SAM ASH SUCKS!! MEDIOCRES!!

[zak7]

Hi guys!! I can not believe how bad and mediocre is SAM ASH!

#1 the personal don't know anything about their products!

#2 I called so may times trying to buy a product and left messages and nobody call me back! nobody knows how to make an special order!

#3 For special orders you have to go to the store!!!!!that is their idiotic policy!!! can you imagine such a waste of time??????? is just a $ 700 software!!and an order!

Don't waste your time with that amateur music store!
I think they are only capable to sell tambourines!!!dfegad

[nadsatrebel]

Originally Posted by zak7

Hi guys!! I can not believe how bad and mediocre is SAM ASH!

#1 the personal don't know anything about their products!

#2 I called so may times trying to buy a product and left messages and nobody call me back! nobody knows how to make an special order!

#3 For special orders you have to go to the store!!!!!that is their idiotic policy!!! can you imagine such a waste of time??????? is just a $ 700 software!!and an order!

Don't waste your time with that amateur music store!
I think they are only capable to sell tambourines!!!dfegad

Sam Ash is clearly worse than GC, and that's saying something. I won't even deal with these fools in Chicago. At least if I know exactly what I need I can either send someone or go myself to GC, and while it's no fun, it's not total horsesh1t. Absolute d1pshits at Sam Ash.

[Musiclab]

Originally Posted by nadsatrebel

Sam Ash is clearly worse than GC, and that's saying something. I won't even deal with these fools in Chicago. At least if I know exactly what I need I can either send someone or go myself to GC, and while it's no fun, it's not total horsesh1t. Absolute d1pshits at Sam Ash.

I think you're right with this caveat, Guitar Center sucks too. They don't know anything there either, it's just a little less confrontational. I went to GC one time asked for a male XLR connector and the "pro audio" salesmen gave me a speakon connector.
If you need something get it from the gear pimps who hang out here, at least they contribute and know something.

[taturana]

this is really old news... samash has always sucked... still i bought many things there... and will buy more if the price is right...

[RadioBox]

I was there playing around once, and they had the Moog Voyager on sale. I forget the price, but it was low. I couldn't pass it up, so I brought the ticket to the o****er. 20 minutes later, a guy comes out with a Voyager Rack. I told him I wanted the keyboard, so he went back in the back. 10 minutes later he returns, saying they were all out of the keyboards, but he could sell me the demo unit---for the same price. It still wasn't a bad price, but after the bait and switch I got nervous so I left, Moogless. It was a sad day, but something tells me that demo unit wasn't 100 percent.

[gearobsessed]

That is why i go to sweetwater, you get to have your own rep and chuck from sweetwater is a good guy. If you have a problem with something or need advice and your sales guy dosent know the anser he will talk to others on the sweetwater team and get you the right answer. I mean don't get me wrong their staff is not packing knowledge like bruce sweidan, but still you can't go wrong.

[Kubilay]

With so many knowledgable dealers hanging out in these very pages, I'm surprised this is even still a topic here...

I've dealt with Mercenary and Atlas in the past (I think I bought my 2nd DAC1 from you, right, Nathan? See? Transactions so smooth, I can't even remember them...) And I wouldn't hesitate to do business with i.e. Front End or High Profile - I have the feeling I'd be similarly well taken care of.

For software I buy from the source, or audiomidi.com (which is sometimes cheaper than direct, and I can cruise by their place and pick it up...) Again, never had a single problem at all.

So, other than for the occasional ridiculous firesale, why deal with any of the box stores, like, ever?? Ain't worth it.

tutt

[donsolo]

I've been stuck lately but I have a couple guys at daddy's that I trust but that's iffy and I have to do a lot of research on my own before going in...

Stores are good for cables and soccermoms...

and stuff that just broke.

[foldback]

I have not bought from Sam in many years. It is amazing how rude they can be.

Most of the young sales pukes at GC don't know squat and don't give a rats behind if you buy anything.... except for the guy I deal with. He gives me amazing deals and he turned me on to GS!

If I stop in and he's not there, I go away and come back later. I don't want to talk to any of the other dip sticks.

[zak7]

Ok so I went today to Sam Ash!!!
As you know they told me to go to the store because that is their policy with special order!

So I went there and what I wanted to do is to use my Sam ash credit card for one year no payments , not interest.
Anyway I wanted to buy an upgrade to a software buldle!
The idiot of the sales guy told me they can not sell something is not physical(because the company will give me an authorization for an asset (ilok)).
I said ..that is just another product!!!
I talk with the manager...he did not care..was a polite asshole!!not rude baut made me feel he does not care and was to complex to call to the software company.....and that he does not know so much about that company...and i said you have the full product on the website!!!!! just call them and make an special order!!!

Really is just a crappy company!!! full of amateurs bad salesmen!
A good seller will sale a rocket!!!
Very dissapointing and I wasted my day driving!!! dfegad dfegad fuuck

[GravityRobert]

Originally Posted by Aroseforthedead

read this thread, it proves they dont care about the employees or the customers.

http://gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...42#post1137542

Or: they decided to kick out all the people working at Sam Ash that didn't knew anything about the products

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by zak7

Hi guys!! I can not believe how bad and mediocre is SAM ASH!

snip

Don't waste your time with that amateur music store!
I think they are only capable to sell tambourines!!!dfegad

... in other news, rain is wet.

[orange]

It's funny how many times people post on GS about how bad Sam Ash / GC / etc is.

It seems that most people want to satisfy their gear lust as cheaply as possible but when the discount stores don't provide decent service then they complain. They are suprised that the staff are untrained, unmotivated. They are shocked when they don't get top quality advice on the products.

You get what you pay for. If you want decent service then be prepared to pay a little bit more and go to a proper gear pimp. If you want to save a few $$$ then go to the discount merchants but don't be suprised if the service suffers.

I've bought from Sam Ash and GC many times and the service has sometimes been pretty bad - but I've saved money. The choice was mine

just my 2p

[gabler]

Originally Posted by orange

It's funny how many times people post on GS about how bad Sam Ash / GC / etc is.

It seems that most people want to satisfy their gear lust as cheaply as possible but when the discount stores don't provide decent service then they complain. They are suprised that the staff are untrained, unmotivated. They are shocked when they don't get top quality advice on the products.

You get what you pay for. If you want decent service then be prepared to pay a little bit more and go to a proper gear pimp. If you want to save a few $$$ then go to the discount merchants but don't be suprised if the service suffers.

I've bought from Sam Ash and GC many times and the service has sometimes been pretty bad - but I've saved money. The choice was mine

just my 2p

You are exactly right. Everyone should read this. thumbsup

[Chaellus]

sam ashes service is dfegad they make you feel like dfegad and the dont know theredfegad and then they go and give their employees the boot and make them feel likedfegadtutttutttutttutttutt

[MayaPapaya]

ok, so let me just say that you're a bunch of sorry cheap bastards. i've been an employee at sam ash for 2 years now and let me tell you, dealing with dickheads like you is no walk in the park, especially when you realize i have tits and therefore reduce me to some dumb bitch who doesn't know anything. here's some insight...

i'm the technology department manager and yes, i know what i'm talking about. as a manager at sam ash i make about $14,000 a year. that's less than your average burger flipper. and why? for one, sam ash leaves it up to us to make the extra money... so we basically solely rely on our sales. ok... so then you come in, you ****ing haggle with us like we're a used car dealership or a flea market, you dip into MY pocket for your $5 discount on an MBox... little do you know, that $5 cost me $20 in commission. ah, and the commission structure. we get a base salary of $275/week. There's a percentage of everything that we get when we sell it, usually about 2-3%. then that amount is FADED against our weekly pay... so really we need to make over a thousand dollars in commission to see ANYTHING. that "anything" is usually an extra $100 or so a month.

not everyone is qualified for this job. but i promise you that most employees are ****ing miserable with their job and it's not because of the company, but it's because of people like you. you don't appreciate all of the hard work that we have to do and for such little pay. i've encountered more idiotic customers than i have employees.. "do you guys sell a midi to 1/4" cable?" we're there to sell you shit, guys. you don't call walmart for tech support when you can't figure out how to program your coffee machine. you cannot expect everyone to know everything about everything in there, there are thousands of pieces of gear in the store.

so my final words are please be a little more sympathetic and respectful. keep in mind how it is we make our living and stop robbing us of the few dollars we make. open up a manual or get on the internet or call a manufacturer and don't expect us, music retailers, to have every answer for you. it's unrealistic.

[joelpatterson]

But... the customer is always right... ?

[blackfish]

didnt you read joel.....

customer is always right except when they have tits, then they just dont know anything.

[Henchman]

Originally Posted by MayaPapaya

ok, so let me just say that you're a bunch of sorry cheap bastards. i've been an employee at sam ash for 2 years now and let me tell you, dealing with dickheads like you is no walk in the park, especially when you realize i have tits and therefore reduce me to some dumb bitch who doesn't know anything. here's some insight...

i'm the technology department manager and yes, i know what i'm talking about. as a manager at sam ash i make about $14,000 a year. that's less than your average burger flipper. and why? for one, sam ash leaves it up to us to make the extra money... so we basically solely rely on our sales. ok... so then you come in, you ****ing haggle with us like we're a used car dealership or a flea market, you dip into MY pocket for your $5 discount on an MBox... little do you know, that $5 cost me $20 in commission. ah, and the commission structure. we get a base salary of $275/week. There's a percentage of everything that we get when we sell it, usually about 2-3%. then that amount is FADED against our weekly pay... so really we need to make over a thousand dollars in commission to see ANYTHING. that "anything" is usually an extra $100 or so a month.

not everyone is qualified for this job. but i promise you that most employees are ****ing miserable with their job and it's not because of the company, but it's because of people like you. you don't appreciate all of the hard work that we have to do and for such little pay. i've encountered more idiotic customers than i have employees.. "do you guys sell a midi to 1/4" cable?" we're there to sell you shit, guys. you don't call walmart for tech support when you can't figure out how to program your coffee machine. you cannot expect everyone to know everything about everything in there, there are thousands of pieces of gear in the store.

so my final words are please be a little more sympathetic and respectful. keep in mind how it is we make our living and stop robbing us of the few dollars we make. open up a manual or get on the internet or call a manufacturer and don't expect us, music retailers, to have every answer for you. it's unrealistic.

Well, all i can say i good for you for posting here.

And I have to admit, she's right. I worled at GC 20 years ago, and there is Zero customer loyalty. So, in a sense, what do people expect?
It's like going into Mcdonalds and complaining that the burgers are being mocrowaved.

You get what you pay for.

[jeremy.c.]

Originally Posted by MayaPapaya

ok, so let me just say that you're a bunch of sorry cheap bastards. i've been an employee at sam ash for 2 years now and let me tell you, dealing with dickheads like you is no walk in the park, especially when you realize i have tits and therefore reduce me to some dumb bitch who doesn't know anything. here's some insight...

YAY!!!! Woooooooooooooo! great post.

[Duardo]

I get where you're coming from, but...

ok... so then you come in, you ****ing haggle with us like we're a used car dealership or a flea market, you dip into MY pocket for your $5 discount on an MBox... little do you know, that $5 cost me $20 in commission.

If you're typically making 2%-3% commission on your gross sales, how does discounting a product by $5 lose you $20?

[jeremy.c.]

Originally Posted by Duardo

I get where you're coming from, but...


If you're typically making 2%-3% commission on your gross sales, how does discounting a product by $5 lose you $20?

I doubt she was being literal, I took it as hyperbole. But sometimes a 5% reduction in price can cost them 50% of their commission on a product because it's not gross sales, it's what they call GIP, which factors out cost (and ad-pack if you know how to look at the system)... pretty shady on the Ash's part. At least this was their structure while I was there a few years back.

[Henchman]

Is till don't understand what people expect service wise from people making minimum wage.

[joelpatterson]

"Cash for the microphones, mixing boards, pop screens,

Cash for the software, updates, iLoks,

Cash for the Hosa cables, any little accessories,

BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW THE TERRITORY!"

[Duardo]

I doubt she was being literal, I took it as hyperbole. But sometimes a 5% reduction in price can cost them 50% of their commission on a product because it's not gross sales, it's what they call GIP, which factors out cost (and ad-pack if you know how to look at the system)... pretty shady on the Ash's part.

Actually, I don't think that's shady at all...if a product costs Ash $90, and normally sells for $100, but the salesperson knocks off $5 I'd expect their commission to be cut by 50%...they are in business to make a profit, after all...my question was how a $5 reduction could cost the salesperson $20...if it was just to make a point I certainly understand.

[jeremy.c.]

Originally Posted by Duardo

Actually, I don't think that's shady at all...if a product costs Ash $90, and normally sells for $100, but the salesperson knocks off $5 I'd expect their commission to be cut by 50%...they are in business to make a profit, after all...my question was how a $5 reduction could cost the salesperson $20...if it was just to make a point I certainly understand.

oh I totally agree, I wasn't clear I guess. I was calling their adpack policy shady. They basically throw some extra "cost" on top of the real cost (This is justified as advertising, rent, utilities, etc). I watched them shrink their GIP by raising their adpack and at the same time they were setting performance standards on commissions. So basically they made it more difficult to make money and threatened to fire anyone who didn't make their base for a four week period.

Originally Posted by Henchman

Is till don't understand what people expect service wise from people making minimum wage.

yah, I never made much, but I bent over backwards to help people. But I think that's more my personality, I'm hardwired with a decent work ethic (thanks to my midwestern parents no doubt). I just can't imagine being a dick to someone on principle, I prefer to treat people the way I want to be treated and I don't think that's unfair to ask of someone no matter how much they make. There's a Starbucks on every corner and they pay better, if you can't hack working for the Ash's (I couldn't) then go somewhere else (I did).
I would have to say the biggest motivator in making me quit wasn't the people I worked with or the people I worked for, it was the customers, specifically that 10% of them that made my life hell. The stupidity was tolerable (my first computer I couldn't figure out why my midi keyboard wasn't making noises out of my computer monitor... hey!), but the crappy attitude so many people had towards doing business with me took it out of me. It totally made me not want to be a musician and burned me out on making music. I quit so I could start playing music again. In fact I hated musicians for a good while and stopped telling people I was a musician, it made me feel like a pompous cheeseball (because that's how 10% of you frickin ******s act in music stores).
Some good came out of it, I am super aware of how I treat customer service people now and I go out of my way to be nice to them and I never ask for a hookup at a music store. I have a few guys who will hook me up, but I cannot bring myself to ask. A price match, cool, but expecting to be treated like a "pro" just turns my stomach.

[d1rtynyc]

Originally Posted by Duardo

If you're typically making 2%-3% commission on your gross sales, how does discounting a product by $5 lose you $20?

Not at Sam Ash.

[lexcade]

i used to work for those tools. for about 9 months. then i figured out i'd be better off shoveling manure for a living (or finishing college, which i actually did). it seemed like a great job on the outside, but you don't make shit, so who's going to bust ass trying to sell you something huge when the salesman's going to make about $8 on it? really. happened to my boyfriend, who still works there. he made $8 off of $2000.

working for sam ash is like slave labor. the commission is terrible, and they've taken every possible step toward eliminating it altogether. if they can find a legal way to to that, i guarantee you they will. the ashes have NO clue how to run that company, and they're going to run it into the ground. they try to weed out the experienced salesmen to make room for high school idiots who are ok with making $200 a week and possibly not getting commission at all. trust me, the turnaround rate there is sky high.

i've thought numerous times about contacting the ashes about the bullshit that is their commission scale, but i doubt that they a) are able to understand a well-constructed email, and b) care. they can buy gear at wholesale prices and jack up the costs, they can sell pieces that cost $10000 (i've seen it done at my store), but they can't afford to pay their workers more than $800 a month? it's bullshit, and i'm sure that there's some law against it somewhere.

seriously, don't shop there. don't go to GC, because they're just as bad. don't buy from them online because workers don't see a dime of it (can't tell you how many times the website's screwed me out of sales). the ashes need to know that their bullshit doesn't work.

and i've actually made negative commission on products. a lot of it comes with the sales that the stores have about every other weekend. i really don't believe that there's a set rhyme or reason to the commission. again, bullshit.

and i quit because i was a woman in a highly sexist environment. while i met a lot of cool people, i dealt with a lot of not cool people who dogged me for being a chick without coming right out and saying it. even my GM did it.

[Animus]

There are two Guitar Centers and one Sam Ash near me. I never go to them unless I need somthing like a cable fast. Speaking of which, $50 for a Mogami mic cable you can get for 22 bucks at Redco? We had a cool indie shop called The Music Loft but were bought out by Guitar Center. I used to go there all the time as their sales people were knowledgeable and tenured. Sam Ash (which took over the Mars store) is even more pathetic in this area and I am surprised they are still in business. I stopped by one time to get a eBow. THey wanted something like $150 for it and wouldbn't budge. Bought it online new for $89. These type stores make their bread and butter on newbs and parents who bring their spoiled kids in.

[MilesSmiles]

Originally Posted by orange

It's funny how many times people post on GS about how bad Sam Ash / GC / etc is.

It seems that most people want to satisfy their gear lust as cheaply as possible but when the discount stores don't provide decent service then they complain. They are suprised that the staff are untrained, unmotivated. They are shocked when they don't get top quality advice on the products.

You get what you pay for. If you want decent service then be prepared to pay a little bit more and go to a proper gear pimp. If you want to save a few $$$ then go to the discount merchants but don't be suprised if the service suffers.

I've bought from Sam Ash and GC many times and the service has sometimes been pretty bad - but I've saved money. The choice was mine

just my 2p

thumbsupthumbsup

plus eighty million.