[kittonian]

I got one for you because I just left one of your stores. The sales guy btw was extremely kind and fairly knowledgeable (guitars not recording).

The thing you can do better is to not let the following situation repeat itself.

When I went to the store last week to checkout a 72' Telecaster Custom Reissue I was given a price of $600 (tag is $689.99 so it wasn't a massive discount but nice nonetheless). I went back this week to try a few more Tele's out before I made my decision (partly because the 72' is Mexican made and the sales guy and I had already discussed that he would order me a new one because the toggle switch and input jack were a bit funky on the one in the store).

So, I go back in tonight, played through a bunch and decided that in fact the 72' custom was exactly the sound I was looking for and I was going to place the order. The sales guy goes to put it all in the computer and says he needs to get his manager's approval on the pricing, etc. No problem, I wait. 20 minutes later he comes back and says his manager won't let him move 1 penny because they are going to order the guitar instead of selling me the one off the shelf. So, I explained that I can get that same price from anyone and avoid tax if I order either online or from Fender directly and he agreed.

Basically, even my sales guy said he wouldn't buy it then and there either and thus I left and will place the order from somewhere else. On top of that, I was told that GC would only cover ground shipping straight from Fender and that it could be a few weeks before I actually have it. Plus, I'd have to pay for it all up front and even if it showed up and was terrible I'd still have to take it. Not too cool considering I was hoping to have this by mid-next week and in the past it's always been a lot faster with the option of actually playing the guitar before laying out the money.

It's not that I mind paying for it up front but on top of everything else, including the negotiated deal being completely ignored by the store manager, I left without making a purchase. Personally, I won't buy a guitar without playing it first. We aren't talking about tried and true recording gear here. We are talking about an instrument where you can line up 10 of the same model and every single one will sound and feel different.