You know what really twists my crank?

When you walk into a music store (or any retail establishment for that matter) and you're the ONLY punter in the place, and you can walk around for ages and not a single sales assistant will even acknowledge your existence.

Earlier this year when I was looking to buy a Tele I went to a local music store, just a short distance from my home as I knew they sold Fenders and there was a good chance they'd have what I was looking for. I spent a good 15 minutes in the place just looking at the same guitars and amps and not a single person even made eye contact with me. OK they had a few other customers at the time but a simple "Hi, I'll be with you soon" wouldn't have gone astray. I walked out feeling peeved and then drove across town to a larger "chain" music store and purchased my Tele. Sweet. So much for supporting a small local business I thought.

Well lately I've had a hankering for a Strat and as I was just driving past the (small, local) music store, I thought I'd give them another go. Now I was the ONLY person in there apart from the 3 shmucks working there and as I strolled around the guitars and amps not a single one came near me or even looked in my direction. 2 were busy discussing what they'd done on the weekend while the other was unpacking some boxes.

At the very least I usually don't walk out of a store without at tleast buying a pack of strings but I wasn't going to even waste 5 bucks in this place let alone spend a few hundred.

Am I expecting too much when I walk into a music store these days?

Sorry just needed to get this off my chest. Cheers!

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MIM Std Tele, MIM HSS Strat, Homemade Mongrel Tele, Blues Jr, Champ600, coupla pedals...sweeeet!

I know exactaly how you feel because the closest shop to me is the same way. The way you get their attention is to grab a guitar plug it in to an amp and start wailing on it. Then you get the help you want. Works every time for me.

Agreed.

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You dig?

Thats been happenin' alot lately it seems My local music shop does it ALOT. Oh well what ya gonna do?

Isn't somebody now going to rant about how much they hate it that salespeople at Guitar Center always ask them if they can help as soon as they walk in the store?

+1 -- Me too. Leave me alone. If I need something, I'll ask...

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

Wow when I read some post I really feel fortunate about how Brooklyn is setup and how I grew up hanging out in the small stores and not really having to deal with the chains. Just going in picking up an ax and shooting the breeze for a few hours with the other guys. I only say this because when Sam Ash opened there big store on Flatbush Ave my friend Timmys store was about 15 blocks from them and they eventualy knocked him out of buisness and he had to close shop. My other friend Mikes store Maggio Music seems pretty secure since it has been there 80 years and Mike jr is the same age I am. But God forbid something happened that would mean I would have to go to GC or Sam Ash on a regular basis which I could never imagine.

Its funny, I can't remember a time when I have browsed a Guitar Center and NOT had someone ask me if I need help.

I know what you mean about the smaller mom & pop type stores. Its almost like they think its a privalege they even allow you in their store, much less them deigning to speak to you at all.

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Calling an illegal alien an undocumented immigrant is like calling a drug dealer an undocumented pharmicist.

Well stray, you made the right choice.

Imagine if you did buy a guitar from them and you took it home and something went seriously wrong with it.

If they wouldnt even acknowledge you as a punter then imagine how they would treat you as a buyer trying to get money out of them for them to fix it!

I use a very big family store which is pretty good since its a fender, gibson, gretch, prs, everything dealer! its pretty good!

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"Oh, it's a windy and sunny day
And I can hear the faint sound of distant waves
The past weeks have been going by so fast
It's all the same, the bright sky and shining sun
I have a feeling it's gonna be a fun day"

Some places are just really low pressure establishments, but I know how you feel. Sometimes I even think it is my own mood that affects the experience. Sometimes I want to be helped right away, and other times I want to be left alone to roam the store. I rarely seem to get the right treatment at the right time. At least one employee should have acknowledged you and said let us know if you need any help.

Count me in on the "on my own". Love it. They'll take your money when your ready to bag up your latest G.A.S. reliever. Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

+1 leave me alone to wander and sample.
If I want something I'll point and wave a card, usually gets attention quick.

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Keep on Truckin, Going full speed ahead down the highway to hades.

Ah--the "May I help you" riff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng3tECDwYFQ(About 22 seconds in.)

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It wasn't Willy-Nilly, it was at crows.

If they wanted the commession he wouldent have to ask for help. We dont all wear a suit and tie. IMO just lazy sales people.