Mislabeled Instruments at Guitar Center (Resolved)

[oddeotek]

A couple of years ago I walked into my nearest GC and found a used TC RH750 for $399 that was mislabeled as a RH450. I told the employee at the register that I wanted it but that I wanted to be honest by pointing out that someone made a mistake in labeling it. He said "no problem, it happens all the time' and took my money. Since it had just come in as a used item I had to wait almost a month to pick it up, during which time I seriously expected a call from them saying the manager had seen the mistake and wanted more money for it - but that never happened. That amp has been a real workhorse for me for 3 years now. The GC 45 day return policy has also worked out well for me with a couple of basses that I purchased that didn't cut it after using them on stage.

 

[bedrockhead]

It happens often. I got a Peavey USA Millennium for $144 as it was labeled a BXP (import) version. One just like it that sold recently was listed for over $800.

 

[armelind]

Every so often I come across mislabeled instruments on Guitar Center’s used site that are worth more than their price suggests. A few questions come to mind:

1. If I want to buy such an item, should I call the store first to confirm what I’m buying?
2. Is there anything ethically wrong with pulling the trigger and simply checking out?
3. What is Guitar Center's obligation to me if I should buy it but they realize their mistake before shipping?

I see it this way. It is advertised. No matter the value, face value is what you are purchasing it on. If the price is right, it could be damaged or incomplete. Or its a knockoff. After the purchase, you find out it isnt what you were hoping for, it is on you. You may not get a good return on it.
They can also catch it before it goes out. So if you are not thinking moral and ethical obligations then you can make the purchase honorably and honestly. Dont think so much about it. Many places will honor the mistake. Some wont.

 

[Bass V]

if our GC takes $200 for an Ampeg B-100R Rocket Bass combo sitting for months I'll champion GC

 

[lvern]

This is one of the reason why guitar center is going bankrupt. Most employees don’t last more then 4 months. I recently went in to sell a maschine mk3 Mikro to the store which sells at 260. The tested it out and brought me to the front desk I had told him what it was and even on the back it said Mk3 mikro. But he was unfamiliar with said item. He search for a price and then told me the would sell it for 480 so he offered me 280 I immediately said yes when I sign the paper work that’s when I realized he listed it as the maschine mk3 studio, not the maschine mk3 mikro. They do look very similar but the product even lists what it is on the back. They gave me 20 dollars more then what it cost brand new.

 

[DJ Bebop]

That's the crazy part, the damage to the packages was much more than what would happen from a 12 foot fall on a concrete parking block. The damage was all over the box. They both looked like they had been rolled down a hill and corners were missing from both of the boxes.

I really should have taken photos, it was impressive.

 

[IrishLuck]

I’m going to resurrect an old thread. I had something similar happen, but it’s kind of reversed.

I found a Blackheart Handsome Devil 112 tube amp for sale used online at GC. I bought it and it was shipped and when it arrived and I opened it, there was no tube amp. Instead they sent me a Blackheart 112 speaker cabinet! Big difference. I called customer service who didn’t seem to care if I was screwed on the deal. Just simply said ‘oh they probably just sent the wrong thing.’ No, the barcode sticker on the back matched the order form barcode. And if that was truly what had happened, shouldn’t they have corrected their mistake and shipped me the right thing? What I ordered and what I paid for. Seemed like total BS to me because if they just sent me the wrong thing, seems like customer service should have called the store it came from and had the right thing sent to me, amp I bought shipped to me.

And that was that. I felt a bit cheesed. It’s not like I expected anything, but it just seemed so wrong without any effort to get me what I purchased or try to make things right.
Should they have made some effort to make it right, or just say ‘oops, send it back’?