Guitar center messed up my used order

[Killed_by_Death]

$60 off for smash-up like that is ridiculous, unless you only paid $200 for it, which I doubt.
I wonder if they had any intention of sending the OP the case if the kept it.

Correction- UPS messed up your order.

It might not have been damaged if it had been in the case that was supposed to come with it.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I love my GC's (three in my area), and I routinely take them for a serious ride and save lots of money, they generally bend over backwards to fix a problem, and they provide lots of freebies and discounts just to win your loyalty, but their entire online "Used" department approach really needs to be improved. Most of the problems I've had with GC have been in the Used area, and a few were outright screwings where I never got satisfaction and that should never happen.

The trouble with Used is it requires the kind of care we TB'ers would show each other, from start to finish, with the exception that the average GC employee doesn't care nearly that much, and the GC online system has some serious bugs and counter-intuitive paradoxes built in. Word.

OP will get his satisfaction, they will make it right, but still a giant PITA IMHO.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah everyone.

As I mentioned in another comment, I shop regularly on GC Used. I've actually bought items and sold at a modest profit. Not flipping-- just didn't like the product. Here's a little tip I've learned. When you buy online a used item, there is always a listing of which store is selling and a phone number. I usually call the phone number (one my dime) and talk to whoever is in charge. I explain that I'm about ready to pull the trigger on an item, and if I could have a visual inspection and description over the phone. Then I call back after I've ordered, and explain that I just bought an item, and could they pack it carefully for me? It's worked every time, except one time when I didn't call. But all in all, for shopping from the end of the trail in Alaska, a good experience.

 

[DuluthDank]

I'm pretty satisfied with what went down. I started out on such a bad foot with that bass (through no fault of the bass itself) that just cutting ties felt good. When they came back and low-balled the discount it was actually kind of a relief. No more thinking about how I'm going to get that case or if it's worth patching that dent up. I'm on the market for another Lakland and might end up paying more next time, but if I were in a financial position to stress too much about that I'd be better off going for a Squire in the first place. As for GC used, I'm still happy with it and will use it again. It's all about the return policy.

 

[electracoyote]

As I mentioned in another comment, I shop regularly on GC Used. I've actually bought items and sold at a modest profit. Not flipping-- just didn't like the product. Here's a little tip I've learned. When you buy online a used item, there is always a listing of which store is selling and a phone number. I usually call the phone number (one my dime) and talk to whoever is in charge. I explain that I'm about ready to pull the trigger on an item, and if I could have a visual inspection and description over the phone. Then I call back after I've ordered, and explain that I just bought an item, and could they pack it carefully for me? It's worked every time, except one time when I didn't call. But all in all, for shopping from the end of the trail in Alaska, a good experience.

This is a great suggestion, and important for anyone ordering a used item from GC long distance. You can't be too careful.

For the record, I have followed that exact line of instruction and still been burned. Twice.

I know this from working in music retail myself: When an employee wants to pull a fast one, the customer gets screwed.

I even experienced it with a used item right in my neighborhood. Drove the 10 minutes over to my local GC to buy it, and suddenly it had disappeared! Wow, tough luck. No, not quite. I caught a GC employee hiding the product. I found it and busted them wide open.

 

[electracoyote]

It's all about the return policy.

That speaks volumes. The only way I would ever buy GC Used is if I had a brick and mortar location to make a return if necessary. Otherwise, still too much of a gamble. They really need to tighten it up.

 

[mesaplayer83]

As I mentioned in another comment, I shop regularly on GC Used. I've actually bought items and sold at a modest profit. Not flipping-- just didn't like the product. Here's a little tip I've learned. When you buy online a used item, there is always a listing of which store is selling and a phone number. I usually call the phone number (one my dime) and talk to whoever is in charge. I explain that I'm about ready to pull the trigger on an item, and if I could have a visual inspection and description over the phone. Then I call back after I've ordered, and explain that I just bought an item, and could they pack it carefully for me? It's worked every time, except one time when I didn't call. But all in all, for shopping from the end of the trail in Alaska, a good experience.

I do pretty much the same thing, and request a tracking # when it's available - then, I follow up on that 'til the tracking # is valid on UPS's site... I've had to make returns approximately 25% of the time, and probably had things damaged during shipping about 5% of the time - sometimes due to poor packing, sometimes due to UPS's negligence - that said, in ALL cases things were resolved to my satisfaction... After all, if they refund 100% of your money, what are you really out? - a little time and hassle, maybe - BUT, I've also scored some smoking deals this way... As I said before, I've probably bought at least 50 times this way - maybe more - and the aforementioned are just rough estimates, but should still paint a pretty good picture...

 

[dbsfgyd1]

View attachment 2851843 So I got a pretty decent deal on a used bass at Guitar Center. Unfortunately, the person who packed it didn't do such a good job and it got damaged in shipment. The website said it had a case, but instead of shipping it in the case the person just packed it in a cardboard box with some bubble wrap around it. As somebody who used to work at UPS and saw what a meat grinder that operation is, I can tell you that this is not something a smart and/or giving a crap person would ever do. Anyways, I'm planning to wait until after the holidays to go in and see about either returning it or getting a partial refund and keeping the bass, and of course seeing about getting that hard case shipped from the other store if I do keep it (those things cost over 100 dollars, you'd better believe I'm not giving up on that). If I do keep the bass with a partial refund, I'm curious about if there are any decent repair options out there. The bass has a sunburst finish, and as you can see the part that was damaged was the black part. I suppose that bodes well? Will your average guitar luthier be equipped to make this look relatively shiny and new again? And if so, what price are we talking about? Also, they didn't ship the truss rod adjuster with the bass. Is that normal for Guitar Center used?

Edit: Since this whole thread got going on my account, I may as well give the update. I went in and told the manager that I'd keep the bass if they knocked 200 dollars off of what I paid. He called the original location it was shipped from and they came back at me with about 60 dollars, so I left the bass there. They also refunded my shipping, which was nice but expected. Overall, I'd rank Guitar Center a 1/10 for logistics, a 5/10 for apathetic yet pleasant sales people, and a 7/10 for complaint resolution.

I would never take a direct shipment from Guitar Center for the very reasons you are going through. I’ll have it shipped to the local store. I’d here is an issue, and I have had issues, especially with their quality rating system being rather generous. Best wishes on a speedy recovery.

 

[Omega Monkey]

My reasoning for #3 is the time I bought a CD player from Tweeter for $500 cash. I tried it out at home for two days and determined that the other one I was auditioning was better so I returned it. They didn't have cash on hand at the store so they said they'd mail a check for the refund which was pretty standard at the time. Two weeks went by and I didnt have the check so I drove to the store to ask for a cash refund or find out whats up with the check. They were dragging their feet because they had just filed bankruptcy. I was told that no check would come, no money would be given, and I could not have the item back since it was in their inventory and now belonged to the liquidator. If I had just used a CC I'd have been fine. While I was there another guy was flipping out on them because he had ordered a $4,000 television that was now sitting in the store but they wouldnt give it to him and wouldnt refund his money. As I was leaving they were calling the police since he threatened to kill the staff if they didnt give him his television.

Honestly, I would have just grabbed the same item from the shelf and walked right out the door with it. You paid for it, they are withholding your property one way or the other. If they want to try to detain you or call the police they can explain why they took my money without giving me anything in return. But I'd be long gone before the cops ever got there.

 

[fourstringdrums]

I ordered a used cymbal from GC and when it arrived, there were what looked like repaired cracks radiating from around the bell. That's normal, but the cracks were extremely long, and they didn't go up to the hole in the cymbal, which is normally how those cracks start. I had it delivered to the store so I could try it. It sounded great, but I had my reservations about what I was looking at. Long story short, I took it home, ended up emailing a friend of mine who owns a drum shop and he told me to return it with no hesitation. I returned it to GC and was given an immediate refund. So no issues there.

 

[MordBass]

Honestly, I would have just grabbed the same item from the shelf and walked right out the door with it. You paid for it, they are withholding your property one way or the other. If they want to try to detain you or call the police they can explain why they took my money without giving me anything in return. But I'd be long gone before the cops ever got there.

I totally agree but it looked like they anticipated this and all stock was locked in the back room. The usual stacks of sale items and the stock of products below shelves were missing.

 

[soulman969]

GC can be hit and miss on most any piece of used gear depending on the store who sells it and ships it. Some are staffed by some decent people who do care about doing things right and others employ morons. It's nature of retail everywhere.

I bought a guitar amp I'd had on my used gear wish list for quite some time from a store in MA. It was described in VG condition yet arrived with torn grill cloth, a punctured speaker cone, and a punked reverb tank none of which happened in shipping. The selling store didn't want to pay to have it repaired or have it shipped back to them and my local store wouldn't keep it or sell it in that condition either so they got me a full refund and just gave me the amp so I could repair it myself.

So with a speaker they sold me at cost, a $20 reverb tank, and $10 worth of grill cloth I had $100 into a $400-$450 amp the selling GC couldn't be bothered to have repaired yet in the OPs case they only offer $60 off on a much pricier bass.

 

[mesaplayer83]

I would never take a direct shipment from Guitar Center for the very reasons you are going through. I’ll have it shipped to the local store. I’d here is an issue, and I have had issues, especially with their quality rating system being rather generous. Best wishes on a speedy recovery.

My local GC has never given me a problem over returns, regardless of it being for shipping damage, or an issue with the item - just sayin... Personally, I'd rather take the gamble of not having to make a trip to the store, besides not having store personnel receive and unpack my stuff - YMMV, though...

 

[Eilif]

Since this whole thread got going on my account, I may as well give the update. I went in and told the manager that I'd keep the bass if they knocked 200 dollars off of what I paid. He called the original location it was shipped from and they came back at me with about 60 dollars, so I left the bass there. They also refunded my shipping, which was nice but expected. Overall, I'd rank Guitar Center a 1/10 for logistics, a 5/10 for apathetic yet pleasant sales people, and a 7/10 for complaint resolution.

Sounds like the right choice. I love laklands and a banged up edge is not the end of the world (I'd proabably slap superglue and black nail polish on there and just rock it) $200 is about the minimum I'd expect for such damage and a missing case. $60 is almost an insult.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Sounds like the right choice. I love laklands and a banged up edge is not the end of the world (I'd proabably slap superglue and black nail polish on there and just rock it) $200 is about the minimum I'd expect for such damage and a missing case. $60 is almost an insult.

More than likely I would have refused delivery too. Humm, sounds like they think they have a valid claim with the delivery service.

 

[Eilif]

I even experienced it with a used item right in my neighborhood. Drove the 10 minutes over to my local GC to buy it, and suddenly it had disappeared! Wow, tough luck. No, not quite. I caught a GC employee hiding the product. I found it and busted them wide open.

I want to hear more about this story...

 

[Eilif]

I'm pretty satisfied with what went down...
I'm on the market for another Lakland and might end up paying more next time, but if I were in a financial position to stress too much about that I'd be better off going for a Squire in the first place. As for GC used, I'm still happy with it and will use it again. It's all about the return policy.

Good to hear that you're satistfied.
Regading the Squire comment suggest though that unless you're in dire need of a bass, if finances are slim it's often better to wait a bit than to settle. Squire's aren't bad basses by any means but they can't hold a candle to a Skyline. If you have to settle, maybe hunt down a used Sire?

 

[electracoyote]

I want to hear more about this story...

Englewood CO store, I have a home about 10 minutes away.

Saw a Dunlop Crybaby on the GC Used site for a great price. Drove straight over and looked for the pedal in the Used case. An employee helped me. Couldn't find it.

I was about to walk, but first I pull out my handheld device for one more look and see it's still on the web site. Employee can't explain it. I get curious and start poking around in the New pedal cases. What's that thing someone obviously tried to hide back in the corner of the New pedal case? The exact Used Crybaby I was looking for.

"Huh...how'd that get there?" Employee scratches his head and plays dumb. I've worked music retail, I know what happened.

All's well that ends well on that one, the pedal went home with me, but I've had the same bait-and-switch routine pulled on me with other stores around the country, even after I made a call to the store, and I didn't have the benefit of being able to drive over and confront them directly. When the customer is in the dark, it can be pretty tempting to prevent an incredible deal from slipping through the clerk's fingers. Human nature.