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Post subject: Music Store "Help"
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 12:36 pm
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I visited a couple shop's today in search of some bargain pedals...I picked up a used Fulltone Full Drive 2 Mosfet for $80 in like new condition but that is unrelated to this post.

I am still experimenting with stores in my new town after moving to Quebec City in the summer.

At the first store, the staff was warm and friendly and let me have my way with all that I wanted. This is also where I picked up the pedal.

The second was cold although the staff was friendly after my trying one pedal, the staff member, trying to be helpfull, ran though full demo's on two others while i watched.

Two very different experiences but I always prefer to be left to my own devices and I am generally turned off by employees who want to steel the show and try to demo how great things are to them.

What are the thoughts of some of you folks...how much involvement do you like from the staff when you are shopping for gear?

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Post subject: Re: Music Store "Help"
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 12:47 pm
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in my area, the equipment gets real beat up from all the kids coming in and trying but never buying. I think the sales people start to look at their customers differently after a while.

The only way to get around it (at least at my local stores) is to play a little something so they know you aren't just there for kicks to see what a guitar feels like in your hands. They treat the real 'players' a little differently it seems - and it helps to be over 30.

If you really want to see them get their panties in a bunch, try walking into the climate controlled acoustic guitar section and picking something up. :x

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Post subject: Re: Music Store "Help"
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 12:57 pm
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I'm 16 and the employees know me quite well. I don't go that often to the shop but when I do, I stay 3 to 4 hours, trying all the guitars and amps that are in the shop.
I test all the Fender and Gibson in left handed they have. I use three amps for each: Marshall, Fender and Vox.
The employees help me setting the amps to get the tone thar I want because I still don't have the tone that I like.
They inform me about the gear and when I bought my 62' custom strat, he gave me a fender limited G&G western case instead of the Tweed case that came with it because it was damaged.
The shop owner sometimes makes me presents.


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Post subject: Re: Music Store "Help"
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 1:04 pm
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I think it's always a good idea to ask before picking something up, even if others don't do it.
That small piece of politeness is lubrication that lets the rest of the try-and-buy session go smoother. Just a small "May I?" shows that you have respect for both them and the instruments they sell.

And yes, sales staff differs as much as the instruments they sell. They didn't come out of a salesman factory, all identical, but are individuals.
If they pick up a guitar and make noise, try to find something to compliment them for. They're human and even a small "nice riff - is it yours?" will make them less likely to treat you as a yahoo who is there to make their miserable lives even more miserable.


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Post subject: Re: Music Store "Help"
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 1:53 pm
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I prefer a little help and I always ask for it when I need it. I Don't like it when some kid (I am 51) who works in a store wants to show me his shred abilities when I want to check out a guitar, amp, or pedal! That ALWAYS pisses me off, and I let the salesman know it and if they give me some line about policy, I ask for the manager and that usually ends the salesmen' involvement. If the manager gives me that line, I just hand him whatever I was testing out and tell him I won't be back and then I sure as hell don't go back!

Sales people should only give me the level of help I ask for, period. That is my take on it anyway.

T2

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Post subject: Re: Music Store "Help"
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 2:15 pm
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I do always ask for help and permission as oppossed running in and grabbing a pointy headed death machine and cranking a Marshall stack to 10 when no one is looking.

Conversely I usually keep the amp realitive low, like 2-3, and play at respectable level for the space. I also just grab a moderately priced guitar if I am trying an amp or pedal, I do not ask for custom shop strat behind the counter...in fact I will usually just grab a MIM standard or Squier Classic Vibe.

I also am 37 and generally dressed pretty respectably and playing blues riffs and noodling.

What I ask though, is that once permission is recieved to try something, the staff give me some space and not feel like they need to show off some chops.

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Post subject: Re: Music Store "Help"
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 2:16 pm
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Benr08 wrote:
I'm 16 and the employees know me quite well. I don't go that often to the shop but when I do, I stay 3 to 4 hours, trying all the guitars and amps that are in the shop.
Hmm... exactly why I try to visit the local Guitar Center when school is in session.

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Post subject: Re: Music Store "Help"
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 3:19 pm
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T2Stratman wrote:
I prefer a little help and I always ask for it when I need it. I Don't like it when some kid (I am 51) who works in a store wants to show me his shred abilities when I want to check out a guitar, amp, or pedal! That ALWAYS pisses me off, and I let the salesman know it and if they give me some line about policy, I ask for the manager and that usually ends the salesmen' involvement. If the manager gives me that line, I just hand him whatever I was testing out and tell him I won't be back and then I sure as hell don't go back!

Sales people should only give me the level of help I ask for, period. That is my take on it anyway.


I share that protocol as well. I may be dumber than a burlap sack full of ballpeen hammers but I cannot stomach some snotpicker with a GED getting up into my face. If/when that occurs the platinum card goes back into my wallet and I unass the place just as quickly as I can find the exit.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Music Store "Help"
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 3:57 pm
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I don't mind when they want to held, it's their job. But I don't like when they stand over you and keep asking what you think of the instrument after 5 minutes. I usually know within 2 minutes if I like a guitar or not.


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Post subject: Re: Music Store "Help"
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 7:08 pm
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The Mom & Pop store that I have been going to for over 20 years are very helpful but not in an intrusive way,in fact the salesmen there are well aware of my collection of vintage pedals and other gear and have often asked me to critique pedals and other gear just to get my feedback on it.One of them brought out the first new Sonic Stomp pedal they had come in and asked my opinion on it of course I was floored by the way it enhanced even the best tone that I had set up on the amp I tried it out on.I told him that to me it seemed like a combination of a Vox Top Boost and a Marshall Presence control modified to 10 times their strength and he said that was the most apt description that he had heard.I bought the pedal right away and got a substantial discount.I always appreciate a music store where they respect the fact that you are an accomplished musician with a lot of experience-a lot of the younger hotshots especially these days who work in music stores think that they are the epitome of musicianship and actually are patronizing and condescending to older musicians,I only make one trip to these stores.The young salesmen in my local respect experience and aren't afraid to ask more experienced musicians for their feedback-that's the kind of treatment that keeps customers coming back.

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Post subject: Re: Music Store "Help"
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 10:41 am
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I haven't been in a music shop in years, so I don't have to worry about any b.s. with them (which I have in the past, unfortunately.) I just order what I need online and watch demos and read reviews, forums, etc. to get a general idea of tonality. The places I order from have excellent customer service and return policies, so at least I have security there. The one down side is I won't be able to try before buy, but then again no one else did, either. Brand new, fresh out of the box from the factory, unless it is a used item, of course. Then that's a different situation, but I still have the guarantee to return if needed.

If I ever found a shop that has the same service that I get online with the same guarantees, then of course I'd shop there. Unfortunately, I haven't in a very long time.

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Post subject: Re: Music Store "Help"
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 1:54 pm
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I don't mind the salesmen showing me some sounds or something that they can get out of the amp/guitar/whatever and I am not afraid to ask them for their opinion either; especially if I see something that worries me a bit. That being said, the store I visit most frequently - the nearest Fender official retailer - has a very customer-friendly policy, the staff is very nice, always gives some discounts and lets you test whatever you want with whatever you want. Bought 2 amps, the Fender Highway 1 Strat and a couple of accessories there (no pedals yet though, didn't see the need for them before and, atm, I only have a wah and will be buying a delay shortly, don't need any OD since the Supersonic 60 has great OD) and am always very satisfied with purchasing there.

About 2 years ago I was considering selling the Gibson LP I own and walked into another shop, since I saw on their website that they have the axe I was interested in, wanted to try it out and they said they didn't have it, they ordered it specifically for someone. Ok, wanted to try a couple other guitars and they only barely allowed me to try out one and that was without the amp.. Yeah :roll: Asked them if there was a possibility to try out the model I was looking for some time in the uture, if they'll be ordering any more or something, and they said they'll order it if I put a down-payment and if I buy the guitar afterwards. Told them I could easily order it at Thomann and get it cheaper. They almost kicked me out. Needless to say - I have barely visited the store once ever since and that was only because it was the only one within the walking distance (I didn't have a ride, was in the capital where I live during the week due to university) and I needed to buy a birthday gift for my drummer. I know the salesman there was at least as skilled (musically) as most of the staff in the Fender retailer, if not more, but no thanks. If I walk into a store I expect the salesmen to give me what I want, whether that be the gear I want to try out, an advice or whatever. If I don't get that, they won't get my money as long as I have at least one other option that isn't a lot more expensive. Simple as that.

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Post subject: Re: Music Store "Help"
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 9:25 pm
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I think it is not much the store policy as the employees attitude that makes a difference. Since 2006, I have bought almost all my stuff from the same place. I've seen staff come and go. Some were very pushy, some liked to show off, some were manipulative. But most of them were nice guys with different skill level in diplomacy and salesmanship. Since I decided to stick with my current guitar shop, I know the manager trusts me, so does the assistant manager, also almost all the staff plus the luthier who works there. There is still an occasional pushy like salesperson who would like me to buy the deluxe stratocaster right on the spot, but they are always the new guy in the shop, and they realize quickly that I am not an impulsive buyer.
I realized by visiting all the guitar stores in the city where I live, that almost all the employees don't know much about what they sell. They are all enthusiasts musicians themselves, and they needed a job, but they don't read all the manuals, the tutorials and the documentation relevant to what they sell. Usually, the manager will know a lot of stuff about his merchandise.
So all that being said, I prefer to be left alone when I need to try new stuff, but I also know who to ask questions to because I visit the place regularly.
And for the used stuff, I prefer to buy on kijiji, because the few things I have found in the past, were not in guitar centers, but on used stuff sites, but this is my experience. Might be different for others.


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Post subject: Re: Music Store "Help"
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:29 pm
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I don't like when the hover, but I also don't like it when there's nobody to be found either.

Some stores are able to strike a good balance.

Now if all the staff re helping other customers and I have to wait my turn, I understand.
I don't like it when they seem to vanish as soon as you have a question or want to check out something they have locked up, in a case, or in the back.

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