Should a guitar store ask if you are serious?

[sloppychops]

It's easy to blame things like this on ethnicity, but we don't have all the details to make an informed judgment on the sales guy.

You know, if I had a 6 or 7-thousand dollar guitar on consignment, I would not want everyone who walks by it being allowed to give it a go.

I've seen Collings guitars in showrooms and I've seen the price on them. Sure, I'd like to try one, just to see if there's anything so special about them to justify the price. But I know I'm never going to buy one and I wouldn't feel right about picking it up to try it out...even if the shop staff didn't see me.

I was just at a Guitar Center last weekend and in the used section was a new Taylor acoustic, one that normally goes for about $2,500, with a nasty gash on the soundboard...all the way through to bare wood. Scratch 'n dent discounted thanks to a careless looky-Lou.

Imagine if you had a Collings on consignment and the shop calls you to let you know this happened to YOUR guitar.

 

[58Bassman]

It's easy to blame things like this on ethnicity, but we don't have all the details to make an informed judgment on the sales guy.

You know, if I had a 6 or 7-thousand dollar guitar on consignment, I would not want everyone who walks by it being allowed to give it a go.

I've seen Collings guitars in showrooms and I've seen the price on them. Sure, I'd like to try one, just to see if there's anything so special about them to justify the price. But I know I'm never going to buy one and I wouldn't feel right about picking it up to try it out...even if the shop staff didn't see me.

I was just at a Guitar Center last weekend and in the used section was a new Taylor acoustic, one that normally goes for about $2,500, with a nasty gash on the soundboard...all the way through to bare wood. Scratch 'n dent discounted thanks to a careless looky-Lou.

Imagine if you had a Collings on consignment and the shop calls you to let you know this happened to YOUR guitar.

Locked room, one person allowed in with the guitar, surveillance cameras with sound. The person checking it out leaves a thumb print on a form with name, address, etc. If they don't like that, they don't get to handle the instrument. The "You break it, you bought it" policy would be enforced and agreed to.

Some people are clumsy, some are careless.

 

[telemnemonics]

Whether or not the shop owns the guitar isn't the point, it's how they went about it.

To me there were multiple "factors" related to the proprietor asking the customer a question before handing a guitar they did not own to a stranger:

1) The customer was out with his kid, so may have wanted to show a kid a guitar to see if the kid had aptitude. When shopping for a $5000 guitar, do we tend to bring children along?
2) The customer did not choose the guitar from a wall of displayed guitars, he asked to try whatever guitar happened to be leaning against the couch (possibly because the owner had just dropped it off on consignment and it had not even been put into stock yet)
3) The guitar was $5000 and very very very few players buy $5000 guitars on a whim.
4) The proprietor was in the middle of other stuff, and probably about to make a price tag for the guitar and log it into the computer.
5) The customer had not talked with the proprietor about intending to buy a $5000 acoustic, which is generally a process which includes some forethought and discussion. Do players typically see a random guitar leaning against a couch and drop $5000 on it?
Or do shoppers looking for a $5000 acoustic tend to be more cultivated in their shopping methods?

I still cannot see a reason to be offended by being asked if I am seriously considering buying a $5000 guitar?
Do any of us really think that if we buy Squiers like most guitar buyers, we can use guitar shops as loaner services where we try $5000 guitars then buy $500 guitars?

Offense would benin order if the shop guy said "you cannot afford this". Asking that question is proper sales behavior, as stewards of a fine and fragile instrument.

Maybe we need a thread about a guy who put his $5000 guitar on consignemt then came back and saw a dude letting his kid play it, or saw random teenagers handing it back and forth while sales staff was out back smoking and texting.

 

[chris m.]

To me there were multiple "factors" related to the proprietor asking the customer a question before handing a guitar they did not own to a stranger:

1) The customer was out with his kid, so may have wanted to show a kid a guitar to see if the kid had aptitude. When shopping for a $5000 guitar, do we tend to bring children along?
2) The customer did not choose the guitar from a wall of displayed guitars, he asked to try whatever guitar happened to be leaning against the couch (possibly because the owner had just dropped it off on consignment and it had not even been put into stock yet)
3) The guitar was $5000 and very very very few players buy $5000 guitars on a whim.
4) The proprietor was in the middle of other stuff, and probably about to make a price tag for the guitar and log it into the computer.
5) The customer had not talked with the proprietor about intending to buy a $5000 acoustic, which is generally a process which includes some forethought and discussion. Do players typically see a random guitar leaning against a couch and drop $5000 on it?
Or do shoppers looking for a $5000 acoustic tend to be more cultivated in their shopping methods?

I still cannot see a reason to be offended by being asked if I am seriously considering buying a $5000 guitar?
Do any of us really think that if we buy Squiers like most guitar buyers, we can use guitar shops as loaner services where we try $5000 guitars then buy $500 guitars?

Offense would benin order if the shop guy said "you cannot afford this". Asking that question is proper sales behavior, as stewards of a fine and fragile instrument.

Maybe we need a thread about a guy who put his $5000 guitar on consignemt then came back and saw a dude letting his kid play it, or saw random teenagers handing it back and forth while sales staff was out back smoking and texting.

All the concerns are valid. My point is that a smoother store proprietor/employee would know how to manage the situation without creating even a whiff of condescension or potential to offend. Directly saying "are you a serious buyer" may be a valid question, but it is not the diplomatic way to handle the situation. A more diplomatic approach would better achieve 2 goals: 1) protect the instrument, and 2) keep the good will of a potential customer. The first, blunter approach achieves the first goal but jeopardizes the second goal.

 

[Timbresmith1]

Situation surely could have been handled better.
On high-ticket items, qualify the customer (so you don’t waste time):
“Oh, you’re in the market for a great acoustic? What have you tried so far? What’s your budget? What brand are u playing currently?” Then make the decision or redirect the customer’s attention to something appropriate.
Now, if the customer is wearing all kinds of bracelets/jewelry or a coat with a million metal zippers, studs, or buttons, you have to navigate that discussion.

 

[telemnemonics]

All the concerns are valid. My point is that a smoother store proprietor/employee would know how to manage the situation without creating even a whiff of condescension or potential to offend. Directly saying "are you a serious buyer" may be a valid question, but it is not the diplomatic way to handle the situation. A more diplomatic approach would better achieve 2 goals: 1) protect the instrument, and 2) keep the good will of a potential customer. The first, blunter approach achieves the first goal but jeopardizes the second goal.

Well yeah and diplomacy is a sort specialty personality.
I aimto be diplomatic, and if a customer had just dropped off a $5000 guitar on consignemt then a dude and child asked to try it, I might have responded that it was not yet put into inventory and I could not start showing it yet.

IDK, depends on the moment and the customer and what my next responsibilities and last acts may have been.
So easy for angry mobs to form based on each individual assuming some personal offense when none existed.

 

[Blrfl]

What all of this leaves out is that any business worth its salt is going to have a consignment agreement and that agreement will usually have a clause requiring that they insure anything consigned against damage.

 

[buster poser]

The consignment aspect has been covered by multiple posters.

 

[Toto'sDad]

I was serious about being hungry this morning. I bought without even trying it out, a breakfast sandwich. Paid full price too. They did throw in some napkins, and a little paper sack to carry it home in.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

I was serious about being hungry this morning. I bought without even trying it out, a breakfast sandwich. Paid full price too. They did throw in some napkins, and a little paper sack to carry it home in.

B. cereus! That is to say, I once had vomiting and diarrhoea at the same time from a breakfast sandwich. http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/bacillus-cereus

 

[Toto'sDad]

B. cereus! That is to say, I once had vomiting and diarrhoea at the same time from a breakfast sandwich. http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/bacillus-cereus

Having eaten with my Hispanic friends in the fields of the San Joaquin Valley on so many occasions foods of questionable origin, and preparation, my stomach seems impervious to digestive failure.

 

[Telenator]

I had a $4000 Santa Cruz on consignment at a reputable store, and it looked like every single person who entered the store played it just for their sole amusement. It didn't sell after 6 months and when I went to pick it up, the fret wear was very noticeable and the guitar was scratched and dirty. It looked a bit haggered. So, "yes," asking if a customer is serious is a valid question. Whether it's the store or a consignor, somebody owns that guitar and it shouldn't be passed around like a truck stop hussy for everyone's amusement.

 

[Leonardocoate]

I'm at a guitar shop and the owner was taking a photo of a Collings acoustic he has leaned against a couch. I was watching with my son, and told him it was a really nice guitar. After he was done taking photos, I asked him if I could try it out. He looked me up and down, then asked me if I was "seriously considering purchasing it." I could see he didn't want to let me play it, so I just said "I don't know." Then he put it away saying "it's on consignment" and he "wants to limit playing it to serious buyers."

Anyway, I wasn't too offended at the time because, being ethnic, I'm sort of used to being looked up and down before people decide how to respond to me. But, after we left the shop, my son asked why the man didn't let me play the fancy guitar. I just responded saying that the owner was worried it could get scratched. I was sad he had to see that or was thinking about it. But then, after a pause, my son asked if the owner knew who I was.. haha. I'm glad he had that response.

Anyway, I understand the owner's concern. But at the same time, I feel like you're never going to sell a guitar if you don't let people play it. And it did stick with me that he looked me up and down before deciding to ask me if I was serious.

What do ya'll think? Is the shop owner justified in asking if I was seriously considering purchasing it?

It might depend on what you're wearing. If you have a jean jacket and a rodeo belt on, you might get denied. There is nothing wrong with saying it's a consignment instrument and if you scratch it you buy it. An expensive guitar that he doesn't own? yes, a reasonable question. He should work on his delivery.

 

[regularslinky]

If the question was based on OPs race or ethnicity, then it's inexcusable.

If the question was asked because the shop owner doesn't want people banging on a $4-5k guitar to entertain their kids/girlfriends, then it's legit. I'll bet they see a ton of that. I know I see a ton of that at the local GC.

I wonder if the interaction would have been different if OP first asked the price of the guitar.

 

[Toto'sDad]

I had a $4000 Santa Cruz on consignment at a reputable store, and it looked like every single person who entered the store played it just for their sole amusement. It didn't sell after 6 months and when I went to pick it up, the fret wear was very noticeable and the guitar was scratched and dirty. It looked a bit haggered. So, "yes," asking if a customer is serious is a valid question. Whether it's the store or a consignor, somebody owns that guitar and it shouldn't be passed around like a truck stop hussy for everyone's amusement.

Now that's just too much common sense for this thread, and you know that! I've had people pick up my guitars and it seemed to me as if they were intentionally trying to leave their mark on them. If I had a high-end guitar I was trying to sell, (and I've done that) I would probably just merchandise it myself, however long it took. I don't ask to play other people's guitars and would just as soon they didn't ask to play mine.

I don't go there anymore, but when I used to frequent the local GC, I have witnessed really nice guitars nearly destroyed by people playing them that NEVER had any intention of buying them, or anything else. A lot of them just came by to remove the pot knobs, and selector switch knobs from the display models, maybe a Truss rod cover or two is they got the chance.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Take your business elsewhere. There's no good reason for him to do that. And lots of bad reasons.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

If the question was based on OPs race or ethnicity, then it's inexcusable.

If the question was asked because the shop owner doesn't want people banging on a $4-5k guitar to entertain their kids/girlfriends, then it's legit. I'll bet they see a ton of that. I know I see a ton of that at the local GC.

I wonder if the interaction would have been different if OP first asked the price of the guitar.

Sorry, but I've never heard of a guitar store customer being treated that way. No ifs about it.

 

[Alcohen]

It's a difficult question. I can absolutely see a small store with valuable inventory not wanting every clown passing by to come in and drop the merchandise while playing Stairway. OTOH, inability to readily play an instrument as part of the testing/acquisition process would pi$$ me off. There's a well-reviewed store on the Lower East Side in NYC, for example, that actually has a velvet rope up. Left me standing in the doorway staring at a wall of guitars 15 feet away to try to see if they had something I might want to buy. That irked me and I walked out. I concede, though, that there's likely a hard-earned set of lessons behind the choice to do something like that. When you mix the business realities of a small guitar store with the sparkling social skills of your average guitar sales dude and the specter of racial profiling, it's a very less-than-ideal retail environment.

 

[catseye360]

Actually, the very best idea is to get to know someone at the store, visit during off hours (not lunchtime), or MAKE AN APPOINTMENT if you want extra attention. EVERYONE will be happy to set aside time for you. If you want to get good service, use your head.

 

[Doctorx33]

When I was in my mid teens I walked into Gus Zoppi music in the Detroit area with a couple of friends and bandmates. There in the middle of the store was a white mellotron. OMG, King Crimson/Moody Blues! I can't remember what it was plugged into or if I plugged it into an amp, turned it on hit a low note and pitch bended it down. The voice of God! But it was so loud the guitars hanging behind the counter rattled like Wile E. Coyote being hit with an anvil.

I recall being shot "a look" and turned it off. Fortunately I wasn't sent on my way because clearly I couldn't afford a Mellotron, nor any collateral damage I could've caused.

But I did buy a Silverface Twin.

You never really know that fine line between successful sales and alienation, especially dealing with musicians.

I bought a used 1967 SG from them in 1973 for $200.