This is awesome, actually, because I don't think Schmanilla is really a bad dude, just has a temper sometimes.
Since we aren't naming names, I'm going to guess this was the Shmitar Schenter in Schwest Palm Beasch...
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Instrument store nightmares.....
- Thread starter frankenjazz
- Start date
This is awesome, actually, because I don't think Schmanilla is really a bad dude, just has a temper sometimes.
Since we aren't naming names, I'm going to guess this was the Shmitar Schenter in Schwest Palm Beasch...
There's a store in Ft. Lauderdale called MAE Music. Pre GC & Sam Ash it was the biggest place in the area.
However their customer service wasn't the best. The store is set up with a U-shaped counter with everything behind it and you needed permission to enter and check out any big ticket items. Maybe it was just me but I always had a hassle in there it was like the employees didn't want to help. There's several times I went to buy something and literally stood at the counter, arms crossed for like 15-20 minutes before being acknowledged. And no it wasn't a busy Saturday afternoon either.
Last time I was in there I wanted to check out a bass. After going through the "find a grown-up to get permission" song and dance he got the bass down and handed it to me. When I asked if there was a stool to sit on and a cord to plug in with I got the "Are you serious about buying today?" line and I said I'll let you know. I literally kneeled down, played it for 30 seconds with him standing there watching over me, handed it back to him and said "I'll go elsewhere where they want my business" and never went back. I did have a pocket full of money that day to buy a new bass but was so turned off by the unprofessional attitude I never went back and that was maybe 17 years ago.
It was a great day when SA, GC and the 20 minutes that Mars was there when we had an alternative. Also this was the mid 90's and there was no online ordering at the time. I dunno if it was the fact they were the biggest game in town and could get away with it or maybe it was my ugly mug but it was like a running joke with that place.
I wonder if it's still like that anyone been there recently?
However their customer service wasn't the best. The store is set up with a U-shaped counter with everything behind it and you needed permission to enter and check out any big ticket items. Maybe it was just me but I always had a hassle in there it was like the employees didn't want to help. There's several times I went to buy something and literally stood at the counter, arms crossed for like 15-20 minutes before being acknowledged. And no it wasn't a busy Saturday afternoon either.
Last time I was in there I wanted to check out a bass. After going through the "find a grown-up to get permission" song and dance he got the bass down and handed it to me. When I asked if there was a stool to sit on and a cord to plug in with I got the "Are you serious about buying today?" line and I said I'll let you know. I literally kneeled down, played it for 30 seconds with him standing there watching over me, handed it back to him and said "I'll go elsewhere where they want my business" and never went back. I did have a pocket full of money that day to buy a new bass but was so turned off by the unprofessional attitude I never went back and that was maybe 17 years ago.
It was a great day when SA, GC and the 20 minutes that Mars was there when we had an alternative. Also this was the mid 90's and there was no online ordering at the time. I dunno if it was the fact they were the biggest game in town and could get away with it or maybe it was my ugly mug but it was like a running joke with that place.
I wonder if it's still like that anyone been there recently?
A few stories:
Dude walks in, wants a Gretsch guitar. I don't have any in stock but it being a quiet day, started chatting to the guy, also showing him a few alternatives for hollow bodies and also giving him a quote on a gretsch. I tell him try and do some research on the net to confirm what I have said, and also to see the different colours and looks available.
Two days later he walks in with a printed internet page, Ebay!!
Him: "Can you buy me this one?"
Me: "Let me see if is available." (I phone the supplier, yes the model is available and in that color.)
Me: "It will be ***** including a setup"
Him: "But the price is *****, look, there it says on the printout!"
Me: "I see that, but Ebay is not my supplier, you need to buy that one on your own.
Him: "But you are a guitar shop, and that is a guitar!!! This sucks!!"
Me: "*facepalm*"
Another customer:
Me: "Hi, can I help you?"
Him: "Yes!!! I f***ing love guitars!!!"
Me: "Yes, they are cool, how long have you been playing?"
Him: "No f***, I can't play, but I want to!!"
Me: "Cool, what style were you interested in?"
Him: "Rock, heavy stuff...you know"
Me: "Cool, let me see what I can suggest. (Show him an SX starter pack with a Boss DS-2) This will be nice to start out on"
Him: (touching an ESP F-series) "I want this one!!!"
Me: "Uhmm...Ok. That a little bit more expensive, and might be a big investment into something you have never done before"
Him: "Nah...F*** it, I want it....and also that big amp there (pointing to a Line 6 Spider IV 120)"
Me: "Ok, I will do the combo at a discount price of ******"
Him: "Perfect, as soon as I have the cash I will fetch it"
Me: "Do you have an idea when, as the price only counts for stock in the shop"
Him: "I have to wait till my f****ing mother dies"
Me: "*facepalm*"
Another...
I am merrily tapping away at my pc, probably on Talkbass..when I hear an almighty bang. Some guy walked into my shopfront window (the one covered with posters of local acts.....) He steps backs confused, and proceeds to walk at full tilt into the window next to it.... Again...very confused, he steps back. Now he slowly walks forward, puts his hand on the window and feels his way to the wide open door. (I checked, and did not see a guide dog or a cane)
Me: (barely controlling my laughter)"Hi, can I help you"
Him: "Yeah man....I am a singer /guitarist looking for a band"
Me: (noticing his pupils are so dilated that I can see the back of his head)" What style do you play"
Him: "Huh? Uhm....just a band, you know....drums....bass....uh...what else?"
Me: "Give me your details, I will post it" (give him pen and paper)" Just your name a number, I will add the rest"
Him: "Can I have another paper, I got it wrong"
Me: "Sure"
Him: "Can I have another piece of paper, this one is wrong"
Me: "I will write it, what is your name?"
Him: (gives name)
Me: " Number?"
Him: "Uhmmm....5....(10 sec pause)....5.....(Another pause).....I am just looking for some guys to play with"
Me: "I have 55 for your number, what is the next?"
After about 10 minutes I have the details......
Me: "Cool, I am sure you will get a call, keep well"
Him: "Thanks man, cheers"
He proceeds to walk into the shop window from the inside, steps back, steps forwards slowly and feels his way to the open door and leaves....
Me: "*facepalm*"
Dude walks in, wants a Gretsch guitar. I don't have any in stock but it being a quiet day, started chatting to the guy, also showing him a few alternatives for hollow bodies and also giving him a quote on a gretsch. I tell him try and do some research on the net to confirm what I have said, and also to see the different colours and looks available.
Two days later he walks in with a printed internet page, Ebay!!
Him: "Can you buy me this one?"
Me: "Let me see if is available." (I phone the supplier, yes the model is available and in that color.)
Me: "It will be ***** including a setup"
Him: "But the price is *****, look, there it says on the printout!"
Me: "I see that, but Ebay is not my supplier, you need to buy that one on your own.
Him: "But you are a guitar shop, and that is a guitar!!! This sucks!!"
Me: "*facepalm*"
Another customer:
Me: "Hi, can I help you?"
Him: "Yes!!! I f***ing love guitars!!!"
Me: "Yes, they are cool, how long have you been playing?"
Him: "No f***, I can't play, but I want to!!"
Me: "Cool, what style were you interested in?"
Him: "Rock, heavy stuff...you know"
Me: "Cool, let me see what I can suggest. (Show him an SX starter pack with a Boss DS-2) This will be nice to start out on"
Him: (touching an ESP F-series) "I want this one!!!"
Me: "Uhmm...Ok. That a little bit more expensive, and might be a big investment into something you have never done before"
Him: "Nah...F*** it, I want it....and also that big amp there (pointing to a Line 6 Spider IV 120)"
Me: "Ok, I will do the combo at a discount price of ******"
Him: "Perfect, as soon as I have the cash I will fetch it"
Me: "Do you have an idea when, as the price only counts for stock in the shop"
Him: "I have to wait till my f****ing mother dies"
Me: "*facepalm*"
Another...
I am merrily tapping away at my pc, probably on Talkbass..when I hear an almighty bang. Some guy walked into my shopfront window (the one covered with posters of local acts.....) He steps backs confused, and proceeds to walk at full tilt into the window next to it.... Again...very confused, he steps back. Now he slowly walks forward, puts his hand on the window and feels his way to the wide open door. (I checked, and did not see a guide dog or a cane)
Me: (barely controlling my laughter)"Hi, can I help you"
Him: "Yeah man....I am a singer /guitarist looking for a band"
Me: (noticing his pupils are so dilated that I can see the back of his head)" What style do you play"
Him: "Huh? Uhm....just a band, you know....drums....bass....uh...what else?"
Me: "Give me your details, I will post it" (give him pen and paper)" Just your name a number, I will add the rest"
Him: "Can I have another paper, I got it wrong"
Me: "Sure"
Him: "Can I have another piece of paper, this one is wrong"
Me: "I will write it, what is your name?"
Him: (gives name)
Me: " Number?"
Him: "Uhmmm....5....(10 sec pause)....5.....(Another pause).....I am just looking for some guys to play with"
Me: "I have 55 for your number, what is the next?"
After about 10 minutes I have the details......
Me: "Cool, I am sure you will get a call, keep well"
Him: "Thanks man, cheers"
He proceeds to walk into the shop window from the inside, steps back, steps forwards slowly and feels his way to the open door and leaves....
Me: "*facepalm*"
/\ wow, those are some very cool experiences.
And by cool, I mean funny, and by funny, I mean you probably felt very awkward then, but can laugh about it now.
And by cool, I mean funny, and by funny, I mean you probably felt very awkward then, but can laugh about it now.
Just walking into a music store is nightmare! All of these "wanna be" guitards and "bass slappers" making the worst of sounds! I'd loose my mind working at Sam Ash or Guitar Center!
Sadly, isn't it kind of true in sales.............."the customer is always right". Give them what they want. If they want opinions or advise, give it but ultimately, let 'em make the choice even if it is stupid. If the store has a return policy, what difference does it make?
It's soooooooo difficult dealing with "the public". It's a tuff job being a salesperson! (At a music store.)
Sadly, isn't it kind of true in sales.............."the customer is always right". Give them what they want. If they want opinions or advise, give it but ultimately, let 'em make the choice even if it is stupid. If the store has a return policy, what difference does it make?
It's soooooooo difficult dealing with "the public". It's a tuff job being a salesperson! (At a music store.)
OK I got another one:
For about a week I kept getting calls in the store asking about black S.Gs each time it would be a diffrent person (old woman, teenage boy, older man, young sounding woman) and each time I would ask Gibson or Epiphone each time I would get the response "it doesn't matter just a black S.G". Each time I tell them the only S.Gs in in black we have in stock are Epiphone but we can gladly special order a Gibson one if necessary. Fast forward to the next week, and a whole family(parents,kids, grandmother) comes in asking for me, so I come over to help them and they explain they want a black S.G so I take them over to the Epiphones and explain to them as I did over the phone that the only black ones we have are Epiphones, to which the grandmother and the father ask what about the Gibson I special ordered for them so I go on to have the following exchange
Me: "I'm sorry but I didn't order one"
Grandmother:"but you said you order one (very broken english)"
Me:"no ma'am I said I could if on your request"
Father:"Did you tell my mom you would order a guitar?"
Me: "no sir, I told her I could order one if requested, I cannot do a special order unless I have full contact info and a deposit, and I none of you in my conversations gave me any contact info or said anything to the effect of wanting a special order"
The father and grandmother begin to talk in spanish and since I don't speak spanish I have no clue what was said, but then the father turns to me and accuses me of a bait and switch after much discussion with the family his wife is willing to accept the idea that there was a miss communication between me and the grandmother as when I spoke to her I said I could special order a guitar on request ect ect, so with that ordeal over with I begin show them the epi S.Gs and the teenage son picks one, they pay full price, I throw in a set of strings and take 20 dollars off a hardshell case(try to sell them the warranty they decline) and theyre on they're way. The next day the father and grandmother and son come in with the guitar in the case wanting to return it saying its broken. Thinking it is a broken pot or something like that I open the case and see that the neck is snapped at the head stock and the body has some serious damage.When I ask for an explanation they play dumb and try to pretend they didn't notice any of this damage until they got it home the night before, I tell them flat out I would not sell a guitar for full price in such an unplayable condition. After some back and forth the kid admits to me the night before he was playing at a show and did one of those metalcore guitar spins around his body and it flew off the strap , hit the wall behind him when it snapped and got all the damage. I then tell them that they cannot return it and the the grandmother bursts into tears saying over and over again "but it his birthday, but it his birthday". At that point my manager took over and I have no idea how the conflict got resolved as I quit later in the day.
For about a week I kept getting calls in the store asking about black S.Gs each time it would be a diffrent person (old woman, teenage boy, older man, young sounding woman) and each time I would ask Gibson or Epiphone each time I would get the response "it doesn't matter just a black S.G". Each time I tell them the only S.Gs in in black we have in stock are Epiphone but we can gladly special order a Gibson one if necessary. Fast forward to the next week, and a whole family(parents,kids, grandmother) comes in asking for me, so I come over to help them and they explain they want a black S.G so I take them over to the Epiphones and explain to them as I did over the phone that the only black ones we have are Epiphones, to which the grandmother and the father ask what about the Gibson I special ordered for them so I go on to have the following exchange
Me: "I'm sorry but I didn't order one"
Grandmother:"but you said you order one (very broken english)"
Me:"no ma'am I said I could if on your request"
Father:"Did you tell my mom you would order a guitar?"
Me: "no sir, I told her I could order one if requested, I cannot do a special order unless I have full contact info and a deposit, and I none of you in my conversations gave me any contact info or said anything to the effect of wanting a special order"
The father and grandmother begin to talk in spanish and since I don't speak spanish I have no clue what was said, but then the father turns to me and accuses me of a bait and switch after much discussion with the family his wife is willing to accept the idea that there was a miss communication between me and the grandmother as when I spoke to her I said I could special order a guitar on request ect ect, so with that ordeal over with I begin show them the epi S.Gs and the teenage son picks one, they pay full price, I throw in a set of strings and take 20 dollars off a hardshell case(try to sell them the warranty they decline) and theyre on they're way. The next day the father and grandmother and son come in with the guitar in the case wanting to return it saying its broken. Thinking it is a broken pot or something like that I open the case and see that the neck is snapped at the head stock and the body has some serious damage.When I ask for an explanation they play dumb and try to pretend they didn't notice any of this damage until they got it home the night before, I tell them flat out I would not sell a guitar for full price in such an unplayable condition. After some back and forth the kid admits to me the night before he was playing at a show and did one of those metalcore guitar spins around his body and it flew off the strap , hit the wall behind him when it snapped and got all the damage. I then tell them that they cannot return it and the the grandmother bursts into tears saying over and over again "but it his birthday, but it his birthday". At that point my manager took over and I have no idea how the conflict got resolved as I quit later in the day.
Those are hilarious my gf is looking at me like I'm a crazy person because I keep rereading them and laughing at an inappropriate volume
Frankenjazz's 5 year old daughter tale's a good one. There's nothing worse then an arrogant well to do customer.I've had people like that ask me to sell them stuff "at cost"because of who they thought they were.
One of our biggest problem's are the guys (& gals) who buy effect pedals
& try to return them the next day. A lot of these folks are in original bands that don't make much money . They take the pedal
try it out, then do a gig or two then want to return it.Then after returning it they get another gig & want the same pedal back.
We also get a lot of touring bands who call us up with asking if we carry a certain brand of string. They have an endorsement with whoever.They will send a roadie out to pick up the strings and sign for them. We can contact the company with their endorsement ID to get paid. They get pretty P.O'ed when we tell them we don't work that way.this has happened 5 times this year.
We've been getting a lot of people asking us to do warrenty
work on their guitars that they bought elsewhere.Usually from a big box store 15 or 20 miles out in the suburbs.They want us to do the work
then contact the factory or retailer to get paid.A lot of people
who buy on line do this too. We are not a factory authorized repair shop but that doesn't stop them. I explain that they could void the warrenty
by having us do the work( usually a setup) but still they insist. They want us to do it then invoice a third party so we can get paid!
I would like to add that 8 out of 10 of our customers are great!
One of our biggest problem's are the guys (& gals) who buy effect pedals
& try to return them the next day. A lot of these folks are in original bands that don't make much money . They take the pedal
try it out, then do a gig or two then want to return it.Then after returning it they get another gig & want the same pedal back.
We also get a lot of touring bands who call us up with asking if we carry a certain brand of string. They have an endorsement with whoever.They will send a roadie out to pick up the strings and sign for them. We can contact the company with their endorsement ID to get paid. They get pretty P.O'ed when we tell them we don't work that way.this has happened 5 times this year.
We've been getting a lot of people asking us to do warrenty
work on their guitars that they bought elsewhere.Usually from a big box store 15 or 20 miles out in the suburbs.They want us to do the work
then contact the factory or retailer to get paid.A lot of people
who buy on line do this too. We are not a factory authorized repair shop but that doesn't stop them. I explain that they could void the warrenty
by having us do the work( usually a setup) but still they insist. They want us to do it then invoice a third party so we can get paid!
I would like to add that 8 out of 10 of our customers are great!
b_carville, I know the feeling about the effects pedals I knew customers that did this on a weekely basis, A friend of mine that works in a major chain recently told me of this guy that kept buying and returning a used delay pedal, and I guess a potential customer dialed in some stuff and didn't end up buying it, and so the next time this guy came in to "buy" the pedal again he made a big commotion about how they messed up his settings. You are right though in music stores the vast majority of customers are reasonable, nice people so it kind of makes the 2 in 10 stand out that much more
That story reminds me of a friend's wife. When she was about 15-16 she decided she wanted to learn how to play acoustic guitar. So her parents, who were both professional people with graduate degrees, bought her a brand new Martin D-28.
She learned a few chords, but fortunately she married my friend, an excellent guitarist, who was delighted to find that a 10-year-old Martin D-series came along with his gorgeous, brainy wife as a package deal.
She learned a few chords, but fortunately she married my friend, an excellent guitarist, who was delighted to find that a 10-year-old Martin D-series came along with his gorgeous, brainy wife as a package deal.
Man, I've worked at so many music stores. I'm trying to think of some good examples but I try to block the bad experiences out.
Do I start with the guy that accused me of being racist because I told his kid to quit destroying a snare drum?
The guy that threatened to have me fired because I wouldn't "throw in" a $150 effect pedal?
The kid that insisted I sell him a "lead guitar"?
... too many to write here. I'll think about some good ones and come back with some stories.
Do I start with the guy that accused me of being racist because I told his kid to quit destroying a snare drum?
The guy that threatened to have me fired because I wouldn't "throw in" a $150 effect pedal?
The kid that insisted I sell him a "lead guitar"?
... too many to write here. I'll think about some good ones and come back with some stories.
Having worked at a small shop for a few years, I got lots of stories. One that stood out:
An 80's Towncar pulls up - rear bumper dragged the ground. Electric piano sticking out the back. They want to sell it - no use for it. I'm thinking "Wow, how heavy is that thing!" A couple guys get out there to lift it - weighs about 80 pounds. After the piano is out, the rear bumper is still dragging - I inquire to the driver. He says "yeah, the car has adjustable suspension, so when we put the piano back there, we set the suspension for the extra weight". *facepalm*
The issue with working at a music store was potential theft - so when a group of kids came in, and you're the only one there and one keeps asking you questions, your spidey senses go off. This happens all the time - rarely in an attempt to steal stuff - but still, you can only get so involved in the conversation. The customer trying to talk to me probably thought I was high or something, as I was very distracted and not following the conversation well.
There was one "repeat customer" who seemed to be good friends with me - though I had no idea who he was! He'd make reference to stuff I told him in the past, and guitars that he had at home "yeah I still got that Strat from last time", etc etc. As there were only 3 employees, and we all looked very different, I have no idea who he was mistaking me for - but he did buy some stuff, and the next time he came back I *did* remember him (but only from the previous weird visit!). "Oh, here comes that guy that thinks I know him!" hahaha
An 80's Towncar pulls up - rear bumper dragged the ground. Electric piano sticking out the back. They want to sell it - no use for it. I'm thinking "Wow, how heavy is that thing!" A couple guys get out there to lift it - weighs about 80 pounds. After the piano is out, the rear bumper is still dragging - I inquire to the driver. He says "yeah, the car has adjustable suspension, so when we put the piano back there, we set the suspension for the extra weight". *facepalm*
The issue with working at a music store was potential theft - so when a group of kids came in, and you're the only one there and one keeps asking you questions, your spidey senses go off. This happens all the time - rarely in an attempt to steal stuff - but still, you can only get so involved in the conversation. The customer trying to talk to me probably thought I was high or something, as I was very distracted and not following the conversation well.
There was one "repeat customer" who seemed to be good friends with me - though I had no idea who he was! He'd make reference to stuff I told him in the past, and guitars that he had at home "yeah I still got that Strat from last time", etc etc. As there were only 3 employees, and we all looked very different, I have no idea who he was mistaking me for - but he did buy some stuff, and the next time he came back I *did* remember him (but only from the previous weird visit!). "Oh, here comes that guy that thinks I know him!" hahaha
I worked at GC for a very short while in the keyboards/pro audio department. One day I was counting stock in keyboards on a loft about 15 feet above the sales floor on a slow day when the drum department (all the way across the store) manager came in and borrowed the ladder, not knowing that I was up above. It just so happened that the only other associate working in the department was due for a break, so I was left alone in my department, stranded on a loft 15 feet above the floor with my legs dangling, hoping someone would come along to grab me a ladder. Not a customer story but fun times nonetheless.
I also had a customer that I was working on a large package deal including a Korg Oasys synth ($8500 or so price tag) plus a computer, a few software synths and a yamaha motif rack synth. All in all it was supposed to be $12,600 or so, and I had arranged it so that it would run him $12,000 even. After setting everything up and price adjusting in the system so that nothing was rung up at a loss but a lot of items close to cost he decides instead of the $8500 synth, he'd rather go for an $1800 roland, but still keep all the other discounts. I ended up losing the whole sale because I wouldn't give him a $600 discount on a $4000 sale.
I also had a customer that I was working on a large package deal including a Korg Oasys synth ($8500 or so price tag) plus a computer, a few software synths and a yamaha motif rack synth. All in all it was supposed to be $12,600 or so, and I had arranged it so that it would run him $12,000 even. After setting everything up and price adjusting in the system so that nothing was rung up at a loss but a lot of items close to cost he decides instead of the $8500 synth, he'd rather go for an $1800 roland, but still keep all the other discounts. I ended up losing the whole sale because I wouldn't give him a $600 discount on a $4000 sale.
Here's one that was a nightmare with the customer, but I was the problem.
I was working at GC Towson in the Guitar Department. This family comes in with their three sons. Don't recall how old the other two were, but the one in question was turning 15. Seemed like a cool kid. He was in to Angus, so I took him to the SG's. At the time (I don't know if they still are) the Gibson Faded Series guitars were flying off the shelves. At $549, you could have a Gibson USA instrument as opposed to a comparable Epiphone at $499.
Anyway, we're chatting about the guitars with his parents. His parents ask him which one he wants, and he hesitates. Starts to say something and stops. Waits a few seconds. At this point, I had developed a report with the family so I say, "You're going to have to be quicker than that if you're going to walk out of here with a guitar." Or something along those lines. Kid looks at the floor. Family is dead silent. You guessed it:
The kid has a stutter.
Dad looks at me and goes, "He stutters."
I'd had a decent conversation with him and his parents up until that point and hadn't noticed it. My heart sank. I felt like the biggest a$$hole in the store. All I could say was, "I'm so sorry dude, I had no idea." The family was cool about it after that, but I had clearly embarrassed the kid, and more so, myself. I felt like a tool the rest of the day.
I was working at GC Towson in the Guitar Department. This family comes in with their three sons. Don't recall how old the other two were, but the one in question was turning 15. Seemed like a cool kid. He was in to Angus, so I took him to the SG's. At the time (I don't know if they still are) the Gibson Faded Series guitars were flying off the shelves. At $549, you could have a Gibson USA instrument as opposed to a comparable Epiphone at $499.
Anyway, we're chatting about the guitars with his parents. His parents ask him which one he wants, and he hesitates. Starts to say something and stops. Waits a few seconds. At this point, I had developed a report with the family so I say, "You're going to have to be quicker than that if you're going to walk out of here with a guitar." Or something along those lines. Kid looks at the floor. Family is dead silent. You guessed it:
The kid has a stutter.
Dad looks at me and goes, "He stutters."
I'd had a decent conversation with him and his parents up until that point and hadn't noticed it. My heart sank. I felt like the biggest a$$hole in the store. All I could say was, "I'm so sorry dude, I had no idea." The family was cool about it after that, but I had clearly embarrassed the kid, and more so, myself. I felt like a tool the rest of the day.
