itself (rarely happens)

I went in GC this week, and they had a Stingray with the strings bottomed out on the fretboard!

Then went into Sam Ash this morning, only slightly better- they had a used Dimension for $399- great deal, right? Maybe except the jack was completely blown, impossible to even get any signal out of it.

IMHO- GC can't go out of business soon enough.
 
#28
Everyone is different. My grandmother wanted as many salespeople as possible to hover like retainers around a princess. My mother wanted them to pretend she wasn't there. Never saw my father or grandfather shop.

The thing that is most important to me in a salesman, and that I try to practice myself when selling (not music stuff), is to be emotionally detached from the sale. The goal is to make sure the customer gets exactly what the customer wants, even if that's not what you're selling.

That means be completely honest. Selling floor model at a discount? Point at the scratches directly. Don't know an answer? Say so. No suggestions at all until you know what they want.

And most of all, KNOW YOUR STUFF.
 
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#29
Well I guess I should throw in my two cents as well. My methods are as follows, Hey what brings you in today?
If there is an answer I'll guide them over there and ask questions to see what they'd like.
If there's no answer but a general idea I'll direct them and say let me know if you've got any questions and check in ten or so minutes later.
Otherwise I just let customers play. It's an emotional investment of time and money and I don't wanna hinder that experience. If a customer knows what he wants but not what he needs like trying to play a rumble 15 for 300 people then I'll steer them in a direction. Otherwise, my opinions are irrelevant.
Mosstone said:
I may be a different kind of customer. I've been playing for over 30 years, I build and customize basses and guitars, I know the specs and I know what I like. I don't need a salesman orbiting back to me every 20 seconds to ask me "how I'm doing". I don't mind it after 10 or 15 minutes, but give me some time to play with settings and get familiar with the instrument. There's a difference between being 'attentive' and being a nuisance.

Be familiar with what you're selling. One time I was playing a PRS guitar at GC and had a salesman sidle up to me to tell me how great sounding the humbuckers were. I said: "Yeah, considering they're P-90s, they sure are great sounding humbuckers!" I don't care if you have to go look something up, but don't give me an answer that "sounds good" to you if you don't really know.

And for pete's sake, DON'T take the bass out of my hands so you can go slappity-slappity-slap on it for 2 and a half minutes, thinking that I'll be so impressed I'll buy the bass right there on the spot. That will just make me walk out the door.
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This is very true


And in regards to the setup,
The turn around for each instrument is so short that sometimes it's not possible, on the other hand GC has made it near impossible for techs to get paid to set up in house instruments and while they are easy and quick to do, they aren't worth the money if there is none involved. This is something that sucks at the moment
 
#31
As someone who does not have as much knowledge or skill as some on here, I will actually ask if they have someone who knows bass, and ask them for opinions... tell them what I am looking for, and ask for guidance. I have found the GC guys at the Arlington, TX store to be very helpful without being pests.
 
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#32
"Checking how I'm going" is a big no. If you think that "No thanks," changes with the passing of time, you're probably too stupid to be of any use. The first time, you'll get a withering look. The second, you'll be asked to, "Mate, leave me alone."

Assume people mean what they say.
 
#34
I'd just say you need to honestly care that people make the decision that they'll be most happy with. That means discussing all options openly. It means understanding that sometimes it's not the right time for a person to buy a bass. Sometimes when the persons goals or budget mean that they should look at GC alternatives then you shouldn't be afraid to discuss pros and cons of competing channels. Most bass players buy from all sorts of different sources and will return to the ones that did them right. How would you react if a customer you have known for a while came in and was excited to tell you about a bass he bought from eBay, Sweetwater, or a custom builder? If people actually have that kind of relationship where they trust you enough to do that and know that you'll be genuinely excited for them as well, then you are on to something.
 
#35
bassestkkm said:
And in regards to the setup,
The turn around for each instrument is so short that sometimes it's not possible, on the other hand GC has made it near impossible for techs to get paid to set up in house instruments and while they are easy and quick to do, they aren't worth the money if there is none involved. This is something that sucks at the moment
Click to expand...

Yeah, I stopped complaining about the lack of setup years ago when I realized that making sure that every guitar and bass is optimally set up is a little like painting the Golden Gate Bridge. When you have 100+ instruments in the store, as soon as you finish the last guitar, you'd have to start all over again, because by that time (due to climatic changes) the first ones you did would need another setup. This is especially true of large stores that have guitars hanging 20 or 30 feet high on the wall (the climate is very different closer to the ceiling than it is on the floor). Add to that, seasonal changes (dryer air in the winter, more humidity in summer...) and you would need a team of techs to keep up with it all. Most stores only have one or two in-house techs and others don't even have a tech on staff - like the GC in Nashua, NH where I used to live. They had a guy who would come by once or twice a week and pick up any work they had and bring it back the following week. Some Mom and Pop guitar stores (a dying breed) do a better job of keeping their guitars set up, but their inventory is a lot smaller than Guitar Center or Sam Ash.

[edit] Most of that wasn't directed at you; Bassestkkm, I'm sure you're well aware of the reasons... It was mostly for the benefit of the people who say: "Why doesn't GC set up every guitar before they hang it on the wall???"
 
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#36
Mosstone said:
Yeah, I stopped complaining about the lack of setup years ago when I realized that making sure that every guitar and bass is optimally set up is a little like painting the Golden Gate Bridge. When you have 100+ instruments in the store, as soon as you finish the last guitar, you'd have to start all over again, because by that time (due to climatic changes) the first ones you did would need another setup. This is especially true of large stores that have guitars hanging 20 or 30 feet high on the wall (the climate is very different closer to the ceiling than it is on the floor). Add to that, seasonal changes (dryer air in the winter, more humidity in summer...) and you would need a team of techs to keep up with it all. Most stores only have one or two in-house techs and others don't even have a tech on staff - like the GC in Nashua, NH where I used to live. They had a guy who would come by once or twice a week and pick up any work they had and bring it back the following week. Some Mom and Pop guitar stores (a dying breed) do a better job of keeping their guitars set up, but their inventory is a lot smaller than Guitar Center or Sam Ash.

[edit] Most of that wasn't directed at you; Bassestkkm, I'm sure you're well aware of the reasons... It was mostly for the benefit of the people who say: "Why doesn't GC set up every guitar before they hang it on the wall???"
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What I will say though on that matter is that at a store like mine if we see a guitar getting a lot of play time but no real takers we'll set it up so that someone plays it and feels at home. The tech and I are close so he tried to check out the basses pretty frequently. But as always if you request a setup before taking it home. Generally they're happy to help.
 
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#37
JACink said:
I don't usually gel well with salesmen, but there are a couple of things that I really hate (and this is not just music related).

One is those that try to convince you of something that you know is incorrect, and then still keep on trying when you point out that the info is incorrect.

The other is when I go into a store and ask for a particular make and model (even stating the exact model reference), and the reply is "Why? What do you want it for?" and proceed to try and steer you towards something that is completely different.
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Those responses are probably mandated by the sales manager. You know, the guy who wants to move product A in order to make room for product B. Usually it's because he got stuck with too many of product A (which is slow moving garbage) or else he got a great deal on product B and will make a killing on it before his competitors get their first shipment in. This doesn't leave a whole lot of room for the customer's preferences.
 
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#38
BassUrges said:
Everyone is different. My grandmother wanted as many salespeople as possible to hover like retainers around a princess. My mother wanted them to pretend she wasn't there. Never saw my father or grandfather shop.

The thing that is most important to me in a salesman, and that I try to practice myself when selling (not music stuff), is to be emotionally detached from the sale. The goal is to make sure the customer gets exactly what the customer wants, even if that's not what you're selling.

That means be completely honest. Selling floor model at a discount? Point at the scratches directly. Don't know an answer? Say so. No suggestions at all until you know what they want.

And most of all, KNOW YOUR STUFF.
Click to expand...
You should clone yourself. Then send some of them to the stores in my neighborhood. ;)
 
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#39
I only like guitar center because they give me the most money on my trades. I have a sick cycle of trading in and up on stuff. The local guitar center guys are pretty awesome too (I live in Asheville NC) and they are definitely not the typical GC staff plus the fact that at this point they know that I'm a serious gear junkie and that pushing things on me makes me leave and leaving me alone with stuff allows me to play and fiddle with crap and will result in me buying something.
 
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#40
sales in emotional first, specs second. You have to know the specs, and not bs, and be able to read the emotions. But also you don't have to apologize for talking to people. About 1 in 10 or 20 I talk to seem to hate you for saying hello.
I think in a GC its mostly about being welcoming, and reading when someone is demoing an instrument they really like, then you tell them whatever promo info you've got. But I think its almost lkke you're a bartender.
Unfortunately so many salespeople lie as a matter of course, the deck is stacked against those of us who are just doing our jobs. I refuse to BS, even little lies like its a "brand new promotion" when it isn't, or imply a discount is only good for today when its a standing discount.
 
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