LX88 Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I am not going to take this lying down... How it happened... About a month ago Guitar Center in Salem Oregon had a used gear trade in day. I brought in a Yamama YTP 300 portable type keyboard and honestly wasn't expecting all that much for it. I took it to a guy at the counter and he made me what was actually a pretty good trade offer. While this was in process another salesman came up. The first thing he did was find a cow mooing sound on the keyboard which he kept playing over and over during my transaction. He then stated to the person who had given me the trade in quote that the keyboard was in "poor condition" and to cancel the transaction already in progress. After suffering through this guy for about 5 minutes I left the room and told the first person I had dealt with that I was not happy with the other salesman's judgemental nature and that I would wait in another room till he finished the transaction. Cut to yesterday. I was in the same GC and wouldn't you know it...the Cow Man himself actually approached me. I did NOT want to talk to him. I told him that it would be best if we not communicate and went into another room. First he followed me into the keyboard room...which I left and then into the acoustic guitar room. In the guitar room he made reference to the "poor condition" incident and then started waving his finger in my face as I tried to leave and avoid him. I got out into the lobby and he shouted very loudly that I needed to get out of the store! I asked for a manager but none appeared so I left. What I did was contact management in the Clackamas Oregon store which I found out has jurisdiction over the Salem store. I am going to have to wait to find out what they say but in the mean time....how could this happen? It's just another incident of what has become to be known as the " Calling Out Culture". I am curious to see how this plays out... I have been a steady customer and am known to the manager and a few other employees as perhaps a friendly person in general. Support on this appreciated...if you want play devil's advocate... I already know who might chime in that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wd8dky Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I'm sorry this happened to you. It's just another example of how "customer service" is becoming little more than an oxymoron. Quote http://www.weisersound.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cphollis Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 No excuses for behavior like that, really. That being said, working at GC was a cr*ppy gig back in the day, and I can't imagine it's gotten any better since. Quote Want to make your band better? Check out "A Guide To Starting (Or Improving!) Your Own Local Band" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tunaman Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 Today"s culture⦠many feel emboldened to say whatever they want and act out with impunity. I was raised in a generation where you said nothing if you didn"t have anything nice to say, and would be embarrassed to cause a scene in public. Sounds like you handled yourself well⦠I think I would have been far more rude and dressed him down accordingly once he persisted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CowboyNQ Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 My advice: Do not accept crappy service. Stand on your digs and remind them of the lifetime value of a customer. If they don"t like it tell them to take a long walk off a short jetty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX88 Posted May 29, 2021 Author Share Posted May 29, 2021 The ONLY thing I said to him was...its best that we don't communicate. Then he basically started chasing me around the store trying to provoke something. I should realize if you even say anything to a person like that you risk road rage level behavior. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stokely Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I'm 53 and have no idea what "calling out culture" means. I've had bad service when I was young and bad service recently, but not often. I guess I don't see some trend or change. There are assholes and weirdos working in stores, sounds like you ran into one based on the facts of the story above. It's pretty simple, if you get bad service let the store know and if they are backing up their guy then go up the chain and let them know what happened and why you feel you got bad service. Or if you don't see the point, just don't give that store your business. I avoid a few stores for various reasons, I don't make it a big deal but I'd rather spend my money elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElmerJFudd Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I hate to think it. But your moo moo man is probably the manager, or in charge of that shop. Otherwise why would he have the authority to overrule the other guy"s trade in offer. Screw them and their shop. Take your business elsewhere. Quote Yamaha CP88, Casio PX-560 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX88 Posted May 29, 2021 Author Share Posted May 29, 2021 Nope...not the manager . He assumed authority he may not have had. There are policies in many businesses that reserve the right to refuse service...but I am not sure that is the same thing as demanding that someone leave. Look at GC precarious bankruptcy situation. And right now...this forum is world wide. I am trying to decide what to do. I think this is one not to just let go... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickzjamm Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 Another sad example why brick & mortar are soon becoming extinct...also, choose your battles wisely my friend. We've all been there... good luck. Quote You don't know you're in the dark until you're in the light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 An unfortunate side effect of the lack of customer service training and other issues with today's society. As mentioned above, some people feel emboldened to do and say whatever they want and/or feel. I definitely wouldn't "let it go". Contact as many folks as possible within GC to make them aware of your customer experience. Both management and potential customers need to know what's going on in these stores and businesses before they spend their time and money there. If we do or say nothing, poor customer service will continue to thrive. Quote PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX88 Posted May 29, 2021 Author Share Posted May 29, 2021 Thank you very much for the above post.. I am not trying compare the magnitude of the situation...but should Rosa Parks have just let it go? Humiliation is humiliation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 He just doesn't like your chorus vibrato settings. Quote Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KuruPrionz Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I've been on both sides of the counter, I've made mistakes and had mistakes made. I learned how to treat customers a LONG time ago and am very good at it. Where possible in these situations, I've gone straight to the top or as high up as possible. I will request the manager, if that doesn't work I will repeat my request "Can you please bring a manager in to solve this problem, this should not be happening." loudly, clearly and with a calm, firm voice. I want other customers to hear it, that is kryptonite for sales staff. On occasion I've written a calm, factual account of the event (similar to the OP), let them know of my stature as a customer and made it very clear that I had other options that were more satisfactory. If needed (in this case it would be) I name names. I do mention that they will lose customers if they cannot maintain a standard of customer service. Sadly, quite a few companies are going the way of Century Link, where calling their toll free number will cost you 45 minutes of menu surfing if you are prepared and good luck finding A: an actual human to talk to or B: an actual human who has any idea what to do with you other than refer you to the morass of pre-recorded options and waiting while the excruciating background music robs you of your soul. Honestly, I would have requested the store manager immediately when Big Mouth started in and I would have begun speaking very loudly so that any other customers in the proximity could hear exactly what was going on. I can be tedious and loud as long as I need to. If Big Mouth doesn't back down, I escalate. It's happened, once. Usually speaking loudly (but calmly and clearly), staying on topic and making it sound just as bad as it truly is right in front of other customers will turn things around. I hate doing it, things like this should never happen. Even when I've won (almost every time), I rarely go back to the same store again unless management changes. They do have quite a bit of turnover at GC. Best of luck to you! Cheers, Kuru. Quote It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Lobo Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I respectfully suggest that we only know your side of the story. Still, following you around the store and telling you to get out does not seem warranted as you did not commit any kind of transgression that we're aware of. Did you say anything insulting to him, especially when he said to cancel the trade transaction? If you had to state it from his perspective, is there anything you did or said that would justify his behavior? If you really don't think so, then don't let it go. He needs to experience consequences for his behavior, up to and including getting fired if he's really out of line. A good friend and pro musician worked at GC a long time ago. Most ex-employees recognize that it's a shitty job, and that some of the people that work there are crappy human beings. Not all. Some are good people just trying to make a living. But for some assholes, it's the only job they can get. They deserve to have their assholiness called out. Quote These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Docbop Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I respectfully suggest that we only know your side of the story. Still, following you around the store and telling you to get out does not seem warranted as you did not commit any kind of transgression that we're aware of. Did you say anything insulting to him, especially when he said to cancel the trade transaction? If you had to state it from his perspective, is there anything you did or said that would justify his behavior? If you really don't think so, then don't let it go. He needs to experience consequences for his behavior, up to and including getting fired if he's really out of line. A good friend and pro musician worked at GC a long time ago. Most ex-employees recognize that it's a shitty job, and that some of the people that work there are crappy human beings. Not all. Some are good people just trying to make a living. But for some assholes, it's the only job they can get. They deserve to have their assholiness called out. As El Lobo points out we're only hearing one side of the story and my experiences in working retail and phone and online tech support for a sales person or customer rep' to remember a customer to point they hurrash them on a return visit something else had to happen or been said. Cause I remember with dealing with bad customers in my work the best thing to do even if it means "eating some crow" do what you have to to make the go away. And that works as a customer too and I should win an Oscar for some of my acts I've put on with a jerk salesperson that in the end I got what I wanted. Also when you have a really good experience with a salesperson or customer service person let the company they work at know. First it really helps them when they get a "Atta boy" from a customer, but they remember it and next time I deal with them they are real nice. The way some countries have mandatory couple years of military service I think we should have mandatory couple years of working in retail or customer service. Once you work with dealing with the public for awhile how you treat sales people and customer service people changes. Bottom line fighting fire with fire just burns everything down. Sometime you need to bite your lip and just throw a bucket of water on the fire so it's over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adan Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 Another example of cow out culture. I agree this guy's behavior was udderly ridiculous. How dairy act superior to you? You are probably tens times the musican he is, yet he has to milk his lowly position for all it's worth. Just because he was in a bad mooood. If it were me, I would grab the bull by the horns, go back and talk to the manager. Better to take action than to ruminant over what you might have done. More seriously, I think one just has to rise above these situations. Quote Gigging: Crumar Mojo 61, Hammond SKPro Home: Vintage Vibe 64 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElmerJFudd Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 Another example of moo out culture. I agree this guy's behavior was udderly ridiculous. How dairy act superior to you? You are probably tens times the musican he is, yet he has to milk his lowly position for all it's worth. And why? Just because he was in a bad mooood. If it were me, I would grab the bull by it's horns, go back and talk to the manger. Better to take action than to ruminant over what you might have done. More seriously, I think one just has to rise above these situations. I agree, walk away. Simply deal with a better place. Quote Yamaha CP88, Casio PX-560 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I haven"t been in the local GC for over 10 years after a bad customer service experience. I can no longer remember what was the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Lobo Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 ... Once you work with dealing with the public for awhile how you treat sales people and customer service people changes. ... This is so true. Talk to any person who has ever waited tables or tended bar. They have lots of "customer from hell" stories. And when they eat at a restaurant or buy drinks at a bar, they are some of the nicest people and the biggest tippers, even when they don't have a lot of money themselves. They've been there and they know what it's like on the other side. Quote These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldwin Funster Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I cant top adan here but he missed one. The OP shouldn't be a COWard in standing up for his dignity. Quote FunMachine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrrtyuuiioop Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I would simply say to the guy that he is jeopardising a sale and future sales and that he should walk away and never approach you again. I took great delight in visiting a Music Store two years after receiving bad service from them, I tried some kit then thanked them and said I was leaving. When asked why I was not buying from them I recounted the prior incident and said that the action I received in the Store had cost them £10,000 in lost business. Quote Feck u Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX88 Posted May 29, 2021 Author Share Posted May 29, 2021 In response to El Lobo question The only thing I said to the guy was...its best that we don't communicate When I did the moo moo deal...yes I told the salesperson that I did not appreciate that guy telling me that anything was in poor condition I thought later that I should have thrown the board on the floor..stomped the hell out of it and said...OK.This is what poor condition looks like! BTW..thanks to all for your support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stillearning Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I cant top adan here but he missed one. Awfully manurely of you to butter him up like that. Quote I would like to apologize to anyone I have not yet offended. Please be patient and I will get to you shortly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PianoMan51 Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 And I thought this was going to be about repeatedly playing Smoke on the Water in the guitar section on a Saturday afternoon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX88 Posted May 29, 2021 Author Share Posted May 29, 2021 I agree Adan' s post made it almost worth a miserable experience. How could my trade in be in poor condition? Cow function worked flawlessly...CV... Salesman didn't like CV- Cow Velocity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LX88 Posted May 29, 2021 Author Share Posted May 29, 2021 Also Yamaha could have given the YTP 300 a decent Rhodes or Drawbar organ ...instead they give us Cow. Singin' that Cow Cow Boogie in the strangest way.. I need more Cow, Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marzzz Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I wouldn't have been cowed by the a-hole sales person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyRude Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 I think I know what happened. You had the transpose button activated from some prior gig where you were trying to make it easier to play the moo sound, and that's probably what set him off. If you go back and talk to him, let him know you'll give up the transpose button, I think he'll come around. Quote Some music I've recorded and played over the years with a few different bands Tommy Rude Soundcloud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o0Ampy0o Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 You did the best thing because had you stuck around it would only have ended worse for you. Let us assume that everything was exactly as you described. Going forward handle it outlining the facts and avoid uncontrolled emotion. Emotion is called for, valid and even useful but you want to direct it where you have every right to be furious with how this situation developed. But if you lose control and just get mad you will lose ground. If you keep it focused you have a strong case and the best chance of gaining support from a corporate level. No one at the top who has a business acumen will tolerate petty behavior from those interfacing with the public. Now if it was just between employees there would be a good chance they would not care to get involved unless they saw a clear cut opportunity to expel someone to clean house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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