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Is guitar centre reliable?

B

Bass_Drummer

Mar 20, 2012
49
0
#1
As you know I'm still looking for my first bass to buy, I live ^^^in Australia and there store prices are just ridiculous, buying used may be an option but is rare to find the exact guitar I'm looking for. Even though guitar centre may have hefty postage charges but their guitar prices are more then half the price. But the problem is my parents don't trust the company with their credit card details, they are afraid of getting caught up ^^^in a scam and getting ripped off, and also about losing their money ^^^in the process.

Have any of you guys bought from them? Maybe some Aussie guys, can you help me reassure them. Please, please, please share your experiences with them.

Means alot guys, sorry about the constant threads made by myself
 
#2
If you spell it with the USA spelling "Center" when doing your searches, you will find hundreds of threads about the company. The short version is that they are a very well established huge nation-wide corporation, and not a scam in any way shape or form. And their in-store employees are 99% morons. The remaining 1% are members of Talkbass. ;) So as long as you are positive that what you are ordering is exactly what you want, and are not making any unreasonable assumptions, your parents' money is perfectly safe. An example of a reasonable assumption would be that a brand new item, not discounted for being a "return" or scratch-n-dent, will look like a brand new item when you get it. An UNreasonable assumption would be that everything they sell is in brand-new condition. They also sell used, returned, and otherwise scuffed/dented items, so read descriptions VERY carefully.
 
#3
Bass_Drummer said:
As you know I'm still looking for my first bass to buy, I live ^^^in Australia and there store prices are just ridiculous, buying used may be an option but is rare to find the exact guitar I'm looking for. Even though guitar centre may have hefty postage charges but their guitar prices are more then half the price. But the problem is my parents don't trust the company with their credit card details, they are afraid of getting caught up ^^^in a scam and getting ripped off, and also about losing their money ^^^in the process.

Have any of you guys bought from them? Maybe some Aussie guys, can you help me reassure them. Please, please, please share your experiences with them.

Means alot guys, sorry about the constant threads made by myself
Click to expand...


I personally visit two GC Stores that are about 15 Min. from my house each in different directions so it doesn't matter which one I go too, I know a lot of the employees at each store personally and as was stated above they deal with hundreds of thousands of peoples cards, checks, money in general.. every day..Nothing to fear from them and not to put a limit on your parents credit card but im sure they have come across the same and (or) much more money/credit at times that could have been abducted (for lack of a better term) What I have done in the past is Get or set up a credit card with a limit that slightly exceeds the amount that your buying and make your purchase, then render the card unusable after that.. Also check out Sweetwater.com ( ask for Ed Needler) theres No Shipping and No Tax at all with the same prices as GC and Musicians Friend and they have been known to honor other coupons..
Scott
 
#4
I've used my credit card to buy thousands of dollars of equipment over the last 4 years and there has been no problem doing so.
I have never had one problem with GC and they seem to be customer orientated.
 
#5
Don't know if you can do this on higher dollar stuff thought guitar center or not but the last stuff I ordered through them they offered a PayPal checkout. That might make the parents feel more secure about it.
 
#6
FWIW, about a year and a half ago, I went on a little bass buying bender... I bought a total of 13 used basses from various Guitar Centers around the US - and ended up returning 6 of them... Granted, I ended up with some good deals on some nice basses, but the high rate of returns doesn't bode well for someone attempting the same thing in a far away country... I asked the same questions about all the basses - in some cases, the sales rep flat out lied, in others I think they were just plain idiots... I would say since I actually kept 7 of them, demonstrates that I'm not impossible to please - and again, I got some good deals on some nice basses - but it wasn't without hassle, either...

PS - there was never any problems with refunds, or me getting ripped off on any of the purchases...


- georgestrings
 
#7
georgestrings said:
FWIW, about a year and a half ago, I went on a little bass buying bender... I bought a total of 13 used basses from various Guitar Centers around the US - and ended up returning 6 of them... Granted, I ended up with some good deals on some nice basses, but the high rate of returns doesn't bode well for someone attempting the same thing in a far away country... I asked the same questions about all the basses - in some cases, the sales rep flat out lied, in others I think they were just plain idiots... I would say since I actually kept 7 of them, demonstrates that I'm not impossible to please - and again, I got some good deals on some nice basses - but it wasn't without hassle, either...

PS - there was never any problems with refunds, or me getting ripped off on any of the purchases...

- georgestrings
Click to expand...

Did you do all these at actual stores , or online thru there website? Just curious I was thinking about ordering one ,on the GC website used, just didn't know how much of a hassle it is to return if I have too.
 
#11
Buying used is always a risk with sellers (including GC employees) thinking that a little rash, missing knobs, dents, burns or bent tuner keys adds 'Mojo'--- which to me instantly disqualifies any reason why I'd want to own something.

Buying new items is always best especially in remote areas of the globe (NZ-Australia, etc) and GC or MF or Sweetwater will do as good as they can to get you what you need, in good order and in a timely manner I believe.

I don't know if it would apply in another country, but there's always the Pro-Insurance that gives extra time for damage(s) that may/might occur while the instrument's in YOUR hands too.

I'm also not too sure about free shipping overseas. I just this morning (Apr 1st) sent a Fender Jazz Blacktop to NZ with a friend who visited here from ChCh, and he leaves today with it - but I know there are duties and import fees levied on such things.

Tell your peeps that those big companies will take very good care of your credit cards and they aren't in business to hide things, mess with your credit metrics and cause you any grief.
 
#12
I didn't know Guitar Center would ship internationally due to dealership restrictions.

EDIT: just tried to order a bass on guitar center.com setting my country to Australia and only a few basses were displayed. Tried to select a used bass and it bumped me to the new equivalent.
 
#13
I have never had any problem with them. Bought, used/new, traded, returned items and used their Credit plans same as cash deals with no interest. Great thing as long as you pay it off in time frame.
I bought a used but mint condition MMStingray for Great price about $300 less than I have seen elsewhere. Suggest you find the right salesperson not all know their stuff. Good Luck.
 
#14
genmed42 said:
Did you do all these at actual stores , or online thru there website? Just curious I was thinking about ordering one ,on the GC website used, just didn't know how much of a hassle it is to return if I have too.
Click to expand...

I shopped on their used gear page, and called the actual store when I saw something I wanted to buy... After talking to them at length, we made payment and shipping arrangements... When it came time to make a return, I did that at my local Guitar Center - needless to say, they grew a bit tired of having to take back junk that came in from other stores, but really didn't have a choice in the matter... The refund is typically in the form of a check, store credit, or going back on your CC - at your discretion...


- georgestrings
 
#15
georgestrings said:
I shopped on their used gear page, and called the actual store when I saw something I wanted to buy... After talking to them at length, we made payment and shipping arrangements... When it came time to make a return, I did that at my local Guitar Center - needless to say, they grew a bit tired of having to take back junk that came in from other stores, but really didn't have a choice in the matter... The refund is typically in the form of a check, store credit, or going back on your CC - at your discretion...

- georgestrings
Click to expand...

Thx GS , that confirms what I was thinking! There's a store about 30mins from me in case, I don't keep , what I order.
 
#16
cybersnyder said:
I didn't know Guitar Center would ship internationally due to dealership restrictions.

EDIT: just tried to order a bass on guitar center.com setting my country to Australia and only a few basses were displayed. Tried to select a used bass and it bumped me to the new equivalent.
Click to expand...

Proof-positive that they don't want to run the risk of dissatisfaction with a used piece of gear.

Since a 'gently used' and 'trashed' evaluation is in the eye of the beholder - and even worse if the beholder owns Mojo'd RW stuff - it's a crapshoot and risky to sell used to someone so far away.
 
#17
SurferJoe46 said:
Proof-positive that they don't want to run the risk of dissatisfaction with a used piece of gear.

Since a 'gently used' and 'trashed' evaluation is in the eye of the beholder - and even worse if the beholder owns Mojo'd RW stuff - it's a crapshoot and risky to sell used to someone so far away.
Click to expand...

I think it's more a case of they really don't ship to Australia and just pass off the sale to a local affiliate.

ANOTHER EDIT: Tried several countries and the same basses show up - G&L, Hofner and Modulus along with a few others. So I'm not sure if they ship internationally or have a global fulfillment agreement with a handful of companies.
 
#18
^ could be.

I've never tried to have things shipped to me overseas - after all I live in the US and generally buy from suppliers here.

But sending an occasional piece of gear to NZ has been done a few times by me for friends there.

From GC's website:::

International Orders
Please visit our international page for a list of available shipping rates, countries and shopping currencies. Please visit our international FAQ's page for more information regarding International shipping options.
Click to expand...
 

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