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Guitar center is going under!
- Thread starter Sunset Shalom
- Start date
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- center guitar center
Same here. Seeing high resolution pictures of the actual instrument, as well as the weight, is invaluable.
Fair enough. I typically spend around a grand on music gear in a year, so a guaranteed 5% or more discount that could be added on top of any other promo they're running could save me a couple hundred a year. Of course this is all speculation but done right it could be worth it for some buyers.
I recently used that 45 day return policy on used gear and they were great about it.
Didn't read the whole topic, but I've been following the GC debacle for a few years now. This guy hasn't commented on the most recent news, but he's periodically written on GC quite informatively and bridged some of the gap between financial and regular folks like me.
Guitar Center Archives - Eric Garland
The long and short is that they've been in a bad place for a long time but like so many big companies there's been enough big players invested in them that they continued to get various forms of financial bailouts or stays-of-execution. If they really do finally die this year I won't be surprised, but neither will I be surprised if they find some way to limp on for another couple years.
As for those hoping that the death of GC will bring on a renaissance of affordable mom-n-pop shops, you're dreaming. A few may pop up in areas that GC abandons, but the internet isn't going to stop stomping on Brick-n-mortar if GC disappears.
Guitar Center Archives - Eric Garland
The long and short is that they've been in a bad place for a long time but like so many big companies there's been enough big players invested in them that they continued to get various forms of financial bailouts or stays-of-execution. If they really do finally die this year I won't be surprised, but neither will I be surprised if they find some way to limp on for another couple years.
As for those hoping that the death of GC will bring on a renaissance of affordable mom-n-pop shops, you're dreaming. A few may pop up in areas that GC abandons, but the internet isn't going to stop stomping on Brick-n-mortar if GC disappears.
I returned a S520 Ibanez on the 43rd day. When the weather changed it started going wonky, requiring tuning twice/day due to a 2 degree change in temperature
Too bad, it is a stunning guitar:
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
There is no requirement that someone be a paying member - if you want to do so, it grants you more privileges - that's all.
This is a for-profit business, not a service to us bass players. Becoming a "supporting member" merely means that I put money into the owner's pockets - not that we are any more altruistic. When there are times where I need the services, I become a paying member, so that I can post things for sale.
Havent been impressed with there bass department in a long time. And the liquidation companies wont sell you anything good at a great price. They will actually ship crap in just to sell.
I recently bought a Genz Benz Neo 112 from the GC half an hour south of me. I liked it so much I traded it in for the 212 version at the GC half an hour north of me on the 45 day. No questions asked.
I liked this but am now feeling guilty that I have been posting without renewing :-(
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Why? Becoming a supporting member allows you to use the Lobby, post items for sale in the classified, and a few more do-hickeys. If you don't want to buy things in Sam's Club, you don't pay the membership. If you aren't buying groceries, you don't give money to the grocery store. Again, if you are not using those services, there is no reason to pay the money. This is a public site.
Mom n pop stores carrying gear you can afford at good prices will not come back if GC goes under. Period.
Two good friends of mine own a mom n pop. They started out carrying nicer gear and providing great customer service. These days, live music gear is almost an annoyance to them. The only things that sell are entry level pieces and they only sell them to people who have money burning a hole in their pocket and can't wait 48 hours for an internet order to arrive for 15% less than they have to charge. Their profits come from church, school and commercial PA installs as well as band and orchestra rentals and maintenance contracts. They make virtually nothing on the kinds of gear we here at TB frequently use. They honestly wish they could drop all of that stuff but it creates foot traffic. Guy comes in for a new microphone for his church and you sell him a new PA install. Guy comes in for guitar strings and you sell his band a new compact PA system. That's the only thing basses and guitars and amps are good for in their world. Starter packs this time of year makes them about $12 a pop. Hardly worth stocking the 30 or 40 they will stock. But they do it hoping this young guitar players come back and buy a PA in 5 years or their mother signs their sister up for a flute rental.
The nearest GC is 75 miles away. What kills the market for them now is the interwebz.
I'm not beating up the interwebz or cryijng for mom n pop stores either. I like the free market just the way it is. Some survive and some don't. But their competing for our business always works out for us in the long run. It wouldn't hurt my feelings at all to see Fender Pro Player and Rumble stuff in Sam's Club for a hundy less than GC sold it for. D'addario XL Nickels and Chromes for $9.95 a set on the shelf at Wal-Mart? Sign me up!
I don't need a dear old friend with a smile and a cup of coffee waiting on me when I go to buy a bag of orange picks and a Fast Fret. I don't have time for the coffee anyway.
Man, so depressing.
6 string piccolo bass?I returned a S520 Ibanez on the 43rd day. When the weather changed it started going wonky, requiring tuning twice/day due to a 2 degree change in temperature
Too bad, it is a stunning guitar:
View attachment 2844169
Uggh. That was not my experience at any music store during that time. Same as it ever was for me. I can count on one hand the "good" experiences. Most of the time it's disappointing. Crappy, rude service, or lack thereof. Crowded, loud, and cramped. Rarely a decent environment for demo'ing, and rarely a friendly or knowledgeable place for asking questions or timely service at the counter. Definitely not the place for just running in and getting strings. My wife at one point forbid me for going to any GC, because I would always get so pissed. But she hated big chain instrument stores for similar reasons, too. She's not a musician, so there never was a draw for her to go, anyway.
Maybe I'm just not GC's target market.
I don't really have any ire against GC in particular. My experience has been similar at mom and pop stores, too.
I think both instruments and cabs are different enough and I am picky enough that I would not just outright buy a cab or an instrument without playing it first, so, with a few exceptions, I would not buy either just from a picture.
That's been my experience as well. They have one of the best return policies in the industry too.
What sold me on them first though was that folks I know who are in or have been on the professional side of the music business have such trust in Sweetwater.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Under that business model, you are not paying so they can sell you something. You are paying so you can test drive equipment that you could not try otherwise. Just like Costco you pay in order to get access to products and prices not available elsewhere.
No, but I am assuming you can go there and drink a lot of wine, not buy anything and leave.