I was just wondering what kind of experiences people here have had with GuitarCenter? Good bad or whatever.
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GuitarCenter
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 wheatlands |
GuitarCenter |
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Parlor
Posts: 22 April 1, 2008 15:49:04 |
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Arjensbag |
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00
Posts: 190 April 1, 2008 16:50:28
Buy & Sell
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Have to say mine have been good thou I was just in the looking phase. now they have a fair selection thou not consistant from store to store.
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ragtime man |
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Concert
Posts: 917 April 1, 2008 22:08:28
Northwest Lounge
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wheatlands wrote: Both good and bad. I have talked to some folks there that really know their stuff and I have talked with some that are making it up as they go. I hate it
when someone tells me something that I know to be not true so I will string them along to see where they are going with it. On the other hand I have had folks
say they don't know something and go get someone or try to get me an answer. Then I have folks that just down right know what they are talking about. So
I think it depends on where you are and who you are talking to. I always do my own research before I go into Guitar Center so that I most likely will know as
much as someone who is trying to get me to buy something.
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billy550 |
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Parlor
Posts: 3 April 2, 2008 09:21:14 |
I have done quite a lot of business with my local guitar center and like ragtime man said, it would be a good idea to do your research before you get there.
Also, I might add that for musical instruments, they will almost always give you a better price then what they have advertised. good luck--------Billy
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omegaman41658 |
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0M
Posts: 678 April 3, 2008 08:31:11 BGMF Founder "Fame is but a fruit tree" Nick Drake
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Guitar Center has gone downhill since they were taken private by private
equity firm Bain Capital about a year ago. They fired good personnel, hired cheaper ones. And they spread some of the good empoyees around to their expanded
presence leaving stores with maybe one or two decent salespeople. Inventory in the "B" location stores is awful. Low retail action=low levels of
quality. I don't go there much anymore. Dirty-ish inventory too. There are about 3 within 15 miles of my home. Isn't one enough?
Last Edited By: omegaman41658 April 3, 2008 08:43:23.
Edited 1 time.
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aspenbaker |
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Parlor
Posts: 13 April 3, 2008 09:38:34 |
My experience with GC is good, but i have taken the time to cultivate some relationships with the sales folks there and the manager of the closest store. They, like any other retailer has constant ongoing inventory management problems. So, in January and February, inventory was poor. Lately they have had a great selection of instruments, from Breedlove and others. Not only that, but when I was buying my Atlas, they were able to look at inventory from all over the country to find the instrument, and then they shipped it between stores at no charge for me. Sure there are times that they don't have what I want when I want it. But in general I have had a good experience with GC.
Sam Baker
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Greg F |
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00
Posts: 185 April 3, 2008 11:59:29 |
I'm kind of like the local celebrity at GC because they all saw my picture on the Breedlove website from the extraordinary experience trip I took a couple
years ago. So I take advantage of the royal treatment.
 Other
than that I think that at least here in Ft Myers....the sales people could use a little education in what they're selling. Most of them make out to be
"highly skilled" musicians and gear techs but they don't have a clue the majority of the time. The instruments are handled way to much and by
kids that just want to play a name brand and sit there for an hour and shred. I go in and want to shop without all the death metal going on in the background!
I bought my strat there when this store opened and ticked the salesman off when I wouldn't accept the one that was hanging on the rack with all the little
goober fingerprints and drool all over it. I had him get me one in the box. Hey I'm not paying $1200 for an abused floor model! Otherwise...it's a
reasonably priced store for strings and such and if I happen to remember my earplugs I'll go in and make a purchase.
Greg |
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Capt06 |
Highly dependant on the store and/or salesperson. | #7 | ||
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Parlor
Posts: 53 April 5, 2008 07:48:24 |
At worst they can be terrible and unscrpulus. At best they are OK for a high pressure/sales environment. I've been there and thought I would never go back because I hated its loud, acoustic unfriendly, I didn't make as a rock star, have no sales skills, environment. However, I did return to buy some instruments. Before I went back I prepared mentally to make sure my BS filter was working properly and was engaged! Do your research and be prepared. |
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powerandwisdom |
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Gatekeeper Concert
Posts: 996 April 5, 2008 20:58:24
Guitar & Technique
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Like any retail store, the quality of the experience depends hugely on the manager and the standards they demand from their staff. My experiences (looking
only) have been mixed accordingly.
Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a
fire. -William Butler Yeats
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pastorgumbie |
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Parlor
Posts: 8 April 11, 2008 08:21:44 |
Yes... yes... and YES! To all of the above! I've given Guitar Centers probably $20,000. in business over the years; building sound systems for the churches
that i've served & buying instruments. They push the stuff that they have on you for obvious reasons... to get it out of the store! They don't
stock the higher end stuff a lot of the times. They lay on the BS too! It's all about the almighty dollar! Isn't that the American way???
I just completed a survey from GC - which validates the comment above about them being bought out; mergers & aquisitions. They promised to send me a gift certificate upon completion of my opinions. Still waiting... peace |
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wheatlands |
Guitar center | #10 | ||
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Parlor
Posts: 22 April 11, 2008 20:10:26 |
I guess what it boils down to is buyer beware. So far I have had very good luck with them. One of the people that I talked to about an amp said that he had
just started and didn't have much experience, and called over someone else. One thing that I do like is that you have 30 days to return what you bought, no
questions asked, for either a refund or exchange. I started with an Atlas, then traded up to the Pro C25, and then traded for the Pro D25, without any
problems. The reason I asked the question in the first place is because in some of the other forums GC really gets bashed. Nothing against the other forums,
but I respect the opinions here a little more.
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pastorgumbie |
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Parlor
Posts: 8 April 12, 2008 10:17:25 |
In truth, GC being a big company owned enterprise, is good about taking back stuff. I give credit to that. I like their flexibility w/ payment plans too.
I still shop there over any other place... peace |
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pastorgumbie |
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Parlor
Posts: 8 April 28, 2008 15:32:47 |
Guitar center sales people are a bunch of vultures! it must be all commission based... buyer beware!
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omegaman41658 |
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0M
Posts: 678 April 28, 2008 23:45:59 BGMF Founder "Fame is but a fruit tree" Nick Drake
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pastorgumbie wrote: Good lord.
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Munga Brown |
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Parlor
Posts: 60 April 29, 2008 08:12:29 |
Maybe there's a bit of confusion, either on my end or the Pastor's... Maybe he's speaking as Gumby... Maybe as Pokey... Maybe he's speaking in
tongue... Odd posts, for sure. Multiple viewpoints in multiple categories. Or, again, maybe it's me...!
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