Another debacle at Guitar Center.

[mistermullens]

Well, as we all know most of the employees at GC are notorious for providing poor service. Yesterday was no exception. I've been wanting to try out the new Pocket POD since its kind of a pain to lug my G-Dec JR to work. So I was able to get off work early yesterday and I decided I would stop by. I walked up to the accessories counter and asked the MANAGER if he had one I could try. He said "No. I don't have an open one". Having had them pull gear out of boxes in the past I asked him if he could pull one out of the box so I could try it. He said no and refused to open a box for me citing that it had software inside and couldn't open it. I said "Your kidding right?". He said no and I asked him to clarify that he was the manager hoping to remind him that he was, but he still refused. He was very, rude even though I continued to be polite until the end when I made it clear that I couldn't believe what was happening. I did so by more or less throwing the pick I borrowed on the counter. I almost just let it go and walked out, but I had to talk to his manager who was more than helpful. I was so mad I still refused to play the POD when he offered to let me play it. He said next time I come in to only deal with him and he'll make sure I get what I need and play the POD if I still wanted too. I just don't know if I can take it anymore.

[fierce_carrot]

Originally Posted by mistermullens

Well, as we all know most of the employees at GC are notorious for providing poor service. Yesterday was no exception. I've been wanting to try out the new Pocket POD since its kind of a pain to lug my G-Dec JR to work. So I was able to get off work early yesterday and I decided I would stop by. I walked up to the accessories counter and asked the MANAGER if he had one I could try. He said "No. I don't have an open one". Having had them pull gear out of boxes in the past I asked him if he could pull one out of the box so I could try it. He said no and refused to open a box for me citing that it had software inside and couldn't open it. I said "Your kidding right?". He said no and I asked him to clarify that he was the manager hoping to remind him that he was, but he still refused. He was very, rude even though I continued to be polite until the end when I made it clear that I couldn't believe what was happening. I did so by more or less throwing the pick I borrowed on the counter. I almost just let it go and walked out, but I had to talk to his manager who was more than helpful. I was so mad I still refused to play the POD when he offered to let me play it. He said next time I come in to only deal with him and he'll make sure I get what I need and play the POD if I still wanted too. I just don't know if I can take it anymore.

We've got a great GC here. Everybody is usually helpful, but not the most knowledgeable. More often than not they don't have a clue what I am talking about, but thats to be expected as I seldom buy gear that everybody else has.

Having been in GC and other stores, I have a tremendous amount of empathy for their employees. Based on the sheer number of total idiots walking around in those stores, most of them don't have a dime to their name, yet constantly wasting employees time...if it were me...I'd be tempted to go postal on a couple of customers from time to time!

[neocaster]

Jeez, that's so frustrating. I feel your pain. I'm pretty lucky here. Even in a dense crowd at GC, I get pretty good service. They're your typical GC slacker crowd, just with a pinch of human decency and an inkling of what customer service is all about. U wanted to try out a silver-sparkle artcore last week. It was about a mile high on their hollowbody wall, and the guy said "Let me grab that for you. While I'm up here, is there anything else you'd like to see? If you think of anything else you need, just let me know." I still say that don't care attitudes are pervasive and happen from the top down. Only someone who doesn't give a darn would let an employee get away with not giving a darn.

On the other hand, I tried to buy a desk at Ikea once, about 20 minutes before closing. The package had to be fetched from an upper storage bay by store staff, and I stood in the middle of the floor trying to get somebody to help me, because the "come here to have us get your stuff" podium was abandoned like a western street at high noon on fight day. Tumbleweeds and all... Long story short, I ended up walking to the middle of the wide-open floor, cupping my hands to my mouth and shouting "Excuse me! I'm trying to give you people my [expletive] money! Want it?" As soon as I became a spectacle, several people arrived to help me (or quiet me down. Don't care which. The end result was the same)

[mistermullens]

The thing is, I'm a regular customer there. I would prefer to buy all of my gear, strings, accessories, from a Mom & Pop, but GC is close, and the Mom & Pop unfortunately doesn't usually have what I want or need. This "manager" was also a jerk when he worked at the Music Go Round years ago. There is one sales guy up there that I try to deal with every time, but he wasn't around or not working that day. I'd rather deal with a really nice sales person who has no idea what I'm talking about any day of the week rather than the seemingly abundance of jerks that work there.

[neocaster]

If you want to get even with the jerks, buy a very expensive instrument at the end of the month, and return it for a full refund a couple of weeks later.

[RevMike]

Most of the time the "Sales Dudes" at GC here in NYC are pretty decent. I've been ignored a few times, but the only time I remember ever getting a little annoyed was once when I went in wearing a suit (I'm a banker) and asked for some strap locks. The guy said to his buddy something like "dude, which straplocks do you recommend for maximum tone, in a living room playing situation?"

As a whole they are ok. I work a few blocks away so I'm in there so often that they are starting to know me by now.

[mistermullens]

Originally Posted by neocaster

If you want to get even with the jerks, but a very expensive instrument at the end of the month, and return it for a full refund a couple of weeks later.

Don't you know I thought about it. While I was waiting for the Store Manager, I was eyeing the Limited Edition Jimi Hendrix Marshall Stack for $6400 and thinking, I could put that on my credit card, and make that guy load it into my Honda Civic, and return it after the new year. Man, that would show him!

[teletone]

I've noticed as well that the staff at my local GC are not the most knowledgeable. Seem to be kids in their late teens who are 'stoked' to be working at GC, hooking up their friends with discounts. I'm usually ignored in there except for the greeter dude at the door. It's funny, I get more attention when I walk out then when I'm on the floor. A simple "Let me know if I can help in any way" from the sales associate would go a long way.

Although the guy who is usually in the acoustic room is nice and very knowledgeable.

[JStella]

GCs around here are pretty nice places to shop. I'd rather give my money to the independents, but I have to say that some of the local shops are snooty and unhelpful compared to the GCs. They let me play for 5+ hours on their vintage amps (nice early 60s Bassman and 60s Marshall JTM45) when I was picking out my Strat. They even asked the medal shredbois outside the vintage room door to turn it town without my asking. I played maybe 20+ guitars - some off high shelves and they were nothing but friendly and helpful.

- Josh

[chet]

Most of the guys at GC's here in NJ are pretty good. Once in awhile there's a smartaleck or someone having a bad day. I just avoid 'em.
I like the nice deals I've been able to get at GC's.

[chet]

Originally Posted by RevMike

Most of the time the "Sales Dudes" at GC here in NYC are pretty decent. I've been ignored a few times, but the only time I remember ever getting a little annoyed was once when I went in wearing a suit (I'm a banker) and asked for some strap locks. The guy said to his buddy something like "dude, which straplocks do you recommend for maximum tone, in a living room playing situation?"

As a whole they are ok. I work a few blocks away so I'm in there so often that they are starting to know me by now.

Hee hee. That's a good one.

[mistermullens]

Maybe its a GA thing, but a lot of times at the Mom & Pops, they're snobs too. I've lived here all of my life, and in suburbia, there is a general bad attitude toward working and I get the impression that its an inconvience to do your job or help customers. Now, not every place in GA/Atlanta is like that. There are a lot of great places, but in general its pretty apparent to me in the Atlanta area. Mostly corporate stores.

[boneyguy]

We don't have GC in Canada but we have a national chain called Long and Mcquade which is probably a fraction of the size of GC.

On the whole they are very good and very easy to deal with. Once in awhile I'll walk in and there will be a bunch of the youngster-staff all huddled together yakking away not minding the store but on the whole it's very good.

Like in the OP's story it sure helps to build a relationship with someone at the store, especially the manager. I'm pretty good friends with the guitar dept. manager at L&M and I find I can get pretty much what I ask for.

My one continuing complaint is that during the daytime it's not very busy in the store yet they have 5 or 6 staff standing around doing nothing much but talking with eachother. Why can't they spend an hour out of the day tuning the guitars that are hanging on the walls or doing some minor setups so that when you pull one down you're ready to R&R. It just seems like it would be a very basic smart buisness practice to me.

[RevMike]

Originally Posted by boneyguy

Why can't they spend an hour out of the day tuning the guitars that are hanging on the walls or doing some minor setups so that when you pull one down you're ready to R&R. It just seems like it would be a very basic smart buisness practice to me.

Good point. Back when I was a kid I worked in a mall. My boss used to say "If you have time to lean...you have time to clean." That always stuck with me.

[0le FUZZY]

Having been in GC and other stores, I have a tremendous amount of empathy for their employees. Based on the sheer number of total idiots walking around in those stores, most of them don't have a dime to their name, yet constantly wasting employees time...if it were me...I'd be tempted to go postal on a couple of customers from time to time!

...Boy ain't that the truth!!








I'm still urglee but still luv the TELECASTER (MySpace)


Please visit my page

[tcadam]

Sounds like you had a bad experience. However, as a former retail worker in high school and college, I can tell you that by the last few days before Christmas you're ready to jump off a bridge.

[chet]

Originally Posted by boneyguy

We don't have GC in Canada but we have a national chain called Long and Mcquade which is probably a fraction of the size of GC.

On the whole they are very good and very easy to deal with. Once in awhile I'll walk in and there will be a bunch of the youngster-staff all huddled together yakking away not minding the store but on the whole it's very good.

My one continuing complaint is that during the daytime it's not very busy in the store yet they have 5 or 6 staff standing around doing nothing much but talking with eachother. Why can't they spend an hour out of the day tuning the guitars that are hanging on the walls or doing some minor setups so that when you pull one down you're ready to R&R. It just seems like it would be a very basic smart buisness practice to me.

We also have places like that. They're called Sam Ash.

[TJNY]

I don't know if this particular incident rises to the level of "debacle". Just a lazy employee giving you a hard time. I think it's more of a "frustrating" situation......

[Mid Life Crisis]

I was in the Manhattan CG recently when visiting NYC and found the staff really helpful and friendly. However the guy did look a little disappointed when I said I was going to buy the Epi LP rather than the Gibson LP Std I'd tried out first.

The one thing they do need to sort out though is their point of sale procedure. It seemed to take ages to actually complete the sale - they're still using some ancient green screen POS system the like of which I hadn't seen in ages! Shame the prices weren't out of the 1980s as well.

[Oskar]

Having been in GC and other stores, I have a tremendous amount of empathy for their employees. Based on the sheer number of total idiots walking around in those stores, most of them don't have a dime to their name, yet constantly wasting employees time...if it were me...I'd be tempted to go postal on a couple of customers from time to time!

Yeah, I concur with this as well. I think GC is great and is one of the best things that's happened for musicians, especially those who can't afford to spend much, or for young kids who want to try an instrument and are constantly harassed by the mom & pop stores with the "Must Be Accompanied by an Adult" signs.

Personally, I think Guitar Center is great, and if you don't like it, don't shop there. There's always the internet. Pretty simple to me.

[davidge1]

It's a debacle every time you go there.

I recently bought a few items, then had to exchange one of the items a few days later. I gave the guy my receipt, which he then TORE UP, and printed me another one for the new item. I said "There were OTHER ITEMS on that receipt. Now I don't have a receipt for them." Dont these guys have any training?

[mistermullens]

I've done my stint in retail as a sales person and manager so I know how stressful it can be around Christmas. Maybe its just me, but I would never let the previous customer effect how I dealt with the current customer. That customer has a clean slate so to speak. Yes, I did have a bad experience, but its not the first one I've had at a GC. I will most likely try to avoid the store like the plague or maybe give it another shot in 6 months. We've got a new music store opening near the house soon, and I'm hoping they will be great and get all of my business.

[Hockey Rocker]

Originally Posted by Mid Life Crisis