Had it with GC. When will I ever learn.

[marc61]

Purchased an American Standard P-bass last Saturday. Changed strings to a lighter gauge, so of course there was a problem with the action. I can adjust a truss rod, but I figured since I had 30 days to return it, I'd rather they make the first adjustment, as what if the rod breaks, or is already broken. So I take it back, and they can't find the right tool to adjust it with.

Salesman's suggestion: put back on the old strings then, bring it back when their tech is there, and he'll fix it. I told him I'd rather not put the old strings back on, as they could be weak and break. He starts joking around with a guy near him how it is impossible to break a bass string. Then I explained to him that I've broken bass strings, and I've seen excellent bass players who've broken strings. He continues to joke and says stuff like "What did you do? Use the bass as bow and arrow?".

I decided I had enough, and just asked for my money back, got it and walked out. No more GC for me.

[Scastles]

Can't blame you. Outside of picks or maybe, strings, no point in going there.

[beatlefreak]

Yep - I only use them or strings and cheap accessories.

[collin]

My main issue with Guitar Center is the staff not knowing a damn thing about instruments.

To make matters worse, they react to their ignorance with indignation and disrespect. How uncouth!

Sometimes I reconsider working there, only so that the place would have ONE person who knows what's going on....(not to toot my own horn...)

[jimk]

All of the above make me very glad there isn't one of those stores close by me. Lawrence may not be Portland, but the absence of GC certainly seems to improve this place.
JimK

[Danotron]

GC has it's uses outside of strings and things...............................

With their used stuff, sometimes they don't know a lot about what they have. You can get some good deals.

Of course, on the other side, sometimes they think they have something really special when they don't, and price it way high.

I have 2 GC's within 20 minutes of me and I like to stop in from time to time.

you never know what you'll find.

[kiramdear]

They still have a GC in San Francisco but I don't believe I've been in there since the day I bought my 320 (early '83)

They were actually a decent outfit in those days. I even worked for them one summer in '75 when I learned that sales jobs were just not something I was cut out for. Jeez, it sounds like they've turned into the Home Depot of rock 'n' roll gear any more .

[wj350]

I'll never understand the "wisdom" of sales staff making jokes at a customer's expense.

I do use the tech at our GC quite a bit--every guitar I've taken to him comes back playing and sounding fantastic--well, fantastic considering the skill of the player, LOL. I'[ve nto had any purchase dealings with them, but the two guys who work the guitar section I see most often seem pretty decent.

[jingle_jangle]

They still have a GC in San Francisco but I don't believe I've been in there since the day I bought my 320 (early '83)

They were actually a decent outfit in those days. I even worked for them one summer in '75 when I learned that sales jobs were just not something I was cut out for. Jeez, it sounds like they've turned into the Home Depot of rock 'n' roll gear any more .

That GC is exactly a one and one half block walk from my office, so it's where I buy cheap strings and picks, and have fun negotiating with the Squiddly staff on accessories and stuff. I've never bought a guitar there.

Last Friday I need to pick up a cheap Valvetronix amp for a development project I'm working on. So I pop in (quickly, I thought) and find out that the one I want is, of course, out of stock. I figured that, as long as I was there, I'd order one and get back to my office in five minutes.

Wrong.

A new salesman, who took fifteen minutes to get a price match when I questioned the logic of the amp I wanted costing more than the next largest one on their price sheets. His supervisor, who grabbed my credit card and left the sales counter to process it (who teaches these numnutz characters?) and then knocked the price down another $30.00 arbitrarily (thus negating the fifteen minutes I waited for the other guy)...and the whole time there were three wannabees having a "Marshall Dude on 11" war. I asked the "supervisor" how he could stand working there.

He said, "What???"

The amp's supposed to come in tomorrow. I wonder if it will.

[goofyfoot]

I stay away from.........

[JakeK]

I never go to Guitar Center. When I'm in New Orleans, I usually make my time worthwhile and go to International Vintage Guitars. Much better than GC, all around.

[ozover50]

They still have a GC in San Francisco but I don't believe I've been in there since the day I bought my 320 (early '83)

I've been to that one a few times myself. The first time I was looking for a case for the Gretsch Duo Jet that Paul was building for me. The guy who assisted me was actually quite helpful and pulled a few cases out. The last time I virtually had to scream and jump up and down to get somebody to understand that I actually wanted to spend some money.... the dudes behind the accessory counter were too busy jamming!!

[whojamfan]

Yeah, GC, what a fun and knowledgable place. Way, way too many years ago I went in to the one in Hollywierd,(when it was on the other side of the street),all Modded out, specifically to check out a fireglo 330. The joker sales idiot tells me Rix are for chix and Beatles, and grabs some monstrosity with more angles than an ambulance chaser. Rather than get angry, I laughed 'till I was hoarse-telling the guy his name must be Tommy because he was obviously deaf, dumb, and blind. Was I wearing spandex? Did I have a perm and makeup? Helps to really know your customer base, as well as not to come right out and talk down to people, especially when you work commission.

I will say, if I have a chance, I will drop in one just to see what they have. I don't have a big music store anywhere near where I live, so I'll stop in any store I can. GC is always the same, walk in optomistic, walk out quick with the little cheap stuff you get all the time, or walk out wondering if you just left the proctologists office

[cjj]

I went to a Guitar Center once.... Just once.

[ram]

I don't do GC... and for the record - I have broken an ocassional bass string - just playing - no bows and arrows