Jazzman Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 Well I wet to a local Guitar Center near where I live and I never saw a place that was so disorganized, sloppy, and just plain trashed out. I've been in some cool stores where people had taken care of the gear, was organized and had set-ups where you could walk around with out stepping on other gear in the process. This place was really bad! I had gone there a couple of times, because they had a lot of drum gear and many guitars. The people are friendly, but the place is trashed out. In the drum section, no matter where you walked you had to be careful. No one dusted any equipment, and the counters were packed with gear. No one was there to wait on you. You would have to go to the frount desk and ask for help. Didn't know the worker from the artist in the shop. There was another Guitar Center store that I went to that had keyboards, guitars, drums, studio and DJ gear. The place was very clean, and the rooms were set up really nice, but that store closed down for some reason.......go figure! Why is it that these folks with the drum T-shirts, guitar folks asigned to work there can't take care of the place. I'm not impressed. When I walk in one of these stores, they look at me like I came from Maybury. I must not look serious enough to be asked if I need some help. Thy think I'm getting something for someone else because of my age I guess. I don't wear leather jackets, have long dyed hair, tatoos, earings, ripped geans, smoke, and look homely. Not to say anything against these good folks, but I don't fit the part for a Rocker if you know what I mean. This was the case when I was in a store that the folks ignored me, I left and bought over $15,000 of studio gear in one shot at another store that was willing to take me seriously! Just some jaw flapping on the stores I sometimes visit. I can see why people don't bicker at a store and buy things out of a catalog instead. Jazzman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikegrijak Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 Let me guess-- you went to the Roseville store on Gratiot and 12 mile.......... This way, no, wait, that way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reachjkh Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 Did you take that 15K reciept back and show it to the employees and show them what their commission could have been? That might have been a priceless moment. Hey you white boy there Go play that funky music "ok...what's it pay?" first smoke, then silence your very expensive rig dies so gracefully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzman Posted December 9, 2003 Author Share Posted December 9, 2003 The store is at M-59 and ELizebeth Lake Rd, Waterford MI. I did call back on the store that missed out on some large commission for the studio gear....I was getting letters from the manager after that asking for any of my future business, including their error and misunderstanding. This was the place I had waited for over an hour to get a salesman to sit down and talk to me. I had gone to another store, gave them tons of business, and the manager started to play around giving me the shaft on a drum set for a client. We ended up sharing the same set in a catalog for a cheaper price. They eventually came down to match the price. But I was disapointed in them. I then asked them for a bid for an entire studio......they got cold feet, delayed and I ended up leaving them too. Cost was around $60 to $100,000. What is with these people anyway? My money or business is not good enough??!!! Sorry for the rant.........just a soft spot. I'm sorry but some of these places need to hire qualified people from the neck up........know what I mean? Jazzman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanmass Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 As much as I agree with the 'neck up' comment, having worked in a retail music store for quite a time, I have to say, over and over, we got people in claiming to want to put together a studio or 'get back into it'. The saleperson ends up wasting time with dreamers, and even though they respect the dream, there ain't no money in it, which is why the saleforce loses their better people. Retail music sales is a tough gig on both sides of the counter. I have run into my share of knobs at Guitar Center, but I usually just blow it off. There is usually another person around to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reachjkh Posted December 9, 2003 Share Posted December 9, 2003 Deanmass, I feel for you too. I can't imagine having musicians for customers. Such a high percentage of jerks, losers, and wankers mixed in with some of the coolest people on the planet. I was thinking that before going into a store to do big buying, call ahead and find out who is the guru for whatever gear you're buying and the go when that person and the manager are both actually present in the store. I bet you could get some decent help. Hey you white boy there Go play that funky music "ok...what's it pay?" first smoke, then silence your very expensive rig dies so gracefully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techristian Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 What was that place in Dearborn MI.. Was that Wonderland in that nice clean orange brick building? (Nice and clean on the outside that is.) Inside the floor was painted black and it looked like it was a bit torn up. I was seriously looking at drums, but they had them WAY UP IN THE AIR where you couldn't play them. They seriously expected me to buy a brand that I never heard before ! I mean I didn't have to play the drums (if they thought that I would put the stick through the skins). If the saleman would have even TAPPED on the drums softly that would have given me an idea of the sound. Now instead, I'll be ordering my drums from California in a few months. If I'm going to buy my drums sight UNHEARD I might as well buy them SIGHT UNSEEN as well, and save mega$ having them shipped to my home. I try to deal with locals, but what is the advantage? Would you buy a car without a test drive? Dan http://teachmedrums.com TEACHMEDRUMS.COM My Music Videos RED PILL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Novak Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 Originally posted by Jazzman: Why is it that these folks with the drum T-shirts, guitar folks asigned to work there can't take care of the place. I'm not impressed. Because they're probably gomers who are marginal musicians, or guys that wish they didn't have to work in a music store to make ends meet - and they're probably not being paid much, and when you work for a big corporation like that it's faceless so you have no guilt about slacking. It's Rural WalMart Syndrome: Walmart moves into a new area with a bright big shiny new store, blows out all of the local "competition". Then, 3 years later, go to the same store and it's nasty, dirt here and there, tattered stuff that has been sitting there the whole time collecting dust, people standing around hoping they don't have to do anything because they're not making a living wage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrummerCafe Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 Originally posted by deanmass: As much as I agree with the 'neck up' comment, having worked in a retail music store for quite a time, I have to say, over and over, we got people in claiming to want to put together a studio or 'get back into it'. The saleperson ends up wasting time with dreamers, and even though they respect the dream, there ain't no money in it, which is why the saleforce loses their better people. Retail music sales is a tough gig on both sides of the counter. I have run into my share of knobs at Guitar Center, but I usually just blow it off. There is usually another person around to help.Well, that's what separates the boys from the men when it comes to sales. I've done the retail thing and even owned a drum shop ... so I've had my share as well. Sales people have to learn to QUALIFY the buyer. There's a way to handle it, treating everyone nicely and promptly, but not wasting time on people that want to abuse you, which then causes you to ignore other customers. Although someone may not be being then, they will be buying at sometime. There's really no excuse ... and places like Guitar Center don't seem to really train the sales staff on how to sell. In fact, real sales is a lost art. Back in the early 80's, I spent a week of intense training before I was actually hired on as a saleman for a large audio electronic retailer in St. Louis. I don't see that kind of quality in sales staff anymore, at least not at the retail level. If you want service, you'll probably have to go to a small store. If you want the lowest price, go to a mega-store. Nowadays, it's service versus price; rarely do the two meet. Drummer Cafe - community drum & percussion forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super 8 Posted December 30, 2003 Share Posted December 30, 2003 Originally posted by Jazzman: Why is it that these folks with the drum T-shirts, guitar folks asigned to work there can't take care of the place. Probably because they aren't getting paid anything. Getting the 'big kill' commission is a real motivator for certain types of people. I know a guy who started out as a door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman (I'm not making this up) and later became a self-made millionaire (or damn close to it) selling used integrated circuits. He did so well at that company that they fired their sales staff 3 months after they hired him, because he out-performed them by such a margin. And with in a couple of years, he bought the company from the owners. He was just THAT driven. Money mean't everything to him. Every morning the prospect of making more and more money was what motivated him. He later has had to learn that family needs to take priority over money -and I think he STILL struggles with it to this day. But I don't think that many musicians and artistic-type people are wired that way. Most of those guys work there because they LOVE music and musical instruments and they need a job. And they would probably rather be off playing with their band than spending their time working at a music store for minimum wage. It takes a special kind of person to do sales. You need to know your product and enjoy answering questions and helping people. That, in and of itself may not be a problem. I used to sell computers, and I loved it. I never tired of answering the same questions over and over and over again -but I was salaried. If you tie a carrot onto the end of a stick and dangle it in front of a sales person in the form of the ever elusive 'commision', I think you are introducing problems for some people. My friend that I mentioned would be all over commission sales. He would attack it! He loves making the kill and getting more and more money. For myself however, I'd go nuts. It would take all of the enjoyment out of it for me. You are right, the employees should take better pride in their store and work harder. But in a way, I can't blame them. If you are not wired for that kind of work, it can suck the life out of you. And I don't think creative people always function well in those environments. Just my 2 cent. Super 8 Hear my stuff here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikegrijak Posted December 31, 2003 Share Posted December 31, 2003 Originally posted by techristian: What was that place in Dearborn MI.. Was that Wonderland in that nice clean orange brick building? (Nice and clean on the outside that is.) Inside the floor was painted black and it looked like it was a bit torn up. I was seriously looking at drums, but they had them WAY UP IN THE AIR where you couldn't play them. They seriously expected me to buy a brand that I never heard before ! I mean I didn't have to play the drums (if they thought that I would put the stick through the skins). If the saleman would have even TAPPED on the drums softly that would have given me an idea of the sound. Now instead, I'll be ordering my drums from California in a few months. If I'm going to buy my drums sight UNHEARD I might as well buy them SIGHT UNSEEN as well, and save mega$ having them shipped to my home. I try to deal with locals, but what is the advantage? Would you buy a car without a test drive? Dan http://teachmedrums.com Yes, that is our lovely Wonderland Music in Dearborn MI, on Michigan Ave. at Scheafer St. The place is just Horrid! I do not know how Clarence (the owner) stays in business! People have told me it is not from sales, but from backlining one-nighters in the Detroit area. This way, no, wait, that way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanmass Posted January 1, 2004 Share Posted January 1, 2004 Blunderland..I have alway disliked that place... RE: Qualifying prospects...I know...but at most places, it is 95% gomer, 5 % real people. I have been out of it awhile, but I think now most pros or hihg dollar customers go to sweetwater or some place similar. I liek to go to local shops ( Mike Carey Music in Lincoln Park...nice guy, cluttered but friendly shop), but any big tickets stuff, I am usually online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattC Posted January 12, 2004 Share Posted January 12, 2004 Roseville's GC is a well-kept store, usually. If you notice, if there is any clutter, it is generally among the lower priced, entry-level gear. The higher priced models are usually accessable (aside from that stupid rolling ladder). The best help usually comes from the pro audio guys becuase they generally know their stuff the best and deal with the smallest percentage of wankers of any department there. If you want the best help at a store, find one sales associate to work with make it known that you appreciate their time and that you have the intent to spend a good chunk of money. The best salespeople will realize that you keep coming back to them and they will halp you out because of it. Case in point- whenever I'm in PA, I look for the same guy. Last time, as I was looking at digital pianos, I asked him what a certain mic was going for that month; he said $100 each. I told him that I'd be interested in picking up a couple later on that month. "Hold on," he said as he punched something else into the computer. "I can give those to you for $70 each." This is the same guy who greets me with a handshake when I walk in. He lost a small commission but you'd better believe that he'll get my business whenever I walk in. Customer service isn't a one sided deal- you must be decent to your salesman if you expect to be treated well in a store. ...think funky thoughts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzman Posted January 12, 2004 Author Share Posted January 12, 2004 That is the whole point, and great comments folks. A well kept store will always get my attention. In a good store, even the cheap stuff is well maintained, and treated with respect. If I want to sell a used car, I'll clean it up for the sale. Usually I get more when I do. If the sales people don't take care of the gear, how can they expect people to see the true value in what they buy. You know that $100 guitar for a beginner can put a gleam in his/hers eyes and feel good about themselves if the sales person treats every sale with respect. To me a sloppy store reflects on the organization skills of the people hired and store management. Would you buy a car from a dealership if sales people were eating food in the car, floors not swept, no place to park, and poorly lit? I think not. Car manufacturers spend a lot of money in showcasing their products. If I were the people handing over drumsets, guitars, basses and keyboards to a store for selling, I would visit the store to see how my products were showcased and treated, and find out about the sales force moving the product! Just a little more rant....... Jazzman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rfenergy Posted January 17, 2004 Share Posted January 17, 2004 Did I read this correctly? You had $100,000.00 to spend on a studio and you went to Banjo Mart? WTF...That's the last place in the world I would go with a $100,000.00 budget. With $100,000.00 to spend I would go to, http://www.mercenaryaudio.com/ I would buy any of these items from them, AD/DA conveters, Mic's,Pre-amps,effects,compressors,etc. Really anything they have, if you don't like what you get from them they will take it back and send you something else to try. These guys have there shit together. For other equipment they don't have they will tell you where to get it from. Very cool people indeed. For drums I would go to, http://www.drumsetc.com/ Wonderland is still in business??? WTF??? That is truely amazing!!! Last time I went there was 1982 to buy a drum head, they charged me list price, that was the first time/last time I went there. Going to Banjo Mart is like going to the waiting room to get into Dante's 7th level of hell, bad service,bad atmosphere,mostly bad equipment, and a very loooooonnnggg wait to get the fuck outta there. Out, rfenergy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanmass Posted January 21, 2004 Share Posted January 21, 2004 7th level huh...?? Hmmmm Past incontinence.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rfenergy Posted January 21, 2004 Share Posted January 21, 2004 Yeah...from standing in line so long... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzman Posted January 24, 2004 Author Share Posted January 24, 2004 rfenergy......Yes, I was getting bids from several outfits, Wonderland was just one that sold name brand gear at the time, was asked to submit a bid for specific gear that was spected out in the bid package I sent to them. They had an opertunity to submit any approved equal for us to review. They had cold feet......and didn't perform. They were just one out of several folks that were asked to submit a bid. At the time I was getting a very good discount on high end equipment that I would purchase. Jazzman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comfortat Posted February 21, 2004 Share Posted February 21, 2004 I have the same problem at the CD store here. The guy has a small operation. Reminds me of the record/headshop I frequented as a teen. I prefer to do business with the "little guy", rather than the big chains, even if he's a little more expensive. Plus this guy has music catalogs he can look at if he doesn't have things in stock or doesn't stock things at all. He has a used CD rack too, and I've found some gems in there. I have been a good customer of his for 5 yrs now. My problem is, he's an a-hole. He can be very bitchy and grouchy. Over insignicant things, too. He does his ordering by hand (refuses to get a computer, and snarled when I even SUGGESTED it would help him run his business better). So if you happen to come on a day when he is pouring over paperwork, forget getting any real help. "Well, so sorry I interrupted you to hand you some of my hard earned cash Pal!" I don't have the luxury to be in his shop when he wants me to be. I go when I can, not to suit his "ordering" days. I quit buying from him. I shop at online places or on the bands' websites. If I'm gonna get screwed, I ain't gonna get snarled at at the same time. If you don't wanna be nibbled, don't play with the bunny. God created Eve and me, not Steve and me. - Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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