Guitar Center vs...

[Mr. Phil]

Who here would rather go to another Music store such as Sam Ash or a local store than go to Guitar center?? I mean GC is good, but they only have a small corner dedicated to basses with more than half above $1000, and only about 3 amps working so you have to wait on line to play. I would rather go to Sam Ash where Every Amp is plugged in and you just go and play, no questions asked.

 

Post your opinions on this.

 

While you're at it visit my other post about the Carvin Amps. I still need help on that

[Adamixoye]

This has been discussed before, more or less. Personally, I like Guitar Center. The GC around here is better for basses than the Mars (RIP) was in the city I used to live in...and I liked Mars just as much as (probably more than) any of the local places. There are no Sam Ash's around here.

 

We can go round and round about the help or the selection...and we have. Bottom line: it really depends on the individual stores. In some GCs, the help will be young and enthusiastic, may not know everything but willing to help. In others, "young" is about in, but in a bad way. As for the local mom & pop stores, well, sometimes you'll get good, knowledgable people with lots of experience; in others, they'll be old bitter dudes with mullets who are upset their metal cover band didn't exactly work out. You could make a similar statement about selection.

[The Fonz]

luckily i live in the capital of the world (nyc) and don't have to patronize either unless they have something i can't live without for super cheap. everyone who's been in sam ash in nyc can tell you that these are the sh**tiest salespeople on earth: rude and generally unknowledgeable. manny's used to be the place that you went to to buy strings before you walked into sam ash with your manny's shopping bag with no intent to purchase. but then sam ash bought manny's. they must realize how hated they are because after buying all the other retail music space on 48th st they plastered it with that red and white awning. manny's is still the same green awning with the same broadway marquis that says "manny's." now we all go to rudy's but most of us would rather have manny's back.

[_Sweet Willie_]

GC is one of my spots to go when I want to test gear. One of my local GCs has pretty good variety for bass gear, and I can go when it's not busy.

 

I buy from local stores. In the Chicago area, I'm most likely to purchase from Flynn Guitars or Guitar Works Ltd. in Evanston, Maken Music or Musicians Network in Chicago, and maybe Minstrel Music in Niles. I also purchase long distance from Bass Northwest sometimes.

 

Peace.

[Mike H.]

Guitar center is a joke. Period. I've been to one. Not a good experience, and I've never gone back. I prefer to give my business to the guys like http://www.bassnw.com or http://www.thebasspalace.com who actually care about their customers. Granted, sometimes you may pay a bit more, but when the service end comes up, it's well worth the extra buck.

[Skout]

I normally go to my local GC because they have a nice selection of Warwicks and other nice basses . Though I wish they had a bigger section, I can always go to a local music store or online . . .

 

Skout

[DWBass]

Hell, in my neck of the woods, there is only Guitar Center. The other few shops that are around are crappy, bare and high priced on what they do have on the racks! I get a lot of my stuff from internet merchants!

[saxofunk]

I usually don't rant - but I had a recent visit to GC that will keep me from making a major effort to go back. The nearest location is 1.5 hours away, and I have been there once and had no problems.

 

A couple weeks ago I was travelling out of state and visited another location. Over an hour in the store, 1 employee acknowledged that I was there. I don't want "help" unless I ask for it. I certainly don't like being stalked or stared at, but please smile and wave to make me feel like you want me to shop at your store.

 

The guy behind the counter at the "Wall-O-Fenders" was a zombie, and what was that magazine he was looking at? They had a rack with 6-8 used Ken Smiths, all of them waayyy out of tune. I picked up probably a dozen basses, everything from $300 Yamahas to their used Pedullas, a Roscoe, F bass... all were out of tune. Maybe I expect too much, but I believe a $2000+ bass should be tuned at the store. It might have been nice to compare some of the basses to a Fender, but with them hung off the ceiling and the attendant dozing, I didn't want to disturb the peace since I wasn't serious about contributing to his payroll.

 

My vote and my business goes to the local guy that knows how to greet a customer and carry on a conversation, but leaves when you just want to plug in a few basses and play. The guy who offers to help but doesn't stand over my shoulder and make me feel like I should be stealing something. The salesman who realizes that making sure all the amps are playable and the basses are in tune, even though he doesn't make his 2% commission until he actually sells something.

 

I am also a satisfied internet consumer, because I don't expect astounding service from a computer. And when I call the 800 number, usually I get real people who are cheerful and helpful.

 

I'm done.

Have a nice day.

[japhy4529]

GC is the devil. End of story.

[saxofunk]

I suppose I could have kept my post that concise. Well said.

[FunkALunk Kitty]

I have had nothing but good experiences at GC. We have 3, all within 10-30 minutes of me. I visit all of them on a regular basis and they are great. The salespeople know me by name. I usually hear my name at least 5 times when I walk in and get a handshake from most. They are very knowledgeable. I have yet to hear a question that they can't answer. It is strange that someone stated that they have few basses and even fewer amps. All 3 of our stores have a large selection of basses and amps and even if they aren't plugged in you are more than welcome to plug them in.

 

I also shop at The Bass Place. It is a local place owned by the friendliest guy I have met and they have an incredible selection also. But their prices are higher. But I still shop there out of loyalty.

 

All in all I have nothing but good to say about GC, but there is much to be said for the little guy too.

[_Sweet Willie_]

Originally posted by FunkALunk Kitty:

I also shop at The Bass Place. It is a local place owned by the friendliest guy I have met and they have an incredible selection also. But their prices are higher. But I still shop there out of loyalty.

 

I've visited The Bass Place on-line. Seems like a cool place with a nice selection of gear. Glad to hear that it's a nice place to go in person as well!

[Adrian Smith]

Bass Northwest is the best, cheapest I have seen.

http://www.bassnw.com

 

I usually go to Sam Ash because of their financing deals.

 

http://www.americanmusical.com is my favorite place for accessories.

 

Also, the Guitar Center in Rancho Cucamonga, CA has a separate bass room. Sort of small, but they have some expensive stuff like Warwick neck-thrus.

[ClarkW]

We've just got smaller shops around here, and one GC that is about a 30-45 minute drive, so I only go there every few months. It's a necessary evil; they carry stuff that the smaller shops don't, so I go there to try it out, then come back to my friends at the smaller shop and have them order it direct, putting on a little bit for their commission and store overhead.

 

But even testing out gear at GC is a painful procedure. Most of the customers have even less etiquette than the employees. I wanted to try out a bass one day, but it was literally impossible to hear what I was playing because there was some other idiot trying one out. Sure, he had good chops and all, but do you really need to try out the same bass for 13 minutes? Plugged into a 4x10 and hefty head turned up to SIX? I took a look at it after he finally unplugged, and it was turned up to 6, on probably a 600watt head. It was louder than most every indoor concert I've ever attended.

 

Not one GC employee did a damn thing about it, and the guy didn't turn down even after one other customer asked him to.

[...]

I just drive down to Bass Northwest...

 

I know, I'm a complete bastard.

[_Sweet Willie_]

Originally posted by Bumpcity:

I just drive down to Bass Northwest...

 

I know, I'm a complete bastard.

Yes, yes, yes, you are!

 

However, even though I can't go there to play their luscious selection of gear, at least for some items I probably pay less in shipping and no taxes (out of state) than you pay in taxes (in state). (Although, honestly, I don't know what the Seattle and/or Washington state tax rates are... )

[jeremy c]

Support your local person-owned store. Duane "Pudgy" Wong at Guitar Works in El Cerrito, CA always steps up to the plate.

 

And of course there are the bass specialists.

 

I always visit The Bass Place when I am in Phoenix and Bass Northwest when I am in Seattle.

 

It's pretty hard to ignore the 300 pound gorilla, though. Some of their sale prices are astounding. They are also willing to make deals on non-sale stuff.

 

And the GC store in my neighborhood has had the same personnel for years and they know me.

 

It's pretty hard to ignore Musicians Fiend (sic) as well. But be pretty sure about what you want, you don't want to have to ship something back and pay to do it. Right now they are selling an acoustic guitar for $99 that comes with a free mandolin. I'm thinking of getting it and giving away the guitar!

[...]

Originally posted by Sweet Willie:

However, even though I can't go there to play their luscious selection of gear, at least for some items I probably pay less in shipping and no taxes (out of state) than you pay in taxes (in state). (Although, honestly, I don't know what the Seattle and/or Washington state tax rates are... )

Sales tax in King county is currently 8.8%, we have no state income tax though (which is very, very nice).

[Mr. Phil]

In reference to Clark's post, I was trying out a lot of different basses (no to buy, jsut fooling around) and some stupid jerk had to steal the cord i was using. The dude couldnt go and get hsi own. and he saw me sitting there, and he was playing the same damn bass for at elast 10 minutes. But i was patient and waited till he left.

[fantasticsound]

Originally posted by Sweet Willie:

...In the Chicago area, I'm most likely to purchase from Flynn Guitars or Guitar Works Ltd. in Evanston, Maken Music or Musicians Network in Chicago, and maybe Minstrel Music in Niles. I also purchase long distance from Bass Northwest sometimes.

 

Peace.

Man, does this post bring back memories. I bought a Kramer Voyager guitar body from Music Gallery in Highland Park (my hometown) when Kramer went bankrupt. After ordering a Warmoth neck and buying a Kahler vibrato (both from Gand Music & Sound, off the Edens Expressway), Gand sent it to Flynn to be put together. They did a respectable job, especially considering the Kahler was installed in a cavity already carved for a Floyd Rose. (Don't ask, I was young. ) Never actually shopped at Flynn, though.

 

Make'n Music, off Milwaukee Ave., had a wonderful selection of high-end gear way-back-when, but they were such pricks about letting you test anything, unless of course you pulled up in a luxury sedan in expensive clothes. I decided never to shop there, but if I were in town, I'd probably give them another chance after a decade of my being gone.

 

Minstrel... you mean on Milwaukee Ave? The place always seemed to be one of those shops with few lines and very few worth playing. Have they changed? I used to drive by, everyday, on my way to work. They were nice enough, though.

 

One other point. While it's unlikely you'll be tracked down, just because a seller doesn't collect tax when you purchase through the mail doesn't mean you don't owe it. The reason they don't take the tax is because according to commerce law, the sale occurs at the billing or shipping address. That makes it your responsibility to pay tax when your purchase arrives. Think I'm paranoid? A friend of mine had his name served up to the Tennessee IRS for his purchases in NYC. (He moved from NYC, and has several longtime relationships with NYC MI retailers.) He's a professional musician. They proceeded to audit and fine him for non-payment of Tennessee state sales tax. So beware, it CAN and DOES happen, if rarely. Proceed at your own risk.

 

In fact, Sweet Willie, try purchasing a vehicle in the suburbs to save sales tax over Cook County and Chicago. If you're a Chicago resident, I understand they now take the additional taxes from you when you register the vehicle!

 

In Nashville, there are several local shops, such as Rock Blok that have a good variety and allow you to test in relative quiet. Sam Ash has a good selection here, as well. And they're 3 miles from my house, so I usually check things out there if they carry them.

[_Sweet Willie_]

Originally posted by fantasticsound:

Make'n Music, off Milwaukee Ave., had a wonderful selection of high-end gear way-back-when, but they were such pricks about letting you test anything, unless of course you pulled up in a luxury sedan in expensive clothes. I decided never to shop there, but if I were in town, I'd probably give them another chance after a decade of my being gone. .

They moved within the past couple of years to 250 N. Artesian. I've only been once, and they were great about letting me hang out for quite some time and play several basses (and I pulled up in my Ford station wagon w/ child seats and general clutter!). I had a very positive experience, and they still carry a range of high-end gear (Bergantino, Epifani, Aguilar, EBS, Ashdown, Modulus, PRS, Lakland, and more).

 

Originally posted by fantasticsound:

Minstrel... you mean on Milwaukee Ave? The place always seemed to be one of those shops with few lines and very few worth playing. Have they changed? I used to drive by, everyday, on my way to work. They were nice enough, though.

They are definitely nice people there. They don't carry many lines at all -- so I don't often go there to try gear out. I've played Ampeg stuff there, but they never really have any basses that interest me. Their amp tech has a great reputation, and although I haven't yet needed his services, a guitar playing buddy of mine had him bring back a 4x10 Fender guitar amp from the dead.

 

Originally posted by fantasticsound:

One other point. While it's unlikely you'll be tracked down, just because a seller doesn't collect tax when you purchase through the mail doesn't mean you don't owe it. The reason they don't take the tax is because according to commerce law, the sale occurs at the billing or shipping address. That makes it your responsibility to pay tax when your purchase arrives. Think I'm paranoid? A friend of mine had his name served up to the Tennessee IRS for his purchases in NYC. (He moved from NYC, and has several longtime relationships with NYC MI retailers.) He's a professional musician. They proceeded to audit and fine him for non-payment of Tennessee state sales tax. So beware, it CAN and DOES happen, if rarely. Proceed at your own risk.

Wow, fascinating. It's such common practice not to sweat sales tax on interstate purchases! Not just for music gear, but also everything from lawn furniture to wedding gowns!

 

Peace.

[Connie Z]

I am personally boycotting Guitar Center right now. There is one about 15 minutes from my house.

 

I frequent a music store owned locally called C&M Music.

 

[bEGIN MAJOR RANT] My main reason for boycotting is this... the check-out register is along the left side of the store, not at the front of the store. After you've made your purchase, and you are leaving, there is a nazi at the door, who actually takes your bag and inspects everything in it to make sure it matches the receipt. This is a new trend that is happening all around in the retail world and I dislike it tremendously. I figure that the way to win customers is not to give them crappy service (yes, the service there is crappy, unless you are buying something expensive), and then insult them even more by implying that they are stealing something.

 

My point is this... put the damn register at the front of the store and place cameras there if necessary, but don't take my bag out of my hand and look at everything in it.

 

What REALLY gets me is that something like 95% of theft in the retail world is related to employee theft. How about recruting better employees and paying them well, and keeping an eye on them, instead of insulting the customers!!!! [end rant]

 

I feel better now!

 

Oh, and another thing... I went in to buy some gift certificates from them one time, and they started asking for the name and address of the people I was buying it for. I asked them why they needed that info. They said that when the person came in to use the certificate, they would have to show identification to use it. I told them never mind. One of the certificates was for my 15 year old nephew (awesome musician), and he doesn't drive yet, so no ID. They lost my sale and I've never been back.

 

Thanks for asking! I love to complain about Guitar Center.

 

... Connie Z

[Ren.]

... Bass Center ?

[Floyd The Barber]

i don't have any Guitar Centers or Sam Ash stores near me. In fact, I don't think I have any music stores near me that are national chains. But I do have 3 local stores, and although they are not as big as the Mars Music used to be, they seem a lot more helpful.

[thrakkor]

I don't have any problems with GC. The one about 10 min from my house has just opened in October. However, I try to avoid contact with any sales people because I hate being bothered when I am trying to browse for whatever. I try to arm myself before I go in there by researching my purchase and knowing exactly what I want or am there for. The only questions I ask are "Where is ....." or "Do you carry ......". I don't ask opinions because I feel that in general I know more than the salesperson does anyway and I don't want some BS answer. GC is better than the little stores where I live and the other big stores, too, unless you know somebody who works at one of the others and can get hooked up. Besides, they are the only store that carries DR strings. But if they ever pissed me off, I would definitely stop giving them my business. There are always online stores..........

[sam 2000]

Iam with Adam on this one around here there arnt any sam ashes or any mars anymore and all the local stores are in a cluster down by the uper class ghettoand one store has a freaky sarcastic mean old man in it one sucks the other is awsome but they only carry 6 bass heads all of wich are way to expensive the other is a dirt chep music wich i love with all of my heart becuase they give the best tradein deals. but as far as just go in and play i chose GC even though i cant ever afford it

[FunkALunk Kitty]

Personally it doesn't bother me when the check my bag at GC. In fact I usually don't get a bag until I get to the door. I know that there isn't anything in there that shouldn't be and with some of the people they get in there I don't blame them for checking. Heck some of those people should be stripped down and searched. You do what you have to to keep from losing money.

 

Connie I do believe that the % that you gave of employee theft is way off the mark.

 

I still say that GC is one of the best "chain" stores around. The "Mom and Pop" stores are great because you can usually go in and have a cup of coffee while you chat with Mom and Pop about the latest.

 

-Kitty

[fantasticsound]

One comment, I should point out that I worked for GC in Chicago, back in late 1991 - early 1992. At that time, they taught salesmanship at store meetings, in an attempt to make every salesperson a "closer". Someone who can get you to the sale. One of the observations they mentioned was, "Everyone who walks in the door does so to buy something, so they should all leave with product in hand." This, in an immediate sense, is utter bullshit. I walk into music stores to check out gear I KNOW I won't be able to afford, or can't justify in my own mind.

 

I don't know if they still teach this, but it was, in my experience, a major reason many salespeople became completely annoying. They were taught everyone just needs the right prodding to put their money down. I refused to treat customers like sheep waiting for slaughter. That's much of the reason I left.

[Connie Z]

Originally posted by FunkALunk Kitty:

Connie I do believe that the % that you gave of employee theft is way off the mark.

Hi Kitty,

 

I do stand corrected. I did some quick internet searching and found some statistics which greatly differ from what I estimated. The number I got was from an estimate that my husband was told when he worked for a major national retailer, but it was at least 10 years ago, and probably inflated.

 

But, I do know that one crooked employee can steal TONS of stuff. I had the experience with an employee at a theatre I managed. 99% of our shrinkage was due to that one employee, until the cops got him. It was a teenager who was stealing cases of candy and selling it out of his car trunk at school. Very disturbing, and left me with a great sense of betrayal. And it cost us thousands of dollars before he was caught.

 

Some statistics I found:

 

Source of Inventory Shrinkage/% of Loss

Employee Theft/48.5%

Shoplifting/31.7%

Administrative Error/15.3%

Vendor Fraud/5.4%

 

Another:

75% of inventory shortages are attributed to employee theft. (National Restaurant Association)

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

 

But... it seems that approximately 30% or less of theft is due to shoplifting, so I am still not sure it is worth it for retailers to submit their customers to searches.

 

Thanks!

 

... Connie Z