Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Part of the solution---if you shop at Guitar Center, read this

astronmr20 · 18th December 2007, 06:42 AM

I'm gonna chime in and say that in order to have stores that size, with that sort of overhead.. buying power, stock, etc,

Proper training is practically impossible.

Look at the history, engineering, sound, subjectivity, and general knowledge necessary for modern recording. Unless someone has experience with this sort of product, it's very difficult to teach them. Software recording is rife with issues regarding drivers, hardware, and stability in general. one can know the "features" of the software backwards and forwards, and STILL make a bad suggestion. The only way to know is to own the product, and to enjoy using it. And as owners/ engineers, creators, how many products to we actually mess with? For me, I find what works and cling onto it (Logic). I can tell you some features of DP, but for me, I have never really created or produced or mixed in DP. I'd like to, but why? Logic does what I need. So despite the fact that I have been recording for about 15 years, it's possible for someone, if I was a rep, to leave with the impression that I was a doofus if he had a myriad of questions about DP-specific features. (I guess I could still speculate about a lot and read up on it while he was there asking questions, and be honest and respectful.. something that too many GC employees can't seem to do).

Of course GC could start a GC university" sort of thing, but to what end? Simple statistics say that these people you spend millions of dollars training are going to quit eventually. Turnover is a bitch. There is a happy medium somewhere, and perhaps GC could invest a bit more in people.

What they DO need to focus on- is requiring new hires to watch and learn, perhaps mirror an experienced rep/engineer for a couple of weeks. And when he hits the floor alone, he needs to tell the customer that "he dosen't know" when he gets asked a question he does not know the answer to.

I suppose, though, for every pro like one of us that gets pissed off, there are 10 other people off the street who might believe he knows what he is talking about, and will take every shitty suggestion he makes come Christmastime. *sigh*.

So while I have probably a dozen stories about blundering, disrespectful hacks, it's the price we all pay for having a store this size in a small to medium sized city that stocks blue microphones, sheet music, LA2A's, rack screws, software, and relatively wide selection of acoustic and electric guitars and drums.

18th December 2007, 06:42 AM	#144
astronmr20 Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,529	I'm gonna chime in and say that in order to have stores that size, with that sort of overhead.. buying power, stock, etc, Proper training is practically impossible. Look at the history, engineering, sound, subjectivity, and general knowledge necessary for modern recording. Unless someone has experience with this sort of product, it's very difficult to teach them. Software recording is rife with issues regarding drivers, hardware, and stability in general. one can know the "features" of the software backwards and forwards, and STILL make a bad suggestion. The only way to know is to own the product, and to enjoy using it. And as owners/ engineers, creators, how many products to we actually mess with? For me, I find what works and cling onto it (Logic). I can tell you some features of DP, but for me, I have never really created or produced or mixed in DP. I'd like to, but why? Logic does what I need. So despite the fact that I have been recording for about 15 years, it's possible for someone, if I was a rep, to leave with the impression that I was a doofus if he had a myriad of questions about DP-specific features. (I guess I could still speculate about a lot and read up on it while he was there asking questions, and be honest and respectful.. something that too many GC employees can't seem to do). Of course GC could start a GC university" sort of thing, but to what end? Simple statistics say that these people you spend millions of dollars training are going to quit eventually. Turnover is a bitch. There is a happy medium somewhere, and perhaps GC could invest a bit more in people. What they DO need to focus on- is requiring new hires to watch and learn, perhaps mirror an experienced rep/engineer for a couple of weeks. And when he hits the floor alone, he needs to tell the customer that "he dosen't know" when he gets asked a question he does not know the answer to. I suppose, though, for every pro like one of us that gets pissed off, there are 10 other people off the street who might believe he knows what he is talking about, and will take every shitty suggestion he makes come Christmastime. sigh. So while I have probably a dozen stories about blundering, disrespectful hacks, it's the price we all pay for having a store this size in a small to medium sized city that stocks blue microphones, sheet music, LA2A's, rack screws, software, and relatively wide selection of acoustic and electric guitars and drums. __________________ Steve "He's only a fast food knight..."