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I'm officially boycotting Guitar Center
- Thread starter Spirit of Ox
- Start date
I know he didn't intentionally lie to me but he assumed they had it. You know how that old saying goes when you assume.... Either way, I had a bad experience due to staff ignorance.
The Hallendale Fla.store is the one that put me off .the final straw.
7-8 years ago I went there in need of a new head
I knew exactly what I wanted GK 1001RB
Dumb @$$ says NOPE we don't sell those...
But we have a MarkBass that is a better product better at this better at that.....
NO thank you I want a GK,
Well we don't stock GK.
O.K.... can you get me one?
Well, I'll have to talk to the manager.... Ok
While I'm waiting for Einstein to go and talk to the manager, I cruise over and try to buy some strings.
Tell this dude, once I finally managed to interrupt his extremely urgent yuk yuk conversation with his co worker about all of the shooters he had drank at some party, I tell him I would like a set Of Rotosound S.H. 77 bass strings, he doesn't even look, but tells me they don't have them.
O.K. what kinds of flatwound bass strings do you have???
He looks at me like I'm speaking Chinese, and tells me with absolute certainty that they don't make FLAT wound bass strings.
O.K. thank you, finally here comes Einstein with the store manager in tow.
Manager is a sharper tool than Einstein and asks me what the problem is?
I tell him no problem... I would like to purchase a GK1001RB head, Einstein has now hauled @$$ to join the conversation at the string counter. Manager has a blank stare on his face and after a minute tells me that they don't sell Gk, but he can make me a great deal on a so and so MarkBass head, It's a better head, better at this and better at that. I tell him No, I really want the GK1001RB, can he order one for me. Oh man, eyes rolling and shifting back and forth on his heels, says, Yeah we can special order one but you will have to pay for it in advance since WE don't stock GK, and blah blah, {all the while I am LOOKING right at a GK700 not 10 feet away.} O.K. sir that will be fine, could you please tell me how much money you need so we can get the ball rolling?
He then tells me He is very busy so give my information to Einstein and he will call me to place the order when he has a minute, then turns around and walked away.
Well that shopping experience consumed almost 1 1/2 hours, and I left out of the store with nothing. Except a pocket full of CASH.
I went home and ordered the damn thing online FROM G.K. and decided to get a few other things while I was at it.
AND ordered 4 sets of strings online from M.F.
That was my LAST time in a G.C. store.
7-8 years ago I went there in need of a new head
I knew exactly what I wanted GK 1001RB
Dumb @$$ says NOPE we don't sell those...
But we have a MarkBass that is a better product better at this better at that.....
NO thank you I want a GK,
Well we don't stock GK.
O.K.... can you get me one?
Well, I'll have to talk to the manager.... Ok
While I'm waiting for Einstein to go and talk to the manager, I cruise over and try to buy some strings.
Tell this dude, once I finally managed to interrupt his extremely urgent yuk yuk conversation with his co worker about all of the shooters he had drank at some party, I tell him I would like a set Of Rotosound S.H. 77 bass strings, he doesn't even look, but tells me they don't have them.
O.K. what kinds of flatwound bass strings do you have???
He looks at me like I'm speaking Chinese, and tells me with absolute certainty that they don't make FLAT wound bass strings.
O.K. thank you, finally here comes Einstein with the store manager in tow.
Manager is a sharper tool than Einstein and asks me what the problem is?
I tell him no problem... I would like to purchase a GK1001RB head, Einstein has now hauled @$$ to join the conversation at the string counter. Manager has a blank stare on his face and after a minute tells me that they don't sell Gk, but he can make me a great deal on a so and so MarkBass head, It's a better head, better at this and better at that. I tell him No, I really want the GK1001RB, can he order one for me. Oh man, eyes rolling and shifting back and forth on his heels, says, Yeah we can special order one but you will have to pay for it in advance since WE don't stock GK, and blah blah, {all the while I am LOOKING right at a GK700 not 10 feet away.} O.K. sir that will be fine, could you please tell me how much money you need so we can get the ball rolling?
He then tells me He is very busy so give my information to Einstein and he will call me to place the order when he has a minute, then turns around and walked away.
Well that shopping experience consumed almost 1 1/2 hours, and I left out of the store with nothing. Except a pocket full of CASH.
I went home and ordered the damn thing online FROM G.K. and decided to get a few other things while I was at it.
AND ordered 4 sets of strings online from M.F.
That was my LAST time in a G.C. store.
Hopkins
Commercial User
This story seems quite fishy to me
First of all, I have never been in a GC in this country that did not have a 1001Rb II in stock. Every single one of them, since I have been playing bass has had that amp in stock, so I highly doubt that nobody in the store knew about the brand.
Secondly, why would you ask the sales guy for a set of Rotos when you could have simply gone over to the string rack and grabbed a set yourself.
Finally, I don't ever remember a time that GK has sold directly to the public, so how exactly did you order FROM G.K.
1. Read it again I DID NOT say they didn't stock GK, THEY DID.I did not say that they had never heard of G.K., they were so busy trying to push MarkBass they "forgot"?, If you read with BOTH eyes, I clearly stated that I was looking at a GK700 while this @SS was telling me they didn't stock them. IF I had seen a 1001RB I would have just put my hands on it and asked if I might be permitted to Pay for it.
2. I asked the guy for strings because the strings were hanging on the wall BEHIND the counter where two 2 employees were conversing, silly me, I guess I should have been more polite and just walked behind the counter, asked them to excuse me, and helped myself.
3. Not too long ago the GK website, USED to sell amps as well as foot switches, t shirts and all kinds of stuff. They even had a FORUM section not unlike THIS website .Alas times have changed, they don't offer much direct anymore,they did away with the forum a while back,The site went down for a rework, couldnt log onto the forum, then it was gone. I'm not sure precisely when all of that changed.
I assure you, Had things been different, I would have bought the items I wanted, been a happy camper, and had some delightful things to say about the G.C. experience.
BUT things happened as I stated.
I now do my business at Sam Ash, and while the do not always HAVE what I might need in stock, They will actually look to make sure they don't and be most expedient in ordering it for me either from another store, or from the company. AND even offer to ship it to my house.
I also trade with M.A.E. and while they ARE kinda proud of their merchandise, and the price shows it, it is justified. They have NICE stuff, every single instrument on display is spotless, set up properly and ready to play. The staff is VERY courteous and knowledgeable, and there is no whanking. You pay more, but you know, you get what you pay for.
I loved that place but they are gone. They shut their doors so fast without any going out of business sale. Supposedly they had some legal issues and tax issues too. I also heard that they didn't have ownership of their inventory that's why there was no liquidation sale.
Sucks too, they were one of the best music stores and I was always treated well when shopping there.
Well, I went to GC yesterday. I needed a part for a PRS TonePros wraparound bridge. Specifically this part in this picture. The screw that screws into the stud for the bridge.
Went to the parts counter.
Waited about 20 minutes before anyone came to the counter. To their defense, they were packed and very busy.
I asked for the part, and showed him a picture of it.
Mr. GC Employee fiddled around on his computer for a minute.
The son of a bitch told me it would cost me 129$+tax.
I told him, I don't need the entire bridge. Just 2 of these screws.
He responds "We don't sell that here."
So wait... I'm at the parts department, and you guys don't carry a screw VERY common on PRS guitars?
He says, "Well, we do carry the bridge, but we don't sell parts of parts. You need to buy the entire bridge."
With that type of service, I left in a heartbeat. Sure enough, found the screw online for just over 4$ each. Guitar Center can suck my...
Maybe then I'd give them some of my money.
Went to the parts counter.
Waited about 20 minutes before anyone came to the counter. To their defense, they were packed and very busy.
I asked for the part, and showed him a picture of it.
Mr. GC Employee fiddled around on his computer for a minute.
The son of a bitch told me it would cost me 129$+tax.
I told him, I don't need the entire bridge. Just 2 of these screws.
He responds "We don't sell that here."
So wait... I'm at the parts department, and you guys don't carry a screw VERY common on PRS guitars?
He says, "Well, we do carry the bridge, but we don't sell parts of parts. You need to buy the entire bridge."
With that type of service, I left in a heartbeat. Sure enough, found the screw online for just over 4$ each. Guitar Center can suck my...
Maybe then I'd give them some of my money.
Attachments
LMAO
Not even the nasty un bathed goth pincushion babe at the front door would get 129+tax for THAT kind of a screw.
I'm not understanding your whine.. So, you're angry that they wouldn't tear open a package and sell you a single screw out of it? How is this their problem? Sounds like you have highly unreasonable expectations.
I work in a recycling facility with giant multimillion dollar machines. I can order every single part, down to the very last nut, bolt, and washer... INDIVIDUALLY. I'm not mad that he wouldn't "Tear open a package". I'm mad that the cuntmuffin wouldn't just order the single part because 4$ is less than the 130 he was trying to rape me for. Commission is a bitch, and so was he. Like I said. I ordered it online without a problem. Their loss. Me spending $4x2 would have led to me frequenting the store much more often.
Another consideration for me about Guitar Center- say I want to upgrade to a 5-string, and go to their website to take a look. I've got 161 guitars to look at... and only one of them is left handed.
Then again, that's more of a general problem with being a lefty than a problem with Guitar Center...
Then again, that's more of a general problem with being a lefty than a problem with Guitar Center...
Swear to GOD, they do the very best that they can to NOT make a sale. Unless of course you are interested in whatever product has a push with a bonus attached to it.
Can you imagine the difference, IF they would exert the same amount of time and energy toward HELPING the customer, and making A sale. Thus making the customer, a HAPPY customer, and a RETURN customer, that WILL tell their friends about how awesome "bob" down at G.C. treated him. Instead the time and energy is spent feverishly coming up with a way to NOT make any sale at all, pi$$ing of the customer,who WILL tell his friends what a douchebag "Bob" is down at G.C.and how badly they treated him.
WORD of mouth. It will make you, or break you.
People in business used to understand this.
But you see, that's not what you posted at all...
They don't carry the item you wanted in the store, if you wanted it you need to buy the bridge. Seems pretty clear to me. Had you done some due diligence, then you would've asked them to order GC SKU#306145, which is the screws you wanted. But I suppose you wouldn't have had this great story to complain about what an awful shop GC is, then, eh?
If it's so painful for you guys to shop there, don't go. Otherwise, you just look like whiney trolls trying their best to get angry over nothing so you can justify your distaste.
Haven't visited Seattle's GC in a number of years now.Wow, look what GC has done to a bunch of really cool guys and fellow bassists, I personally dont care for GC, but unfortunately I shop there when I have to, or online, or the local little guy.....lets not let a cool site for bassists become a battleground over subjects like corporate controlled Guitar Center.
You're just as clueless as the typical GC employee.
I do not need the STUDS. I need the screws that go in the studs. The Flathead looking screws. Invalid Link Removed One phone call from PRS and they are sending me 2 of the SCREWS ONLY for just over $10. Please, before you attempt to insult me do your own research. I do not need the studs. I do not need the bridge. I need JUST 2 screws. So next time, do your 'due diligence'. He flat out stated 'We don't sell parts of parts."
I did not call the actual manufacturer first-hand because typically manufacturers won't sell to the public like that. They usually make you go through a dealer.
