The lie that is "GUITAR CENTER"

[blackstrat]

Please read the follwing letter That I got from GC (see below). Please tell me if you got this in your email you wouldn't think:

#1 You are getting $50.00 off a 2012 Strat
#2 You are getting 12 free packs of strings
#3 You can combine this $50.00 with any other GC coupon

**************GC email**********
What's old is new! The wait is over - today Fender announced the new Fender American Std. Series Stratocaster and Telecaster. My Guitar Center store now has a selection of the very first run of this widely anticipated redesign of an American icon. Here are just a few of the changes hot off the press from Fender!

Newly Added Features include:
Custom Shop Fat 50's Pick-up's (Stratocaster)
Custom Shop Twisted Tele (Neck), Broadcaster (Bridge) Pick-up's
Elongated string slots for increased resonance and sustain.
Thinner undercoat finish for improved body resonance.

Both models start at $1099.99 and come with a molded rectangular SKB case!
Supplies are limited to stock on hand so be here early if you want to be one of the first to own one.

I have also been given the opportunity to offer you a $50 discount (ends April 30th, 2012) on all of our outgoing American Standard models in stock. This discount that can be combined with any other active Guitar Center coupon along with a free box of Fender strings with your purchase.

If either one of these offers appeal to you let me know. You may reply to this email or click on my micro-site so that we can schedule an appointment for you to try one for yourself.

*******************************

I get to GC to buy a Strat find out the $50.00 only applies to 2011 guitars. The 12 free packs of strings only appplies to 2011 guitars???? Reading this letter do you think that?

[caferacer]

thats what it reads

[adjason]

Yes when I read it I can see that it would only apply to 2011 (hence the word "outgoing")

[oramac7891]

It states this is for all of the outgoing strats. The email says you get a discount on the outdated models, basically like car dealers do.
Sorry, I would love to agree with you, but I read that you get the discount on the old model, because the new one is coming in.
The first three segments tell you about the new strats, then starts a new thought with "I also have been given....."

[stilesg57]

Not defending GC, but there's no lie in that email. You misread it.

[blackstrat]

Ok ...I am not sure how I am reading into this...

If the word outgoing is defined "as going out; departing" ... If they have the 2012 strats in the store wouldn't that be considered an outgoing item? Maybe I am not up on retail sales jargon?

[ifallalot]

pretty sure outgoing means 2011 models.

i went into the San Marcos one (closest to my house) today to buy a switch and they didn't even have a Squier VM Jazzmaster in stock. I may have bought one if they did

[flyingbanana]

Outgoing....meaning a closeout on last year's models.

[ludashoeless]

i just got a strat and 12 free sets of strings..... it's awesome

[Old Has Been]

It's called creative marketing and it's what makes this great free enterprise system of ours go 'round.

[Tim Armstrong]

Yeah, sorry, I read it as the discount being on the old stock American Standards that they're clearing out to make room for the new models.

Tim

[Janitor Julius]

After a couple years here, I feel like it's important to note that the "correct" move is to buy an '0x Am Std for $5xx and treat yourself to some strings that actually sound good...

[jwsamuel]

Originally Posted by adjason

Yes when I read it I can see that it would only apply to 2011 (hence the word "outgoing")

That's how I read it too.

Jim

[inanevoyage]

I've got an idea. Let's start another thread about how guitar center sucks!

A) Reading comprehension.
B) This is such a tired concept.

[Turtleface]

Originally Posted by inanevoyage

I've got an idea. Let's start another thread about how guitar center sucks!

A) Reading comprehension.
B) This is such a tired concept.

+1
Or at least start them the Bad Dog Cafe, instead of a gear forum.

[Oakville Dave]

Originally Posted by adjason

Yes when I read it I can see that it would only apply to 2011 (hence the word "outgoing")

Looks to me that the incentives are only on the 2011s

[caferacer]

Originally Posted by blackstrat

Ok ...I am not sure how I am reading into this...

If the word outgoing is defined "as going out; departing" ... If they have the 2012 strats in the store wouldn't that be considered an outgoing item? Maybe I am not up on retail sales jargon?

no the 2012 models would be the incoming models, because they are the models that are coming in now

the outgoing models are the ones that need to go out in order to make room for the new models, out with the old, in with the new, outgoing model always refers to the previous year model

[AndyT]

GC is not selling cars, and many of their customers have never purchased a new car. They should have stated "outgoing 2011 or older models" to be clear. Given that some read it differently is proof of the confusing language. GC sucks anyway! I do my nearly all of my business at a local independent shop.

[Warm Gums]

In the ad game this is known as Obfuscation (or beclouding) "the hiding of intended meaning in communication, making communication confusing, wilfully ambiguous, and harder to interpret."
Car dealers are masters of it,but as you have found others do it to, I interpreted as the '11s being on sale, but obviously there is room for misunderstanding.
The idea is to get you into the shop, if they really wanted to move the '11s they would have written something to the effect of..
" in order to make room for the 2012 Strats we are offering the following promotion on the remaining 2011 models in our inventory..."
But where is the fun in that? ;-)

[Post Toastie]

So the 2012 Guitars have a thinner finish for better body resonance.Based on many TDPRI threads on how finishes do or dont affect tone can this be false advertising by Fender?