Some humble advice to Guitar Center

[hennessybass]

Guitar Center has one thing in mind, which is maximizing proffits for its shareholders.
It serves a purpose, they are everywhere, they have longer hrs than many local shops, they have stuff in inventory, and occasionally you find a cool person working there. I've ran into some good people at GC. I also think they are getting a lot more cool stuff - used gear - into inventory.

If you want personal attention, people who care about instruments, knowledgable staff, and what ever else, you have to be prepared to pay for those tings.

If you want squire prices with CS service, it's not gonna happen.

I'll just add... if you are realistic about the way things are and with your expectations, you won't be let down so often.

 

[Williethump]

It's hard to defend GC but I'll try. I've never had an interaction with a surly GC worker and they always tried to help this noob, even if hobbled by corporate policy, lack of stock or just dearth of boots on the ground. These kids are working for little with no real chance of promotion since retail is dying. So thanks for the help.
True that the basses are not set up and are out of tune with bad intonation. I bring a clip on tuner to at least tune it.
I bought two basses from them and was happy with my purchases. And if I wasn't happy I could have driven three miles for a refund. Try that online or at a pawn shop.
Yes, GC is usually a mess. But if they go the way of Kmart and Sears, as is expected, it'll be pawnshops and 'mail order', as we used to call it for those of us with the bass GAS. I've had bad luck ordering before playing and avoid it.
Badly set up, tuned, and intonated the ax might be at GC, but at least I can tell if it fits me.
I, for one, will miss my bass retail overlord when it folds. Count your blessings.

 

[Relayer71]

it must be a Manager thing, some care, some don't.

I agree with this. Just like any place, really. It starts at the top (though having employees that care go a long way, as well).

Another thing that bugs me about GC, and this is website related: Hire a real photographer or designate a sales clerk with DECENT photography skills to take pictures of the used gear!!! The pics on the site are horrendous.

I know this is for used stuff and most people would rather check the gear out in person, but every once in a while I see what looks like a good deal on something not local and the pictures do a terrible job of showing the instrument so I just move on. One time I emailed the store and the manager did send me pics... only it was 3 weeks later and the pics were useless (ultra close up of pickups, close up of headstock, and one FAR AWAY pic of body).

 

[Relayer71]

We can discuss all day whether GC should give every instrument the Sweetwater treatment - and they probably should, given that the manufacturers are not living up to their end of the bargain - but you're gonna be paying Sweetwater prices and experiencing Sweetwater wait times for them.

When I comparison shop, I don't see Sweetwater prices any higher than GC's. Could be the specific items I look at... or not?

 

[Skokiaan]

A number of years ago the GC near me was selling their $3K demo Roland V-Drum kit for $1,500. Great price, but this is the kit that every nose picker that walked into the store had beat on for however many months it was set up. I offered a straight trade - the Roland kit for my Alembic (excellent condition), which would easily sell for more than $1,500. Salesman thought it was a good deal and took the offer to the manager, who takes one look at my bass and immediately rejects the deal. "This bass needs to be set up. I don't want it."

"You can't do a setup here?" I replied.

"We don't set them up. We just sell them."

 

[Rojd]

Recently, I was looking at used five strings on their website, and saw what looked like a potential purchase, and it was at a store a handful of miles away. Worth driving down and giving a look-see. When I got there, I quickly found the bass, and was simultaneously shocked and not surprised. On their website, they described it as "great condition". This poor bass had an atrocious refret job, there was glue all over the fretboard, long slices in the wood, ends sticking out everywhere, the fingerboard was cracked away and separated from the neck on the bass side from the nut to the 3rd/4th fret. On the treble side, below the 12th fret, the the edge of the fingerboard had deep and rough cuts and gouges like someone took a hacksaw to it.
I know you can return things easily enough, but I'm glad I saw it in person. I would be I'd po'd if I ordered and received that. The following week it was off the site, either they pulled it or some poor sucker bought it.

 

[BassHouston]

Plenty of people want the lowest possible price. Cutting labor costs is one way to get there.

You're absolutely correct but the problem is that they hadn't have good prices for the past few years. They tie the hands of the employees and don't allow them much flexibility with the prices. They make a huge deal out of 8% off coupons and when they have 15-20 present off coupons, the majority of the brands are excluded.

 

[Bringindafunk]

I've bought from many places both local and online over the years and 100% the reason why I would buy from GC is the return policy. 45 days to try it out and if I don't like it, I just walk into my local store and hand it back. No return shipping at my expense, or calling to get an RA number. Just walk in and hand it back.

Are they a soul-less corporation with all of the standard problems that come from being a soul-less corporation? Of course they are. If I'm sure of what I want and prefer to give my money to a company I can feel good about, I buy from somewhere else. If I'm not sure the item is for me or and want to try it out for a bit, I order it from GC. Being a soul-less corporation has its advantages.

 

[Nedmundo]

I've always had a (mostly) good experience in both the Wilmington, DE and Oxford Valley, PA stores.

I forgot about the Oxford Valley GC, probably because I've never been there! I'm glad you've generally liked it, and I should check it out. The Wilmington store is a standout IMO.

 

[Jason Hollar]

I just visited a new-to-me GC in search of an inexpensive classical / nylon string guitar.

As expected, several of the cheaper ones had some fret sprout & rough edges but all were in tune and easy to play.

The nicest one they had was a $699 Taylor Academy which was wonderful in every way. I didn't buy it cuz I'm still shopping plus I don't really need the built in electronics, but they can order the 100% acoustic one for a bit cheaper. I'd have no problem ordering another one sight unseen since I now trust the craftsmanship on that particular model. If it's a lemon, I'd simply give it back!

That said, I do trust Sweetwater because of their multipoint inspection & setup before shipping. This can mitigate a lot of potential hassle.

 

[Bass4bros]

I worked in a music store for a few years for a low hourly wage plus commission. I quit because I got hosed too many times by customers. I would spend tons of time helping someone choose a product only to learn later they bought it online to save a buck. The profit margins were horrible low, so the commission never amount to much anyway, but it bothered me every time it happened. I appreciate GC because they have a huge selection of stuff, but I understand why the staff don't really care much.

 

[vid1900]

The Guitar Center Promise: High Action / High Prices / High Associates

 

[Wesley R]

I would think that at least 1/4 of all who try out guitars at brick and mortar stores decide they like something and then order it on line. The GC's close to me would have to hire two or three people on the weekend just to wipe down and tune the tried out instruments of the day.

 

[Cernnunos]

I gave up on GC long ago. Every time I walk into one, I always leave in a bad mood. I will go out of my way to go to a local music shop, or Sam Ash. SA isn't perfect, but at least the employees aren't brain dead.

 

[quindecima]

Dang, I have never had a problem with GC, I have returned two instruments with NO problems and have purchased a nice Sadowsky there and always got pretty nice service. YMMV

 

[BeSeeingYou]

<snip> I would spend tons of time helping someone choose a product only to learn later they bought it online to save a buck. <snip>

I actually had to have a "discussion" with my wife over this when I bought my bass last weekend - she wanted to me drive down to the Delaware store because of the no-sales-tax advantage. But I had been going to the Oxford Valley store for months, trying out basses, asking questions, etc., and the staff was always very helpful. My feeling was that since they were the ones I'd been working with, they should get the sale. So I made sure they did.

 

[vid1900]

I would think that at least 1/4 of all who try out guitars at brick and mortar stores decide they like something and then order it on line.

Only because all the GC guitars are all shopworn.

The price is exactly the same at GC, SW, SA or AMS.

If GC had a new guitar in a box, they'd get the sale.

 

[DanBass]

But I LOVE going to a store where the sales staff refers to me as "brother" ad nauseam.

I buy strings there - period, paragraph. That is all. And the last time I did, I got the brother routine at least 6 times at the register. I wanted to punch the kid in the throat.

 

[Garret Graves]

Guitar Center has an agreement with their suppliers. It's very simple. The instruments are to arrive in ready-to-sell condition. It would take at least one full-time guy just to maintain in-store setup work, and they don't want to shoulder that expense (and frankly shouldn't have to).

That the manufacturers don't do this is not Guitar Center's fault. It's plain and simple breach of contract from their suppliers.

We can discuss all day whether GC should give every instrument the Sweetwater treatment - and they probably should, given that the manufacturers are not living up to their end of the bargain - but you're gonna be paying Sweetwater prices and experiencing Sweetwater wait times for them.

Nah. Instruments are adjustable for a very good reason- they shift, especially when they go from one climate to another- international travel is a great example of that. The whole 'they should set it at the factory' idea is a total fail from the get go, because those settings shift!

 

[Garret Graves]

My latest bass was bought from GC online from S.Carolina.
A fretted twin of the fretless that I already had.

I WANTED the bass.
So whether the bass was set up was of no concern.
One man's great set up is another's unplayable set up.

Besides,I know how to do my own set up.

I do my set ups too. But we can't be talking about personal set ups here- something close to the standard factory specs would be fine! One employee that's good with set ups walking through the store and spot checking would go a long way.
In fact, since you do set ups, you know the truth- if you have a bass with a bit too much relief (the most common ailment seen at GC), it takes 30 seconds with the right tool to get it up to spec. The implication is, one person with the right tools can fix the relief on a dozen basses in the space of 15 minutes