i haven't seen any students, either, but i see 'em at other stores like mccabes and boulevard plus some tiny local stores.
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Went into Guitar Center, Wow
- Thread starter stuntbass77
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i haven't seen any students, either, but i see 'em at other stores like mccabes and boulevard plus some tiny local stores.
I've been in the Arlington Heights one couple years ago and I do remember them having a decent inventory but not like it use to be, I know times change. I was visiting a relative just across the border in Hobart IN and that was the store I went too. The area had lots of nice stores/mall and the store was nice and good size but the area they had the basses was tiny and had very little to choose from. Years ago you could go into any GC and find a much better selection. I didn't check out the guitars but I'm guessing most of those are more lower budget guitar then then years ago.
wmhill
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It's funny how the brick and mortar stores complain about the Internet ruining their business. Keep descent basses (and other instruments) in stock and people may actually come back after their first disappointing experience. I know it's way more complicated than that, but I've had similar experiences as everyone here with local shops, same lame stock as the last 30 times I was in there.
The local mom & pop here out Fenders the GC in both amps guitars and bass' by a long shot. They just expanded and have them all hanging on the wall. Well not so much with the amps, they keep those on the floor.
I don't understand the market here. The Fender dealer is in a big college town, you'd think there would be plenty of customers.
The only other music stores in that town sell pianos.
The only other music stores in that town sell pianos.
The preeminent local brick-and-mortar around here is a place I avoid like the plague, so deep is its legacy of bad faith and one-sided dealing. They're all different, though. That's why I try to gain a new perspective by visiting music stores wherever I travel. Honestly, I'll buy something, whatever the value, if someone really makes an effort to engage me in a friendly, personal way. Salesmanship is in such short supply these days.
L&M is pretty deadly across Canada from what I've seen. I've visited 6 or 7 stores in my travels and every one of them has a decent stock of MIA basses, lots of amps (all plugged in and ready to try), tons of pedals and such. They also have a really good 30 day return policy and used gear. I like it there...
My expectations of finding anything worth picking up to play (Fender MIA, MusicMan... heck, even the occasional used gem, etc.) in my nearest GC are pretty much nil these days. I stop in if I'm in the area, or if I need a good setup (yeah, that's right - one of the best techs around); otherwise, it's a waste of time for me.
I just shop Zzounds. I get everything fast and its in perfect condition and I love the Pay as you Play. I do like Guitar Center though but I cant get their damn financing so they pretty much lost all my business to Zzounds. Last time I was in there they had a Fender Jazz Deluxe 5 String and a few Stingrays, I really like the Ibanez basses though feel so good to play, easy to play and it was around $499.00 for it a 5 string SR not sure if that's considered high end? If Guitar Center would do Pay as you Play without the super strict financing BOOM they would get my business!!!!!
wmhill
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I'm fully with you on this, unfortunately it seems like more and more B&M are getting like GC. I have the opportunity to go out of town 4-5 times a year on business with my wife. I have time to kill in these new cities, and the first thing I do is goggle the local music stores. 9 out of 10 of them are just awful. I really enjoy it when I find a great one, and usually drop a few bucks, even if it's only a t-shirt. I also make it a point to tell them when I enjoy their store and the interaction in general. I ran a mom & pop music store back in the 90s, and I feel lucky to have insight to both sides of the counter
I feel exactly the same way.
I was at my local GC today. They have a good selection of basses and amps in different price ranges.
The problem I have with that place is that even if I go to their local store site and print out what I want,
that they show as 'in stock', there's only about a 50/50 chance that when I get there, it'll be there.
They usually spend an inordinate amount of time looking for something, and then can't find it.
Frustrating incompetence.
If it's something I really want, it's gotten to the point that I'll call, ask them to find it, double check that it's the right item,
and ask them to put it behind the counter for me.
Better than the arrogance of the local mom and pop stores though.
The problem I have with that place is that even if I go to their local store site and print out what I want,
that they show as 'in stock', there's only about a 50/50 chance that when I get there, it'll be there.
They usually spend an inordinate amount of time looking for something, and then can't find it.
Frustrating incompetence.
If it's something I really want, it's gotten to the point that I'll call, ask them to find it, double check that it's the right item,
and ask them to put it behind the counter for me.
Better than the arrogance of the local mom and pop stores though.
wmhill
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Seems that GC is going down the same road as Daddy's Junky Music.(I think they were just a North -east thing) At one time they were a pretty cool franchise-and they had a ton of used gear with good prices and honest condition ratings. I spent a lot of money with them, then the last few years it just got stupid. Prices were all over the place, stuff was busted, worthless staff, never got orders right.....and then POOF! they were gone.
Opening more stores is part of their current strategy to focus more on services like lessons, recording studios, rentals, etc. These kinds of activities bring in cash and are not hurt by online business. But you need lots of locations to provide these kinds of services. We will see if this pans out. Over the weekend, I was at a GC and there were quite a number of kids there taking lessons.
As for the higher end instruments, these seem to have moved over to smaller specialty stores. People complain about the lack of high end basses at GC but looking Sam Ash, Sweetwater, etc., the selection is only slightly better and still no Zon,
I saw a whole bunch at the one in San Mateo on Saturday. Of course, the power went out in the shopping center while I was there and the students left with their gig bags.
As for the higher end instruments, these seem to have moved over to smaller specialty stores. People complain about the lack of high end basses at GC but looking Sam Ash, Sweetwater, etc., the selection is only slightly better and still no Zon,
I saw a whole bunch at the one in San Mateo on Saturday. Of course, the power went out in the shopping center while I was there and the students left with their gig bags.
