Stupid things you've been told at Guitar Center

[echurch86]

I don't think this is the norm but once i went into GC to buy a pop-filter. this is how the conversation went:

me: do you have a pop-filter?
GC Guy: Whats That?
me: You put it over condenser mics to reduce pops
GC Guy: What kind of mics?
me: Condenser
GC guy: Well i don't think we have that
me: You gotta be kidding me (while i started walking out)
GC guy: i hate it when people treat me like an idiot
Other GC guy: what did he want
GC Guy: a pop something

[Chris G]

last week i went in to GC to pick up some cables and the "kids" were putting a C24 and hd192 in an argosy console. they could not figure out why the C24 would not link to the MacPro. This guy somehow had the C24 plugd into the legacy port!!! the plugs weren't even "in" they were hanging there!!!!! he had the db25 ins into the line ins on the C24!!!! and he couldn't figure out why nothing worked...... yet he has one of these at home???

i couldnt stand it so i fixed it real fast.

the only thing you can do is make friends with the one good sales guy there. the guy i deal with is real cool and cool to hang with. the rest of the "kids" there magically have every piece of gear you say that you have and you can make up all sorts of stupid gear combos and they will say..."oh yeah dude i got that too" and they will finnish that off with a snobby "it's OK though" and go into some other lie about some gear they own thats better.

[slick0]

Try getting something you bought there replaced.. Just last week I bought a echo indigo io pcmcia card for my laptop which had something wrong with the left channel. I describe my problem as noise on the left channel, and the guy there asked what laptop. I knew it didnt matter for the problem, but I told him anyway.. He laughed and said "I have the same laptop and had the same problem. It's a basic problem with all laptop electronics. You need to go to home depot and get what's called (spoken way too slow) a ground lift." Well, either he was talking bullshit, or had one crappy laptop. I could see there being an issue with the internal card, but grounding causing a problem with only one channel of the card, turning it off at times depending on how I moved the volume pot? No. Anyway, I don't know why the guy had to act how he was, but it took me a few more times insisting there was a problem before it was replaced. I really have to stop going there unless I know the guy working, which is usually the case, luckily.

[superkev07]

About 4 years ago, just as I was getting started with recording and such, I decided I'd get a Digi001 on the advice of a friend (who actually worked at Waves). He knew I didn't know hardly anything, so suggested that interface because of the two pre's I could use to get started, the expandability with lightpipe, and the fact that it was a Pro Tools interface. Knowing, even then, that I didn't like GC because of my experience in other departments, I still had to go there to pick up the 001 because the local music store in my hometown didn't carry interfaces.

I stood in line behind a guy being helped at the Pro Audio counter. He was done, so I stepped forward to just pick up what I came for. The sales guy was finishing up with the cash register, so I just waited for him to ask what he could help with. He finished, looked at me and half-smiled, and left the counter.

I thought it was odd, but maybe he had good reason, so I just stood there for a few minutes waiting for him, or ANYONE, to return and help me with a sale that would take 5 minutes tops. I looked around, no one. I finally walked over to the main desk, told them I needed help at the Pro Audio counter, and they said someone would be right there. On my way back, I passed a bluegrass band they had in-store doing a little concert...

...with all the GC employees, including Half Smile, standing around watching.

[rhythmeus]

So, at GC Farmers Branch (dfw), I was told Cubase is compatible with Sonar and Protools

I asked how?

The guy said...because they all generate wav files. ...

Not to mention, another guy at the same place who tried to sell me Monster cables for my sound blaster a few years ago..when I was just beginning ..

That being said..There was another guy there who does work anymore at GC, who was very knowlegdeble, and would always ask what I wanted to do with the equipment..and at times suggest his thoughts...I was very appreciative of his understanding...

---------

ok...just remembered, at GC houston, a few years ago I went to demo the just new in...Korg Triton studio..I had just heard of it, so wanted to see it..in 5 minutes of being there, I was asked three times, how would I like to pay for it...fuuck

rhythmeus..

[superkev07]

Originally Posted by rhythmeus

So, at GC Farmers Branch (dfw), I was told Cubase is compatible with Sonar and Protools

I asked how?

The guy said...because they all generate wav files. ...

He's right, you know. Sounds more like a miscommunication. He was referring to the ability to move sessions from one DAW to another by importing the wav files the other DAW created.

[AlanTide]

cheaper prices are better than customer service. I think this is totally wrong. They are helping local stores by their lack of product knowledge. All they want at GC is order takers, not salespeople.

[Sqye]

..

i was once told that i could swap out my finley socket

with a langstrom 17" gangley wrench.....


can you BELIEVE THAT SH&T???!!

[SRR]

Bought a Valve jr Combo, it was dead when we got it home. My wife brought it in and said it was dead, the first person "trying" to help her, asked if she let it warm up, "cause it has tubes you know". She said "yes we even left in on for 15 mins still dead, tried two guitars and sevral cables". Guy says, "maybe you should let it warm up longer". Or normal guitar chick that sells to us comes over plugs the thing in, plugs a guitar in, turns it on, and she said yup its dead. So she "upgraded" us to a VOX ADVT15 for free, as they don't/didn't at the time have any more jr combo's in there system. My wife is still learning guitar so getting the vox over the jr combo didn't matter to us, and I don't even know what a G string is, so as her first amp we didn't care. But my wife is never gonna go back to that first guy.

[TL2]

This is sorta OT, but reading all these experiences got me thinking...

In a former life I owned a high end bass guitar store (LA Bass Exchange, Tarzana, CA) and have had my share of classic exchanges with all sorts of freaks. This one comes immediately to mind...

I had a client looking to custom order an esoteric high end electric bass that I was a dealer for. So after speaking to him on the phone, he drives up from quite a distance to lay a deposit down and to go over the various options. After about an hour of shootin' the shit, discussing his new instrument and writing up a special order sheet I notice that he's got this look in his eye like as if he's being posessed by something evil - sorta staring at me like a demented wolf staring down his next meal. All sorts of internal warning flags are going up right about now as we're only standing a couple of feet apart. I calmly and nervously ask "dude, you okay?" He starts breathing heavy. I slowly start to back away. He immediately lunges towards me, bearhugs me WWF style and tries to bite my ear!

WTF?!!!!! I tossed him off of me and would've hit him with the nearest bass if I wasn't so completly shocked. A couple of my employees escorted him out of my store right away. I was so freaked out that I sat in my office for half an hour in utter silence trying to make sense of it all. Having a grown man lunge at you while trying to devour you like a snack was the last thing I would have ever expected to have to deal with. Ever. Think about it.

My store manager then walks in and says, "hey, your boyfriend's back".

WTF???!! Infuriated, I walk out into the showroom to see the guy calmly looking at basses on the wall. Incredulously, I ask him what he's doing back in my shop. He acts stunned like he's never met me before. He even asks to "see the owner" as he's here to talk about ordering a bass. Total Twilight Zone moment. I'm speechless. He's happy, smiling, stoked to be in my shop and cannot wait to order his new bass. He's completely clueless as to what has just transpired.

I have him work with my sales manager and we took his money. A lot of it.

I come to find out later from his girlfriend that he's done the same thing to her. She just thought it was his way of initiating foreplay as it got her aroused and always led to intimacy between them. She was now saddened by the fact that his behavior was not exclusive to her. Poor thing.

I, myself, can no longer watch Animal Planet without breaking into a cold sweat.

WTF?!!!!

[lpkyer]

For those here in Montreal....and T.O

Can I say Steve's music? This thread reminded me so much of that store...worst service ever. I've been going for this place for like 8 years with buddies and all that...and I just started to boycott them, for no direct incident...just tired of their attitude.

[Sqye]

Originally Posted by TL2

WTF?!!!!

pretty crazy, sounds like the dude might have been dusted (or PCP, etc.)


that kinda sh&t used to happen all the time in the village
(b4 it became all corporate ).

..

[bexarametric]

Originally Posted by emkay

I understand your point, but to me, the "internet" is not an excuse , one is judged on words and actions. Ofcourse "learning curve" is a common term, but maybe in the context of this guys' story, the customer may have thought that the "learning curve" was a piece of gear! Anyways, for the most part, these are great stories.

No. This guy simply didn't know what a learning curve was. Just to clear up the context.

I understand that you're average guy that just wants to get his guitar into the computer probably won't be a Pro Tools genius. But when he said the program was over his head, we were about to suggest that he get a book or get one of our guys for tech support. The salesperson simply started the sentece with "well, sir all programs are going to have a learning curve". Then the guy said what he said. If you were there, it would be easier to understand. It is kind of a hassle to get context over the internet. So I do see your point.

Usually customers are great, and I try to be great to them. But I love hearing these stories. I'm full of employee and customer stories. I love to hear yours. I do suggest GC Pro if you want to do business without ever having to set foot in the store. Our GC Pro guys are cream of the crop. That's where I'm planning on going with the company.

[bexarametric]

BTW

We had a drunk customer in the store today. I walked into our recording room to find a customer passed out, face down, on Digi 002 snoring. He smelled like tequilla. I finally had to walk up to him and ask him politely to leave.

[TL2]

Originally Posted by Sqye

pretty crazy, sounds like the dude might have been dusted (or PCP, etc.)


that kinda sh&t used to happen all the time in the village
(b4 it became all corporate ).

..

It was actually some sort of epileptic related attack where the guy has zero control over himself. His meds must not have been working that day. At least that was the story.

[numrologst]

ME: I need a smpte interface
GC: What's SMPTE?
ME: Timecode
GC: Huh? What's that?
ME: Sigh...Do you have the m-audio midi 8x8?
GC: Umm..We stopped carrying them...
(I then looked around and saw it right behind the desk)
ME: There it is.
GC: Oh yeah it does have S-M-P-T-E
ME: Yeah, I'll take it
GC: What do you need S-M-P-T-E for anyway?
ME: My tape machine
GC: Wow, old school... I didn't think anyone used tapes anymore... You know this midi 8x8 is digital...you can't use it with a tape recorder

[Sqye]

Originally Posted by TL2

It was actually some sort of epileptic related attack where the guy has zero control over himself. His meds must not have been working that day. At least that was the story.

makes sense...

that was one of my thoughts, as well.

peace and grooves to you, too

..

[rickrock305]

Originally Posted by TL2

WTF?!!!!

one of the craziest music related stories i've ever heard!

[emkay]

Originally Posted by bexarametric

BTW

We had a drunk customer in the store today. I walked into our recording room to find a customer passed out, face down, on Digi 002 snoring. He smelled like tequilla. I finally had to walk up to him and ask him politely to leave.

I didn't know Keith Richards was into Digi 002's.....

[jhknicks]

In my store (not a Guitar Center) I have had not 1 but 2 guitars that had to be exchanged because the customer said that the initial purchase "was possessed". You can't make this up. And beat this one-Around 3 months ago I had a guy who always looked a little off come to the front door and start hurling his gear up into the air. He parked his car by the front door and heaved his gear up in the air into our store. Boom-an amp, smash (a guitar) kapow (another guitar)-This is starting to sound like Batman. He must have thrown 8 or so items until I got a hold of him as he was pulling out mic stands out of his car to toss. I restrained him and called the police. He took off. Now mind you there was never a problem with this customer. He was just mentioning something about the gear being possessed. The cops show up and I said please take this gear. Its not the stores and I do not want this guy in here again. They refuse. We held the gear for about a month. It turns out the guy is a bit (no shit) crazy and wasn't taking his meds. His brother came in to get the hurled gear. The best part is the ending.. 7-8 weeks later the gear tosser comes in like nothing ever happened and want a free warranty setup on his guitar which now obviously doesn't play right because he tossed it 20 feet in the air. I kicked him out. Good times...

[Chrisc_o]

Originally Posted by emkay

I didn't know Keith Richards was into Digi 002's.....

Where's Ringo with the rimshot already?

[Chrisc_o]

Originally Posted by lpkyer

For those here in Montreal....and T.O

Can I say Steve's music?

Montreal reprazent!


I ws building a guitar for a client, and I nicked the corner of one of the Grover keystone tuning knobs (I was in a hurry). I know that there is no way I will find a single tuner any time soon, so I decide that I should just buy a whole set and replace the damaged one.

I am in a hurry to meet a deadline, so I jet down to Steve's, grab the first breathing object I can see behind the counter, and I say "I need a set of Grover Deluxe tuners with cream plastic keystone knobs".

Easy sale, and I don't think I could have been more clear about exactly what I wanted.

I spent the next couple of minutes (probably one, which is an ETERNITY in this type of situation ) staring at the back of his head as he proceeded to scan the wall and take down EVERY SINGLE PACKAGE with the word Grover on it. Of course every one except the one I had asked for!

He laid out a good 8 or 10 packages of tuners on the counter and began to describe them to me one by one (chrome minis, gold minis, chrome keystone....) as if I couldn't tell what they were by looking at them through the cellophane window in each package!

I interrupted him, glanced at the wall, pointed to the ones I needed and said "gimme those".

Not the greatest story, I guess, but one of the most memorable for me.


I sure hope he is a good architect, otherwise he may be a moron!

[ImJohn]

Originally Posted by DSD_Mastering

Salesman: "What's MADI"????

Regards,
Bruce

I'd cut him some slack on this one because they probably don't even have anything in the store that does MADI (unless they sell RME stuff) and he did ask what it was instead of saying "Oh yeah, all our keyboards have that."

[analogtodd]

This thread is just making me crazy to drive down to GC today and see what nonsense I can pick up from the sales drones

[ImJohn]

Originally Posted by ArtGarceau

You just brought out another....

GC employee: I need to return a defective mic
Me: Ok
GC employee: This is the third one for this customer and they are DOA
Me: Ok what mic?
GC employee: It's a "insert handheld condenser." These things suck.
Me: :thinking this guy sounds slow: Just for giggles can I have you plug it in to a mixer and flip the 48v switch on. It'll either be labeled 48v or phantom power...
GC employee: :interrupting: What the F is phantom power?
Me: :Being a dick: Well its a SPOOKY new technology that repairs broken microphones!
GC employee: Hold on...:few minute pause:.......Holy crap it works!

LOL!!!!!

[ImJohn]

Originally Posted by mrface2112

what IS it with the GC drones and the Eurekas? i can't count the number of times i've had someone at GC try to shove one of those down my throat.

and it's ALWAYS with the "why do you want _that_ one?" schtick, too.

i don't get it. maybe the profit margins are highest on those?


cheers,
wade

FWIW I own one and it actually is a pretty nice sounding unit, especially at the price point.

[sneezebomb]

i think the Presonus stuff is alright too. It gets bashed a lot around here.

Ok. My contribution. After explaining that the equipment will be used for a recording setup i'm told..."Dude, what do you want a gate for? No one uses a gate for recording. They're only for live."

i bought it anyway. i think the sales guy thought i was stupid for ignoring his advice.

[danranges]

Originally Posted by jhknicks

In my store (not a Guitar Center) I have had not 1 but 2 guitars that had to be exchanged because the customer said that the initial purchase "was possessed". You can't make this up. And beat this one-Around 3 months ago I had a guy who always looked a little off come to the front door and start hurling his gear up into the air. He parked his car by the front door and heaved his gear up in the air into our store. Boom-an amp, smash (a guitar) kapow (another guitar)-This is starting to sound like Batman. He must have thrown 8 or so items until I got a hold of him as he was pulling out mic stands out of his car to toss. I restrained him and called the police. He took off. Now mind you there was never a problem with this customer. He was just mentioning something about the gear being possessed. The cops show up and I said please take this gear. Its not the stores and I do not want this guy in here again. They refuse. We held the gear for about a month. It turns out the guy is a bit (no shit) crazy and wasn't taking his meds. His brother came in to get the hurled gear. The best part is the ending.. 7-8 weeks later the gear tosser comes in like nothing ever happened and want a free warranty setup on his guitar which now obviously doesn't play right because he tossed it 20 feet in the air. I kicked him out. Good times...

Was it Alto Music in Middletown, NY?
If so, i was there when that happened. It was ridiculous.

[grindx]

Originally Posted by monkeyt

This thread is just making me crazy to drive down to GC today and see what nonsense I can pick up from the sales drones

Make sure you bring the video cam and then post on Youtube.

[jhknicks]

Originally Posted by danranges

Was it Alto Music in Middletown, NY?
If so, i was there when that happened. It was ridiculous.

It sure was. An all time classic among many