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Post subject: A nice touch
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 11:27 am
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Aspiring Musician
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I live in a market where Guitar Center has three of four stores, yet there are a number of relatively small and established music stores.

I recently bought a new amp at one of the smaller places. The price was competitive with GC. A few days after the purchase I got a nice card in the mail thanking me for my business.

After buying our guitars at GC I wish I hadn't because I could have payed the same at the smaller shop but gotten them set up there. At GC it's just cash and carry, and no service.

I do like GC for selection, but for most things I'll check at the smaller shop first.


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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 12:03 pm
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Location: Vacaville, CA USA
I live in an area where GC is on both sides of me. I like to go to GC to look around and possibly try things out, but when it comes to actually buying I contact friends that I have that work for smaller music shops throughout the U.S.

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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 12:29 pm
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Location: Middle Tennessee
Whenever possible (and I am not just talking about music oriented items here) I buy local. I would much rather put my money in the pocket of my neighbor than the big chain - period. Even if it costs me an extra nickel or dime here and there.

My local guitar shop is run by nice people that are integrated into the community. They support Southern Girls Rock and Roll Camp, lend instruments to the local community theater and school plays, etc. Guitar Center sure doesn't do that....

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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:35 pm
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Location: Somewhere near Seattle
Troublecall wrote:
Whenever possible (and I am not just talking about music oriented items here) I buy local. I would much rather put my money in the pocket of my neighbor than the big chain - period. Even if it costs me an extra nickel or dime here and there.

My local guitar shop is run by nice people that are integrated into the community. They support Southern Girls Rock and Roll Camp, lend instruments to the local community theater and school plays, etc. Guitar Center sure doesn't do that....


Ditto.

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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 3:42 pm
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Location: Sunny So Cal
I have found that dealing with "the little guy" is often most rewarding in the area of customer service. You can really develop a relationship with them. I think that they take better care of your guitar when it goes in for a tune up too.

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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:17 pm
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Location: Turks and Caicos Islands
Try living here;) But stick with the local guy. Especially in today's market.
Leave GC for the circus goers.

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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:48 am
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It's always good to buy from someone who cares whether or not your happy with what you got.

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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:53 am
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Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:24 am
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Location: Raleigh, NC
I was looking for a Boss Chorus pedal, and not wanting to pay $80-$90, I decided to check out my local music store. The owner showed me a gently used chorus pedal that he had put together on a pedal board for a few people to try. $45. Awesome deal, works great and you would never find that type of gem at GC. The people at GC will gladly buy your $100 pedal and try to give you $15 bucks for it, then turn around and sell it for $80. I think you can figure out what I told them about it.


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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:19 am
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Location: Green Bay, WI
I do support local. Someone had mentioned that local shops might charge more, but the service is usually better. Set up is key too, ok I paid less @ GC but no set up comes with it? So I have to pay them to set it up, the savings just went out the window. Support your local community, keep the economy stronger.

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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:40 am
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PowerJazzBass wrote:
Set up is key too, ok I paid less @ GC but no set up comes with it?

Yeah. The local shop will tweak the out-of-the-box setup, as desired. My local GC has zero techs -- the store provides no repairs or setups of any kind.

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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:50 am
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Location: The Heartland
I like my local shop better than the GC. Personalized and personal service is better. The price are pretty close to GC but the after sale stuff is a million times better. Free initial custom set up by a fender silver certified tech. The Thank you notes are great. I just always feel more appreciated by the people in the local shop. They act more like old friends than the guys at GC. I know when I go back the gut that sold me my guitar will still be there and probably remember me.

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Post subject: Re: A nice touch
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:19 am
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RudyH wrote:
I live in a market where Guitar Center has three of four stores, yet there are a number of relatively small and established music stores.

I recently bought a new amp at one of the smaller places. The price was competitive with GC. A few days after the purchase I got a nice card in the mail thanking me for my business.

After buying our guitars at GC I wish I hadn't because I could have payed the same at the smaller shop but gotten them set up there. At GC it's just cash and carry, and no service.

I do like GC for selection, but for most things I'll check at the smaller shop first.

Most of the good smaller shops will set up the guitars at time of sale and some like one near me will let you bring back after 30 days to set up again if needed. Even when you buy from GC on the net they just send you a guitar from the warehouse never opened or check to see if it was ok when they received it . Some net places like Elderly and Sweetwater open and setup there guitars they sell on the net then send them to you all you all you have to do is tune them because they loosen the strings for shipping.

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 12:49 pm
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Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:10 pm
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Location: Deep in the Heart of Texas (San Antonio, y'all)
I just signed up for guitar lessons at a smaller store in San Antonio. When I was reviewing the brochure last night, I discovered that enrolled students get a 10% discount on all merchandise in the store. Helloooo, Blues Junior amp... 8)


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