positive GC stories, please

[G On Bass]

I have had positive experiences at GC. It's about expectation. I know that 90% of the time they are not going to have the gear I like or want to try, so I don't go there for that stuff. I go there when I need something in a hurry and don't have time to order it online at a better price. I have bought a couple of basses there, and I just have to make sure that I have done the research and they are merely acting as a point of sale to which I can return something. And that's all OK by me.

 

[Skygoneblue]

Like any big brand, individual stores can and will vary greatly depending on location, staff, etc. Guitar Center isn't some big evil corporation; they're a company trying to make a profit like any other.

I've run into staff that don't know half what I do about the equipment I'm trying, and I've run into staff that bend over backwards to help me out.

Long story short: People are people, and have way more of an effect than a brand name ever will.

 

[Drucifer]

I've never had a bad experience. I tend to buy used and online. Sometimes things at GC are overpriced, but mostly they aren't, and I can shop around if they are. Sometimes their sales people don't know everything, but I typically research purchases and know more than most sales people by the time I'm headed to the store, and I just buy what I came for.

No regerts!

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

To be completely honest, I have never had a bad Guitar Center experience.

The worst thing that ever happens to me at GC is just my palms getting superficial wounds from sharp fret ends.

 

[crlujan]

Here’s my most positive GC story...

I was playing a jazz gig at a Cigar Bar in SF. In between sets, a guy came up to us saying that he was digging us, that he was a manager at GC and could get us anything we wanted with his management discount. He gave us his card and that was that.

I called and asked about an Ampeg V4B and the matching SVT212AV cab. Well, I got them with his discount. Even had them shipped to me. I’ve been playing that rig for a few years now and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

 

[instrumentlevel]

Got 3 GC’s within 30ish minutes of me here in Philly—so I check them out regularly, mostly for the used gear. Lots of good experiences, but you have to manage your expectations and use the return policy.

GC’s has gone up and down a lot over the last few decades, but these days, my experience is that the folks who work there are very interested in the gear and players, even if the financial holding company that owns them isn’t. Just last week, I bought a new Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 for my son (HS graduation gift), and they gave me the 15% coupon discount, even though Focusrite was on the “excluded” list. I’ll take it!

 

[pcake]

one night in the '90s, i went to see a friend's band, and i really liked the band after them, so i went over, got their url and following show dates/locations and talked gear (this actually happened three times with my friend's band, btw).

well, turned out the guitar/lead singer in this band worked at hollywood guitar center. he appreciated my appreciation so much that until he was promoted off of the sales floor, i got employee discounts on everything.

come to think of it, i got employee discounts on everything at carvin after the manager, assistant manager and i became buddies.

it's good to have friends

 

[Dan Pomykalski]

The only positive story I have of Guitar Center is once I went in and I wasn't bothered by a single employee.

Bad experiences that heavily outweigh that anomaly:

Me: "Hi I need to speak to someone in your X department."
Employee: "Well maybe I can help you, what do you need man?"
Me: "I'm interested in Y (normally takes sometime to explain)."
Employee: "Alright. Let me transfer you to X department."

One time when I was buying a pedal at Guitar Center:
Employee: "Would you be interested in the protection plan?"
Me: "No thanks. I never end up using those and most manufacturers include some type of warranty anyway."
Employee: "Yes, but those warranties are only good for X amount of time."
Me: "Yeah, but I feel like if something breaks within that amount of time, then it's junk anyway, and I'll just go with a different brand next time. So no thanks."
Employee: "Are you sure? Do you know what the differences between our gold (or whatever) plan is and the manufacturer's warranty is?"
Me: "Yep..."
Employee: "Aaaaand the difference issssss...?"
The employee wouldn't complete my transaction until I explained the differences between warranties and Guitar Center's protection plans. I ended up losing it and going off on him, which I don't do a lot.

 

[Drop1]

I love GC. That return policy makes buying used safe and they are pretty good about pricing. I've gotten some really great discounts on new gear through the years.

The only catch is you need to do your research. The employees near me are super friendly, just dont expect them to know details about items.
Understand that if you've read the description of an item, you likely know more than they do.

And dont expect to find high end gear. They intentionally stock low to mid level instruments and electronics.

When they have sales they can be significant.
Recently they had a guitar sale and I saw several basses for half off. Thats damned good for a new item.


There are a few downers.
Not stocking higher end gear gets annoying. There is nowhere in my town to test things in advance.

Be wary of buying even new items and inspect them well before purchasing. When something is returned, it goes right back on the shelf.
45 days is a long time. Plenty long enough for a player to put some miles on guitar. Between that and how much they are handled in the store, you'll see new instuments that are in worse condition than many used items.

Another good tip. Anyone in the store is authorized to give you 10 percent off. You only have to ask.
Managers can take off much more on new items. They are more firm on used prices.

 

[pcake]

The only positive story I have of Guitar Center is once I went in and I wasn't bothered by a single employee.

Bad experiences that heavily outweigh that anomaly:

Me: "Hi I need to speak to someone in your X department."
Employee: "Well maybe I can help you, what do you need man?"
Me: "I'm interested in Y (normally takes sometime to explain)."
Employee: "Alright. Let me transfer you to X department."

One time when I was buying a pedal at Guitar Center:
Employee: "Would you be interested in the protection plan?"
Me: "No thanks. I never end up using those and most manufacturers include some type of warranty anyway."
Employee: "Yes, but those warranties are only good for X amount of time."
Me: "Yeah, but I feel like if something breaks within that amount of time, then it's junk anyway, and I'll just go with a different brand next time. So no thanks."
Employee: "Are you sure? Do you know what the differences between our gold (or whatever) plan is and the manufacturer's warranty is?"
Me: "Yep..."
Employee: "Aaaaand the difference issssss...?"
The employee wouldn't complete my transaction until I explained the differences between warranties and Guitar Center's protection plans. I ended up losing it and going off on him, which I don't do a lot.

"would you be interested in the protection plan?"

i find that "no, thank you" said in a firm but not unfriendly tone does it. i've never had that not work, but if it didn't, i'd either ask to talk to the manager or tell him "don't be a jerk, dude - just sell me my gear".

if i feel chatty, i tell them my husband has a luthier workshop (he does) and not only does our repairs and setups but builds guitars and basses from scratch. their reply is usually "wow, lucky you!"

 

[johnson79]

I've purchased a few things from GC. Was buying a cable and the guy knocked some cash off the price. Bought some used stands for $5 each, which is nice. Got a great deal on my Ray34, although it seemed like the transaction took forever to complete. I really can't complain when I've spent money there.

My issues are usually people loudly wankering, poor bass selection, poor setups on the few they have, and weird salespeople. But to be honest I just don't go to GC much, or any shop really. I'm not going to buy anything and I feel weird just looking.

 

[Dan Pomykalski]

"would you be interested in the protection plan?"

i find that "no, thank you" said in a firm but not unfriendly tone does it. i've never had that not work, but if it didn't, i'd either ask to talk to the manager or tell him "don't be a jerk, dude - just sell me my gear".

if i feel chatty, i tell them my husband has a luthier workshop (he does) and not only does our repairs and setups but builds guitars and basses from scratch. their reply is usually "wow, lucky you!"

A firm "no thank you" has never worked for me.

I'll say "no" and then they'll continue to try to sneak in additional information throughout the transaction, which always seems to take way longer than it should...

 

[OptimalOptimus]

We don't have GC where I live. We have Long And McQuade. Not bad but far from interesting.
I prefer Mom&Pop shop. I only have praise to give one of them in my town. I bought a poopie ton of stuff from them.

 

[pcake]

A firm "no thank you" has never worked for me.

I'll say "no" and then they'll continue to try to sneak in additional information throughout the transaction, which always seems to take way longer than it should...

perhaps you can turn up the firmness? my firmness is very firm.

i've always had what a friend nicknamed "the voice of authority". i'm not mean, i don't ridicule, i don't yell or get angry, but a surprising segment of the public responds to it as if i were their first grade principal. i definitely use it in those situations.

We don't have GC where I live. We have Long And McQuade. Not bad but far from interesting.
I prefer Mom&Pop shop. I only have praise to give one of them in my town. I bought a poopie ton of stuff from them.

my closest mom and pop shop is the one with the single large room where the employees and regular customers watch and listen to you like you're giving a concert. their prices are quite high, higher than similar local stores, their floor is set up with very very tight rows of guitars and basses that make it very hard to move around without knocking something over. they make most of their money, they tell me, on lessons.

for me, GC is a big step up from that.

 

[Dan Pomykalski]

perhaps you can turn up the firmness? my firmness is very firm.

i've always had what a friend nicknamed "the voice of authority". i'm not mean, i don't ridicule, i don't yell or get angry, but a surprising segment of the public responds to it as if i were their first grade principal. i definitely use it in those situations.

I assure you... I am firm when I say no...

I know what "firm" is... I don't timidly mumble "no thank you" while avoiding eye contact and confuse it with being "firm"... I don't say "no thank you" as if I'm asking a question and not sure and confuse it with being "firm..."

 

[FritzM]

Well, I worked there as a guitar department manager for a year and a half. Saying that people are one way or the other is a complete generalization. People are people, some pleasant and some not. GC is the Wal-Mart of music stores. However, I came across many excellent musicians when I worked there. I don't agree with many of their policies, but I didn't when I worked for Apple either.
For example, I believe they sell B stock items as new. But, their return policy is second to none. I came in contact with wonderful people, and also complete jerks. So please take heed when saying they are are this and that. They are just people.

 

[Drop1]

I assure you... I am firm when I say no...

I know what "firm" is... I don't timidly mumble "no thank you" while avoiding eye contact and confuse it with being "firm"... I don't say "no thank you" as if I'm asking a question and not sure and confuse it with being "firm..."

You have people tey to push the coverage on you? My store ask and ask once. I've never said more than "nah" and that's always been the end of it.

 

[Dan Pomykalski]

You have people tey to push the coverage on you? My store ask and ask once. I've never said more than "nah" and that's always been the end of it.

Yeah. They're relentless at both of the stores in my area. Eventually it got to the point where I emailed their customer service. They basically said it should be like how you described. Ask once and that's it.

 

[pcake]

Yeah. They're relentless at both of the stores in my area. Eventually it got to the point where I emailed their customer service. They basically said it should be like how you described. Ask once and that's it.

that pretty much sucks. i wonder what they'd do if you looked very bored and said "yeah, yeah, yeah" in a monotone while gesturing them to move it along.

do those stores have the same manager, by any chance?

 

[MegaSwing]

Here’s mine, and I’ll preface it by saying that years go by between my visits to GC. It’s just not in my stomping grounds.

In 2008, I bought what I think was the only brand-new off-the-rack full-boat-retail bass I’ve ever bought. It was a beautiful MIA Fender 5-string Jazz, a really nice piece in Olympic White with a tort pickguard.

The salesman really worked with me and got the price down to where I had to take it. So I did.

Flash-forward to last year. I’m in there browsing with the wife, just because we happened to be in the neighborhood. The salesman recognized me AND remembered the bass. I probably averaged one visit per year in the intervening ten years. When he first approached me, I thought he had mistaken me for someone else.

THAT’S a sales professional right there! At GC!!