Stupid things you've been told at Guitar Center

[FFTT]

In all fairness, there are a few really nice and reasonably knowlegable reps at the local
GC in Fairfax VA.

Sadly, the chain is not carrying any of the better high end gear at a well located store like this one which makes it difficult to compare better gear before you buy.

It's all about pushing the pro-sumer gear to the wannabes.

Believe me, these reps wish their stores could carry 65 amps, Bogner, Bad Cat, Divided By 13 and so on, but management is not willing to floor plan that kind of inventory.

Locally, the only store carrying any of the better gear is Chuck Levins and their department managers do generally know their stuff.

[resound]

Originally Posted by FFTT

Locally, the only store carrying any of the better gear is Chuck Levins and their department managers do generally know their stuff.

Chuck Levins had always been top notch, hope it still is. I dropped serious cash on an L-5 there back in the nineties and would travel across country again for the type of service I received.

[Sqye]

..

a gc salesperson once told me that the earth is flat...

but, i'm not sure if this falls into the "stupid" category,

because, technically, i have no way of proving otherwise..

( i just usually take everyone else's WORD for it...based on all their "physical" and "scientific" evidence, etc. )

..

[FFTT]

Originally Posted by VukOnCrack

Chuck Levins had always been top notch, hope it still is. I dropped serious cash on an L-5 there back in the nineties and would travel across country again for the type of service I received.

Chuck Levins Washington Music Center is the ONLY store in town these days
with a serious pro department.
They were there providing gear to the founding fathers and still do so when anyone
passes through town.

They also hold long time contracts for just about every major performance venue
in the area.

Granted, you don't want to go down there on a Saturday when it's mayhem, but
overall they don't mess around when dealing with professionals.

[Jejune]

Originally Posted by Graham Tobias

I bought a pair of JBL LSR speakers there... I had to drive the manager and my salesperson to the warehouse to get the speakers. They couldn't go get them for me when I'm laying down $1200... I asked where I can pick up the check for my $200 shipping and handling +chauffeuring fee.

That pretty much happened to me as well. Blue Skies instead of JBL's though. They didn't have any in stock at the current store, but they had one that was located around 20 miles away. They were supposed to be shipped from one store to the other (pretty simple, right). They were supposed to arrive within five days. It took two and a half weeks of me calling and then finally coming in.

Me: "Where are my speakers"
SA Manager: "I don't know, but this isn't right. I will personally drive up there within a few days and get them myself"
ME: "You know what I will just pick them up."

The manager (who was actually really nice) called up the other manager to make sure everything would be in order once I got there.

I arrive there took a lot longer than I expected, 30 - 40 minutes.
I go in and no one knows what the hell I am talking about.
I am sent over to the audio section, and I have to wait because the Audio person is nowhere in sight.

The whole store was pretty much empty too except some salesmen and a few 15 year olds trying to play shitty guitar solos. The audio person finally comes and is some old hippie lady with a crazy eye, and from the looks of it couldn't afford day care for the day because her(some) little kid was there with her too. I am also quite positive that she was smoking weed in the back room just before I got there. The speakers are nowhere in sight.

After explaining my case one more time
Audio lady: "It's been busy, I will get someone to get them for you"
Me: (I look around the store is still empty) "Alright, thanks."
Guy comes w/speakers like 5 minutes later.
Me: "Can I just make sure that everything is in the box, I really don't want to come out all this way again."
Guy: "Well this is still factory wrapped. Everything is in there."
After debating it for a bit I decide to give up, and just go home.

Thankfully there was nothing wrong with the speakers.

--------

1. Every time I enter my local Sam Ash I throw up a little in my mouth because of the walls of Hartke amps followed by the endless supply of Samson recording equipment.

[dhughes]

Great thread!

Me: Does that pedal have true bypass?

Salesman: Actually, it's better than true bypass. It'll make your signal sound even more natural.

Me: Bye, guy.

[JP66]

Originally Posted by thehobbster

I recently went into Guitar Center and asked the worker:

Me: Hey, do you guys have any isolation pads for monitors?
Worker:..... *gives me questioning look*..... monitors?

well, to be fair the generic term "monitors" can mean a number of different things including computer screens and speakers. now the fact that he couldn't figure out what you were talking about based on the context of the question i still pretty awful, but a monitor is not a monitor.

[matt thomas]

B4 reading this one you have to realise that I am a succesful pro muso with far more slutty gear than is healthy, and I continue to feed my addiction

anyway

I was in Leeds UK recently, there is this store there that I forget the name of, its upstairs and has mostly all used vintage gear.

So after being in the store for close to an hour without being approached I went to the counter and asked about the P basses they had in stock.

The guy said something to the effect of "oh no, you want the downstairs shop that sells new gear, the stuff in this shop is expensive"

I just stared at him for a couple of seconds, said thanks, smiled and walked out

ok so I'm scruffy lookin, but aren't most people looking for a vintage p bass scruffy lookin?

narco

[n8tron]

One thing that was frustrating for me as a salesperson for a short period of time at guitar center (I like to call it my 5 months of hell) was not being able to know every single product in the dj, live, keyboard, recording departments. I mean there is just no way. I'd get pissed off customers because straight out told them I've never used x softsynth or x mic on electric guitar, the dj stuff I was even more frustrating because that is not my background, but we had to sell it.

what was even more frustrating was when I would, during a slow day, test out some of the microphones in the recording room so I could have some idea of how the ones I had not used sounded, then the manager would come by pissed because we weren't on the phone making sales... ugh, I hated that place.

[sebsi]

so i walk into GC in need of a portable FW interface to record a speech. my plan, of course, was to buy, record, and return it. i'm standing there looking at the wall of gear behind the counter. i am a 40 year old dude in a shirt and tie and the GC dudes go bananas when i'm in there because they associate shirts and ties with money.

GC dude: yo yo yo! can i help you!

me: i need a portable firewire interface with a couple mic pres for cheap.

GC: yo yo yo! this profiresonicbox© is the bomb! all the DJ's i work with use it! (makes inane dj scratching moves with arms and tilts head mimicking headphones held against shoulder)

me: errrrr....no thanks.

[dhughes]

Originally Posted by n8tron

One thing that was frustrating for me as a salesperson for a short period of time at guitar center (I like to call it my 5 months of hell) was not being able to know every single product in the dj, live, keyboard, recording departments. I mean there is just no way. I'd get pissed off customers because straight out told them I've never used x softsynth or x mic on electric guitar, the dj stuff I was even more frustrating because that is not my background, but we had to sell it.

I always appreciate it when a sales rep is honest and tells me they don't know the answer. The problem is when they make up an answer, know they don't really know, but just don't care. Or the worse...when you didn't ask them a question but they make up some bullshit anyway, to try to "seal the deal".

Another GC story was when I walked in and told the first guy that I saw that I was about to spend a bunch of money. Watched him laugh and walk off as if he thought I was full of shit. When he came back I was buying a $3500 guitar from someone else. The look on his face was great.

I guess I don't look like I have money....

[Gone]

I think the most ignorant thing I have ever heard from GC is on the latest flyer sent out.
It is the 60's Woodstock strat.
The put a LH neck on a RH body and inverted the bridge pickup.
And then have the nerve to promote it as the Axe that will make you sound like jimi.

But how could it? The forgot the most important part of the tone.
Putting the knobs above the strings!

This is ******ation of the highest order.
In GC's defense. Fender had this bright idea.

BTW: Anyone who wants a "Woodstock" style strat... Just buy the one for the other hand and invert the strings. Done.

You would think 2 music giants like GC and Fender could get this history a little more correct.




D

[Gear Tramp]

Why are so many guitars in that place missing knobs and shit?

I mean, I know kids come in and steal them, but why? How are these children losing so many knobs?

Plus, every time I go in to that damn place, there is a 400 lb. dude on the Crate half-stack BLASTING 16th note leads for hours on end. So much for talking to a sales rep.

Sometimes, I will pick up a flying V, crank up a Marshall on the floor and play the "hey you got some good licks" riff, which is just some fast riffing and whatnot. Within 1 minute, a rep will walk up and ask me if i want to join his band.

Whenever someone asks me if I need help, I simply say "**** no. Do you know who I am?!" They say "no." to which I reply, "Dude, I ****ing played drums with Bon Jovi, alright?!"

If I had a nickel for the # of autographs I signed after that... OOOOOWEEE!!!

[Duardo]

Not neccessarily true. I work for a gear manufacturer....both Guitar Center and Best Buy pay the same thing as every other dealer and they have to abide by the same pricing policies.

That may be true for the manufacturer you work for, but it certainly isn't true for all of them...and while you can dictate the prices a retailer can advertise at, you really can't dictate the prices that they sell at.

-Duardo

[JonCraig]

Originally Posted by Duardo

while you can dictate the prices a retailer can advertise at, you really can't dictate the prices that they sell at.

-Duardo

sure they can. apple has this sort of deal with all apple retailers. same with lacie and shure.

--jon

[LoopQuantum]

Originally Posted by sebsi

so i walk into GC in need of a portable FW interface to record a speech. my plan, of course, was to buy, record, and return it.

This was your plan? and you felt ok about it?

I hate GC as much as anyone, if not more, but......really?

[matt thomas]

Originally Posted by LoopQuantum

This was your plan? and you felt ok about it?

I hate GC as much as anyone, if not more, but......really?

yeah, I couldn't believe that guy. And he even has the nerve to show off about it

Perhaps there should be a "Stupidest things you've read on the Stupid things you've been told at Guitar Center thread" thread?

narco

[stevep]

Originally Posted by sebsi

so i walk into GC in need of a portable FW interface to record a speech. my plan, of course, was to buy, record, and return it..

.

[Duardo]

sure they can. apple has this sort of deal with all apple retailers. same with lacie and shure.

I don't know about Lacie, but as I understand it the reason all Apple retailers sell their computers at full retail is because there's no margin in them, not because of any policy...and I've seen Shure microphones tagged below MAP in Guitar Center locations on several occasions, although never advertised that low in their flyers.

-Duardo

[kafka]

Not at a Guitar Center, but another store.

I'm standing by the glass cabinet admiring a guitar. The salesman walks over to me and says "Nice guitar, isn't it?"

Me: Yeah, it's really pretty. I wonder how it plays.

Salesguy: Oh, they're really great. I was playing on it the other night, and it's just as smooth as anything.

Me: Sounds good.

Salesguy: Yeah, you'd definitely be happy if you got that one.

Me: Sure, I'd like to check it out.

Salesguy: OK, well, let me get one from the back so I can ring you up.

Me: Well, I'd like to try it out before I buy it.

Salesguy: Oh, well, I'd have to go get the key for that.

He stands there and stares at me blankly. I stare back for about 20 seconds.

Me: I wouldn't want you to have to go to all that trouble.

Salesguy: Sure. If there's anything else I can help you with, don't be afraid to ask.

[Gear Tramp]

Originally Posted by sebsi

so i walk into GC in need of a portable FW interface to record a speech. my plan, of course, was to buy, record, and return it.

Come on sebsi, get your ass back over here and answer for yourself!

punk

[Gear Tramp]

Originally Posted by kafka

Me: Well, I'd like to try it out before I buy it.

Salesguy: Oh, well, I'd have to go get the key for that.

He stands there and stares at me blankly. I stare back for about 20 seconds.

Me: I wouldn't want you to have to go to all that trouble.

Salesguy: Sure. If there's anything else I can help you with, don't be afraid to ask.

Doesn't anybody believe in an old-fashioned **** YOU! delivered straight in someone's face, in clear view of the rest of the place? Honestly, if this happened to me, and there were no children around, I would have gone off on that milky licker.

I mean, at least you could have FARTED during that 20 second silence.

[vixapphire]

My latest experience of GC sales staff was a couple weekends ago; I went in there looking to replace/upgrade the cartridges on my turntables.

According to the "expert" DJ-********* that was holding court down there, spherical stylii are higher-fidelity (soundwise) than elliptical. I said, "are you sure about that? I'd heard otherwise in several places." He was adamant, to which I responded, "Oh, that's nice" and got the hell outta there.

Needless to say, they didn't carry any of the elliptical versions of the stylii they were representing. Thus, OF COURSE spherical is better!!!

Moron.

[KingUgly]

YouTube - Wayne's World Music shop

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by Duardo

I don't know about Lacie, but as I understand it the reason all Apple retailers sell their computers at full retail is because there's no margin in them, not because of any policy

There's a policy in place to enforce the prices of Apple products; the way places like Mac Mall try to sweeten the deal is with free printers and stuff.

There seems to be a healthier than normal margin; if Apple computers are 2% of the market, how come they take up 20% of the floor space at Comp USA?

[Tibbon]

Originally Posted by max cooper

There's a policy in place to enforce the prices of Apple products; the way places like Mac Mall try to sweeten the deal is with free printers and stuff.

There seems to be a healthier than normal margin; if Apple computers are 2% of the market, how come they take up 20% of the floor space at Comp USA?

I've often thought about those single digit market figures for Apple. They just don't seem right. Not at least if you live in a big city. When I was in Boston... I'd say a fair 30% of computers that I'd see were Apples. At Berklee it was around 90% even prior to Berklee's laptop purchase program. It was very possible to go into a coffee shop and see 10 Macbook Pros/Powerbooks and only one Dell.

Now I'm in Greensboro NC (sigh) for the moment and it seems that everyone here has Dell or other Windows based stuff. I'd really like to see market shares by region on Apple stuff.

The point about CompUsa's floor plan is good, but I think a better one is that Apple stores have taken off and done great worldwide... whereas Dell and Gateway stores... haven't. Are there even Gateway Country stores anymore?

[Greg Curtis]

A Comp USA in the Twin Cities was selling ALL Apple hardware for 5% off during its going out of business sale. So there is a margin, and there is leeway...

Greg

.

[brownmouse]

"How may I help you?"

[Tibbon]

From what I understand about Apple it's not that there is no margin in items (because there is), but rather that a few companies have agreements with their vendors that the vendors are not allowed to sell items below Apple's pricing without written permission from Apple or something like that.

When I worked at GC we were able to see that Apple, Monster, etc did have a margin, but we weren't allowed to sell any current products for less than Apple's pricings. However, the day the products were discontinued then they were available for sale for less. That's often how many GC employees got iPods at killer prices (after a generation went out).

[mud5150]

Hey guys I figured I'd chime in here because its very rare on this board that I actually have some greater knowledge to impart. I used to work retail, I've worked at many retailers including compusa and a guitar center type place. I will say that there is no margin for shure or macs. There is more margin for macs than pc's but there is like nooooo margin on pc's. Retailers make money off of computers by selling service plans cause computers scare lots of people. Nobody makes money on shure mics except shure. Which doesn't bother me cause I think they're stuff is great for the money. Except the in ear monitors, not that they're bad. I just think the in ear monitor market could use some competition. Anyway just an fyi. I'd love to see the mark up on high end pre's and such.i Feel like its probably either really small or 200%. I can't decide.