[Popsyche]

Originally Posted by The Dark Wolf

Wow, Shawn actually had some negative shit to say for once! Of course, at the end, he nicely and politely thanks us. Shawn, I love you dude. You're a trip.


Any rate, as to your post. I can totally see your point. I HATE, HATE, HATE that shit, too. And I feel about the same way. Fucking sales douches... they've turned selling music instruments into fucking McDonalds. In the old days, it was about service and quality. Sure... you tended to pay through the roof for it , but hey.


I avoid those places generally, do most of my reviews and buying via the Internet. Saves me a lot of hassle, and it's cheaper.

Those people aren't salesmen. they aren't trained to be a salesman. They're kid musicians off of the street that are underpaid and forced to make unrealistic numbers in order to "succeed". When one actually can sell, he can make it all the way up to second assistant manager on the days that no one comes in.

[Shawn]

True. They all looked like they were 19 years old. They looked important too, i'll give them that but come on, i've been playing guitar for 17 years. I know my shit. One of the guys saw me looking at an all white BC Rich Warlock. He asked me if I was interested but before that he told me a story of how great they are made now these days and how great the guitar was. They were asking 299.99 for it and it had a Made In China sticker on the back. I was just looking at it.

Then, as I walked pass an Ibanez 7321 (shitty one), they told me that it was Ibanez's best 7-string ever. Funny shit.

Some of the kids there didn't even know what a UV was.

What I like about Daddy's is that their inventory can change alot and they always have great used guitars too. I guess i'll go there to try out an EJ Strat.

I did buy something at GC though, a guitar stand. Of course, they had to know where I lived so they can send me junk mail. The guitar stand was a good though. I will post a pic of it soon.

[GH0STrider]

Guitar center sucks hard. they opened a new one where I live not to long ago and I though of going there for a job just so they had someone educated on what they were trying to sell. The last thing I would try and sell anyone is a pos bc rich made in china. Thou shall not fuck over a fellow player. that should be the code for all musicians. Apparently gc will never get that concept.

[Stitch]

I'm hearing all of this and I've been there but I think a big part of it is the fact that these 18/19 year old kids don't give a shit. They are just all hyped up to be working in a guitar shop. I'm 18, I've been working in our shop for two and a half years now, and I'd say that between me and my friend/colleague Ryan we are the only two left that have a clue about guitars. Its all about enthusiasm. I'm not a good guitar player by any stretch of the imagination, but I know enough about gear and have played enough different things to know what I am talking about. I learn about the stuff I need to know about. I have a near encyclopedic knowledge of Fender, Gibson and G&L even thought they hold little interest for me. If these kids would learn shit outside of there work hours they could be great, but they go off to drink beer and play System of A Down.

In the process they give all 18 year olds working in guitar shops a bad name. I get so much shit from customers looking down on me because of my age, but it's always nice to one up them with Ibanez knowledge and especially when they find out that I am the one who set up their guitar just they like it for slide in Open E. Thats right, the spotty kid over there in the camo shorts and long hair singing along to Necrophagist does know how to do something...prick.

Sorry for the rant.

[Shawn]

Preach on, Stitch!

Pics of the stand I bought, at least I got somewhat of a good deal.

[tonyhell]

Yeah, I like my guitar centers around here. There used to be this kid that would follow me around and try to sell me stuff, but he doesn't even look at me anymore!

The only thing I find annoying is the kids that go in there to play their stupid riffs over and over and over.

[TheMissing]

Originally Posted by The Dark Wolf

Fucking sales douches... they've turned selling music instruments into fucking McDonalds. In the old days, it was about service and quality.

This is why I never lasted long as an employee there. I could never bring myself down to their level, I talked straight with the customer, tried to find out what it was HE/SHE wanted, and then let them know everything I knew about the item. Mind you, I wasn't pretending to know everything, just letting them know everything I can tell them, and they in turn give me more info back, so I learn as well.

I was always referred to as the 'nice one' by customers, because I talked to them like fellow musicians, not customers.

It's unfortunate, but being a douchebag sells gear. And I could never pretend to be a douchebag even if I tried.

[ShawnFjellstad]

the guitar center nearest to me is actually pretty cool.
the guitar and amp selection there isn't amazing, but doesn't suck either, and the employees (at least the ones i talk to) are really nice and don't try to force me into anything.

[Randy]

Originally Posted by tonyhell

The only thing I find annoying is the kids that go in there to play their stupid riffs over and over and over.

I'm not a fan of the people who go in there to shred at full volume,just to show off, and then leave without buying anything.

[BigM555]

I can't complain.

I've had a few of them dog me over the years. I've had a few give me the look of disdain when I wanted to try that $3k Gibby off the top shelf. But overall I can deal with it. GC certainly isn't unique in these attitudes.

My most recent experience was, mostly, a good one.

I called to find out how long the faded V's would be on sale and/or how many they had in stock because I knew I would be traveling back that way in a couple of weeks and the price was pretty killer. Sam on the other end of the phone says "Well, let me see what I can do for you." and gives me an even more killer price PLUS no taxes!

Since they only had two in stock and were getting no more he even offered to put it on layaway until I came back. No commitment. No up front payment. Nada.

Now I know that he was busting all this out to make a sale and capitalize on some commission but why should that bother me when he cut such a good deal?

The actual purchasing experience could have been a little better. The guitar I settled on had a loose output jack and I requested it be put right before I left because I wouldn't be around any of my own tools for the rest of the week and I had plans to play it. He and his other schmo (no offense Stitchy) jacked around with it (pun intended) for almost an hour (in the absence of a real tech) before I was satisfied. They never did really fix it right but it was good enough and I knew I'd tweak it myself (or replace it) when I got it home.

Anyway, I know it's fun to slam GC and they certainly have their faults, but they also sometimes have some killer deals on gear. Why not take advantage?

Just don't go in expecting the red carpet and infinite expertise.