Bye Bye Guitar Center

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Tue Feb 22, 2005 4:18 pm

This was posted by a member at Birds and Moons PRS forum, thought some of you might like to see it:

There has always been trouble between GC & Ricky. There were rumblings of this when I first started there 4-1/2 years ago & there were still rumors 1-1/2 years ago when I left. Strangely enough, this time I think Ricky's the big part of the problem. There is a cocky attitude that seems to reside in everyone I've ever talked to there.

In '98 when I called them(as a consumer) they were very evasive about giving me an authorization number for a warrantee issue(finish checking on the neck of an 8 month old guitar!) & that evasivness morphed into rudeness. After the guitar was returned, they said they would call me in 2 weeks with a determination. After waiting 3 weeks for a call, I called & was told to call in a week,..I did & was repetedly told to call in another week. Finally after 6 weeks(& 12 minutes on hold, long distance, no 800#) I was told that it HAD been refinished & would be returned in a couple of weeks after the finish had seasoned &, "would you please not call this number any more, we want to keep it open for PAYING customers"! Their attitude is pretty much, we're small, family-owned & constantly backordered. You need us, we don't need you.When I called from GC, as a dealer, I was told, "Call again later, we're very busy now"
Don't get me wrong, I love my 370/12VP, but don't appreciate being treated like a paeon!
Given the current status of GC's attitude, from my sources, & that of Ricky's, from my experience, it sounds like they were made from each other!

roadrunners · Post by **roadrunners** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 4:34 am

Ive got a couple of stories.......One time my friend ordered a 325C58 and (for some reason) called the company to ask how long it would take or if they started production.....and a guy answered who sounded like he was stoned.....and he kind of mutterd for a while.....Thats the only trouble ive ever had with rick...

but guitar center...........ha!

10 months ago when searching around for the same 325C58 with a friend.....i Found 4 ricks in the store....a 4001 1972 (priced at $2500)....nothing special not in very good condition.....a 650 Dakota (priced at $1300....) brand new, nothing unusual about it.....a 325c58 with broken kauffman and large chip in headstock (priced at 3100$)...and one more a 1967 335 fireglo...(3600$) and the last one and first on are still there

pretty bad.......

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:28 am

Pardon me, but your friend called . . . somebody here muttered . . . so you have "trouble" with us?

I guess it's time to dust off the "no muttering or sounding stoned" memo again.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:58 am

My only experience with Ric on a warranty issue could not have gone better. My '97 4003 developed cracks in the inlays about a year after I bought it. When I called customer service the lady I dealt with was very nice/professional and I was given a return authorization number immediately. Total turnaround time was less than month (including 10 days in transit) and the repair was top notch.......it even looks as though the whole bass was resprayed (or touched up) since I had several small imperfections that were my fault that I didn't expect to be repaired. I was very pleased with the results/service!

I probably have called Ric customer service every two months over the last 4 years looking for updates on 4004LK production and the reps are always courteous/pleasant and get back to me quickly (if need be). Someday they may be courteous/pleasant AND tell me what I would like to hear

.....just trying to balance the negative with a positive !

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 9:13 am

I haven't had much success with warranty issues, but there is no point rehashing all that.

I would say that I would be extremely ****** if, as a result of Ric pulling the plug on my dealer, my ordered guitars never showed up. Unless Rickenbacker made accomodations so I could reorder the same guitar (including OOP colors, similar pricing, and without another extended delivery time) that would probably end my dealings with the guitar company for good.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 9:21 am

I wonder if, judging from what everybody's said in this thread, anybody here ever did end up placing an order for a Rick at GC recently?

Doesn't sound like it...

Sounds more like maybe GC saw the writing on the wall (stock and push mercilessly that which turns rapidly) and stopped encouraging sales of Rickenbackers.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 10:26 am

I almost ordered a BB last year at a close GC and the salesman who has been there a long time and who I had bought several Rics from in the past didn't really seem very knowledgable and quoted me the same price for a BB as for all other colors. His attitude and lack of knowledge made me leave and order it from Mike Parks who is VERY helpful and knowledgable. I have been going in there for several years asking where the Ric basses were and have gotten different answers but it was always Ric's fault, haha!
As far as Ric being uncourteous I don't buy it, I've always been treated well when I have called.
I almost ordered a jetglo 4003 FL with black trim maybe 4-5 years ago, the salesman from GC called up and got someone on the phone and talked to several people and waited about 20 minutes and they told him they happened to have one all ready to go like that that could be made fretless or something like that, I forgot the details but Ric were more than eager to please. I got the feeling they actually checked with someone on the floor in the department or something like that, unfortunately I didn't have the cash at that point and GC wouldn't let me put it on layaway for some reason so I had to let it go.

spencer · Post by **spencer** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 10:41 am

"I guess it's time to dust off the "no muttering or sounding stoned" memo again."

Aw, **** - there goes, um, my hopes to work for, uh, Rickenbacker someday...Dude...bummer...you gonna pass that or what...yeah, that sucks dude, I guess, uh, they don't need me, uh, anyway...man.

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 12:47 pm

I thought the announcement on the Rick site pretty much said it all: "...designed to suit sales of commodity goods rather than craftsman-produced products like ours" GC is more of a commodity goods dealer, and I've bought quite a few commodities from them over the years. I found that there are always young musicians working at GC who are not too well informed -- but I wasn't either when I was their age. I wish I knew of a Rick dealer in Dallas who has stock to try out (for an earlier poster), but unfortunately I don't since Rockville Music closed. I understand completely about "try before you buy" but I've had very good luck with Mike Parks, and I feel that with a product like Rickenbackers, I can rely on getting a fine guitar without trying it first. I've bought four Rickys from Mike, two guitars and two basses, and nobody's getting them away from me! I would never do this with a Fender though...

bmi_guy · Post by **bmi_guy** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 12:58 pm

Gene - I was a definite play before ya' buy kinda person. However, after looking at several new RICs, I'd have to agree with you. I looked at 8 guitars the last time I was at the local dealer and they were all quality - not a penny's worth of difference. RIC is spoiling us with fine instruments!!
I hear ya' on the Fender...

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 3:45 pm

Most of the time when you buy a guitar or bass from Guitar Center, you don't get the accessories that are supposed to come with it...case, warranty card, polishing cloth, etc. They unpack guitars to hang on the walls and misplace or keep some items and sell cases separately.

chris_scruggs · Post by **chris_scruggs** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 8:24 am

A friend of mine went to buy an American made '62 Fender Precision reissue in Olympic White for $950 (it was a close out. They're usually $1250 or so) at Guitar Center here in Nashville. When he went to pay for it, the checkout guy was shocked. The salesman said,"$1000?! You know, for that much money you could almost buy a Warwick!" Not to discredit Warwick, or praise Fender, but this GC guy seemed to think an ugly, pointy, green Warwick was more impressive than something as standard and classic as the first commercially produced bass guitar.

Needless to say, my friend smiled and completed the transaction with the Fender.

chris_scruggs · Post by **chris_scruggs** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 8:39 am

As far as GC loosing there dealership, I wouldn't be suprised if the price-dropped 325c58's had something to do with that. I believe Fender and Gibson have limits as to how low a dealer can sell a new product, as it cheapens the name and reputation of the company. Even for those who didn't get a $750 325c58 last Labor Day (gosh, I wish I had!), how many 325's do you think the small mom and pop shops that play by the rules and can't afford to take a loss have sold since then? I'm sure most folks that presently want a 325 are still searching on Ebay and online classifieds for the marked-up, formerly GC ones. After hearing of that sale, I don't think I'd buy a new c58 for $1799 like they were supposed to sell for. Heck, all I can think of is the lucky folks who went in there and got one in each color for LESS than that price.

Practices like that cannibalize a manufactures future product. If I were RIC, I'd be fuming over that one.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sat Mar 12, 2005 11:11 am

Interesting, Chris. Over here the manufacturers and/or distributors publish the manufacturer's recommended price or retail price (MRP or RRP). With that they must clearly state that 'there is no obligation by any party to comply with such recommendation'.

The Retail Price Maintenance Act was introduced a number of years ago to protect dealers and end users from 'price fixing' by manufacturers and collusion amongst them to maintain similar end-user price points. Doesn't happen in the musical instrument industry because there aren't a number of makers of the same product but it certainly has and does in the petroleum and food industries. Oil companies have been fined millions for collusion in the past.

A retailer can sell anything he wants at any price and the manufacturer has no recourse on that. It is illegal for them to force retailers to comply or indeed refuse supply of product on that basis.

However, if a retailer advertises or publishes a price which in the opinion of the manufacturer is derogatory to the product and its standing in the market, supply can be refused and if necessary an injuction sought to stop the publication of those prices. In-store ticket pricing does not fall under the 'advertising' banner. If it can be proven that the price published was 'the going price' (ie. other dealers have advertised at the same price) then he/she is safe provided there was no collusion.

Of course the dealer can advertise any price with the blessing of the manufacturer (ie. stock runouts, fire sales, etc.).

But the manufacturer can often get around this my making sure he's 'always out of stock' of a product and can make things very difficult if they wish, especially if the dealer has a slightly dodgy payment record (things like 'COD' and 'payment before delivery' are not uncommon in these circumstances.

Cheers

chris_scruggs · Post by **chris_scruggs** » Sun Mar 13, 2005 8:18 pm

Howard,

Somebody else recently told me more or less the same thing. It was just my speculation, and I hope I didn't start any rumors with that one!

Chris Scruggs