Guitar Center Story

dbrodie · **Posted:** Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:06 pm

I've been to my local Guitar Center many times, but I've never bought anything there. First off, it's in a small place. Second, they don't open until 11 am... Third, the sales people are always busy with too many phone calls. I've already left the store in the middle of a purchase...

I know that the sales people in the guitar depatments like to be a little laid back so you can make a decision. But, the guys at GC never got back to me. So, I wound up going to Sam Ash, which is closer to my house anyway. Since last year, I purchased 2 guitars and various other stuff I needed to replace.

liveatsix · **Posted:** Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:09 am

I have nothing but bad stories to tell about my local GC. The employees there all seem to have extra chromosomes. I tend to only buy small accessories there like strings, cables, ect.

One trick I've learned is to tell whoever the salesperson is, wherever I may be in the store, that I'm looking for a power supply for a Dunlop HighGain volume pedal. I've had a kid search the entire store and the internet for over a half hour while I looked at and tried out other gear in peace. While I was walking towards the door he tells me that he didn't have any luck finding the power supply. I would have expected him to find out quickly that the pedal is passive, requiring no power at all, just so he'd leave me alone. Dumb!

Benny D · **Joined:** Thu May 28, 2009 10:50 pm **Posts:** 72

I never had any probs with GC. If it was the Dunlop Slash wah you could have received at least a hundy, depending on the condition of course. Anyhoo, the important thing is you got what you wanted.

trj 1393 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:40 am

im going to GC tommarow and hopefully it will be a pleasant experince. it always has been in the past but i hear more and more stories about how some people have a hard time there

edzio · **Joined:** Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:40 am **Posts:** 46

I've never bought a guitar there. I get better service from smaller local stores and most of the time I'll get a better price too. I do buy small things from them like strings, cables, etc. since they're the closest to me. I do have to say that the guys in the recording department are very good and really know their #@$%. I've bought most of my recording gear from them.

geminikilla · **Posted:** Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:57 pm

jeffo46 wrote:

The nearest one where I live is in North Attleboro, Mass and I haven't stepped foot in there since October of 2007. At the time, I had a Mint condition 1997 USA made, Peavey Studio Pro 112 sitting around that I wasn't using and on their website, they had a used Fender FM 65R combo going for $150.00. I figured I'd bring the Peavey down and get a partial trade and pay the difference with cash. I called the store first and explained what I had to which I was told "c'mon down, we can do a trade and cut you a good deal for that amp". When I got there, I asked for the salesman that I spoke to on the phone who immediately denied ever speaking to me, which right there and then upset me. So another salesman took a look at the amp and said we can do a partial trade for what you want. He took the amp up to the counter and instead of looking for it's value in the Blue Book, this idiot was looking on E-Bay trying to find the lowest value instead. I saw this and asked him what he was doing, to which he said "that is how we find the value on equipment" to which I said " you mean that is how you screw them over!" He told me that all they could give me for my amp was $50.00. I asked for the store manager who told me the same thing. I got so mad that I told them to take their store and shove it where the sun don't shine. When I got home, I immediately sent a email to their corporate office where a week later, they responded back and offered me a $300.00 store gift certificate. I agreed to it and went back there and spent it on a used Epiphone Les Paul and rubbed it right in their faces.

Lol. Nice. I should've done that

Solid Body Love Songs · **Posted:** Fri Jun 05, 2009 10:51 pm

went to GC 12 weeks ago for the test drive and when i asked the guitar guy to fill out the GC side of the form he scribbled on it and handed it back to me and said that was all he would do and to send it in , i did and finally got an e-mail from Fender telling me to send in the form before the promotion is over , went to another GC and the guitar guy filled out the form this time , GC is inconsistant they should straighten that out.

savagesniper · **Joined:** Fri Jun 05, 2009 11:32 pm **Posts:** 2

It seems like someone from GC would be monitoring forums like this and chime in once in a while and say things are changing. Guess they keep their heads in the sand and just don't care.

PrimitiveLyric · **Joined:** Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:54 pm **Posts:** 5

zod wrote:

GC sucks.
I hate the one closest to my house. They have noone there with any knowledge about basses. I'll drive an hour away to a different location if I really need to go there.

I only go to my local Guitar Center to purchase strings or books or something. I have bought one guitar from the place when it was a local "musicians friend outlet" and it was a heck of a lot more friendly. You are right about then not knowing much, they don't know much of anything and let everyone play the guitars they have on the walls without caring if people scratch them or ding thing or whatever. Don't even get me started on tube amps.....

Don't ever trade gear in to these stores as you won't get your money worth. It's best to try and sell it yourself or on ebay. I was going to trade in a Line6 Variax 600 and they were going to give me like $200.00 for it (heck, I thought it was worth $50.00 myself) but I sold it on ebay for a little over $700.00 (it had a GK 3 installed in it).

msvolpe · **Joined:** Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:58 pm **Posts:** 387

i try to be educated before i go anywhere. the less time i deal with a salesperson, the better. all i want to use them for is making a purchase.
i just walk in, find the equip. i seek, (i might have to ask to have something taken out of a cabinet), do my thing, buy if applicable, leave.
problem averted

jmr986 · **Joined:** Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:53 am **Posts:** 560

It's too bad that GC (at least the ones I've been to) has poor customer service. When I was looking to purchase a new guitar I went to 3 GC's and a Sam Ash. The first 2 times I went to GC I was at the store a good 30 - 45 minutes. Not once was I asked if I needed any help. Went to another GC after about 10 minutes someone offered assistance. Although they didn't have what I wanted in stock they offered to order it for me. He couldn't find the guitar I wanted online and was adamant that they didn't make it in the color I wanted. Left the store and bought it online for $150 less than GC.

When I went to another GC to buy the amp, the "manager dude" offered me 10% off the floor model. It looked brand new. After they rang it up no discount. I argue with the salesman who has no authority. Manager Dude comes over, tells me no discount because Fender is increasing their prices. Well I had my heart set on playing so I paid and left. BTW I dropped over $400 cash that day. Went home and emailed GC corporate. corporate must have contacted the manager (within 24 hours). Well the real manager offered me the 10% off my next purchase. Haven't been back.

You would think that an old fart like myself would have gotten better treatment. Particularly, because I have more disposable income than the typical 13 year old shredder that shows up to beat on their guitars.

BluesDisciple · **Joined:** Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:11 pm **Posts:** 57

Martian wrote:

Truly, it sounds like a carbon copy of the one near me.

With the economy the way it is, the fortunate few who still have a few bucks in their pockets would probably only want to give you pretty much what GC gave you for them. So, even though GC at large yanked your crank, you unloaded both pedals and got exactly what you wanted within one hour of you setting the whole sell/buy thing in motion. Think of all the BS you were spared if you had to try unloading both pedals privately. As far as I'm concerned, you won the day!

Enjoy your new toy!!

+1

Flashback From the 60's · **Joined:** Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:39 am **Posts:** 1516

We have one GC in our town and another about an hours drive away. I have found that in both sotres there is that "gem" of a salesperson that bucks the GC system and is helpful without hovering and seems to be willing to offer opinions, not directives.
Overall, I will agree that GC and most other chain stores have difficulties finding enogh good people to staff their stores.

ZZDoc · **Posted:** Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:34 pm

[quote="geminikilla"]

Couple of thoughts: It stands to reason that the staff in these stores is uneven, and you should be dealing with someone who knows at least as much as you do about gear. The other reality....money talks. This is a sales operation and likely heavily commission oriented, and the more green you flow on a regular basis, through the hands of a saleperson who you can consider 'your guy', the easier time you may have. Although busy days are busy days, and they will be handling more than one customer. Because it's a national chain I know that I can walk into a store in any part of the country and have the manager look up my purchase history and be able to say..."Now hook me up with your best salesperson so I'm not wasting my time around here."

Keep in mind that weekends are a regular headbanger's ball in those stores and there are too many dudes hanging out, showboating, noise-polluting the environment, taking up space a serious customer might occupy, killing gear they can't afford to own, while the sales staff is trying to earn a buck. When ever you can, hit those places on a weekday morning off, when no one is around. It's fantastic!!

Guitar Center buys used gear at a percentage discount from what they will sell it used. Keep that in mind. I've asked my guy about certain items and was told up front to keep it. I'd do better on eBay.

Many GC's operate in localities where law enforcement has established procedures for accepting tradeins as a control against trafficking in stolen property, so be patient and understanding in that regard.

Doc :wink:

psychoshna · **Posted:** Sun Jun 14, 2009 5:37 am

Haha, nice ending!

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