Stupid things you've been told at Guitar Center

[Sid Viscous]

Originally Posted by Jonboy79

No feelings hurt here, just thought it was a really lame attempt at a jab toward GC/protools, a bit cliche also.

Well, you know what they say about legends, smoke and such...

[tr60h6]

Originally Posted by PT_geek

GC also hires ANYONE, regardless of their lack of knowledge in the field. Only a few survive.

That just KILLS me - I was turned down for a job there twice.

[Sid Viscous]

Originally Posted by tr60h6

That just KILLS me - I was turned down for a job there twice.

[PhilR]

Nothing unusual about that, I was turned down for a job at SoundControl (UK answer to SamAsh/GC) despite being told outright that I was pretty much guarenteed a position. The way I think it works in the selection of staff for such places is as follows:

1: Your face/haircut must fit.
2: You must talk like them
3: Being part of the same social circle helps
4: Must turn up for work
5: Must have a clue and know anything at all about the stock

In retrospect I'm glad I didn't get it though, the shift hours would have made it impossible to pursue recording outside of work.

[t56tr]

I worked at GC for a while - unless your at one of the hottest stores you might not do too well, hence all the moron employees that come and go. $6 an hour plus commissions. In order to get a commission check you have to sell a shit load of stuff (more then you can imagine). Then once you do get to the point where you might get a comission check (of like a whopping $100 for selling like $30,000 gross worth of gear) ), some clown comes in and returns everything he bought, which gets negged against you - bye bye check....

Guitar center is a pretty cool store to shop at I think.....just dont go there for advice, thats all. Know what you want, and if they have it in stock grind the shit out of them on the price and leave with it. They have room on the price with everything and are willing to deal. Go on a slow day to bargain, not on a crowded Saturday when they are doing tons of sales. Be realistic though..... dont go and try to get that dod grunge pedal for $19.99 instead of $29.99. Some days the stores are in the neg from getting so many returns etc that they will really drop their pants on something just to break even for that day. I have seen a manger sell a $2400 bass for $1000 (cost) just to get the store even or ahead a little on a slow day. Oh yea and when you make your first low ball offfer to the 19 year old sales clerk, and he looks at his screen and says nope cant do it, ask him politely to see if theres anything the manager can do. Along comes the manager, the guy that really has the authority to make a deal.

Finally its GC, you either love it or hate it. But when someone walks in a GC with this big attitude like "here I am, I know EVERYTHING ****ING THING about every piece of gear in this store, its all JUNK SHIT GARBAGE, and everyone that works here is a STUPID ASSHOLE and knows nothing...." then you will get nowhere. If you want to save money, go in and be friendly, and make some friends.

[Duardo]

My Guitar Center story is from the drum department. My band had had a rehersal at the bassist's place, and since he has a drumkit there I just had to bring a couple stands and cymbals. He had one new boom stand which he informed me he'd picked up at the local Guitar Center for $27. He said it was tagged at $42, which was already reduced from the retail price, but the guy offered $27 straight up. I was in the market for a couple decent stands myself so I stopped by shortly thereafter. This exchange involves myself and two employees from the drum department, whom shall henceforth be known as "LR" (short for "Lip Ring") and "MH" (short for "Mohawk"):

DUARDO approaches the drum department and stops to look at a few kits stacked at the entrance between the drum department and main floor. He is immediately approached by a very friendly and zealous employee.

LR: Are you looking at a drumset today?
ME: No,actually I'm just here to pick up a couple stands.
LR: Oh, cymbal stands?
ME: Yeah.
LR: Cool, I know just the stand for you. It's the (exact stand my bassist had procured earlier) stand and it's only $42 (starts to demonstrate a particular feature of the stand for me).
ME: (Knowing full well that this is the stand that I want) Actually, the one I was looking for was a (brand x) stand that has (same feature LR had just started to demonstrate) and my friend picked one up here for $27.
LR: (Slightly puzzled) Well, this is the one...but he must have bought it used if it was only $27...
ME: No, it was brand new.
LR: Do you know when?
ME: Not exactly, but recently...can you look his order up in the computer?
LR: Sure, what's his name?
ME: (Told him my bassist's name. Then spelled it for him.)
LR: How's that spelled again?
ME: (Spelled it again)
LR: (Looking at computer) Wow, you're right...uh...hey (turns to MH), did you sell someone am x for $27?
FM: Uh, probably...
LR: Yeah, those are your initials...
FM: Then yes, I did!
LR: (Slightly concered) Well...why did you do that?
FM: I don't know, probably because (proudly) I CAN!
LR: But that's, like...well, now he (pointing at me) wants them, so...(turning to me) yeah, I guess I'll do that.

So I got my stands.

That's about it...

[cannibalbritney]

Originally Posted by ArtGarceau

These are questions I've gotten from GC employees. I work for a "industry standard" mic company so keep this in mind otherwise you won't understand.

1. GC employee: This is Razor from store xyz....what mic would you recommend for a guitar cabient?

Me: Uh....

2. GC employee: How do I wirelessly connect a guitar speaker to the PA system without hearing the speaker?

Me:

3. GC employee: My customer doesn't like how long the antennas are on his "insert model for $4k wireless system." Will it still work ok if we cut the antennas in half?

Me: No

GC employee: Can I place an order for a pair of antennas?


4. GC employee: I'm looking for the invisible wireless headset.....

Me: Invisible?

GC employee: Yeah.

Me: Like you can't see it....invisible?

GC employee: Yeah.

Me: I'm pretty sure something like that doesn't exist

GC employee: I'm looking at a picture of it right here!

Me: You are looking at a picture of an invisible mic? Is it a blank sheet of paper?

GC employee: Well it's not really invisible smartass!

Me:


5. GC employee: I'm looking for an cardio headset mic for an aerobics instructor..

Me: Well zyx, and xyz are cardioid...

GC employee: No I need one that is CARDIO...ITS FOR AEROBICS!!!


6. GC employee: Do you guys make some sort of cable for your wireless mics?

Me: Like a cable to plug the receiver into your FOH board?

GC employee: No...so the singer can swing the mic around by the cable.

Me: Why not just get a wired mic?

GC employee: Why would he want that?


There are a lot more...anyone want me to continue?

sweet merciful crap. that has to be the stupidest crap I have ever heard, yet i know its true since i worked in many music stores before *yes sadly even GC* i felt that i was the only one who knew how to actually hook up a rig.

I had a kid come in and ask for something to make his mic louder so when he sings it will record better. its too low when he puts it into his tascam recorder. *in other words the kid had no idea what a mic pre was* ok understandable, some young kids spend more time jammin... no prob. so i show him a couple low end pre's (the m-audio enemy, art, behringer etc.) finally the kid pics the m-audio, so me tryin to get a bigger sale, "hey bro, mogami cables are sick, i highly reccomend you invest in good cables, you'll be much happier later" other HEAD sales guy from the other side of the recording dept. "nah man it wont work, those only work with pro tools" ... he was dead serious... I quit 2 days later.

[AllBread]

Originally Posted by cannibalbritney

the kid pics the m-audio, so me tryin to get a bigger sale, "hey bro, mogami cables are sick, i highly reccomend you invest in good cables, you'll be much happier later" other HEAD sales guy from the other side of the recording dept. "nah man it wont work, those only work with pro tools" ... he was dead serious... I quit 2 days later.

That's funny, my guitar center story was going to be about a guy trying to sell me Mogami cables with a M-Audio mic pre!

[Mike P]

I live in LA and HATE Guitar Center. Not only have they become the "Walmart" of music retail, they hire people who would otherwise have no business being in a music store (let alone Pro Audio).

Just yesterday, I called GC Hollywood for Dsub->Dsub cables to hook up my new DA16x & Neve 8816 (the original seller forgot to ship a Dsub cable so I needed one). I got transferred to Pro Audio, then when I asked my question, the guy didn't answer my question but immediately sent me to keyboards. While on hold at Keyboards (because they were busy), I got disconnected. I called back, asked for Pro Audio and got the same guy! He immediately transferred me to keyboards. Keyboards told me that I needed to speak to Pro Audio (duh!) and sent me back there. I got the SAME guy who transferred me back to keyboards! I told the keyboard guy what had transpired in the past 10 minutes, and he put me on HOLD. So I hung up and called Sherman Oaks.

I got a person at Sherman Oaks who wasn't sure what a Dsub cable was, so he had to ask. After being on hold for another 5 minutes, I was told that all they had was a 25 foot cable. Since I only need a 3 footer, I declined.

Then I called Sam Ash Hollywood. I asked for Pro Audio and asked for a Dsub->Dsub cable. The kid said "I don't think that's a real cable"?!?!?!?! "I've never heard of that before". I said "Really? Then how do YOU hook up Apogee converters?" He was speechless. I hung up.

Today I ordered the cable overnight from the original retailer.

IDIOTS.

[Acoustic Cloud]

Once at the San Bernardino GC, the door watcher asked me what my purchase was today when I was walking out.

After being in there for a few minutes, and not wanting to deal with the "namm show noise" I left, totally empty handed, tank top and shorts.

I looked down at my empty hands, sandals, knees, and pockets and said "New Behringer ankles", or something to that stupidity...after about 7-8 seconds of a confused stare from Lurch Jr. , I walked out the door.

Does the door watcher work his/her way up into assistant-super-sweeper?

Eventually?

Ahh, the days are gone.....

[cush]

I don't have any beef with GC. I treat it like Fry's - get in, grab, get out.

There was this store in Milwaukee called Faust Music, I think. Pretty much a one-man drum shop, but he also had some incredible vintage guitars hanging on the walls - they'd be considered vintage if they'd ever been sold. These were NOS Ricks and Gretsches that had been in the store for 20 years.

Well, try as I might, I could never get into the shop to buy one. The last time I tried, I pounded on the locked door. Faust unbolts the door, but blocks me from entering.

Faust: What do you want?
Me: I'd like to look at some guitars.
Faust: Which one do you want?
Me: I'm not sure. I'd like to see what you've got.
Faust: I've got Les Pauls and Fenders. You want to play one, you give me eight hundred bucks and I'll pull one down.
Me: But... I... uh... (as he locks the door)

I never got into the shop.

[nuendoness]

"yeah those mackies are pretty good..... not as good as behringer tho"

[Duardo]

You want to play one, you give me eight hundred bucks and I'll pull one down.

Well, I guess that explains why the'd been in the store for twenty years...

[circa70]

Go into Guitar Centre or Sam Ash...watch a bass player pick up a bass which is not plugged in and start slapping and popping...basically making the loudest noise an electric bass can make--not plugged in. Same at soundcheck. Watch a bass player check doing the most ridiculous wanker right hand stuff on earth. Then watch their set of MOR pop or blues. The End.

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by Mike P

Just yesterday, I called GC Hollywood for Dsub->Dsub cables to hook up my new DA16x & Neve 8816 (the original seller forgot to ship a Dsub cable so I needed one).

That would be what Pacific Radio is for.

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by cush

Faust: I've got Les Pauls and Fenders. You want to play one, you give me eight hundred bucks and I'll pull one down.

I remember that one of the first Mesa/Boogie dealers in the eighties had a policy of "amp tryout at time of purchase only".

[Geoff Firebaugh]

Originally Posted by cush

I don't have any beef with GC. I treat it like Fry's - get in, grab, get out.

There was this store in Milwaukee called Faust Music, I think. Pretty much a one-man drum shop, but he also had some incredible vintage guitars hanging on the walls - they'd be considered vintage if they'd ever been sold. These were NOS Ricks and Gretsches that had been in the store for 20 years.

Well, try as I might, I could never get into the shop to buy one. The last time I tried, I pounded on the locked door. Faust unbolts the door, but blocks me from entering.

Faust: What do you want?
Me: I'd like to look at some guitars.
Faust: Which one do you want?
Me: I'm not sure. I'd like to see what you've got.
Faust: I've got Les Pauls and Fenders. You want to play one, you give me eight hundred bucks and I'll pull one down.
Me: But... I... uh... (as he locks the door)

I never got into the shop.

I actually got into that shop once! my friend and I were walking up just as someone left. So we just walked in. You would not believe the stuff he has hiding in there. just at a quick glance, he had a late 60s Rick 360, a Checkerboard mapleglo 4001 and a les paul artisan. He had pallet racks to the 25 foot ceilings full of vintage drum gear, and a 63 B-18 ampeg portaflex. I offered him 2000 cash for the ampeg and he respectfully declined, and then ushered us out the door. I have a friend that lived up there for a while, who said that it was a front for mob money laundering...

cheers
g

[studilaroche]

I swung by one of our three local guitar Centers a couple of days ago, for a pair of headphones. Since I was there I asked if they had an unbalanced 1/4" to TT cable and the guy said 'huh, um......TT, right? never heard of it'.
Ben

[whoriental]

This is actually my man at my local GC. The only one I will EVER deal with. I even have a GC closer to me and I will never step foot into it ever again when they didn't even know they had a mic clip that can hold not 1 BUT 2 MICS on it. Geez.

But yea, 99% of GC employees, well, just really aren't going to make it far.

Originally Posted by bexarametric

I work at Guitar Center and can only give you my point of view.

There are two types of people that work at Guitar Center.

1) Those that attempt to have a career (the people you should buy from)

and

2) Those that want to collect a paycheck (the people you should stay away from)

People with good reputations and loyal customers have careers.

I manage the Pro Audio/Keyboard Department at the Plano, TX store. When I took it over almost two years ago, it was a joke. The best preamp we had at the time was a Eureka. I'm not saying that it's a bad preamp. But, at the time, that was the best we had. We could have used more variety. This embarrassed me (our lack of selection). I quickly worked my way into management, so I could have power and feedback. I started ordering better preamps and compressors (SSL, UA, Chandler, Empirical Labs etc) to put in our racks. My goal was to educate our salespeople on "what's good", as well as give our customers some better gear to choose from. Once a week, before we open the doors, I spend thirty minutes with my Pro Audio crew. I educate them as much as I can on what makes high end gear "high end". I also tell them that if they don't know the answer to a question, ask me. If I don't know, I will ask someone else. If I catch them lying to sell a product, I will chew their ass out. I tell them to sell the right thing the first time. If they do that, profit won't matter. If you sell people the right thing the first time ALWAYS, customers will come pouring in.

My philosophy has always been to help people with their problems and sell what they need. I don't really attach the fact that I work for a major corporation. I'm blunt with customers and they respect me for it. If I feel that a customer doesn't know what they're talking about, I do try to steer them in an ethical way. The biggest reason why I try to steer them: I try to minimize the chance that they will return what they buy by selling them the right thing.

Now time for me to complain about stupid customers. I know most of you on this board are very knowledgable with Pro Audio, but you may not realize how clueless some customers are. Time for me to share my side.

People who buy things and return them are a waste of my time. Do your research or else let me help you. Those are the worst customers. They don't let me qualify them into the right thing. Defining the right thing is easy. You take it home. You love it. You keep it. Then you come back and buy everything else from me because I was honest with you and really do care that you get joy out of the gear that I sell you. I don't care about profit centers. I'll make my money. I'm the top salesman at my store because I get "it". I make my customers happy and sell them good stuff. You'll never see me pushing certain products because I am a GS and know better.

I do not like customers that feel that they are entitled to things. If you're cool to me and carry on a conversation with me, you'll probably get a discount. My regulars always get a hookup. You alway give me your money, so I always give you a price break. It's a trade off.

Here's my favorite conversation

(customer walks up to counter, puts Behringer mixer on the counter and asks)

CUSTOMER: What can you do for me on this Xenyx?
ME: Well, why do you want a Behringer?
C: These are awesome and cheap
M: Have you considered any other possibilities for a mixer? We have other brands that I would be willing to show you.
C: Oh yeah, I know these are good
M: How many mixers have you actually used?
C: Um. ... . . um . . . . I just like that it's cheap
M: Cool (rolls eyes). So the price tag says $109.99. Did you need some cables to go with that? I would definately suggest our extended warranty since you're insisting to go with a Behringer.
C: No thanks on the warranty. It's not going to breakfuuck . So how much are you going to give this to me for?
M: $109.99
C: That's not good enough, I know you can do better
(Now I cover up my name badge and say)
M: What's my name?
C: Huh???
M: I said, what's my name?
C: I don't know
M: So you don't know what my name is, yet you want me to take money off this mixer?
C: Uh, um yeah....
M: I could take money off this, but I'm on comission and like making money. I'm not going to take any money out of my pocket because you feel entitled to a discount. You probably don't even know, or respect, how I make my money. That's not really any of my concern. But, as it stands now, you cannot even say my first name. I don't know you, you don't care to learn anything about me. You don't care that I'm trying to get you into better gear that will last you and long time and bring you a lot of joy.

(The customer gets pissed off and leaves)

If love pulling that on jerk customers. A lot of times they get pissed off and leave. But I will always go out of my way to remind them that I am human and they should not feel that they're entitled to anything until they recognize that I'm not just some idiot salesman and I genuinely care about getting them into good gear. Meanwhile my customers with taste and open minds get hooked up all the time. I love to shoot the shit with customers. I'm not pushy. I make my customers comfortable and then they eventually tell me what they want without me ever having to ask.

My favorite story was when a customer returned an MBox 2 saying "I couldn't get this. It's over my head. Do you have any programs that are easier?" The salesperson responds "Well, sir all programs are going to have a learning curve". Then the customer responds "What's a learning curve?" . . . . . . . . certified moron

What a lot of people on this board don't realize is that for every one gearslut that walks into Guitar Center, the other 200 customers don't have that much gear knowledge. Because I'm employed for the company, I cannot comment on the intelligence of some of our employees, but I think you can draw your own conclusios. But at my store, I screen hardcore for my department. I ask gear-related questions in interviews. If they cannot tell me about the gear, I won't hire them. I don't care how well they can sell. They need to respect the gear that they sell.

BTW, if you guys ever need something from Guitar Center, and you're not happy with your local GC, PM me on this site. I can get you anything we sell without you having to set foot in the store. You can call my store and ask for Kevin. I care about good gear. I like getting my customers into good gear. I'll give any fellow GS the pro hookup. I'm sorry you guys have had such bad experiences with GC. You'll never get that kind of treatment in my neck of the woods. I realize that I'm shamelessly promoting myself, but I like cool gear and love to see others with cool gear. I also feel that there are many at GC that are like me and care. It's unfortunate that a lot of you got bad service. As a representative of the company I apoligize. Much respect guys/gals. I love some of the stories in this thread.

[treymonfauntre]

Originally Posted by ja_remi40

being from canada (no GC's, sam ash's, sweetwater) i just recently returned from orlando and visited the GC on orange blossom trail..

the 2 two guys i met in the pro audio department each knew their stuff...one was a graduate from fullsail..and the other worked in the studio when he was younger, graduated from another recording school (cant remember the name) and was working at GC part-time just to get the discounts..

i didnt have too much money but i knew i needed a compressor/gate..he suggested the one i already had my eyes on from reading reviews and whatnot..and being relatively new to this stuff he took it out of the box, hooked it up to the allen and heath gl2400-424 mixer they had playing some music, grabbed a mic and showed me EXACTLY what each feature did and how to use it effectively in many different situations..i already had some knowledge on the basics of compressors and whatnot but he really got me to understand and use it..

it might just have been the one good GC from listening to these stories but i love them!! keep them coming!!

thats a pretty new store, maybe they don't have any bad habits yet

[beadgc23]

Originally Posted by Sqye

..

another vote of confidence for presonus....

a respectable company with good, well built products.
(again, especially at the price).

I'm in agreement - mostly. I'm very happy to use the following:

Digimax FS - really nice sounding, straightforward ADA & Preamp box
Central Station and Remote - nothing there to f anything up! All the bits I miss from a large console.
HP4 Headphone amp - contains magic, nothing that cheap should sound that good.

But...I went through 4 Firestudios, all defective in some way, and was furiously deflected by their polite, literate but self-protective CS. Watch out, it's a product ahead of its' time (i.e. not ready yet)

[BezowinZ]

Hilarious stuff!

My not so recent story is less about stupidity, and more about pissing me off.

I bought a set of Alesis monitors when I first started out. A while later, one of the power lights went out. I took them back and, I don't remember why(or why I initiallly accepted this), but they sent the defective one to Alesis for repair, saying it would be 2 weeks or so.

2 weeks later, I call to hear, "It hasn't come back yet".

I call a week later to hear the same thing. After a 3rd call, 4 weeks after I bought the monitor in, the rep replies, "Yeah, this is ridiculous! It shouldn't take 4 weeks to fix a power light! Take this number. I'm going to call Alesis, but it's very busy in here right now. It may be a while. You can call as well, and one of us will get to the bottom of this. I'm glad I made the call.

(I guess this qualifies as GC stupidity)Alesis informs me that my monitor was sent back 2 weeks ago. Instead of calling, I go up to the store to relay the messege. "Really? Let me check in the back", the rep says. He comes back a few minutes later with my monitor. No apologies.

"Let me open it and plug it in to make sure the light works", I ask. "Sure." I open the box and see a huuuuuuuge dent in the bottom corner.

"Uuuh, someone damaged my monitor."

"It wasn't like that when you bought it in?"

"No!", now visably pissed, I'm sure.

"I understand why you're pissed at those Alesis guys. I'll tell you what though. We'll replace them for you. Let me grab a set." He comes back a few minutes later, empty handed. "We don't have any more in stock. We're due to get some in in 2 days. I'll call you.

He must've saw that I wanted wrap my hands around his throat. Again, "I can understand you're upset with Alesis for damaging you monitor man. This is really bad business..." I had to cut him off to explain, "Regardless who smashed my monitor, you all sat on it for 2 weeks. I could've had this replaced back then."

A few seconds of silence, then, "Uhhh, let me get your phone number, and I'll call you when they come in." Again, not a hint of an apology.

To cap it off, they call me back when I'm 3/4 of the way home to tell me they found a set.

Can I get semi-surround sound with 3 monitors?

I tried to vow I would never shop there again, but my only other local choice is a mom & pop with ridiculously high prices. So I still go to GC for things like cables, guitar strings, ect. I do most of my big ticket shopping online.

[Third Story]

So my buddy goes in and wants to buy an orange amp...so he asks the guy if they carry them or can order them..the guy says do you mean like an orange marshall?? And my buddy was like no like orange the amp is a brand and the dude had no clue what he was talking about just kinda funny. ironin enough at the guitar center here in dallas they now have a orange colored marshall!

[schuerman]

So here's my recent GC journey...
I need a simple $15 accessory (Raxxess).

My justifications for even going in there:
1) The product is on their website
2) I call ahead to see if it is in stock
3) I find out what department I need to go to BEFORE going in.

I'm set...in-and-out in 10 min...So I'll go during my lunch break at work.

Me: I'm here to pick up "X"
GC: I don't know what that is.
Me: Here is the SKU - I know you have some in stock I just called.
GC: (the type-type-type computer thing they do) Says here that we have 15 units in stock.
Me: Perfect. I need one pretty quickly I need to get back to work.
GC: Hold on I have to get one from the back...(OH NO)

15 min later...

GC: We can't locate them on our first floor of inventory - so we need to send an inventory guy up to the second floor to look for them.
Me: I have to get back to work. Can you pull one down and have it ready when I swing back by? I'll give you my phone number and you can call me when you find it.
GC: We can do that.
Me:Great.


Later that evening...
Me: (I call GC - of course they werent going to call me. I ask for the same guy who was helping me earlier)
GC: Hello...this is _____.
Me: Yes, I was in earlier, you were helping me find "X" - did you find them?
GC: No we did not - Our inventory guy looked the entire store and couldn't find any.

Way later that eveing...
www.guitarcenter.com (I could have just ordered it from work)


this is ridiculous. I wonder how the manufacturers would feel if they knew that people wanted to buy their products - and their dealers (GC) can't even locate the stupid stock in the store. Especially 15 units. I'd rather pay shipping than deal with the customer-no-service.

arg.

[jomo1234]

Still beating this dead horse?

If you go into a Guitar Center and expect knowlegable sale people, YOU are the stupid one.

Do your research, buy what you need, then leave.

[PRobb]

Originally Posted by BezowinZ

I tried to vow I would never shop there again, but my only other local choice is a mom & pop with ridiculously high prices. So I still go to GC for things like cables, guitar strings, ect. I do most of my big ticket shopping online.

That's the crux of the biscuit. If you want service and a knowledgeable staff, you have to pay for it. If you want low prices you put up with GC.

[barry4audio]

I caught a conversation about analog vs digital. The GC saleman said the difference between digital and analog is that analog is inharently frequency response challenged and very dark. The last time I checked the frequency response on my MTR 90 It went well beyond 30K. Hmmmmmmmm In all fairness, I know where he was headed, but it did make me laugh.

[zimv20]

overheard at my local GC:

cust: what's the difference between a flanger and a phaser?
GC guy: flangers are analog, and phasers are digital.

[Tibbon]

A Guitar Center once had on one of their "super-mega-used-sale" lists a Studer A820 with an 8-track headstack on it for $995 (that's right, a grand!!! In US Dollars!). I was one of the first in the store, and walked up to a sales guy (who was already too busy to take cash being thrown at him), and said, "I want that" and pointed to the list. It was for sale, I had money. I should have been able to throw it in my truck and drive away.

I was told that it was offsite, and that i'd have to come back since they'd have to "Find it". How the **** do you lose a 2" machine? Anyways, I came back for 4 days in a row (and had purchased about $2500 of other equipment that was on sale) trying to get some info on when I could get the machine, or something about it's condition. One of the guys said they couldn't find it, another said that they knew of the machine and it was in perfect condition with new heads, etc... nothing was making sense.

I wanted to put money on it (and has asked about that initially). I was told that the items on the list were ONLY for sale starting that monday morning that I had initially inquired about it, so no-one could have gotten it before me. Believe me, I'd have been in there Sunday night picking up stuff and avoiding the crowd otherwise.

Finally on Thursday, i was told, "Oh the (name replaced) Super-High-End-Untouchable-by-managers-because-he-sells-to-Aerosmith sales guy sold it to Vintage King along with a stack of preamps that some other salesguy was trying to sell."

I was pissed. I had the cash in hand wanting to buy it, but because of the ineptness of the salespeople ( I used to be one there, but i never ****ed up anything that badly), poor organization, and some untouchable sales-ass doing something that kinda shady IMHO (why would he sell Vintage king a tape machine that they are going to sell for 10x as much for a grand?), I wasn't able to get it. The crap wasn't supposed to be sold before the sales day, and apparently he had somehow bypassed everyone anyways.

I wanted that Studer, but now it's sitting at VK, for 10x as much likely.

[C/G]

Originally Posted by Tibbon

I was pissed. I had the cash in hand wanting to buy it, but because of the ineptness of the salespeople ( I used to be one there, but i never ****ed up anything that badly), poor organization, and some untouchable sales-ass doing something that kinda shady IMHO (why would he sell Vintage king a tape machine that they are going to sell for 10x as much for a grand?), I wasn't able to get it. The crap wasn't supposed to be sold before the sales day, and apparently he had somehow bypassed everyone anyways.

I wanted that Studer, but now it's sitting at VK, for 10x as much likely.

That sales guy to to the stars probably gave GC their grand for the Studer and turned around and sold it to VK for $3000 and pocketed the rest.