So I've seen posts about buying amps and guitars that involve taking said item from a store such as Guitar Center and bringing it on a gig for a night to see how it works in real life. Are these people just purchasing the item and bringing it back the next day or do they ask the salesman if they can have it for a night? I'd like to do this but I don't know how to go about it.
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Testing a Head from GC
- Thread starter DrBone
- Start date
The policy for GC and SamAsh, I believe, is that you have to buy the item; and if you just wanted to try the item, you must return it within 30 days to receive your full money back. You could also rent at certain store locations. However, I don't believe there is ever a way to just "ask the salesman if they can have it for a night." You have to put money down...
I am not familiar with any borrowing policy at GC. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
I would recommend bringing your gear to your local store. I know it seems like a pain or a little odd but ultimately you are spending the $$$ and you want a quality product you are satisfied with.
Try to go on an off time, like during thr day on a weekday. For example, Saturday afternoon is just a pissing contest with every guitar player from a 50 mile radius showing off his/her skills.
My suggestion is don't just try any old bass off the wall with a new head and the cab that it happens to be connected to.
And then worse comes to worse, gig with what you buy and if you don't like it return it.
Good luck,
Dan
I would recommend bringing your gear to your local store. I know it seems like a pain or a little odd but ultimately you are spending the $$$ and you want a quality product you are satisfied with.
Try to go on an off time, like during thr day on a weekday. For example, Saturday afternoon is just a pissing contest with every guitar player from a 50 mile radius showing off his/her skills.
My suggestion is don't just try any old bass off the wall with a new head and the cab that it happens to be connected to.
And then worse comes to worse, gig with what you buy and if you don't like it return it.
Good luck,
Dan
Well...never tried it with an amp, but the last time my band was tracking drums we found ourselves in need of a kick drum mic ASAP, so we headed over to the local GC.
Immediately i asked about the return policy (mics don't usually have one once they're opened, due to germs and such). I was able to talk the sales guy into letting us buy and return it "if it wasn't what we were looking for" (the fact that it wouldn't be used for vox eliminated the "germ" issue). He knew we were just gonna use it for the day and return it, and that's exactly what we did... maybe he still got to keep the commission? Not sure, but that might work for an amp so long as it comes back in pristine condition.
Immediately i asked about the return policy (mics don't usually have one once they're opened, due to germs and such). I was able to talk the sales guy into letting us buy and return it "if it wasn't what we were looking for" (the fact that it wouldn't be used for vox eliminated the "germ" issue). He knew we were just gonna use it for the day and return it, and that's exactly what we did... maybe he still got to keep the commission? Not sure, but that might work for an amp so long as it comes back in pristine condition.
The "GC Freebie" is a technique employed by every musician I've ever worked with. 30-Day Returns are a grand luxury to have when you just aren't sure yet. Half of the time, anything I've tried to pull this stunt on, I've kept it anyways! Heh heh. But typically, this doesn't always apply to used gear, so double-check.
Just go in and buy it like normal, don't express your intent to return it tomorrow. Keep ALL the original packaging and twist-ties and warranty cards and heck even the packaging tape. Treat the packaging just as carefully as you did the item you bought, and they won't even think twice about honoring the return. You're golden.
Just go in and buy it like normal, don't express your intent to return it tomorrow. Keep ALL the original packaging and twist-ties and warranty cards and heck even the packaging tape. Treat the packaging just as carefully as you did the item you bought, and they won't even think twice about honoring the return. You're golden.
Looking over their return policy in advance might be a good idea though since with mic's they usually won't take them back once they're out of the package. So long as you know the item is returnable you should be good.
This is called "renting". Big box stores are aware that people do it with everything even lawn furniture. They keep a record of your purchases and your returns. Say you buy $30 a month over a year and return one thing. They will make an exception to their policy and take a return way after the 30 days or even something open that they don't accept like a CD. Your business is worth it to them and you receive a good rating which they see on the screen. If you have returned almost everything that you've bought they assume you are "renting" or borrowing and they will be very curt. The policy on the wall applies to everyone. It says they can't do less than this but they can do more.
Our situation is a little different. We really may think this piece will work for us. We get it home and it's not right at all with our other gear or it's not loud enough or whatever.
GC has a different return policy about recording gear because people need a compressor or a mic for a project over the weekend and then bring it back. A salesman gave me a hard time about returning a U5 when I tried it on an IP310 because it's a recording piece to him.
Anyway use your own ethical meter to determine if your are just screwing around on a whim or are really close to actually keeping a piece.
I concur that getting it in your own home/studio/practice can make you actually keep a unit when you might have not if you'd tested it in the store.
Our situation is a little different. We really may think this piece will work for us. We get it home and it's not right at all with our other gear or it's not loud enough or whatever.
GC has a different return policy about recording gear because people need a compressor or a mic for a project over the weekend and then bring it back. A salesman gave me a hard time about returning a U5 when I tried it on an IP310 because it's a recording piece to him.
Anyway use your own ethical meter to determine if your are just screwing around on a whim or are really close to actually keeping a piece.
I concur that getting it in your own home/studio/practice can make you actually keep a unit when you might have not if you'd tested it in the store.
but dont think I could pull it off if I did try. Our drummer smokes like a damn chimney on stage and I imagine the intended "temporary item" would smell like smoke so bad they may not take it back. I usually have to leave my amp/cabs and sometimes my clothes even in the garage to air out for a day or two. Used to leave it in my SUV but it kept the smoke smell. And now I am taking my new GB 212T cab tonite for its first gig, guess it will stay in my garage tonite. I usually take a small fan to all gigs cause of hot lights but lately I've been pointing it at the drummer to chase the smoke away from my nose. Geez, even the singer is bothered by it so much his voice goes. Now I know clubs always have smokers in em, this club has a large machine on the ceiling that draws the patrons smoke to it but the low ceiling over the stage keeps his smoke on us. He squeals when we ask him not to smoke. Hell, he's not even that damn good of a drummer. Idiot. 
Sorry for getting off track but again, I've never bought anything with the intention of returning it, though I have some things I think I should've, just too lazy. Time for a garage sale. 
Sorry for getting off track but again, I've never bought anything with the intention of returning it, though I have some things I think I should've, just too lazy. Time for a garage sale. 
