I didn't care much for the mom & pops places here in VB, but TB inspired me to give them another go, and I gotta say, my opinions on them have changed 180 degrees from 5 years ago. The customer service at both Moe's and Alpha really can't be beat.
I still go to GC. Mostly to pick up strings and straps and such, definitely not for the uneducated opinions of the people who work there.
Good to hear that Moe's is still around. That is actually where I picked up my Thumb 5 BO. I was going to get it from the defunct MARS music that resided on V.B. Blvd headed into Norfolk because I thought I could get a better price.
~~~~~Flashback~~~~~Summer 2000~~~~~~
I was ignored from the moment I went into MARS (basically GC). They didn't know that I could have dropped $3500 on gear (bought an SWR SM-500 the same day at Alpha).
When I talked to the sales guy at Moe's (may have been the owner) he sold me the bass at the price MARS was offering. He was probably happy to get it out the door since it had been sitting in his store for 2 years, but at the same time he made sure to reassure me that he had every intention of treating me better than at Wal-Mart (MARS).
~~~~~~~Return to present~~~~~~~~
I really didn't get to finish my thoughts before leaving for work in my previous post.
The fact of the matter is GC has the market cornered in this town, much to my dismay. Where does that money go? Sure some of it pays wages and creates make-work jobs, but for the most part it goes to finance the CEO's new yacht. Where's my beautiful wife? When profits are the bottom line customer service fails.
I like to go to a place where you are welcomed. At GC the front cashier is right next to the front door, and more often than not I have to initiate the interaction. That does not bode well with me.
The GC here fills a space in a relic outdoor mall right next to Outback Steakhouse (UGH) and Burlington Coat Factory (Double UGH). It is located on the main 4 lane either direction arterial that connects downtown to the burbs and to the towns north of here. Lots of traffic that I'm sure is good for them, but I hate traffic.
OTOH....the M&P's in my town are centered either in the downtown area where I prefer to spend my time or a small older commercial/residential district known as the Garland District (this district had a cameo in the movie Bennie and Joon...the scene where Depp's Character tried to get a job at a restaurant), another place that I'd prefer to spend my time. These places all have more character and they are way easier to get to; some are within walking distance. You just won't find those cookie-cutter commercial buildings in these areas.
For the most part at an M&P; I find that the price listed on the ticket is quite often not the price they hope to get. With a little bit of friendly haggling you can generally get what you are after for the same if not less than what the big boxes are selling. I've actually had a local place tell me that they can give me a better deal than what was listed on the price-tag.
One final note and thanks for bearing with me here.
The only complaint I have about the M&P's. They aren't open on Sundays!!!! There have been times where I've been in a pinch for strings, a new tuner, staff paper (no printer) and the only option was GC because everyone else was in church or something.
