Was thinking of going to GC tonight to buy a couple guitars and was talking to my friend when I mentioned I wanted to get hard cases for them and I'd haggle over the total for everything once they see that I'm getting 2 guitars and 2 cases. But he said GC fixed their prices and there's no more haggling. You either pay what they want or you walk out empty handed. Is this true?

The ability to haggle and try before I buy was the only reason I'd ever go to GC. If that's gone then I see no reason not to just buy it online from a couple different places and at least avoid paying the sales tax.

But I hate the idea of buying before I even see the guitars first.

Does anyone know if this is true? No more negotiating to get a deal? What ever happened to the salesmen getting commission which gave you some bargining room? Seems silly with the economy doing so poorly that they wouldn't be willing to negotiate to sell some guitars. Especially just the fact that buying online will save a hundred dollars easily just in the taxes.

Does anybody know what going on over there at GC that's been there recently or knows someone on the inside?

I was told the same thing from the one by me at least a year ago and it was posted all over the store as well. They were pretty hard nosed about it too.

I'm sure though, if you walk in with a huge chunk of cash, they'll change their policy instantly, depending on how 'hungry' the sales person and manager are, especially in today's economic climate.

_________________
You dig?

The GC near me is running some kind of sale between 6-9 PM tomorrow
( Sat. ) night. Might be worth looking at.

John.E

as if i needed one less reason to shop at GCenter! fixed prices! musicians friend it is!

I've overheard some haggling the last couple of times I went there. Sounded as if they were still working deals. Couldn't say for sure though, I went about my own business and didn't see the outcome.

Isn't MF part of or somehow related to GC?

yeah they own MF. Sweetwater or Elderly Instruments is a better deal because you can avoid the taxes. Though honestly I've never bought anything from either of them, just what I've heard.

Since GC is in every state, you have to pay taxes.

I wonder just how much longer the tax loophole will be open. Sooner or later someone is going to figure out how to tax those sales too.

It is true that Guitar Center has fixed prices now, but they WILL still do price matches. If you can find a better price on a product at another dealer (Sweetwater, AMS, even Musicians Friend), GC will match the price (and even give you an additional 10% off the difference).

It's funny, but there ARE some price discrepancies between Musicians Friend and Guitar Center (you'd figure prices would be ther same across the board because CG owns MF). For example, the price on a Boss SD-1 Over drive is currently $39 at MF. At GC, however, the price is currently up to $59.

If you think that's bad, I've seen the same amp priced differently from one store to another here. It was a SCXD. One had it for $279, the other had it at $349, and they were both new, not used.

ahhh please don't tell me that!! but now that you mention it, the sites do look similar! now i have to find a new source! the gc in my city is seriously slacking and if you cant negotiate prices anymore, ill have to go somewhere else...

i dont know all you here about is how bad the economy is yet consumers cant catch a break at all. This extends far outside of guitars ,as just basic living is getting tougher everyday.Ever since 9/11 the world as we knew it has never been the same and probably wont be for at least another decade.I keep hearing politicians saying go out and spend and the economy will pick up. Then watch the news and see thousands more getting laid off.I have had 9 friends lose there jobs and two there homes. One went from making over 150K on Wall street to selling his house collecting $400 a week unemployment and moving back into his parents after just having triplets. You want to talk about hard times.