Sigh...

[kdogg]

I have never worked at a Guitar Centers, and I have had some really great experiences with very knowledgeable salesman. I have experienced some poor salesmanship as well. Overall, Guitar Centers can be a great place to pick up some higher end gear in your local area, and their return policy is a big plus. I really don't understand all the animosity. It's just a store in the end. If you don't like the salesman, don't work with him. If he is pushing you in a direction you don't wish to go, redirect him. If he isn't considering your budget, let him know what you are looking to spend. If you don't know what you are looking for, his advice could be helpful.

My 2 cents

 

[Nick man]

Nick Man, IIRC, in a previous thread you attempted to defend the GC-Ebay-Instrument Exchange corruption. I believe I asked you if you worked at GC and didn't hear your answer. Many of us here have personal experience with extremely poor salesmanship at GC, and we are doing each other a service describing our experiences. Don't know about the rest of these guys but your statement, "Lay off GC you guys" wont change the fact that GC is a big business that hires unskilled personnel who in many cases have little or no knowledge of their product and very little experience in the music business.

If I didnt answer you I apologise. I meant to. I believe someone else stated that I do work for GC.

Im not denying that you guys had those experiences, or that some GC sales guys are snakes, but Id like to clear up the stereotype that all GC sales people are like that.

If you dont like the guy you are dealing with, tell a manager and ask for someone else. Make it clear why you want someone else.

I cant speak for other GC's but I know that mine and the one in Hallandale are both well staffed by experienced personell and that there are several gigging or once gigging musicians that work at these stores. Occasionally a bad apple will slip through the cracks but thats not the norm.

My problem is that you guys are bashing me and my friends when we didnt do anything wrong. It was another GC dude. Its insulting.

How about this. Next time you need something from GC, give me a call at work: 305-271-2600. I'll make sure you get taken care of properly.

 

[Nick man]

Well, I had absolutely no intention of getting a "bash GC" thread started. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed, & jsut wanted a sounding board to make sure what I wanted, was what I needed.

I know thats not what you had in mind. Sorry if it seemed like my post were dirrected at you.

 

[Lowtonejoe]

When you read it all including the sentence right before what you quoted you see what Im saying.

Its not a GC thing. Its a human thing. Some people are good, and some are scum. Dont toss my coworkers and me into the same pool as the scum.

To put it simply. I dissagree with you guys.

Easy there pal. I got the tone of your post but was confused by your phrasing. Hence my asking for clarification.

I've never been to a guitar center but as a general rule I have to agree with everyone else.

Word up.

As a general rule, salesmen are there to sell you something. That's there job. Nothing wrong with that but unfortunately there are more bad salesmen in my experience than good salesmen.

I don't know where you fit in, I have never met you. And that was not meant to be a slam so please don't take it as such. You have never met me, right?

On Saturday I went to a music store. It was a small chain type of outfit. There was a guy looking for a mixer but he was going in blind. A total newbie. The salesman was overloading him with 'channels this' and 'fx that'. The guy was totally lost. This salesman just wanted to sell. He wasn't 'taking care' of a customer, it felt like he was 'taking' a customer.

Well, being somewhat not-shy about helping others I quickly pointed out a few options to the guy that made sense to him while the salesman just goggled.

The guy had a freind he trusted come down who set him straight so there was a happy ending in this case.

Unfortunately I see this more often than not and would be very surprised if GC in general was not the same way, people are people after all.

But there are salesmen out there who treat you right so when you find one, I think you should try to give him/her some business.



Joe.

 

[Psycho Bass Guy]

I don't think GC the company in itself is a bad company.

Speaking as a former manager, I sure as hell KNOW that the company is about as bad as you can get. If you need to buy gear, AVOID GC if at all possible. Most of the guys there know two things: jack and $hit.

 

[Drake Kennedy]

I've had some good and bad experiences with the same salesperson. On the one hand, he's let me "rent"(buy then return months later) and instrument, but on the other, he still has that pushy nature about him. I think he's come to realise that I'm not a total n00b in the bass world, and pushing stuff on me isn't gonna work.
He still manages to get me though, talking quick and taking my "uh idunno..."'s as "yes"'s. I got 2 pairs of straplocks and a set of strings that i didn't even ask for.
eh, good and the bad