Mislabeled Instruments at Guitar Center (Resolved)

[Clark Dark]

There is a good chance that GC attached the wrong photo and you will get what the description indicates.

That happened to me. The pic GC posted was a cab with a front vent but the cab I received was a sealed cab. I corresponded with the GC and they conceded their mistake but after trying the cab out in the store they shipped it to I decided to keep it. Since then I get coupons from them and an email from that store manager every month. Cordiality pays.

 

[Machiavelli]

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?

1. If you do, you risk them fixing their mistake and potentially raising the price

2. Thats a philosophical question. According to Kant’s Categorical Imperative, the right thing to do would probably be to inform the business, as you would hope a customer would do so if the situations were reversed. There’s a certain degree of dishonesty here. But, on the other hand, there’s certain expectations of a business exchange, including that the consumer will try to get the best for them as will the seller. So, to answer your question, I dont see this as ethically wrong, but it’s also not something to be particularly proud of. Im sure most consumers would just gloat about screwing over GC

3. I think they can cancel the order if they realize their mistake.

 

[selowitch]

FWIW, I don't think you've done anything wrong. But why take chances with shipping damage, returns, etc. ?

That's a valid question. Is it worth the risk for the sake of maybe getting a great deal?

 

[jpmcbride]

What is Guitar Center's obligation to me if I should buy it but they realize their mistake before shipping?

If they realize their mistake prior to delivering the merchandise they can cancel the deal and refund your money. They are under no obligation to close a deal just because they made an error in labeling. Imagine a car dealer that advertises in the paper and there is a misprint and a zero is left off the price

 

[selowitch]

They are under no obligation to close a deal just because they made an error in labeling.

I think that would depend on the laws in that particular state. Of course, there's a good chance they don't even have the Rick in stock.

 

[7615]

I saw a 1967 Gretsch 6071 listed for $1500 so I went to the store 60 miles away only to see it on the wall for $2500 in the store. I showed the clerk the $1500 listing who called the owner and I walked with it for $1500. I think that was the right thing to do. Also it had been in the store for 2 years and I was standing there with $1500 cash, so the motivation might have been take the money.

 

[Passinwind]

That's a valid question. Is it worth the risk for the sake of maybe getting a great deal?

Not for me to say. I've never bought a bass or guitar online and never intend to.

Best of luck in any case!

 

[selowitch]

I've never bought a bass or guitar online and never intend to.

It's definitely higher-risk than buying in person.

 

[jpmcbride]

Is there anything ethically wrong with pulling the trigger?

This is a gray area ethically. This is how I would approach it. Not saying its the definitive right way - just what I would do.

(1) If the bass is clearly mislabeled, for example, wrong brand or model, I would let them know.

(2) If the bass is labeled correctly but is at less than normal market value, I'd take advantage and buy it. I'd assume they don't know what the bass could sell for, don't care, need to move merchandise, got it for a steal and are just dumping it, or for whatever reason are simply offering a good deal that I should take advantage of.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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’m not so sure there are a lot of “mistakes” when buying used gear. I do think that there are more errors from the former owners selling gear too cheap to GC, and if the spread is good enough, the firm will will sell at a great discount to clear out inventory at a decent profit. Further, it’s really inexpensive advertising to attract us guys looking for a “deal”.

 

[selowitch]

The initial "Your order has been placed" e-mail showed the image of the Rick with the description of the D'Angelico.
The second "We've received your order" e-mail just listed the D'Angelico without an image.

 

[jpmcbride]

I think that would depend on the laws in that particular state. Of course, there's a good chance they don't even have the Rick in stock.

I've been a retailer in two states and in both of them there was no obligation to sell at a mislabeled price. A quick Google search confirms that this is pretty much universal.

 

[selowitch]

I called and let them know.
They cancelled the order.
No harm, no foul.
Oh well.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

 

[DigitalMan]

Most truth in advertising laws have exceptions for errors that would include product misidentification.

 

[strost]

If it was local shop, I'd tell them. GC, no way.

I got a great deal on a used RoadWorn P bass that was listed as a used MIM 50's P. Not sorry.

 

[bassrique]

Well, there goes that.

 

[JW56789]

The seller sets the price. I've occasionally stumbled into deals like that where I paid the asking price, took it with me, and laughed all the way home. My conscience did NOT keep me up at night for the next few days . . . . . this is the world righting itself after those times I had to let something go in a tight spot and got robbed.

 

[selowitch]

I figured there was a small chance they would say, “Yeah, it is mislabeled but we can still ship it if you still want the Rick.” Alas, no such luck.

Once they confirmed the item was in fact a D’Angelico I no longer was interested.

 

[eddododo]

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?

1) I would just buy it and return it if it turns out to be the cheaper version and not what you want.
2) No. We have no ethical obligations to guitar center in general. They rip us off at every opportunity, and the company is so poorly run and designed that It’s their own problem that these mistakes are constantly made; the only person I feel bad for is the person that got lowballed selling the gear to guitar center in the first place, and you can’t do anything to help them.
3) They will never ever ever ever ever notice and fix their mistake. That being said, it would in no way surprise me, if that did somehow happen, that they would cancel/contact you and let you know that the item will cost more if you still want it.


The main lesson here is that yes, you should pull the trigger

 

[CATFISHMcC0Y]

I can't tell you anything about GC policies since I am from across the pond, but I'm in retail. When my company sells something online in a case like yours, with the pic of an expensive item and the description of a cheaper one and the customer gets the cheap one and starts complaining about this not being the item we had shown in the picture, I'd personally apologise for the inconvenience and offer a full refund, among other things.

When a customer demands something out of line, our case has to be absolutely waterproof or we'll cave in rather than risking someone being unhappy and expressing that on the www.


I've just had someone who bought a 2015 article from us in September. These things have a 12 month cycle so he bought something four models older than current, with a hefty discount of around 60%.
That thing failed after a couple of uses, so he contacted me. I filed a warranty claim and after a couple of phone calls (filing warranty for something that old is rather uncommon) I got the manufacturer to replace that item with a new one.
So this customer bought a 2015 model in 2019, placed a warranty claim and got a 2020 model for free. They even let him keep the old one, which is not broken, only a bit damaged which can be fixed with household materials. The manufacturer did a few modifications when they changed from 2016 to 2017 models and my customer now complains about these changes.
That is a case where I tell him to be happy with what he got and not move an inch from my position.

Can’t help thinking this is vacuum cleaners