One thing I really like about Guitar Center.....

[Controller]

Some say they have bought a new guitar from GC that seemed used. I bought a used bass online from them that was obviously new and probably never played. Great deal for me, great bass.

 

[Brent Hutto]

I was just commenting on another forum about how valuable Guitar Center and their return policy has been for me. I actually try to do as much business with them as I can although for a big-ticket guitar it's hard to find one there that doesn't have "issues".

They also do trade-ins or buy used gear, albeit at not generally very attractive pricing (as good as any dealer but you take a huge haircut if you trade in something you originally purchased new).

The staff at our local one are friendly and helpful so no complaints. Their "system" is pretty dodgy in terms of inventory control and infrastructure but the employees do their best. I absolutely hate demo'ing guitars in their showroom (although not so bad on the rare times I catch the store nearly emtpy of customers and tire kickers). That's full circle to why the return policy is great. Why sit there and try to demo a guitar in a crowded, noisy surrounding when you can just buy it and try it for a week or two at home?

 

[Brent Hutto]

I'm sure GC would not be the only retailer to have ever done that. If the item is in like new condition and warranty still intact, I don't care that someone else bought it first. Think about all their 'new' guitars on the floor, and how much they've been played. I have always asked for a discount on those, given there are bound to be scuffs or scratches here and there. (which don't bother me in the least)

Yeah, I don't know the exact details of their policies but there are "new" instruments on the wall that were either bought and returned or else they've gotten more beat-up while hanging in the showroom than my guitars get after a year of daily playing.

And I had them pull one Player Telecaster from the warehouse and open the factory sealed carton for me, when it emerged the guitar obviously had missed the entire "fret leveling and crowning" step at the factory. Before I even put a fret rocker on it I could see and feel that each fret was all over the place height wise. Totally unplayable without buzzing all up and down the neck.

I explained this to the nearest staff person and he said, "Yeah, every once in a while we get one like that". He took it back from me, hung it on the wall and went off to haul the packing carton to the trash.

OTOH, the little inexpensive Ibanez Strat-copy I bought from them was also fetched from the warehouse and opened for me (I think it had literally arrived the day before I went in shopping) and everything on it was really well set up. Two minutes to tune it and it played great.

So I think the bottom line is, at Guitar Center you're at the mercy of whoever "sets up" guitars at the factory plus or minus whatever tire kickers have been banging on it since it was first put out on display. They just unbox 'em and hang 'em on the wall.

 

[Happy Enchilada]

Oh, I did not catch that either. Well … in this case then GC are okay. I would not put it past them to sell a return as new though.

I enquired about a "B Stock" guitar offered by an outfit on Reverb (not GC), and they informed me that their B Stock instruments were ones that someone returned. So I figure if the original purchaser didn't like it enough to keep it, I should avoid being stupid ...

 

[OmegaWoods]

In my recent experience, their return policy is the only thing good about GC. Here's my short story.

Mrs. Woods is tired of spending time alone while I play guitar so I bought her an electric piano to keep her company. Bought it from GC's website. It arrived several days later. No factory box or packaging. No charger, paperwork, manual or pedal. Just a dinged up, floor-model piano, carelessly wrapped in bubble wrap and shoved in an oversized box. Utterly, stunningly, absolutely unprofessional. You can't make this stuff up.

I called the store listed as the shipping store (in-state but not local). They advised me that the most direct way to handle the situation was to take it back to my local store. So I did.

I arrived as they were opening and the usual suspects wanted a guitar off the wall, strings, etc. The self-described "lesson guy" was sitting near the cash register and I explained my dilemma. He listened politely and informed me that he was just the "lesson guy" but that he would get someone to help me. The single, overwhelmed clerk politely listened to my dilemma, scanned my receipt, clicked a couple of buttons, handed me a return receipt and even apologized for the trouble.

Came home and ordered a replacement keyboard from SW, which arrived three days later in the factory box overwrapped with another box and a follow-up phone call to make sure everything was good. Which is what I've come to expect from Sweetwater.

I appreciate GC's return policy and the tired but good service I received at the local store. It's no wonder they're teetering on the edge of oblivion.

 

[boris bubbanov]

I once thought: "Guitar made with some Koa, has to be excellent". I've done a 180 on that. I'm wondering if all the worthwhile Koa was used up, and everything else now is just not worth the trouble.

 

[Marc Morfei]

I have never bought a new guitar from GC, but I have bought many used ones. Their prices on used gear are fair, and the 45 day return policy is very generous. So from that standpoint it is a good place to shop for used gear. The one downside is that usually the used guitars there are so desperately in need of a setup that sometimes you really can't tell what you have.

 

[Colo Springs E]

I once thought: "Guitar made with some Koa, has to be excellent". I've done a 180 on that. I'm wondering if all the worthwhile Koa was used up, and everything else now is just not worth the trouble.

they sure look purty!

 

[Colo Springs E]

...I figure if the original purchaser didn't like it enough to keep it, I should avoid being stupid ...

That'd be some faulty logic from my perspective. Maybe they decided they didn't like the color after all. Maybe it was too light or too heavy or the neck was too fat or too thin. Maybe they just didn't "bond" with it.

Maybe they just had buyer's remorse and/or a financial situation occurred while in the return period, so they took advantage of that to deal with the money issue.

Things aren't always returned due to a defect.

 

[Brent Hutto]

I have never bought a new guitar from GC, but I have bought many used ones. Their prices on used gear are fair, and the 45 day return policy is very generous. So from that standpoint it is a good place to shop for used gear. The one downside is that usually the used guitars there are so desperately in need of a setup that sometimes you really can't tell what you have.

When it had just begun to dawn on my that a Telecaster might have been the type of guitar I needed to get, the local GC had one come in that was absolutely indistinguishable from brand new. Everything on it was shiny, clean, apparently almost unplayed. And it was set up absolutely perfectly to my preferences. The serial number indicated it has been recently built.

I spent a long time playing it, did as I always do and went home to sleep on it before making an instrument purchase decision, returned the next day and someone had bought it. A few days later I ended up buying a brand new Player Telecaster just like it. Same color and everything. I love it but it does somewhat rankle that I literally had in my hands a might-as-well-be-new version of the same guitar that would have cost $255 less than I paid for a new one!

I think someone had bought a Tele, it sat around hardly played for a few months, then they sold it to Guitar Center for half of what it cost them. No wonder someone apparently snarfed it up the same day it went on display.

But hey, I love my Tele and it's only money, right? Well, a good bit of money but still...

 

[_dave_]

I like the fact that I can walk in to a local GC and try a couple/few guitars in hand.
If I like one, I can walk out with it same day.
I can also trade some old gear to cut my cost if I have any to trade.

Dealing online can be a dragged out experience if there are any issues.

Although- Sweetwater does make it right very quickly if there are any issues.

 

[goonie]

Oh, I did not catch that either. Well … in this case then GC are okay. I would not put it past them to sell a return as new though.

A store here has a similar policy and the returns are sold as 'open box', which is kinda misleading as everything on the wall is open box. But it's there way of identifying returns.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

overwhelmingly corporate and conservative mindset.

100% hoggwash. They are a business. They have in stock what will sell.
Weird, angular looking instruments have never been popular with the guitar
buying masses. If you want an EBSV, there are other places to purchase from.

 

[Sgt Pepper]

I have bought a lot of gear from GC for over 25 years (they bought Rhythm City in Atlanta) and I have nearly always had great customer service from them in the store and online. I do think, though, that their liberal return policy is a factor in their financial difficulties. Perhaps a small factor, but a factor nontheless.

 

[gitold]

Bought a beautiful used G&L Doheny on line from GC last year. $1000 and it was like new. I just didn’t like anything about it and I’m a huge off set guitar fan. Total meh. Took it to the GC near me and the employee didn’t even open the case. He gave me a receipt showing I returned it and that was that. Didn’t ask why I returned it, no questions at all. Weird!

 

[DHart]

I've bought many new, and one or two used guitars, from GC. I've also traded in or sold them a bit of gear, and done a few "changed my mind" returns. They've always treated me very well and I've asked for and received some good discounts there, also. I like having GC around and will definitely continue to support them.

 

[NoTeleBob]

I have bought a lot of gear from GC for over 25 years (they bought Rhythm City in Atlanta) and I have nearly always had great customer service from them in the store and online. I do think, though, that their liberal return policy is a factor in their financial difficulties. Perhaps a small factor, but a factor nontheless.

The question is how much more they sell by having that policy place versus how much they take in returns. I'm willing to bet it runs about 10:1 to their advantage.

 

[ZackyDog]

When I got my new guitar in 2005, they gave me the VIP treatment. No one was calling me (I was almost 41) dude, bro, man, etc.---they were respectful.