Part of the solution---if you shop at Guitar Center, read this - Page 13

Duardo · 3rd June 2008, 12:27 AM

Quote:

That's a pretty heavy charge to be slinging on an internet forum, I seriously hope you are better than human and can look yourself in the eye every morning knowing that you lead an exemplary life with no blemishes... otherwise you need to apologize to Joel, who by all accounts I have seen, is a very cool person with integrity. Maybe you know something I don't?

I wasn't the one who slung the charge, but you do both know that he lied to get his pair of sunglasses replaced for free, right?

I'm not sure why someone would post something like that on a forum like this without at least expect to get questioned about it...

joelpatterson · 3rd June 2008, 01:07 AM

And anyone who's read the story will note that I was talked into this course of action by my friend, the unscrupulous sporting goods store owner. And anyway, the point of the tale was that the uppermost level of management, quite rightly, could give a good God damn! about one stinking pair of sunglasses vs. the opportunity to demonstrate their magnanimous nature.

I can't COUNT the number of times I've sent free CDs to shady con artists with some leaky tale to tell-- it's just good business.

barryjohns · 3rd June 2008, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

Olivia, I frankly wouldn't worry too much about that guy. From what I've seen, it's the most extremely self-righteous cats that have the furthest to go, learning-from-life wise.... you know?

Oh, I am so far from "Self Righteous" my friend. I do things every day that I wish I hadn't. I try my best to learn from every mistake and not repeat any. I'm a "Sinner" just like everyone else. Big difference is though, I disappoint myself when I do something wrong and feel very bad about it and if what I've done affects someone else, I ask them to forgive me and I do whatever is necessary to make it right.

You boast about an unscrupulous act, as if you're proud that you stole from someone. Lied to serve you own selfish needs and then proclaim it to the world. At the core, makes a person wonder what else would you do, can you be trusted? Does honesty and integrity play a role in every aspect of your life, or does it only when it is convenient?

No I'm not perfect, very far from it. But am I an honest and trustworthy person in everything I do. Yes, I can say that with absolute confidence. A person shows their Character in difficult situations, when we are tested, that is when we show our true selves.

What you did was wrong, there is no justifying it, no making excuses, it was dishonest, and the fact that you still try to dismiss it, to me, shows the type of person you are.

By the way, I am the kind of guy who will get home and realize he has not paid for something at the Grocery store and drive back, even if it was 10 cents. I raise my kids with that expectation as well.

Duardo · 3rd June 2008, 08:02 AM

Quote:

And anyone who's read the story will note that I was talked into this course of action by my friend, the unscrupulous sporting goods store owner. And anyway, the point of the tale was that the uppermost level of management, quite rightly, could give a good God damn about one stinking pair of sunglasses vs. the opportunity to demonstrate their magnanimous nature.

Wow...that wasn't even where I was going with my initial question, but still...I'm not sure whether to ask you whether you'd jump off of a cliff if your friend told you to, or to mention how many times one of my kids will blame another one for his or her actions just because "he/she told me to do it"...

My point was that just about any reputable manufacturer, if presented with a product of theirs that is defective (or, in this case, said to be defective), would replace it (or repair, depending on the specifics)...that's not demonstrating anyone's magnanimous nature, that's a minimum standard of service one should expect.

What would have been interesting would have been to see what they would have done had you told them what really happened to the sunglasses. I know (from experience) that several fast-food restaurants will replace food or drinks that are accidentally dropped by a customer, despite the fact that they don't "have" to do it. I also know, though, from a friend's experience, that if you accidentally drop your iPod within the first few days of getting it that Apple will not help you out at all (other than offering to repair it for a price fairly close to the price of buying a new one). How a company handles situations like that really is where they are able to demonstrate their true nature.

GILFOIL · 3rd June 2008, 09:16 AM

GC threads are so entertaining, but i hate how they keep me up passed 4 am

joelpatterson · 3rd June 2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barryjohns

... I am so far from "Self Righteous" my friend... But am I an honest and trustworthy person in everything I do. Yes, I can say that with absolute confidence.....

Don't I remember some big teary farewell where you were leaving for good and not looking back?

Don't we have that in writing, somewhere?

LoopQuantum · 3rd June 2008, 01:58 PM

And.......drumroll........another thread is overtaken by the antics of Mr. Patterson.

Popcorn Craving! At 9am no less! I can't think of much that is potentially more entertaining than two of our most dramatic heavyweights: Barry "I quit gearslutz because no one thinks I should run Digidesign" Johns, Vs. Joel "I'll say anything to get a rise" Patterson.

Please guys, I implore you. Continue to act like children. I haven't been entertained with petty drivel on GS in toooooo long.

christmasjones · 3rd June 2008, 02:46 PM

barryjohns · 3rd June 2008, 04:10 PM

That's pretty funny. I will throw in the towell now. Point has been made.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoopQuantum

And.......drumroll........another thread is overtaken by the antics of Mr. Patterson.

Popcorn Craving! At 9am no less! I can't think of much that is potentially more entertaining than two of our most dramatic heavyweights: Barry "I quit gearslutz because no one thinks I should run Digidesign" Johns, Vs. Joel "I'll say anything to get a rise" Patterson.

Please guys, I implore you. Continue to act like children. I haven't been entertained with petty drivel on GS in toooooo long.

olivia_nb · 3rd June 2008, 05:44 PM

[quote=barryjohns;2093107]

Quote:

You boast about an unscrupulous act, as if you're proud that you stole from someone. Lied to serve you own selfish needs and then proclaim it to the world. At the core, makes a person wonder what else would you do, can you be trusted? Does honesty and integrity play a role in every aspect of your life, or does it only when it is convenient?

omg dude, he doesn't kick puppies! This is the kind of BS that made me jump in in the first place, where are you getting this from?!
Sorry, you're probably a very nice and decent person and you probably do the right thing most of the time, but this is the interwebs and your response was totally uncalled for, you took his comments way too far.

olivia_nb · 3rd June 2008, 05:47 PM

dangit, I'm starting to take this place waaaaaay too seriously, I need to go drink some coffee and chill out...

sorry to anyone if I was getting up in your shiz...

GILFOIL · 4th June 2008, 04:38 AM

D! R! A.m.a!

This Thread Makes Me Laugh All Day!

It's Drama!

Hey! Hey!

It's Drama!

sluttiedude · 4th June 2008, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dasmetre

I'm the general Manager for GC in Fountain Valley, CA and have a question for you guys--

What do we need to do better? I want to be a part of the solution.
Thanks
Eli

ps--I hope this doesn't turn into a "you guys suck" thread, because that's not going to help us get better at what we do.

thanks again!

I like GC a lot.. more than samash.. mostly because of the decor
I don't see any problems w the service/"loose-dog" salesmen/lack of knowledgeable staff.. GC is not meant to educate the public..
You can't blame the store for you making a bad purchase.. you asked for the salesman's advice.. and he advised you to buy the product that earns him more commission. big ****in deal..
the one thing that can improve the GC experience for me, is to make people wash their hands before touching equipment.. I HATE greasy fingered bitches who smudge tolex or ruin fingerboards

. Maybe you can install a special little GC fountain for these retards to cleanse their paws of lube and sediment.

sluttiedude · 4th June 2008, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barryjohns

A fool you are, for having no Integrity.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

dasmetre · 20th June 2008, 05:46 AM

it's been quiet here lately, so i wanted to let you guys know i'm still paying attention...

happy recording!
eli

whitepapagold · 20th June 2008, 05:51 AM

Never heard back on my special order request from Neumann...

Though at this point I will obviously not be using your store... I followed up with the store once and you the manager once and still nothing...

It seems its easier to write a thread about good service, than actually provide it... I contacted you directly on this weeks ago...

And still everytime I go in the store, its a joke...

But no worries, Im done Eli! Good luck with whatever it is you are trying to do... I find it hard to belive a word you say at this point though. And as you know I gave you a real try. Wasn't worth my time.

gearaddict · 2nd July 2008, 11:02 PM

I have had a few problems at GC in Saginaw, MI. The last time I had a problem was when I went in to get some op. cables for my adat..now..when I go in to GC..I have already talked to you guy's on GS about it..researched it on the net..found the lowest price.. and I know pretty much how the thing works..BEFOR I BUY IT...well this kid was showing me the cables and asked me " what are you useing the adat for" I said I got it so I could have an extra 8 i/o's on my digi 003 for outboard gear.he says " well bro..you know that you cant send a signal out of the 003 with that adat" (behringer ada8000..I know behringer) I tell him..umm yes you can.it only has xlr output's..but you can do it. he says" ummm dude im telling you it wont work"..I said look..First, im here for cables.. second, I think I know a little more about the sh*t I spend my money on than you do..I have been recording music befor you were even in school..now how about those cables...he was so pissed at me...he wouldnt even give me a deal on the cables!!

So since that day I deal with only one guy..my wife went to school with him and he is a cool DUDE...his name is ED ..very helpful..no BS..!

P.S....your new manager there is a stuck up ass..nobody that go's in there like's this prick...I bought a new BLUE bluebird one time and I looked at him and asked..can I get a couple bucks off this mic cable..he says "nothing here is free there wont be anymore deals"..what a punk!!

Jay Phelps · 5th September 2008, 10:12 AM

Jay Phelps here, I'm the Keys/Recording Department Manager here at the Fountain Valley Guitar Center.

Just wanted to invite everyone in our area to stop by and meet our new Store Manager if you haven't already, Mr. Jon Croft. Jon previously worked at the Hollywood store, and he's an awesome guy that I'm sure you'll love. Ask to meet him personally!

I transferred to FV in the beginning of July and have begun to make some significant changes in Pro Audio. My favorite of them would be that I've got all the preamps racked up in the studio descending in price/quality all patched into a patch bay into PTHD. Most people wonder why a 737 or an LA610 is worth the extra $$ compared to a Eureka. Stop by and find out literally. Having this kind of thing should have been a no brainer!!

Some people have commented about gear not being demo ready and I know for our store, the biggest challenge is keeping up with things being unplugged daily. Every night after close the keyboards, monitors, speakers, etc are now being checked to be sure they are demo ready. This is due to the fact that throughout the day (everyday) customers and employees unplug things for various reasons and do not plug them back. If something doesn't work, come find me. Sometimes, however, things temporarily don't work for reasons out of our control. (stolen PSU, recently damaged, etc)

Like some people have said, there are plenty of things wrong with GC, some of which we have control over and others, we don't. Just know that here at FV, we're doing the best we can to staff a knowledgeable, friendly crew. If you have an unfavorable experience with one of my guys, please let me know. You're not required to work with one salesman or the other. If the person who's 'helping' you isn't helping, calmly find another associate who can. My best advice would be to try an establish a relationship with the guy/gal who you feel most comfortable with.

Our goal is to help get you the right gear for your needs/budget, not to just be clerks to ring you up. I believe you'll have a much more positive experience at GC if you establish these relationships.

Bottom line is, I'm a fellow engineer...just like you. But life is life, and I've got to pay the bills and legit staff positions here in CA are hard to come by. Since I've recently moved here to Cali, I'm up against a fierce new market and my freelance clientele isn't full time yet. Right now, GC is the only avenue where I can talk about the thing I love, and still get paid for it, even if it isn't a ton.

I'd love to meet some fellow slutz so feel free to come in to bust my chops. I rarely find a customer who loves to talk about slutty gear so PLEASE, make my day!

Mention you're from GS and I'll make sure you get a good deal.

I'll keep my eye on this thread and pass along any comments to Jon. Feel free to PM, call the store, or email me at jay@jayphelps.com

Thanks guys.

Jay

Jay Phelps · 5th September 2008, 10:25 AM

Almost forgot,

I'm also hosting a first time Free Pro Tools Clinic here at the Fountain Valley GC Thursday, September 18th at 6:00PM

Alex Solano from Digidesign and myself will be focusing on 101 level PT usage, covering everything from very basic usage to doing editing, midi, and giving tips on shortcuts.

We'll also be demonstrating and discussing A.I.R. plugins from Digidesign such as Strike, Velvet, Hybrid, and Xpand.

I invite anyone to stop on in to attend or simply just to meet Alex and myself.

I've given this clinic many times at the store I use to work for, and everyone always finds it very helpful. Afterwards will be a chance for any Q&A you may have.

Jay

joelpatterson · 5th September 2008, 08:15 PM

Godspeed to you Jay, I have a dream today... that Guitar Centers everywhere will become the hubs of the happening music scenes that every town has. Every time I set foot in the Albany, New York store, I either run into a fellow musician or engineer type person from around town, and this always leads to catching up, making connections, and hearing about new opportunities. We are all there because we can walk in and get whatever we want, pretty damn nearly, and the vibe is like a day-long, night-long jam session. The guys that work there are awesome people!

Life before Guitar Center? Man-- it was grim!

Jay Phelps · 6th September 2008, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

Godspeed to you Jay, I have a dream today... that Guitar Centers everywhere will become the hubs of the happening music scenes that every town has. Every time I set foot in the Albany, New York store, I either run into a fellow musician or engineer type person from around town, and this always leads to catching up, making connections, and hearing about new opportunities. We are all there because we can walk in and get whatever we want, pretty damn nearly, and the vibe is like a day-long, night-long jam session. The guys that work there are awesome people!

Life before Guitar Center? Man-- it was grim!

I think we'd all love to see this happen. We're really trying to switch over to have a very personal relationship with our customers. We've started having customer appreciation nights, special customer gift cards sent out ($25, $50, etc) and we're in the works on planning some special events like a live performance from local major bands.

Thanks to everyone who hasn't turn their blinders on and see Guitar Center can become something more than just a place to pick up gear.

Neutrikconnector · 7th September 2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joelpatterson

Godspeed to you Jay, I have a dream today... that Guitar Centers everywhere will become the hubs of the happening music scenes that every town has. Every time I set foot in the Albany, New York store, I either run into a fellow musician or engineer type person from around town, and this always leads to catching up, making connections, and hearing about new opportunities. We are all there because we can walk in and get whatever we want, pretty damn nearly, and the vibe is like a day-long, night-long jam session. The guys that work there are awesome people!

Life before Guitar Center? Man-- it was grim!

Actually the local store, that grew with the town, that's been there since 196-something should do this. Not some cookie cutter conglomerate. If I'm not mistaken, the same company that owns GC, owns Michael's Craft shops. So how long is it going to be before we can buy cutsie little sticker kits for decorating our guitars with anarchy, and anti-corporate stickers and scrap booking supplies?

Or since guitars are a hobby how long before they start closing stores and selling strat paks in Michaels.

dasmetre · 9th September 2008, 06:32 PM

Glad to see the thread still cruising along. Congrats to Jay-- he'll rock that department, and I'm sure that clinic will be a good time--if you're in the area check it out!

I'm a Sales Manager at the Hollywood GC now, back home in L.A. I'm still on the unending mission to have a positive impact on our brand and this business, whether in Fountain Valley or Hollywood or wherever they send me. As always, your opinions are the best information anyone could ask for. Several employees have joined this thread, and each one has the same goal in mind-to offer the best shopping experience in the industry. That might be lofty, but the people I've met that work in our stores are absolutely capable of that.

Keep sounding off and we'll keep listening!
Eli

sahiaman · 9th September 2008, 08:00 PM

Eli,

What is your opinion on the GC policy of not being able to demo the mics at your home/studio? A while ago I was able to demo some high end mics in my studio and return the ones I didn't care for. Now that employee that made it happen for me has left and I can't get another employee to do that for me anymore.

Gear buying for me is sometimes like test driving cars. I do take people's opinion on gear, but its limited to where I would want to try it myself and go from there. So when I want to try out some outboard gear I'm sh*t out of luck if they don't have it in stock, which is almost everything. You guys are suppose to be the biggest vendors around.

Which is why when I go home and visit family I always try and get myself over to Vintage King where they have pretty much everything and let me demo the shit out of it.

dasmetre · 10th September 2008, 01:11 AM

Sahiaman-

It's not really a GC policy- the state of California has a health code regarding wind instruments and their returns, and microphones fall into that category. That being said, I seriously doubt there are health code officials digging through transaction histories looking for those violations. I'd be happy to get you set up on a demo should you need it, just let me know.

Thanks for the post!

artbeat77 · 10th September 2008, 02:28 PM

I think that I can confidently say that most of the complaints here boil down to a lack of respect for the customer.

This past weekend I went to GC in Greensboro to pick up two felt bass drum beaters. I asked the guy behind the counter if I could check out the Pearl beater with plastic on one side and the sample of felt on the other and another all felt beater on a bass drum to hear the difference.

He asks why, so I tell him I want to hear how marked of a difference there is between the felts on the two beaters. He proceeds to tell me that they are both felt and I won't hear a difference - maybe between the plastic and felt, but not the two felt sides. Finally he gives me the 'whatever' look, and takes them both over to a drum (not letting me actually touch them).

He uses the all felt (boom, boom, boom), and then the Pearl felt (bim, bim, bim) and says, "See? No difference." I replied, "You didn't hear that? Do it again." He gives me another "Alllllllllllllllll-right" look (boom, boom, bim, bim). Then he says, "Hey! What do you know? They sound different."

Exactly. What do I know? A*hole.

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3rd June 2008, 01:07 AM	#362
joelpatterson Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Albany, New York Posts: 3,465	And anyone who's read the story will note that I was talked into this course of action by my friend, the unscrupulous sporting goods store owner. And anyway, the point of the tale was that the uppermost level of management, quite rightly, could give a good God damn! about one stinking pair of sunglasses vs. the opportunity to demonstrate their magnanimous nature. I can't COUNT the number of times I've sent free CDs to shady con artists with some leaky tale to tell-- it's just good business. __________________ Mountaintop Studios ~the peak of perfection~ Petersburgh NY 12138 mountaintop@taconic.net

3rd June 2008, 01:58 PM	#367
LoopQuantum Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 551	And.......drumroll........another thread is overtaken by the antics of Mr. Patterson. Popcorn Craving! At 9am no less! I can't think of much that is potentially more entertaining than two of our most dramatic heavyweights: Barry "I quit gearslutz because no one thinks I should run Digidesign" Johns, Vs. Joel "I'll say anything to get a rise" Patterson. Please guys, I implore you. Continue to act like children. I haven't been entertained with petty drivel on GS in toooooo long. __________________ ----------------------------------------------------- PIGEONS ARE THE RATS OF THE SKY!!!!

3rd June 2008, 05:47 PM	#371
olivia_nb Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: LA (Beagle Rock), CA Posts: 1,182	dangit, I'm starting to take this place waaaaaay too seriously, I need to go drink some coffee and chill out... sorry to anyone if I was getting up in your shiz... __________________ http://demo.olivianeutronbomb.com

5th September 2008, 08:15 PM	#380
joelpatterson Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Albany, New York Posts: 3,465	Godspeed to you Jay, I have a dream today... that Guitar Centers everywhere will become the hubs of the happening music scenes that every town has. Every time I set foot in the Albany, New York store, I either run into a fellow musician or engineer type person from around town, and this always leads to catching up, making connections, and hearing about new opportunities. We are all there because we can walk in and get whatever we want, pretty damn nearly, and the vibe is like a day-long, night-long jam session. The guys that work there are awesome people! Life before Guitar Center? Man-- it was grim! __________________ Mountaintop Studios ~the peak of perfection~ Petersburgh NY 12138 mountaintop@taconic.net

3rd June 2008, 02:46 PM	#368
christmasjones Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 669

20th June 2008, 05:46 AM	#375
dasmetre Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 135	it's been quiet here lately, so i wanted to let you guys know i'm still paying attention... happy recording! eli

20th June 2008, 05:51 AM	#376
whitepapagold Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Newport Beach, California Posts: 932	Never heard back on my special order request from Neumann... Though at this point I will obviously not be using your store... I followed up with the store once and you the manager once and still nothing... It seems its easier to write a thread about good service, than actually provide it... I contacted you directly on this weeks ago... And still everytime I go in the store, its a joke... But no worries, Im done Eli! Good luck with whatever it is you are trying to do... I find it hard to belive a word you say at this point though. And as you know I gave you a real try. Wasn't worth my time.

2nd July 2008, 11:02 PM	#377
gearaddict Lives for gear Join Date: May 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,051	I have had a few problems at GC in Saginaw, MI. The last time I had a problem was when I went in to get some op. cables for my adat..now..when I go in to GC..I have already talked to you guy's on GS about it..researched it on the net..found the lowest price.. and I know pretty much how the thing works..BEFOR I BUY IT...well this kid was showing me the cables and asked me " what are you useing the adat for" I said I got it so I could have an extra 8 i/o's on my digi 003 for outboard gear.he says " well bro..you know that you cant send a signal out of the 003 with that adat" (behringer ada8000..I know behringer) I tell him..umm yes you can.it only has xlr output's..but you can do it. he says" ummm dude im telling you it wont work"..I said look..First, im here for cables.. second, I think I know a little more about the sh*t I spend my money on than you do..I have been recording music befor you were even in school..now how about those cables...he was so pissed at me...he wouldnt even give me a deal on the cables!! So since that day I deal with only one guy..my wife went to school with him and he is a cool DUDE...his name is ED ..very helpful..no BS..! P.S....your new manager there is a stuck up ass..nobody that go's in there like's this prick...I bought a new BLUE bluebird one time and I looked at him and asked..can I get a couple bucks off this mic cable..he says "nothing here is free there wont be anymore deals"..what a punk!!

5th September 2008, 10:12 AM	#378
Jay Phelps Gear interested Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles/Orange County Posts: 6	Jay Phelps here, I'm the Keys/Recording Department Manager here at the Fountain Valley Guitar Center. Just wanted to invite everyone in our area to stop by and meet our new Store Manager if you haven't already, Mr. Jon Croft. Jon previously worked at the Hollywood store, and he's an awesome guy that I'm sure you'll love. Ask to meet him personally! I transferred to FV in the beginning of July and have begun to make some significant changes in Pro Audio. My favorite of them would be that I've got all the preamps racked up in the studio descending in price/quality all patched into a patch bay into PTHD. Most people wonder why a 737 or an LA610 is worth the extra $$ compared to a Eureka. Stop by and find out literally. Having this kind of thing should have been a no brainer!! Some people have commented about gear not being demo ready and I know for our store, the biggest challenge is keeping up with things being unplugged daily. Every night after close the keyboards, monitors, speakers, etc are now being checked to be sure they are demo ready. This is due to the fact that throughout the day (everyday) customers and employees unplug things for various reasons and do not plug them back. If something doesn't work, come find me. Sometimes, however, things temporarily don't work for reasons out of our control. (stolen PSU, recently damaged, etc) Like some people have said, there are plenty of things wrong with GC, some of which we have control over and others, we don't. Just know that here at FV, we're doing the best we can to staff a knowledgeable, friendly crew. If you have an unfavorable experience with one of my guys, please let me know. You're not required to work with one salesman or the other. If the person who's 'helping' you isn't helping, calmly find another associate who can. My best advice would be to try an establish a relationship with the guy/gal who you feel most comfortable with. Our goal is to help get you the right gear for your needs/budget, not to just be clerks to ring you up. I believe you'll have a much more positive experience at GC if you establish these relationships. Bottom line is, I'm a fellow engineer...just like you. But life is life, and I've got to pay the bills and legit staff positions here in CA are hard to come by. Since I've recently moved here to Cali, I'm up against a fierce new market and my freelance clientele isn't full time yet. Right now, GC is the only avenue where I can talk about the thing I love, and still get paid for it, even if it isn't a ton. I'd love to meet some fellow slutz so feel free to come in to bust my chops. I rarely find a customer who loves to talk about slutty gear so PLEASE, make my day! Mention you're from GS and I'll make sure you get a good deal. I'll keep my eye on this thread and pass along any comments to Jon. Feel free to PM, call the store, or email me at jay@jayphelps.com Thanks guys. Jay

5th September 2008, 10:25 AM	#379
Jay Phelps Gear interested Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles/Orange County Posts: 6	Almost forgot, I'm also hosting a first time Free Pro Tools Clinic here at the Fountain Valley GC Thursday, September 18th at 6:00PM Alex Solano from Digidesign and myself will be focusing on 101 level PT usage, covering everything from very basic usage to doing editing, midi, and giving tips on shortcuts. We'll also be demonstrating and discussing A.I.R. plugins from Digidesign such as Strike, Velvet, Hybrid, and Xpand. I invite anyone to stop on in to attend or simply just to meet Alex and myself. I've given this clinic many times at the store I use to work for, and everyone always finds it very helpful. Afterwards will be a chance for any Q&A you may have. Jay

9th September 2008, 06:32 PM	#383
dasmetre Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 135	Glad to see the thread still cruising along. Congrats to Jay-- he'll rock that department, and I'm sure that clinic will be a good time--if you're in the area check it out! I'm a Sales Manager at the Hollywood GC now, back home in L.A. I'm still on the unending mission to have a positive impact on our brand and this business, whether in Fountain Valley or Hollywood or wherever they send me. As always, your opinions are the best information anyone could ask for. Several employees have joined this thread, and each one has the same goal in mind-to offer the best shopping experience in the industry. That might be lofty, but the people I've met that work in our stores are absolutely capable of that. Keep sounding off and we'll keep listening! Eli

9th September 2008, 08:00 PM	#384
sahiaman Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 528	Eli, What is your opinion on the GC policy of not being able to demo the mics at your home/studio? A while ago I was able to demo some high end mics in my studio and return the ones I didn't care for. Now that employee that made it happen for me has left and I can't get another employee to do that for me anymore. Gear buying for me is sometimes like test driving cars. I do take people's opinion on gear, but its limited to where I would want to try it myself and go from there. So when I want to try out some outboard gear I'm sh*t out of luck if they don't have it in stock, which is almost everything. You guys are suppose to be the biggest vendors around. Which is why when I go home and visit family I always try and get myself over to Vintage King where they have pretty much everything and let me demo the shit out of it. __________________ "If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right."

10th September 2008, 01:11 AM	#385
dasmetre Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 135	Sahiaman- It's not really a GC policy- the state of California has a health code regarding wind instruments and their returns, and microphones fall into that category. That being said, I seriously doubt there are health code officials digging through transaction histories looking for those violations. I'd be happy to get you set up on a demo should you need it, just let me know. Thanks for the post!

10th September 2008, 02:28 PM	#386
artbeat77 Gear addict Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 466	I think that I can confidently say that most of the complaints here boil down to a lack of respect for the customer. This past weekend I went to GC in Greensboro to pick up two felt bass drum beaters. I asked the guy behind the counter if I could check out the Pearl beater with plastic on one side and the sample of felt on the other and another all felt beater on a bass drum to hear the difference. He asks why, so I tell him I want to hear how marked of a difference there is between the felts on the two beaters. He proceeds to tell me that they are both felt and I won't hear a difference - maybe between the plastic and felt, but not the two felt sides. Finally he gives me the 'whatever' look, and takes them both over to a drum (not letting me actually touch them). He uses the all felt (boom, boom, boom), and then the Pearl felt (bim, bim, bim) and says, "See? No difference." I replied, "You didn't hear that? Do it again." He gives me another "Alllllllllllllllll-right" look (boom, boom, bim, bim). Then he says, "Hey! What do you know? They sound different." Exactly. What do I know? A*hole.