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Post subject: GC closing stores
Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:28 pm
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I was just reading that a number of some smaller Guitar Centers (like those in strip malls) are going to be closed down. Has anyone heard anything about this?

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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:09 am
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No, but there seems to be a lot of people talking about GC closings on the web, from what I've googled. I wouldn't be surprised. My local mall is losing one of their big stores right now (no, not GC), and it's gonna tear a big empty hole in business there, because I know that nothing is going to replace it. Maybe not ever.

I remember when MARS Music completely went out of business several years ago, in 2002. That was a really ugly bankruptcy, and up until almost the end, you would've thought they were doing great!


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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:26 am
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Yes, there are always people talking trash on the web (fancy that). but before another rumor get cruising right here in this thread....

Despite hundreds of "they're closing stores," "they're bankrupt," "they're closing them ALL" posts on various forums, there is not a single news story hinting that GC is closing stores.

There are dozens of recent stories talking about which chain retailers are in trouble, which will be closing stores, and which might cease operation or seek protection from creditors. Guitar Center is never mentioned.

So, GC is not, as far as anyone can see, closing any stores.

Another thing I might throw in here: It is fashionable to hate GC, to rail against how stupid the salespeople are, how some kid is always playing too loud or too crappy or whatever for a given Forum Poster's taste. And yet they grow and grwo, even though nobody shops there.

Lately, I buy everything at GC. It's convenient, the prices are low, the stock is good, and my personal salesguy at my local store knows more about the MI industry than any 20 guys in this forum put together.... he has a complete grasp of the store's stock (and I mean all of it, from guitars and keys to pro audio), knows features and benefits off the top of his head, and makes sure that I get what iI want fast, cheap and easy. Frankly, he and GC are terrific, IMO.


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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:26 am
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I don't care cause I don't have any GCs within an hour of where I live, and even if I did, I probably wouldn't care too much because you can get most of what any store has to offer on this thing called the internet... :wink:

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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:31 am
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In other news, GC Sessions Presents: Kenny Wayne Shepherd

http://top40-charts.com/news/Pop-Rock/G ... 46044.html

No other GC news on the finance boards.


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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:02 am
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If you could post a link to that story re: closings, it would be great. :roll:


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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:06 am
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I don't live near any Guitar Center store ! Using Google -

Nashua, NH - 142 mi – about 2 hours 30 mins

Colonie, NY - 159 mi – about 3 hours 14 mins

In either case, they simply aren't a local store for me.

I have 2 small music stores about 10 miles away in Montpelier, and then the 2 largest stores in Vermont are the Daddy's in Williston and AdvanceMusic in Burlington, about 45 miles.

They might not be as big a Guitar Center, but I'm fairly well served for being in a mostly rural state in the Northeast.

I don't think I would miss anything if some Guitar Center stores closed.

Gil 8)

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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:08 am
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From what I`ve read on some of these threads, GC is not too customer friendly. If that`s true I wouldn`t be surprised if they all close.


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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:10 am
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Yeah, all you read on the web is how horrible GC is. And yet they grow and grow.

Like Yogi Berra supposedly said, "Nobody goes to that place anymore. It's too crowded."


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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:17 am
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I`ve heard people here complain about them. I never had any dealings with GC but heard how they take the new cases from the MIA Strats and sell them seperatly. That alone is a turn off. If their growing then that`s good for them, but being aware is good for me.


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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:36 am
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Yeah, I read it on the Internet, it must be true.


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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:43 am
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I just wanna toss my $.02 worth in here for anyone who cares.

I'm sure that as SlapChop said, this is all probably more rumor than anything else. With the economy being the mess that it is and particularly with stores in many malls dropping like flies, it should probably be expected that there's going to be some degree of paranoia in regards to what some of us consider our "favorite toy store". That said, I also must add that it wouldn't surprise me either if a major retailer such as Guitar Center were to decide to "trim the fat" a bit particularly in regards to their mall based stores. I know that my local mall, "Midway Mall" in Elyria, Ohio has suffered some major blows over the last year or so from store closings. In the past year or so, we've lost Steve & Barry's, Circuit City, a local but well known furniture store and several major chain restaurants such as Long Horn Steak House, Red Robin, Pizza Hut and Bennigan's just to name a few. While certainly a good portion of this is due to the economy, I also think it's safe to say that people are very much changing the way they shop. With the internet and resources such as Ebay and Amazon, people simply don't shop the way they used to.

Growing up I remember that it was a "family" thing to go to the mall once a week. I'd walk around with my parents, browse the stores, grab a bite to eat, etc.. My folks never had a lot of money by any means, so often we didn't really buy a lot, but it was a way to get the family together and out of the house for a bit. I think that a lot of people for whatever reason just don't shop like that any more. I know that personally, except for things such as holiday shopping, I seldom go to the mall any more....it's easier and often much cheaper to simply "shop from home". About the only time I'm really at the mall is to pay my cell phone bill (my wife has a pre-payed so I -have- to go to the store to pay) and to get dog & cat food from the local Pet Food Superstore. Even if my wife want's something like new clothes from JC Penny's, we'll go into Penny's, get what she needs and then leave without going into the mall itself. Maybe we'll stop at the food court, but not very often.

It's also worth noting that in regards to places such as Guitar Center, as I said in a recent complaint to them, there -are- alternatives. Here in Northern Ohio, we not only have Sam Ash, but a great many smaller instrument retailers as well. Not only that, but again you have places such as Ebay and Amazon and even Best Buy's is starting to make high end music gear available on their website! I don't need to shop at Guitar Center to get decent gear at a fair price (particularly in regards to a brand like Fender that is so notorious about price fixing).

That said, musical instruments are still very much a "specialty market" if you will and as such, aren't quite as subject to economy and market trends and fluctuations the way other retailers typically are. If a person needs to buy new bath towels for example, they can just as easily go to Walmarts or Target as apposed to driving out of their way for a "Linens & Things"...and they'll probably get a better price. However it's not like you can walk into a Walmart and find isles and isles of Fenders, Gibsons, Jacksons, Ibanez, etc., with a back row of Marshall stacks and Fender tube combos. Sure you can find a "First Act" or a really cheapy Fender, Washburn (Lyon) or Gibson "pre-pack" but to most of us, those aren't real instruments (especially when you find them in the toy isle or the optical dept! LOL).

Also, while this is perhaps a bit subjective, I also think that for a great many people...both newbie and seasoned pros alike, there is something about walking into a place like Guitar Center and seeing all of those lovely instruments all lined up ready to be fondled! LOL!!! I remember that in my very early years as a guitar player, all I had exposure to was small, local "ma & pa" music stores that maybe stocked 20 or 30 guitars and a couple of amps (such as "Mario's Music Villa" for any Clevelander's out there). The first time I walked into a real music store...the old Sam's Music in downtown Cleveland, I was simply floored! I was like a 5 year old on his first visit to Toys-R-Us! LOL!!! Rows and rows of guitars, amps, accessories...it was incredible. Here well over 20 years later, I still very much enjoy walking into a Guitar Center (or Sam Ash) and just walking around looking at all the shiny stuff. Whenever I go to a Guitar Center, even if it's only for a pack of strings, I always leave myself at least an hour to simply "window shop" as it were...to sit there and play around with new gear, to check out all the departments and to bs with the sales people about music in general.

I also have to say that for a lot of people, myself included, a guitar (or a keyboard or drum kit, etc) is a very personal item. I think that it's safe to say that a great many people don't like to buy a guitar they've never played before, let along never actually seen in person. There's something about holding and playing a guitar that, to me at least, is very much a part of the purchase process. More over, even two instruments of the exact same model...say an American Standard for example, can feel and play quite differently. Having that contact with the specific instrument that you're considering is not something that can easily be replaced by the convenience of shopping on the internet.

It also must be said that for some folks, there's an "impulse" factor here as well. While I won't speak for everyone and certainly not everyone is like this, personally I've made a couple of "spur of the moment" purchases at Guitar Center (or other music stores). For example, I recently purchased a used Squire Standard for $99. When I walked into Guitar Center, I had no intention of buying another guitar...I had walked in to get a MIDI to USB adapter for my keyboard. As I was walking around though, I spotted this lovely little black sparkle beauty all alone towards the back of the store. Having just purchased a new Squire Standard last August, I sat down and noodled with it for a bit and ended up walking out the door with her. Now this is something I -NEVER- would have purchased like this on Ebay or Amazon. Had I of seen this instrument listed on some place like that, I probably would have looked at it, thought to myself "hmmm...interesting" and then clicked to the next page. Because I was able to sit down and play it though...well...I just had to have it.

So again here, I wouldn't put too much stock in any rumors about Guitar Center closing any stores until there's an actual press release. Even if and when it should happen, I wouldn't think that it's going to be anything majorly significant. It's a niche market that caters to a very specific clientele (us music folk) and that in itself gives them a bit of a cushion in an otherwise faltering economy with changing shopping trends.

Okies...I just felt like typing for a bit. Please take any of this for what you think it's worth.
Peace,
Jim


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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:55 am
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No surprise if it's true, curse this wretched economy!

That said, 'sure hope the Villa Park, Illinois USA one stays open. Unlike some folks in this e-place, this picker has NEVER HAD A NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE in 15 or so years shopping this GC.

Class people, great inventory, well-maintained and cared for. Sometimes 'will stop in while in the 'hood just to experience the vibe. Kids playing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and some death-metal riffs, a couple folks picking jazz, someone in the back acoustic room fingerpicking. Some pre-teen with their mom or dad in for the first guitar.

Restores faith in humanity, for a few minutes.


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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:26 am
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[quote="JPD"].....heard how they take the new cases from the MIA Strats and sell them seperatly.

I have been given to understand that it is not uncommon for purchasers to advise that 'they do not need the case' they just want the guitar. That may leave unsold inventory.

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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:18 pm
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It is true!! I was in the local GC, and heard the employees say that they were closing! Iwas mortified, since the next GC's to me are one hour, and 1 1/2 hours away! When I asked, they said that those 2 stores are also closing! I asked if it was becaise of the poor economy, but they said it was just time to close and they would be open in the morning.



:lol:


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