LMFAO @ circle jerks.
May be that is a good thing to be a part of out there,
NOT down here.
Get your mind out of the gutter...
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I'm officially boycotting Guitar Center
- Thread starter Spirit of Ox
- Start date
Get your mind out of the gutter...
Is Wurlitzer still around? If not, I guess ur stuck with GC. I left Boston in 95 so Im out of the loop. Used to be cool having all those music stores close to Berklee. There also was a small one on the corner of commonwealth and Boylston- gone too?
GC is a joke. Enough said.
You would think the one on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood would be decent but think again.
The last thing I bought from there was a stand, and I only bought it there because Sam Ash across the street was out, and I needed it that day.
Walking in there is like walking on a car dealer ship, they can care less what you want and are only looking to make money off your sale.
I could go on and on...
I stick with online straight from the manufacture, distribution/handlers, or builders them selfs.
You would think the one on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood would be decent but think again.
The last thing I bought from there was a stand, and I only bought it there because Sam Ash across the street was out, and I needed it that day.
Walking in there is like walking on a car dealer ship, they can care less what you want and are only looking to make money off your sale.
I could go on and on...
I stick with online straight from the manufacture, distribution/handlers, or builders them selfs.
No, they started a new thread.
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/bas...id-a-great-thing-for-me-today-really.1105404/
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/bas...id-a-great-thing-for-me-today-really.1105404/
But is the OP *still* Boycotting GC?
And has their stock price sunk as a result?
And has their stock price sunk as a result?
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Yeah most of the small music stores are gone. There's Mr. Music in Alston which is pretty good.
I was in FtWayne this past week; there was a Guitar Center 2 blocks from my hotel.
I did not go there; I drove 10 minutes to get the grand tour of Sweetwater.
I would no sooner have the Guitar Center franchise in FtWayne than own a liquor store in Salt Lake City...
And the irony is that the Guitar Center in Sweetwater's back yard is probably pretty good if they're still in business...
I did not go there; I drove 10 minutes to get the grand tour of Sweetwater.
I would no sooner have the Guitar Center franchise in FtWayne than own a liquor store in Salt Lake City...
And the irony is that the Guitar Center in Sweetwater's back yard is probably pretty good if they're still in business...
About 6 weeks ago I went to the local GC to shop for a new 6 string bass. I knew they probably wouldnt have what I wanted in store, and ended having a discussion about a custom order EBMM Bongo 6 with a manager. I told him my budget ($3k-ish), exactly what options I wanted, and all my contact info. Never heard a single word from him. I also contacted another store out of state about a used bass and never heard a peep. I think I'm finally done with GC.
O.K. so lets see how much love/hate we REALLY have for the Guitard Center.
Ease on over to Humor, and join the Guitar Center sucks official club. now with carrots.
Ease on over to Humor, and join the Guitar Center sucks official club. now with carrots.
I've kinda had a mixed bag of results at GC...
When I'm on tour, some times I have to go in there and buy small bits of kit, and generally it's no problem.
However, buying instruments has been a wildly mixed bag of experiences. Either really bad and frustrating or pretty good. Some stores actually have a good tech who can actually set a guitar or bass up not too bad. Sometimes I've met some earnest caring employees who really worked for me when I clearly established myself as a legit buyer and establish the perimeters of the sale.
ANY TIME I've attempted to buy used gear at the store level or trade an instrument, it's been a frustrating horrible waste of time and energy. I've noticed that most of the used equipment (guitars included) are priced very near retail for new gear (and I'm very positive I personally trade/buy/sell more guitars and basses per month than most stores I visit...I was born at night, just not last night!).
The key in all of this is that many GC employees are new, have NO idea how to sell or work a deal, and simply do not follow up with actionable items.
Last weekend I was in DFW and I purchased an inexpensive new acoustic guitar for my sister. It was a cheapy, but I also bought her a case and setup and strap and basically a $200 guitar turned into a $450 purchase. However, while I was there I found a very nice used Specter Bass that I very much enjoyed playing. The guy I was dealing with was very cool and semi knowledgeable too. The bass was new to the store. They were asking $1599 for it. Honestly it's probably a $1200 rig. However, I was far away from home and in a rental car so as he was checking me out with my purchase for my sister, I gave him all of my contact info and told him to call me about the Specter bass. I have 160+/- basses. I buy them when I like them. I didn't even quibble over price. Guess who has yet to call me???
When I'm on tour, some times I have to go in there and buy small bits of kit, and generally it's no problem.
However, buying instruments has been a wildly mixed bag of experiences. Either really bad and frustrating or pretty good. Some stores actually have a good tech who can actually set a guitar or bass up not too bad. Sometimes I've met some earnest caring employees who really worked for me when I clearly established myself as a legit buyer and establish the perimeters of the sale.
ANY TIME I've attempted to buy used gear at the store level or trade an instrument, it's been a frustrating horrible waste of time and energy. I've noticed that most of the used equipment (guitars included) are priced very near retail for new gear (and I'm very positive I personally trade/buy/sell more guitars and basses per month than most stores I visit...I was born at night, just not last night!).
The key in all of this is that many GC employees are new, have NO idea how to sell or work a deal, and simply do not follow up with actionable items.
Last weekend I was in DFW and I purchased an inexpensive new acoustic guitar for my sister. It was a cheapy, but I also bought her a case and setup and strap and basically a $200 guitar turned into a $450 purchase. However, while I was there I found a very nice used Specter Bass that I very much enjoyed playing. The guy I was dealing with was very cool and semi knowledgeable too. The bass was new to the store. They were asking $1599 for it. Honestly it's probably a $1200 rig. However, I was far away from home and in a rental car so as he was checking me out with my purchase for my sister, I gave him all of my contact info and told him to call me about the Specter bass. I have 160+/- basses. I buy them when I like them. I didn't even quibble over price. Guess who has yet to call me???
Yeah, that store is pretty good. There's also Guitar Stop near Harvard Square which is small but has a great selection of Fenders. Whenever I go in there I feel like this is what a music store would look like if it were owned by Fender.
We dont have a GC here, but we have a place that seems to adhere to a the philosophy that the real bucks are in online sales...
Was told they had two basses in stock I had been keen on trying before choosing one of them. Simple enough, yes? So I head down there (45min drive) when he confirms they're in stock. I mention I am the one who called, and he says "Give me a minute and I will bring them up over there."
Perfect right?
He brought them up alright... on a computer screen! I asked if he actually had them in stock as I had asked on the phone, and he said yes, but he wasn't going to bring BOTH up. "One is a Squier, and one isn't, the other one is going to be better" - I reasoned that while I am sure he is right, Squier instruments aren't as bad as they once were, and a $600 price difference would require a big leap in quality, and would feel best trying both so as to know what I am getting. Plus it's a guitar store - you're supposed to be able to try them. He told me they weren't that kind of business and he wasn't going to bring two basses out of the stock room. Told him that was fine by me, and I would take my business elsewhere. His reply... "That would be best".
I considered sending a nasty email, but knowing my luck, he's the manager or something fitting like that.
Was told they had two basses in stock I had been keen on trying before choosing one of them. Simple enough, yes? So I head down there (45min drive) when he confirms they're in stock. I mention I am the one who called, and he says "Give me a minute and I will bring them up over there."
Perfect right?
He brought them up alright... on a computer screen! I asked if he actually had them in stock as I had asked on the phone, and he said yes, but he wasn't going to bring BOTH up. "One is a Squier, and one isn't, the other one is going to be better" - I reasoned that while I am sure he is right, Squier instruments aren't as bad as they once were, and a $600 price difference would require a big leap in quality, and would feel best trying both so as to know what I am getting. Plus it's a guitar store - you're supposed to be able to try them. He told me they weren't that kind of business and he wasn't going to bring two basses out of the stock room. Told him that was fine by me, and I would take my business elsewhere. His reply... "That would be best".
I considered sending a nasty email, but knowing my luck, he's the manager or something fitting like that.
This is off topic but does have to do with GC. Are there any REAL deals to be had during a store opening event? Anytime I have seen a coupon there are about 1000 companies whose products are excluded.
One will be opening this winter where I live and I was wondering whether it would be worth standing in line in the snow for 6 hours with 500 other yahoos to get in the store on opening day.
One will be opening this winter where I live and I was wondering whether it would be worth standing in line in the snow for 6 hours with 500 other yahoos to get in the store on opening day.
It might be, although 6 hours in the snow is a little pessimistic, isn't it? GC has some serious specials sometimes, and opening day shouldn't be an exception. An acceptably good mic, stand, and cord (XLR->1/4) for $44 and another (almost as good) mic for $11 are my last two purchases, and I imagine that at full price, I saved like $200.
Although, according to this thread, you should wear kevlar in case one of the sales guys starts in with the heartless customer beatings.
