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Mom & Pops > Guitar Center??

W

WarMan

Feb 18, 2008
122
1
Plano, Texas
#1
I read a lot about peoples good experiences at Mom & Pop guitar stores versus Guitar Center. Now I only have experience with the Dallas market, but I've found Guitar Center, with all its faults, to be a much more pleasant buying experience than the local Mom & Pops.

Larry Morgan Music recently went out of business. They were a local legend, but I never found them that good to work with. They were okay at best. Their trade-in policy was horrible compared to GC.

Murphy's Music is a very questionable retailer to deal with. Horrible return policy.

Charlie's Guitar Store is run by arrogant people who are still trying to live off of their image created by the original Charlie. Their customer service is bad and their inventory is so-so. For basses, their inventory is usually one to three basses.

Zoo Music is another animal. It is hard to describe it but their name kind of describes them. They have a few gems in the pile, but they have a lot of used stuff they are trying to pass off as new. It is very crowded in their store too. Their return policy is horrible.

Once again, I can only attest to Dallas, but I sure haven't seen any of that Mom & Pop customer service other people have experience. For all its faults, I'm glad we have GCs in the area.
 
#3
well, up here in the western NY area i won't even go to GCs anymore. I love the mom&pop shops. mostly friendly and easy to work with.

you have to remember to take into consideration that little stores can't bring in 100 basses because they won't be able to sell them. As far as trade ins go, they can't give you too much because what if they don't sell whatever you're giving them. guitarcenter could give you $300 for a used set of strings and still make a profit somehow. they're a big corporation so it doesn't matter if they lose a couple dollars here and there(which they seldomly do).

in the end i guess it comes down to either supporting honest people trying to make it in our ridiculous capitalist society or some guy wearing a tie behind a desk in some corporate building who gets enjoyment out of treating his high-school kid employees like crap.
 
#4
I'm in Dallas, and I hear what you're saying. We're very unfortunate here, other areas have great little, or big shops that aren't a corporate nightmare. Even other cities in Texas. I liked Larry Morgan's, alot. Zoo music is a mess, but they have some great gear in that pile-o-stuff, and yeah, there's 3 GC's within 15 min of me, so they get my bussiness too. We need a music scene first, then a decent bass only shop. Help.
 
#5
I think it really does vary from place to place. There's only one place here that I've been to which I consider a mom and pop store, and that's Music Depot. But they actually have a nice selection. It's not really varied, mostly Fenders, but they do carry a couple of high end basses, notably a few Peavey Cirruses (very nice basses). I basically know a guy who knows a guy working there, and I can get a good deal. I haven't yet, but I like to know the option's there. Still, the guys working there are experienced and I really like being in there.

My local Guitar Center is also good. I dunno, maybe I'm an optimist, but I haven't had many bad experiences there. It's also closer, and that's where I go to get my basses set up. I was in there the other day, and I think they got some new staff. One guy in particular was a little annoying, but whatever. I usually know what I want when I go in there. But still, good experiences for the most part and they have a good selection of basses. They also seem to be taking trade-ins left and right because I've seen a lot of used gear there, which is really cool. Notably, they had a Fender Jag-Stang, which I've never seen. Tried it out, not my thing, but still cool.

So yeah, it depends on who you are, it depends on where you are, and it depends on your expectations I guess.
 
#6
GC = Walmart.

I've actually had some good experiences with GC, but sadly to say, everything I've bought from them I've had to take back with the exception of some cables and some videos.

Unfortunately in Spokane there aren't very many other options. Some of the M&P's are run by guys that won't waste their time on you if they realize you aren't going to spend any money. The better ones are more attentive, but they are few.

My hometown of Virginia Beach is a different story. Although I haven't been there in many years the best music store in town was an M&P called Alpha music. Both bass and guitar departments were heavily stocked with everything from Squier to Roscoe. The Amp selection was pretty good two. The staff was always friendly, and they always recognized me and a few of the staff learned my name which goes a long way in my book.

I prefer to keep my dollars local or buy of the internet. I find that there are many things that keep me from going into Guitar Center in Spokane.

Inattentive sales staff. I once walked out of a similar GC (Mars Music in VA Beach) with $3500 cash because no one would help me.

Too crowded, filled with solid state wanking guitards two or three deep. Ear assaulting.

Okay I gotta go to work.
 
#7
I work in a Mom and Pops store.

Brighton Music Center, in Pittsburgh.

Its great working at a place like that. i know 95% of the people that walk through the door. Many of them are lessons or customers i have spoken with.

Its been only 7 months and i already have a base of customers who will call specifically for me, or specifically come in to speak with me. I tell ya, its a great feeling knowing that i can share what knowledge i have to help others.

I do some of the guitar work at the shop and it really made my day when a kid, 19, came in just to thank me for how well i set up his guitar. (it was a Gibson SG that i turned to C# standard tuning.)

Mom and Pop shops have personality. When i go to guitar center i go to the bass section. I hear the manager walk back with a customer and feed lies and stupid facts about bass. I try to play basses that are missing parts, out of tune, and have the deadest strings on earth. I don't like it.

Well than how do they stay in business you ask yourself?

Here is a break down of what i think.

Mom and Pops = Quality > Quantity

Guitar Center = Quality < Quantity.

If you want a cheap price, go to Guitar Center. If you want good, informative information, discussion, and help, stop at Mom and Pops.
 
#8
About 20 or so years ago, I was a kid with $700 hard-earned bucks burning a hole in my pocket for a new bass. So I go up to Manny's and Sam Ash on 48th St in Manhattan. [Both now owned by the same company now I understand.]

To make a long story short, both places p-ssed me off for the usual reasons places like that p-ss people off. I won't bore you.

Anyway, I ended up buying my first nice bass at a small Mom & Pop. Haven't looked back. I've tried to limit my exposure to the big joints ever since. F 'em.
 
#9
I don't see the local Dallas guitar stores as having any edge in the honesty department. And unfortunately, as strange as it sounds, I get better service at the local GCs than the aforementioned Mom & Pops.

Once again, my comments are limited strickly to the Dallas area. I'm sure that there are great Mom & Pop stores out there. I wish one would open in Dallas.

I have purchased from The Perfect Bass out of Louisianna. They have an on-line business, but I think that they are basically a Mom & Pop (I may be wrong.) I have received fair pricing and great customer service from them. I wish they were in Dallas.
 
#10
GC is fine for cables, guitar stands, etc etc. If you want to buy a guitar or an amp, that hasn't been abused, or returned 10 times, then may be less good. And the customer buying experience is different - the sales guys generally have commission on their mind, and see a ton of people every day. There will always be M&P shops that do less well, like the one in the OP post, but I have had nothing but good experiences. The guy that runs my local M&P is a playing musician first, and a store-owner second. he understands my needs, my GAS, all of it. And above all he sold me a brand new Shuttle 6 for $499 when MF are doing them at $699. And those discounts run through all his products - except cables where he doesn't have the leeway. Thats when I *might* go to GC...
 
#11
RickenBoogie said:
I'm in Dallas, and I hear what you're saying. We're very unfortunate here, other areas have great little, or big shops that aren't a corporate nightmare. Even other cities in Texas. I liked Larry Morgan's, alot. Zoo music is a mess, but they have some great gear in that pile-o-stuff, and yeah, there's 3 GC's within 15 min of me, so they get my bussiness too. We need a music scene first, then a decent bass only shop. Help.
Click to expand...

I'm in Dallas too, and I'm with ya 100%. Charly's Guitar Shop has never really been a place for bass; they have REALLY nice guitars, a wide selection of acoustics, and for the beginner or bassist you've got 3 consignment instruments to choose from.

Zoo Music is much fun but they have totally outgrown that little shop; whenever I walk in I'm afraid I'm going to be buried in speaker cabs (you know what I'm talking about) and G-d help you if you want a closer look at an instrument not within arms' reach of the aisles. There's a bunch of history in that shop, and I've bought from there (an older Highway-1 Strat :D) but even though their selection is great, if I wanted to go in and play a bunch of basses I'll take GC; at least I can be somewhat assured that the stings will have some life left.

I really wish Brook Mays had found a way to stay in business; all my experiences with their selection and staff were good, and they were the only major chain in the metroplex that dealt with brass and wind instruments (in fact, the local stores in Austin and Dallas were more band outlets than guitar shops).

In Austin, Strait Music IMO is a terrific little chain for just about anything having to do with music. It says something about the local music scene (and about Austin) that the local stores, especially mom & pops, have kept GC to one store in Northcross Mall, while I've got three GCs within ten minutes of my apartment and only one other store in that radius.

For a good experience with a M&P in the Dallas area, check out Guitar Shop; it's in Richardson and owned by a luthier and an amp guru under the same roof. They sell a little but their main biz is parts and service, and in that regard they are tops in the area. The amp guy is a walking encyclopedia of amp and effect pedal schematics, and builds his own guitar amps, while the guitar guy is rock-solid for setups, acoustic work, and general guitar repair, so between the two if anything goes wrong with your rig they can make it right.
 
#13
I definitely prefer supporting small shops whenever possible not just in music purchases, but in most things. I'd rather spend a little more and know I'm supporting the people I deal with directly and often find that mom and pops will go the extra mile in customer service.

But I won't hesitate to buy from a larger store or chain if they are the one's who have what I want and the mom and pops don't. For example I own a MarkBass combo that I couldn't have gotten anywhere but GC. I looked all over at every combo I could and it was what gave me the sound I wanted. All of my basses through have been bought at small shops or through personal transactions.
 
#14
I don't trust the staff at Zoo Music. And their stuff is literally piled on top of stuff. That results in a lot of stuff is is actually out of reach and reachable stuff that is heavily shop worn. But if you look hard you might find a gem. I found a new, five-year-old, MIA Peavey MINX 110 that I got for $200. I was very happy with it. I only go there if I'm shopping for new, old-stock.

They have a Fender Custom Shop '51 P-Bass hanging on the wall. It is about ten feet above my reach, assuming I would be willing to move about 25 basses and 4-5 amps to get to it. From 20 feet away it looks good--who knows what it is like up close. That is typical of them.
 
#15
I feel the same way as this thread. Other than a local place called "The Guitar Czar", all the mom and pop places in the entire city are a total joke. Selections, prices, and service is way out of control, I have yet to meet an owner that isn't a jerk.

The GC here practically owns this market, and rightly so, they have a huge selection, and are usually easy to deal with.
 
#17
Outside of the business model, both are pretty much equal in our market when you consider the folks who work at GC may be working for one of the independent shops at some point-in-time and vice versa.

Rather than look at a particular store, I tend to form opinions about the specific folks I work with. I've had a couple situations with GC where I was very happy with the experience and that was totally because of the folks I worked with. The same applies with the indie shops. At the same time, once someone has moved around, if I didn't mesh with them, I'll stay away from that shop, regardless of it's ownership.
 
#18
Good Topic!

For me, I try to avoid Big Box Guitar when I can. To be honest, it is impossible living in South Jersey to not shop at Sam Ash or GC. When I was looking for an amp, I went to both places and comparison shopped. However, I bought my amp at a local shop. They were great. (PLUG: Old Towne Music in Turnersville, NJ) They gave me reasonable price and a pleasant experience.

Being a small business owner in this economy is very difficult. I try to support the local music guy, and local music, as best I can. You can develop a relationship with the local guys, but the people who work at big box come and go. You see the local guy at shows, you see the local guys donating time, money, equipment to things... GC/SA really don't do that very much. If they do, it is along with other big sponsers. They go where the money is.

Don't get me wrong, I am a capitalist to the core. I just think that one or two companies should not control the market on music.

Thats my .02
 
#19
Mom & Pops have to work harder. They're not gonna beat GC on the prices they pay for their gear. If they're gonna stay alive, it's through better customer service. At GC, you can buy a bass. Hopefully at a mom & pop you get a relationship to go along with that bass. It pays dividends down the road for both the store and the customer.
 
#20
As has been stated, it varies area to area. I don't expect my local Mom and Pop Shop to compete with Guitar Center when it comes to inventory or price. I live in a town with 25000 residents. They can't order 5 high end basses for window candy. They've had the same Cirrus there for the last 5 years. They simply don't move bass equipment because there isn't that large a market.

I go there for the service. My wife won't shop (form me) anywhere else. She doesn't notice what's not hanging on the wall or how old it is. She knows that when she walks in with the wrong terminology and having no freaking clue what she's looking for, that Frank is going to patiently try to solve the mystery.

Mike
 

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