Nashville Gibson Garage - an extremely hostile music store experience

[ThinCrappyTone2]

Went to Nashville, TN for a bucket-list trip. Had a great time checking out the local music stores.

Most of the stores were typical, with the employees being your various underpaid, over-qualified musician types. Not warm and fuzzy, but professional and reasonably friendly.

But the Gibson Garage? The vibe in that place was so off. Best description would be "like a prison cafeteria."

Instead of typical musician type employees, there were these large, black-clad, stone-faced biker-gang enforcer type guys positioned in the corners in each of the rooms scanning the crowd, as if looking for threats. Never experienced anything like it, outside of maybe an out-of-control metal concert, where the security people are on the edge and ready bust heads.

I assume this is a reaction to things that have happened in the past. Perhaps they've had their share of drunk tourists picking a 5k guitar off the wall, only to drop it. Or maybe some theft. Or homeless coming in and taking a dump on the floor. Who knows.

But still, as a guy who is not a threat, who is looking to buy a guitar, it was utterly off-putting.

Even stranger, some of these guys were the salespeople! In the acoustic room there was one employee who was friendly. She came up and offered to help. But she had absolutely no idea what she was doing.

Me "Do you have any parlors or short scales?"
Her "No"
Me, scanning room. "Oh there's one right there. Can I see that?"

I check it out. It was awesome. I ask a question, and cross-armed biker gang enforcer guy starts answering. Just completely hostile. Like talking to an angry cop who is annoyed you interrupted his break, or a bouncer who is about to deck you because he hates your face.

I have encountered plenty of hostile aggressive people over the years. But in a music store? Never seen anything like that.

I literally found a guitar I wanted to buy, but didn't buy it, because the vibe was so off.

Anyway, rant over. Wondering if anyone else has had similar or different experiences there.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

They should hire a uniformed well known security company.
Not there but i understand. There was a great store near St. Louis. Great inventory. They had a guy working there who just thought we were unworthy of the instruments. He was there for quite a few years. Also we were over 40 at that time, not some unruly types by a long shot.
An ex band mate of mine, a doctor btw, started to pick up a U.S. made Jackson guitar. The dude says " That's not a toy!" Unbelieveable.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

They should hire a uniformed well known security company.
Not there but i understand. There was a great store near St. Louis. Great inventory. They had a guy working there who just thought we were unworthy of the instruments. He was there for quite a few years. Also we were over 40 at that time, not some unruly types by a long shot.
An ex band mate of mine, a doctor btw, started to pick up a U.S. made Jackson guitar. The dude says " That's not a toy!"

Ugh, yeah. That's pretty off-putting!

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

They should hire a uniformed well known security company.

That's a really good idea. Whether they are trying to combine the roles of sales and security, or attempting to disguise the security people as salespeople, it's not working too great. Or maybe it is working great, just not for me.

 

[ahbass2500]

I literally found a guitar I wanted to buy, but didn't buy it, because the vibe was so off.

This was the right move. No reason to support how they were running things.

On a similar note, I recall being teenager and asking to play a Stingray 5 in a local music store. Had to ask to play it because the bass was hanging high enough it needed a step stool to get down. Store manager told me no, because that bass is for "serious customers only." My dad was with me so not like I was going to be doing anything stupid (and I was not that teenager anyway). At the time I was planning on buying a Stingray 5 and had the funds to do it. After being told I could not play the Stingray 5, we left and drove to another local store where I played a G&L L2000. Loved the L2000, but needed a 5. Ordered a new US made G&L L2500 later that month. Crappy local guitar store went out of business about 6 months later. Turns out not selling instruments to customers is a really bad way to run a business.

In the long run I think the guy did me a favor. G&L was not a common brand back then and the versatility offered by the L2500 was more in line with my needs than the Stingray 5.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

That's a really good idea. Whether they are trying to combine the roles of sales and security, or attempting to disguise the security people as salespeople, it's not working too great. Or maybe it is working great, just not for me.

I'm biased, I used to work in Law Enforcement/Security. If they hire a good company, with pro officers, it would help. Or even start an internal security team they could control. It would cost, but internal security always seems to work better. IME.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

This was the right move. No reason to support how they were running things.

On a similar note, I recall being teenager and asking to play a Stingray 5 in a local music store. Had to ask to play it because the bass was hanging high enough it needed a step stool to get down. Store manager told me no, because that bass is for "serious customers only." My dad was with me so not like I was going to be doing anything stupid (and I was not that teenager anyway). At the time I was planning on buying a Stingray 5 and had the funds to do it. After being told I could not play the Stingray 5, we left and drove to another local store where I played a G&L L2000. Loved the L2000, but needed a 5. Ordered a new US made G&L L2500 later that month. Crappy local guitar store went out of business about 6 months later. Turns out not selling instruments to customers is a really bad way to run a business.

In the long run I think the guy did me a favor. G&L was not a common brand back then and the versatility offered by the L2500 was more in line with my needs than the Stingray 5.

Sounds like it ended up being a blessing in disguise.

These types experience, where you had the money, were ready to buy, but spent the dough somewhere else, because the employees drove you away, is the thing that makes it so absurd.

This is why I have a glimmer of hope for GC. The new CEO appears to be strongly focused on improving the in-store experience, putting the good instruments in reach, and just making the experience more inviting for serious buyers, rather than treating everyone like a potential shoplifter.

 

[Lammchop93]

Last time I was there (February), there were marked security people there. The rest of the staff was really cool. But I'm sure 99% of the people that come through that store are just tourists, so they are probably just jaded by that. My experiences there haven't been like yours, so sorry to hear that.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

Last time I was there (February), there were marked security people there. The rest of the staff was really cool. But I'm sure 99% of the people that come through that store are just tourists, so they are probably just jaded by that. My experiences there haven't been like yours, so sorry to hear that.

Glad your experience was good! Yeah there were way more tourists at GG than any of the other music stores. In fact there appeared to be zero non-musician tourists in the other stores I visited. Well maybe a few at Jack White's shop.

 

[JohnEdward]

The tourists of Nashville have gotten increasingly obnoxious due to the increase in numbers naturally containing a higher statistical probability of annoying individuals.

I was born here forty years ago, and I remember when we had a sweet Gibson store in Opry Mills Mall. Why that closed I don't know, but I couldn't imagine trying to protect the merchandise there now. Given the tendency of obnoxious drunks in Nashville to do stupid crap, I can see why Gibson garage is like you explain it. Carter's does a good job, but it's a little ways off from the drunken hordes.

Last couple times I went downtown this year I had to deal with crap. One woman ran her hand down my back pocket while smiling seductively at me (trying to pickpocket me I guess…wrong pocket!). Two dudes yelled "Hey big dog. Big dog! Hey big dog!" as I was walking through a semi-vacant parking garage. Watch your drinks, as well…both men and women.

 

[nickpc]

I always ask before touching any of the "Ask first" basses in a shop. My local Music Go Round staff recognizes me and has told me "You don't need to ask" but I always tell them I'm setting an example for any other customers. I still get a few "OK, whatever dude" responses but the owner and store manager both seem to appreciate it.

My stance - until I buy it, that's the store's bass, so I'll treat it just like any of my friends instruments.

 

[nickpc]

Gibson store in Opry Mills Mall. Why that closed I don't know

Didn't it get destroyed in a Cumberland River flood? I was there for work the week before the floods and DIDN'T go see it, knowing I was coming back in a month. Oops...

 

[Z-Bass]

We were in Nashville back in December. Great trip and city. If you haven't been, I highly recommend for anyone looking for a long weekend get away. We stopped at the Gibson Garage as well. I wasn't looking to buy anything or do I play guitar but wanted to check it out. At least you were engaged, I don't think anyone approached me or asked if I needed any help. They had a small section of 5 Gibson basses in which I took up myself to check out. Nothing really connected with me so we left and walked over to Carter Vintage Guitars. Kind of opposite experience. Super friendly staff but the layout was a mess. Very crowded and difficult to navigate. I didn't get to visit any other stores while we were there unfortunately.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

The tourists of Nashville have gotten increasingly obnoxious due to the increase in numbers naturally containing a higher statistical probability of annoying individuals.

I was born here forty years ago, and I remember when we had a sweet Gibson store in Opry Mills Mall. Why that closed I don't know, but I couldn't imagine trying to protect the merchandise there now. Given the tendency of obnoxious drunks in Nashville to do stupid crap, I can see why Gibson garage is like you explain it. Carter's does a good job, but it's a little ways off from the drunken hordes.

Last couple times I went downtown this year I had to deal with crap. One woman ran her hand down my back pocket while smiling seductively at me (trying to pickpocket me I guess…wrong pocket!). Two dudes yelled "Hey big dog. Big dog! Hey big dog!" as I was walking through a semi-vacant parking garage. Watch your drinks, as well…both men and women.

This is a bummer, but it makes a lot of sense in explaining why it's like this. Guess GG evolved to this state out of necessity. But man did it suck the fun (and desire to try and buy) out of the experience. Which sucks for them even worse, because they lost a $3k sale.

Carters, in contrast, was great. They actually let me play a $100k broadcaster, even after I told them I couldn't possibly afford it. Even GC was great. So they ended up getting the money that would have gone to GG.

 

[Altitude]

There used to be a great indie guitar store in Denver that had excellent bass inventory. I asked to play a bass there once. They were happy to let me but the rep covered the body in yellow post-it notes before he gave it to me and stood two feet away the whole time. It was weird; I played the bass but I certainly didn't feel like I got to know it or feel it.

On the one hand I get it. So few lookers are buyers in those stores and you don't want a $3500 piece of inventory to become new old stock as a matter of course.

On the other hand, we go into those stores to try the instruments. The experience I had didn't deliver on the goal for me as a buyer and I'd just as soon order from Sweetwater and return it if I don't like it.

The indie store eventually lost the brick and mortar, tried to make a go as an internet storefront, and then disappeared completely. So the market spoke. As above I see both sides and I'm glad I didn't open a guitar store myself.

 

[poochiecheeks]

You must not have been "Authentic" enough to shop there

 

[Joshua Pickenpaugh]

My Nashville music store experience, 30+ years ago, was great. I was barely out of my teens, and walk into a store (Rock Block was the name, maybe?) and see a wall of basses I'd only seen in issues of Bass Player magazine (Spector, Alembic, Modulus, Fodera, et al). The nice guy behind the counter gave me a cord and said have fun. What a morning!

Sorry to hear things have changed.

 

[Joshua Pickenpaugh]

...but the rep covered the body in yellow post-it notes...

I've never heard of sales staff doing this, was it to protect the finish?

 

[jimmydean]

I hate shops that do the ask for assistance , do not touch , ask for a guitar cable type places . I understand clowns banging on $$$$$ instruments , but c'mon ! I had a salesman from well known store question if I could really afford the gear I was looking at , I ended up dealing/buying from another salesperson . I have been to the Gibson Store in Nashville and I can't see any reason to walk through those doors again .

 

[fenjazz]

Gibson Garage seemed more like an Instagram marketing opportunity than a serious guitar store since their inception. I passed on it last trip in favor of better stores like Carter's, Gruhn's, Corner Music and Rumble Seat. Never encountered any negative attitude at those spots.