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Warning: Buyer beware at Guitar Center

#41
I got a "new" EBMM Caprice bass during GC's fire sale on those. They were clearing them out at about half of what they were going for. Bass came from El Paso where it had been on the wall for at least two years and was totally neglected. So neglected in fact I sent it to EBMM for warranty work and got back basically a brand new bass! Anyway, when I first got the bass and realized what poor shape it was in, I called GC to see what options I had and what they could do for me. They knocked $140 off on what was already a great price. So --- CALL GC! They will do you right.
 
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#42
pigpen1 said:
I think guitar center has the best used inventory and prices. I used to go to reverb but everything is sky high over there are far as prices go on used stuff.
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I think you're right. They cast the widest net so they get more stuff and can get rid of used gear the same way. I just sold 3 basses to them. It's easier imo to deal with GC of you have an issue rather than a private party on Reverb/eBay/CL/ FB, etc. They have a program where they have a database of what has been sold by them, how much it sold for, etc. so you know what you're going to get when you go to a GC to sell your stuff.
 
#43
I pissed off the sales guy at GC pretty bad when I ignored his chatter, sat down, & pulled out a capo, feeler gauges, and a fret rocker... Not sure what he was upset about, but the used Lakie I was looking at checked out fine. Still - Might be an entertaining thing to do, just on principle. ;):thumbsup:
 
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#47
dbsfgyd1 said:
GC has a rating system on their used gear's condition. If that bass was rated in any other than poor condition. I would demand 100% of you money back including shipping cost.

Secondly, and this may be a issue with you being so far from the store, I'll only have gear delivered to the store for this very reason. In your case, lots of pictures, but it's a lot easier when you open the package in the store to negotiate, than over the phone. Besides, who's to say you didn't cause the damage when it comes to your house first? Not that any one would ever try put one over.

I feel bad about your situation. Hopefully this will resolve for you, and help readers and posters here to understand there is significant risk with online purchases.
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they don't really have a rating system that they follow. i did a sit down at a GC with what turned out to be the guy in charge of trying to improve the used listings. the poor, small pics, the claims of banged up stuff being listed in excellent condition - he's been trying to change all that with no luck at all. he said it's up to the managers how to list used stuff, and most would simply like to list it with as little effort as possible.

but for us, that's where their return policy comes in. it's worth a shot.

Kipp Harrington said:
For every "good" GC experience I read, I read 10 bad ones. Never again for me. Sweetwater all the way. Sorry you have to deal with this... it's the GC way (for many of us).
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yeah, but consider this thread. there's probably no real issue, yet it's a thread with a title warning us about GC. all the OP had to do was call GC. most times, they'd have either refunded him part of his money or sent him an RMA. instead he started a negative thread. and that's the case in a lot of threads.

i don't think i've ever had a bad experience from GC, and i've been shopping with them since 1972. it helps that my expectations are realistic - many of the guys at GC get paid very poor wages, and a couple i know at one store only work there because they can get time off when their bands tour, then come back to their jobs. many don't get commissions and some are clueless. that's okay - i can do my own research, believe my own experiences, and have had GC and sam ash take multiple returns quickly and easily.

i HAVE, however, had a bad experience with sweetwater and wouldn't shop there for several years as they didn't take care of me even afterward. my relationship with sweetwater has improved - i love knowing the weights of basses i buy. but GC has never done me wrong. no company is perfect, but for me, how they deal with me when there's a problem is a big part of what makes me come back to any business over and over.

btw, between my husband and i, we have well over 200 purchases at GC.
 
#49
I realize the OP is far from a GC, but others take heed....always have it shipped to the store and check it out there. If it's not good, talk to the manager and get your shipping fees back. I've bought 3 basses there in the last year. I show up with truss rod wrenches and screw drivers and check everything. So far, a Lakland Duck Dunn, a Sterling SB14, and an Ibanez BTB all winners.

JB
 
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#51
Why not just return it for one more acceptable? Also, an instrument purchase from GC is little more than buying warehouse direct so having to do a setup would be considered a normal aspect of the transaction, at least to me.
 
#52
pcake said:
they don't really have a rating system that they follow. i did a sit down at a GC with what turned out to be the guy in charge of trying to improve the used listings. the poor, small pics, the claims of banged up stuff being listed in excellent condition - he's been trying to change all that with no luck at all. he said it's up to the managers how to list used stuff, and most would simply like to list it with as little effort as possible.

but for us, that's where their return policy comes in. it's worth a shot.



yeah, but consider this thread. there's probably no real issue, yet it's a thread with a title warning us about GC. all the OP had to do was call GC. most times, they'd have either refunded him part of his money or sent him an RMA. instead he started a negative thread. and that's the case in a lot of threads.

i don't think i've ever had a bad experience from GC, and i've been shopping with them since 1972. it helps that my expectations are realistic - many of the guys at GC get paid very poor wages, and a couple i know at one store only work there because they can get time off when their bands tour, then come back to their jobs. many don't get commissions and some are clueless. that's okay - i can do my own research, believe my own experiences, and have had GC and sam ash take multiple returns quickly and easily.

i HAVE, however, had a bad experience with sweetwater and wouldn't shop there for several years as they didn't take care of me even afterward. my relationship with sweetwater has improved - i love knowing the weights of basses i buy. but GC has never done me wrong. no company is perfect, but for me, how they deal with me when there's a problem is a big part of what makes me come back to any business over and over.

btw, between my husband and i, we have well over 200 purchases at GC.
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That's nice to hear. Like I said, this is one of the few positive stories I have heard... just sayin'. And on the flip side, one of the rare instances I've heard regarding Sweetwater.
 
#53
For used gear I've had great luck with Music-go-round. The stores are personally owned and the employees tend to be very customer centric. When ordering on line, I call the store and ask specific questions about what I'm buying knowing the potential flaws I might be concerned about. They've always been very friendly and willing to take time to answer. The product has always been as described. Shipping has been reasonable.

Since you took the same approach calling GC and getting your questions answered, I think there is some misrepresentation on their part. You did the right thing to call. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you and hope the cost to repair that bass isn't too much. Have you called the store manager and told him the employee misrepresented the condition of the bass?
 
#54
+1 Life is better with GC than without GC.
+1 GC managers seem to have a good bit of leeway to make a sale right.
+1 The use of the rating system for used gear varies from GC store to GC store. I have seen my local store get a piece from another store listed originally as "Excellent", and they re-post as "Good" (two steps down).

I live about 25 minutes away from the #1 GC in the country for selling used equipment. Get to see and try lots of different equipment that comes through there. Helps me know what to lust for / drool over. :drool: I go there every couple of weeks to get my fix of just hanging out with musicians of all levels. They are a lot more encouraging of trying out instruments and equipment than any other music store in the area, even if it's just for fun, and you're not currently in the market to buy.

Occasionally, they have even shipped a piece of gear from store to store without me buying it, or charging me shipping, just so I could try it out. Of course, I wouldn't let them, if I wasn't in the market to purchase. About 80% of my gear came from GC... all used. When I order used gear, and it isn't as described by the store it was shipped from or I just don't like it, my local GC understands. . If that is the case, they don't make me feel guilty for not buying it or returning it. If your local GC is like mine, I am sure you can work something out. I love my setup, and I feel my local GC played a significant role in that.
 
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#55
I think your main problem is that you are 140 miles from your nearest Guitar Center. For used gear, it's best to have it shipped directly to the store and then you can inspect it with the sales person there. No way to deny the condition.

If you received it in damaged condition, you should have stopped at that point and contacted the store that sent it. Now that you've begun to do work on the instrument, it's been modified and that makes returns more problematic. As far as the setup, you can't complain about the setup on a shipped instrument not expect them to put $50 of free labor into a $300 instrument.

When you receive an instrument in less than described condition, stop and contact the seller.
 
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#56
LBS-bass said:
Places like Guitar Center really don't inspect the used inventory very closely.
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This is true, but it's made worse when you get different answers from different people. You can call the store with the item for an in-hand description, and you can't rely on what they tell you. I had this recently when looking for a guitar. The sales guy said it was in great shape, maybe one small scuff (this was new, not used). A later call landed me with a manager because the first guy left for the day. The manager told me what may have been more accurate, and it wasn't anywhere close to what the first guy said. That makes a BIG difference when the policy is no returns on clearance new gear.
 
#60
I bought a killer bass for about $85 shipped To California from GC Texas. It was an inexpensive lefty for my son in law. I called the store and was treated very well and the young man was very helpful. I asked him to look at a few key things for me and when it showed up it was exactly as he described.
 

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