sax4blues
Poster Extraordinaire
Recent interview with Devon Allman he talks about when he and Mike Zito worked together at Guitar Center.
The Next Time You Diss Guitar Center Worker
- Thread starter sax4blues
- Start date
In a reverse of that, Alex Skolnick (nice guy and monster player with Testament, Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and others) has a great story about the time he went to a local GC to look at microphones, and the sales goobers didn't know who he was and treated him like crap. What really made him mad was not that they didn't recognize him; it was the fact they would treat any customer like they treated him.
omahaaudio
Friend of Leo's
My experiences at Guitar Center have always varied. Sometimes you get excellent sales help and sometimes they suck. It helps to go in when they not busy.
teletail
Friend of Leo's
Musical skills and retail skills are unrelated. They may have spent as much time drinking coffee and ignoring customers as the typical guitar center employee.
Fiesta Red
Doctor of Teleocity
A good employee will be a good employee…the employer just needs to be able to recognize them and do everything they can to retain the good ones.
The opposite is true as well.
The opposite is true as well.
I've been an infrequent customer of GC for over thirty years.....and my experience with the staff has been as varied as possible. I've had salespeople who were great and attentive.....and others that could only have been worse if they'd spit in my face. Some of them obviously resented the fact that they were having to work for a living, and not living the "rock star" life out in L.A. The last interaction I had was with a manager here in Ft Worth, when I bought a used Fishman P.A. from their website, and had it delivered to a local store. It was missing a major part that was clearly shown in the pictures. This manager (seemed to) burn up the phone trying to track it down, and when unsuccessful, made a reasonable offer to reimburse. (so, a good experience) Like most merchants today, it's always "hit-and-miss" as to the service. Fortunately or not, GC just doesn't have much I want or need anymore.
Of the many recurring nightmares I used to have, one used to scare the nads off me -
I would wake up, surrounded by guitars, and amps and even a few way overpriced vintage guitars , and say “hey, this is cool !” and then look down at my chest and there was a Guitar Center logo on my polyester shirt and my name tag said “Doug”.
I would wake up, surrounded by guitars, and amps and even a few way overpriced vintage guitars , and say “hey, this is cool !” and then look down at my chest and there was a Guitar Center logo on my polyester shirt and my name tag said “Doug”.
Boreas
Doctor of Teleocity
Has the link been removed?
rsclosson
Tele-Afflicted
My local GC has been pretty great so far. What I really appreciate is when I find a fantastic deal on their website because the store doesn't really know what they have. I have been able to get some really great guitars for super cheap.
The last time I was in a GC, and I mean the last time I will visit a GC, they couldn't be bothered to even say hello to me, violating a basic tenet of retail. There was one other customer in the store.
bottlenecker
Poster Extraordinaire
I haven't dealt with GC for hardly anything, but when I've gone in I've recognized a great musician or two from around town, doing what they need to.
Always treat them good, any retail worker, no matter what they play or who they're related to, even if they look like a teenager and tell you ridiculous stuff.
Always treat them good, any retail worker, no matter what they play or who they're related to, even if they look like a teenager and tell you ridiculous stuff.
He should get over it. I hope he at least places the blame at the top where it belongs. I know he worked in a music store. If he wants to be treated as well as he probably treated people, don't buy from the big chain that's probably not so nice to work for, that pushed out so many mom and pops.
bottlenecker
Poster Extraordinaire
It's on Greg Koch's podcast.
Boreas
Doctor of Teleocity
OH - sorry...
NC E30
Tele-Meister
Have had good and bad experiences, but haven't been back since being blocked by the manager at the door because it they would be closing for the night soon. I had plenty of time to go in and pick up some strings, make a loop around the wall and still being out of there before posted closing time. There's plenty of other local guitar stores (that have inventory that isn't beat up) to put up with that type of customer service.
Blues Power
Tele-Meister
you have to go in after you have done some basic research on what you want.
you cant expect these people to know everything about everything
its impossible
Once i asked a question about an amp and they guy is reading back to me off a google page
I had the same experience leasing cars. Most of them are reading off a page
when I go in and ask for a certain car with a certain trim level I already know what's in it
makes the deal go faster.
same with box stores.
If i see a used Mesa F30 i cant expect Lonnie the sales dude to explain to me.
I'll research it myself although with that amp Im already familiar with it
you cant expect these people to know everything about everything
its impossible
Once i asked a question about an amp and they guy is reading back to me off a google page
I had the same experience leasing cars. Most of them are reading off a page
when I go in and ask for a certain car with a certain trim level I already know what's in it
makes the deal go faster.
same with box stores.
If i see a used Mesa F30 i cant expect Lonnie the sales dude to explain to me.
I'll research it myself although with that amp Im already familiar with it
I visit my local GC about twice a year just to see what's laying around and each trip is differen't. I've been in this game for 50 years or so and know when some greenhorn is yankin' my noodle and trying to appear more knowledgeable than he/she is. For instance, 2 trips ago a sales guy was showing me an Adler (his words) Tele. I told him I thought it was Alder and he insisted and went as far as pronouncing each syllable and adding a syllable (ad i ler) just to ensure that I knew he was right.
NeverTooLate
Tele-Meister
I appreciate the existence of physical stores. Sam Ash is not far from work and I have a GC that is not much further from that Sam Ash. All this has allowed me to try a bunch of guitars.
I have no issues buying from either. I don't expect anything in particular from the employees. I don't assume it is a specialty shop. I actually don't like being greeted or asked anything. If I want to talk to an employee, I want to be the one who starts the talking
Would I rather buy from a smaller brick-and-mortar shop where the owner goes the extra mile? Of course. I have none nearby. I used Cream City Music online for my Tele and now also the Boss Pocket GT.
But not having a local GC or Sam Ash to see, touch, and hear gear would be a major loss to me. The first guitar and amp that I got were from Musician's Friend. By contrast, I still have not bought one item from Sweetwater and the only thing I have bought from Amazon was strings and a cable and still not just from Amazon randomly but specifically from the Fender Amazon store.
I like the combo of physical store plus online convenience.
I have no issues buying from either. I don't expect anything in particular from the employees. I don't assume it is a specialty shop. I actually don't like being greeted or asked anything. If I want to talk to an employee, I want to be the one who starts the talking
Would I rather buy from a smaller brick-and-mortar shop where the owner goes the extra mile? Of course. I have none nearby. I used Cream City Music online for my Tele and now also the Boss Pocket GT.
But not having a local GC or Sam Ash to see, touch, and hear gear would be a major loss to me. The first guitar and amp that I got were from Musician's Friend. By contrast, I still have not bought one item from Sweetwater and the only thing I have bought from Amazon was strings and a cable and still not just from Amazon randomly but specifically from the Fender Amazon store.
I like the combo of physical store plus online convenience.
That wasn't a dream Dougie, that was reality. The other stuff you think you're doing is the dream!
It's been so long since I've been to Guitar Center, they think I'm dead, and even quit sending me emails.
ce24
Poster Extraordinaire
Not only GC...Harley shops crack me up with the whole fake badass persona. I had some Harley foot pegs that fit my BMW but I needed a 3/8 standard bolt to mount them...I asked the clerk for one and he asked what bike I had...I told him BMW R1100RT.... He said they'd don't have BMW parts.....I responded it's a standard thread bolt....he responded.....nope don't have BMW parts....brain dead!!!
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