Yet anorher GC drop the ball thread

[Gordon of Eden]

I know It's probably boring already but I actually like GC and spend about 1/4 to 1/3 of my overall gear budget there annually.
I posted a rant on the Ernie Ball Musicman forum and i thought I'd put a link here as I know GC people check this site and may like to hear about it.
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Mods, If this is innappropriate please let me know.

GC usually does a good job and I sincerely appreciate the cupons and gift cards and have genuinely enjoyed shopping there over the years.

The local shops in my area are usually lacking on selection but their service is much better lately and I find myself going to GC less.
Say what you will about them but I have always found them to be a great resource and would hate to see them go away but I get a bad feeling everytime I go there now.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Sounds more like a low pressure sales environment. Something that I prefer. When I find something I want to buy, I'll flag a salesperson. I really don't want them constantly giving a sales pitch. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Gordon of Eden]

With all due respect, there is a huge difference between low pressure sales environment and low interest sales environment.
I agree, low pressure is awesome but there are ways to be low pressure and still be attentive and helpful to your customers.
This was definitely low interest and although in the long run I will get the gear I want one way or another I find it disheartening to see major players in retail going this way.
In the long run it's better for small businesses anyway if they can stay afloat.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I think you're just ticked that the pro audio chick didn't give you her phone number. Heh.

 

[Gordon of Eden]

Weeeelll, she was very cute (even with a scowl) but my wife usually frowns on that kind of thing
She doenn't seem to mind me buying bass gear though.

 

[EagleMoon]

GC has become the place that parents drop their kids when they want to run a few errands. It's like the mall.

 

[superbassman2000]

With all due respect, there is a huge difference between low pressure sales environment and low interest sales environment.
I agree, low pressure is awesome but there are ways to be low pressure and still be attentive and helpful to your customers.
This was definitely low interest and although in the long run I will get the gear I want one way or another I find it disheartening to see major players in retail going this way.
In the long run it's better for small businesses anyway if they can stay afloat.

that didn't sound like low interest there. I don't have a GC near me, but the few times I have been in there, it seems like for every one person I see actually buying something, i see 49 people who just hang around and play smoke on the water for hours. I would say in terms of probability most people who go there don't even have the intent to buy anything. I would say that they are probably just conditioned from the hundreds of people all day saying "oh, just browsing" after being greeted and asked if they needed any assistance.
I would say that comparing your jewlery shop to GC is comparing apples to oranges because there is probably more intent to buy in your business than at GC. If your store had hundreds of people in your store screwing around, trying on jewlery, getting your merchandise dirty, putting them back in the wrong place, etc and with maybe 3-4 people actually buying anything that day and you only got paid minimum wage to do be the one to clean up after them day after day, would you still be as friendly? I am not trying to defend GC, but it certainly seems like you walked into walmart expecting sachs 5th avenue.
and I know i am not a business analysis genius, but it seems to me that there is a CS vs low prices tradeoff. If you want low prices, you can't afford to have quality employees, because you are not going to be able to pay an expert minimum wage. If you want quality customer service, you will have to sacrifice the low prices because the owner has to pay more in overhead, as the expert will demand higher wages than minimum.

 

[cassanova]

I was just in GC on Friday testing an Ibanez Sr535 and Fender Deluxe Active Jazz bass.

I have mixed emotions about the ordeal in there.

The initial sales rep was good to go. He brought me a stand and strap then left me alone. in fact he said to me "any idea which one yet?" when I told him no, he said "thats cool, i'll just leave you alone for a while and let you play." I never saw him again. I liked that.

It was the checkout period that I didn't like so much. It seemed the gal behind the counter didnt have a clue, perhaps she was new, i do not know.

Then, I had to go back into the store because I forgot to get the allen wrenches that come with this stuff. When I walked back in the other cashier said "what now?" So I told him that I need the allen wrenches that come with the bass. Then got a manager and reported his rude ass.

Needless to say nobody knew where the allen wrenches for the damn thing were and I still don't have them.

Overall it wasn't that bad of an experience and I'd shop there again should I want/need to buy a middle of the road bass or amp. I'd give them a grade of C.