Im sure every store is worried about theft but damn, everytime I go to guitar center I feel like i'm a jail. Seems like there are more workers than customers at times. Someone at the entrance with "hello" and checking your damn bags when you purchase something and leave. Even worst is the workers constantly keeping an eye on you.

Id have to think the workers are stealing $@!& more than customers to justify management telling workers to treat its customers like this.

I don't understand why people are always bashing guitar center.. I have had nothing but great service from them... The guitar manager at the Phoenix store (Wally) is a great guy to deal with... Granted I think buying used is better.. But when I do buy new from them, I know they have a no hassle return policy and would be willing to help me out if I have issues...

As far as their security... Man, get over it, they have tons of theft problems... I don't get hassled probably because I am a 41 year old clean cut white guy... But they still check out all my incoming and outgoing possessions.. Why is that such an issue with some folks ?? How would you like it if people were stealing from you ?

_________________
In Reference to Blues Legend RL Burnside:
After a heart attack in 2001, Burnside's doctor advised him to stop drinking; Burnside did, but he reported that change left him unable to play.

A couple of months ago someone walked off with two high end Gibson Les Paul's at my local GC because they were very busy and no one was at the front counter. They are now putting the high end guitars out of reach so a sales person has to take it down for you. A way to keep track of who has what expensive guitar. My local Sam Ash store puts their high end guitars on display up high on the wall behind a counter so a sales person has to get it down for you. Let's face it there are a lot of thief's who make a living at ripping stores and people off so the music stores are trying to cut down on theft, which will cost all us honest consumers more money in the long run. It does not bother me to ask someone for help getting down a guitar I want to try, in fact it opens up conversation about what they are willing to sell a high end guitar. The other plus side is you get to know the people who work at the store. I have gotten to know a lot of very nice people, some are professional musicians who supplement their income working at guitar stores. I have yet to have a conversation with GC or Sam Ash employee who was rude and did not answer my questions. To sum up this long response, I would take advantage of getting to know who works in the music store you frequent, when they get to know you and you purchase items from them on a regular basis you will be seen more as a friend and loyal customer than a potential thief. They are just following corporate policy.

Thiis is the second time in the last couple of months I've seen someone start a thread complaining about this anti-theft policy of GC's. My take - Get over it.
As others have said, this is a perfectly reasonable policy, it's not as if people aare shoplifting toilet paper or something , it's theft of an easily portable object that can be worth a crapload of money. If GC can't get a handle on the theft of this stuff, it could conceivably put them out of business, not only by loss of sales of said expensive instruments, but I would imagine their insurance rates would go thru the roof.

_________________
'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD

Yeah i can understand their position, but doesnt mean it doesn't suck for paying customers such as myself. No one wanted to help me until I hit up a guy to help me ring up about 1200 dollars in gear, the rest of the salesman look dissapointed they didnt get to me first. The guy that was helping me was having trouble at the register, I assumed he was new and his coworkers barely wanted to help him. Almost childish.

I just will look for used gear from now on at GC and buy somewhere else more customer friendly.

Same here. I've had nothing but good experience with Guitar Center. And it kind of helps that I'm in there often enough that people recognize me.

_________________
Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalairdmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beckslaird
Instagram: http://instagram.com/beckslaird

Tell me something i dont know.

_________________
riley

Sad but true: The customer's appearance often influences how he or she is treated. That's not unique to Guitar Center.

_________________
I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

I've bought stuff from Wally and Tim at Guitar Center in Phoenix. Good guys, and I don't mind giving them my business, but if anyone plans on making a return at GC, make shure you do it in the thirty day return period, or the return value will drop like a penny from the Empire State Building, No matter how good of condition it's in.I don't blame them for their security measures, I'm aware of them before I go to the store, Thats why I don't leave any weed in my guitar case when I go into the store.

Other than the door monitors, I've not had any trouble. My daughter and I go in, sit down and jam. The workers are very nice, last time, one of them was explaining the diff between two guitars, and then she gave me her card and told me to call her if I had any more questions. Even in the accessory room, they don't seem to be stalking me. They even let us go behind the counter to check out picks. I guess it depends on which GC you frequent. Sorry you had a rotten experience.

_________________


Liz K.

If some humans weren't total scumbags it wouldn't be necessary. People try to shoplift all the time at the GC's in my area. They have the right to protect their merchandise. If you don't like the store, you don't have to shop there. Personally, I try to stick with the Mom and Pop shops whenever possible.

The workers work on commission. That's why they're on you all the time. GC has a system where if you don't sell enough products, you're out.

If it's any consolation, Sam Ash is the same way in my area as far as security goes. Try owning a retail business and you may change your mind. You usually pay for your produce up front. Wouldn't you protect it?

_________________
Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

The only thing that's ever bothered me by a GC employee was when I was sitting on the floor in the vintage room looking inside a BF Fender amp I was going to buy...a guy came through on the way to the acoustic room,looked at me and said "don't lick your finger and stick it in there"...I said "I know what I'm doing",but later I thought as many idiots as there are out there,someone might electrocute themselves in the store....they just wouldn't have to lick their finger.

Anyone who complains about a store having security must be looking to steal something. All retail business have stuff stolen all the time. Because of this prices go up.

"Excuse me, sir. Is that a Stratocaster in your pants?"

_________________
I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

In my short term as a Guitar center employee, I can remember the training sessions they gave us. They said in the bigger, busier outlets, people would walk in with baggy sweat pants on and actualy be able to hide a Strat or any other high end guitar in thier pants and walk out, and you couldn't tell. Also stories about people swiching guitars when they would bring another guitar in a case thru the front door. Switching old pedals with new ones in boxes was always a problem. GC just impliments a policy and all stores abide by them, big or small. I've never had a problem returning something for store credit, or returning a defective guitar for exchange or for a neck adjustment or set up problem. They always take care of me.

_________________
Life is like a sh*t sandwich. The more bread you have, the less sh*t you have to eat.