No Wonder Guitar Center is going down the tubes????

[Killing Floor]

Let me be 2 "that guy"s in one post!

1) Go to your local music store. Before they go out of business. When people complain about the loss of customer service and work ethic in sales and "customer is king" it all points to the collapse of locally owned economy. Scooby Doo is on the case, gonna solve this mystery. Why, oh why doesn't the minimum wage pot head in a warehouse care about me and my musical feelings?

2) Big Fat +1 on Sweetwater if you're needing to buy online. My wife asked me about a birthday stuff a month ago. She went online to Sweetwater because she remembered the name from a box over a year ago and they routed her to the salesperson I worked with a year ago, he kept the secret going while referencing notes he had made about my interests from a year ago. And the day after my birthday that total stranger followed up with my wife to get her feedback, "how is your husband enjoying the pedal". You will not get that from GC even if you know the employee. My opinion, you'd be nuts to complain about that level of detail. It's impressive and rare in any industry.

So here we go again with the GC threads. If your town doesn't have a music store it's because you and your friends stopped buying from them to save a buck and now you are left with GC and Reverb. Self-made problem.

 

[BassBrass]

Guitar Center has been strip mined by vulture capitalists. I don't think "the kids that work there" are responsible for the company falling apart.

You might say Bain Capital or whomever are motivated to keep GC going as a hobby for the vulture capitalists because on paper they do have a lot of store access and every company that licences to sell there has an interest in keeping it going too, it's a part of a business structure that Has to be maintained. They don't crash it because no one wants to have a crash. Coved19 isn't making it easier but that's why allot of the bailout went to keep corporate prices up.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

@Eddie LeBlanc I will put forth that not all GC locations may behave in the same manner. I immediately recalled this great post 2 days ago from @the federalist .

Shout Out for GC!!

I will also add my personal experiences, as my nearest GC location in Bellingham, WA always treats me well. I've only bought used gear from them and they begin processing it immediately.

I just spoke to them today... no shipping info yet. Guess the Florida store must have a real backlog. All I can say is that is BS.

In the middle on the Pandemic, I have to disagree. They still have not shipped. Right... and $1700 customer... Anybody see the issue here????????????????

All I can say is I payed my dollars to play, and I am getting such poor service.
And it was well over $1700....... pitiful.

Maybe GC needs to go out of business. Especially since they don't seem to care about customers.

 

[tlite]

For what it's worth, that's my closest GC. I typically have good experiences with them, but that's not to say you won't find subpar staff there. I have been in enough that I know a few folks who are good (by sight if not by name). I also haven't been in since the pandemic so it's possible things have changed in terms of staff/resources there.

I forget the manager's name but he is a hard-working guy who gets it (IME). You may want to give the store a call and ask for him.

If my swinging by there to check in with them on anything would be of help, lemme know.

If for whatever reason the store isn't helpful there is a guy named "Beau L." at corporate who follows up with stores regarding social media complaints. The email he used last I checked is [email protected].

-T

 

[BassBrass]

And there it is.

No, they are not owned by "Bains". Nor are they owned by Bain, nor have they been owned by Bain for 7 years. Please get your facts straight before you post. I'm in no way defending Bain's business practices or GC, but I'm sick of the same misinformation being thrown around every time GC comes up.

I used to water the palm tree outside Mit Romney's oak office door at Bain Cap. when he was still the boss, I had heard Bain picked up GC and other people have been mentioned. What company has them now? Bain may have been the initial entity to hold it's fate in it's talon sharp hands. What a name Bain is. It means burden. The bain of my existence

 

[Roland GR 88]

It's been 3 days.....obviously you've been stiffed.
Kidding aside, unfortunately shipping practices don't take into account the price of the product and it would be unfair to hold back someone's capo order because more expensive purchases are somehow more important.
Good luck waiting, your bass will arrive and hopefully those loser kids working at GC will keep their jobs despite your wishes.

 

[arbiterusa]

In the middle on the Pandemic, I have to disagree. They still have not shipped. Right... and $1700 customer... Anybody see the issue here????????????????

Frankly, no. I have bought a ton of used gear from GC. Getting a shipping number posted to my order has taken between 24 hours and a week, and that was pre-COVID. I've always gotten my stuff.

As to you guys recommending Sweetwater, I dunno, if I wanted a psycho personal stalker I'm sure I could find one at a gig. Had to block them on both my phone and email. It's one thing to call and pursue potential leads, I get that, but to do it after you've been asked repeatedly not to is another thing entirely.

 

[two fingers]

Meanwhile, at Sweetwater...

Ordered a new Spector Euro LE last month: shipped out right away, ETA 7 days, received in 4. Got an email from salesperson letting me know it shipped along with the nice multi-angled pics they displayed on their site; got an email soon after receiving it from salesperson asking if it was ok; got a "thank you for your business" email from the owner/company some time later.

Someone in another post mentioned ordering a new item from GC and getting a clearly used one.

Very cool that Sweetwater shows detailed pics of the instruments they have in stock and include the weights. And they show all the items so you can choose between 3 of the same model with the weight, finish/figuring you prefer.

GC has the worse pics online of used items; they're tiny, sometimes blurry and I have asked them to send better pics on items I've been interested in only to have them not reply or say they couldn't. Sweetwater also offers Plek as an option.

Not trying to sound like a Sweetwater fanboy, but I've had good experiences so far.

You should be getting a phone call from the actual human who sold you that bass at Sweetwater. They will want to make sure you're thrilled with it.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

For what it's worth, that's my closest GC. I typically have good experiences with them, but that's not to say you won't find subpar staff there. I have been in enough that I know a few folks who are good (by sight if not by name). I also haven't been in since the pandemic so it's possible things have changed in terms of staff/resources there.

I forget the manager's name but he is a hard-working guy who gets it (IME). You may want to give the store a call and ask for him.

If my swinging by there to check in with them on anything would be of help, lemme know.

If for whatever reason the store isn't helpful there is a guy named "Beau L." at corporate who follows up with stores regarding social media complaints. The email he used last I checked is [email protected].

-T

I've sent an email to this address. But I have already sent other emails to other addresses.

As far as I can tell, with no responses, they really could care less. After all, they've already got their money from my credit card. The whole company is ran by children, and have no idea of Customer Quality Service.

Sorry, I'm so down on the service. But I was the Quality Manager for a major DuPont international product. And was proud to deal with customers and we were Quality Systems Certified. I even went to visit customers in the whole of the USA and overseas. We could have never been able to stay in business with such poor customer service.

So all I can say is GC has no ability to deal in that arena at all. And that is sad.

Makes me want to puke.

 

[dalkowski]

And that's just the beginning! Now Sweetwater will stay in touch weekly for the rest of your life.

But... candy.

 

[LBS-bass]

Let me be 2 "that guy"s in one post!

1) Go to your local music store. Before they go out of business. When people complain about the loss of customer service and work ethic in sales and "customer is king" it all points to the collapse of locally owned economy. Scooby Doo is on the case, gonna solve this mystery. Why, oh why doesn't the minimum wage pot head in a warehouse care about me and my musical feelings?

2) Big Fat +1 on Sweetwater if you're needing to buy online. My wife asked me about a birthday stuff a month ago. She went online to Sweetwater because she remembered the name from a box over a year ago and they routed her to the salesperson I worked with a year ago, he kept the secret going while referencing notes he had made about my interests from a year ago. And the day after my birthday that total stranger followed up with my wife to get her feedback, "how is your husband enjoying the pedal". You will not get that from GC even if you know the employee. My opinion, you'd be nuts to complain about that level of detail. It's impressive and rare in any industry.

So here we go again with the GC threads. If your town doesn't have a music store it's because you and your friends stopped buying from them to save a buck and now you are left with GC and Reverb. Self-made problem.

This right here.

Nope, there's no excuse for poor customer service, but GC operates a business model that has removed all the technical knowledge and replaced it with minimum-wage workers. This "works" in the industry because the stores that used to employ the knowledgeable sales people went out of business. People would go there to get demos and info and then buy from the cheapest online outlet. Ask me how I know this; I was in music sales during the mid to late 90's when all these online outlets were beginning to proliferate.

So you get what you're willing to pay for, actually. It comes with a side-order of crappy service.

Bain no longer owns GC; they sold it to another group of venture capitalists. What's in a name, really? They're all just vultures picking meat off that carcass, and that's how it's been for years.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

My experience with GC over the years haven't been any more or less annoying than those with Home depot, Best buy...etc.
Retail anything is what it is.
The one time they really annoyed me was when I offered a used bass to them for sale/trade. The unbelievable lowball offer they made me made me wonder...... Who are these people who sell them gear?!

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

This right here.

Nope, there's no excuse for poor customer service, but GC operates a business model that has removed all the technical knowledge and replaced it with minimum-wage workers. This "works" in the industry because the stores that used to employ the knowledgeable sales people went out of business. People would go there to get demos and info and then buy from the cheapest online outlet. Ask me how I know this; I was in music sales during the mid to late 90's when all these online outlets were beginning to proliferate.

So you get what you're willing to pay for, actually. It comes with a side-order of crappy service.

Bain no longer owns GC; they sold it to another group of venture capitalists. What's in a name, really? They're all just vultures picking meat off that carcass, and that's how it's been for years.

And that sucks, especially when purchasing a $1700 plus instrument. It doesn't matter so much buying a set of strings or a damn guitar strap. But a Rickenbacker 4003 bass ought to be looked at in a different light. Just saying. You dump a lump of cash, you ought to be payed attention too. That has been the way business has been conducted for centuries. It ain't a new idea folks.

But youngster millennials don't care. They only want to text on their cell phones, or jam with their buds. Pitiful. I'd fire all of them, if I was the owner.

 

[jza57]

Not trying to defend GC but its very hard to maintain consistency in customer service with so many stores nationwide as opposed to 1 giant superstore . This may be a little cynical but you know that when a lot of the layoffs came they got rid of higher paid experienced people who would not let this kind of crap happen . Eventually it all comes down to money.

 

[scuzzy]

And that sucks, especially when purchasing a $1700 plus instrument. It doesn't matter so much buying a set of strings or a damn guitar strap. But a Rickenbacker 4003 bass ought to be looked at in a different light. Just saying. You dump a lump of cash, you ought to be payed attention too. That has been the way business has been conducted for centuries. It ain't a new idea folks.

But youngster millennials don't care. They only want to text on their cell phones, or jam with their buds. Pitiful. I'd fire all of them, if I was the owner.

I'm sorry for the delay, but I've had just as terrible experiences with middle aged guys than millennials.

It's typically a result of the managers leadership and what they will put up with, more than the lowly sales associate. Blame the store manager. And most of them aren't young, phone toting millennials. They are phone toting boomers.

 

[Michedelic]

I keep hearing about the possible upcoming demise of Guitar Center. Sad. But I can share a reason why.

Been trying to deal on a used 2019 Rickenbacker 4003 with a store in Winter Park Fl. They finally gave me a sort of decent price, not the best, but decent.

I bought it on Monday morning June 15th with my Mastercard. Paid for taxes, shipping, and etc. I have the sales receipt.

So far no shipping date, no tracking number, no nothing. Call there, and get some kids on the phone, after the phone is on hold for over 20 minutes. And that the phone rang for over 10 minutes before it was answered.

They have no idea of shipping, and don't seem to care. You can't talk to a person that knows or even cares. And this is during regular business hours.

Guess my over $1700 purchase is not important to the kids that work there. Guess they'd rather sell $30 strings and talk on their cell phones to their friends.

In the midst of this COVID crisis, I kinda doubt there is a land-office business going on in Winter Park, Fl. And after they get your money, maybe no one cares.

I am sad that Guitar Center has allowed such careless business practices to take place in it's franchises.

And sad to say, Musician's Friend is the online partner with GC.....

Kind of makes one wonder.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming...
Guitar Center Struggling

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Not trying to defend GC but its very hard to maintain consistency in customer service with so many stores nationwide as opposed to 1 giant superstore . This may be a little cynical but you know that when a lot of the layoffs came they got rid of higher paid experienced people who would not let this kind of crap happen . Eventually it all comes down to money.

All I can say is where the hell, my my $1790 Rickenbacker 4003 Maple Glo bass? Or do they really even care any longer.

And that is the the real problem. After all it's not a $350 Ibby, damn. Welcome to the new GC service. Sad.

 

[wild4oldcars]

Even in states who have lifted the Covid restrictions, most stores are operating with a shoestring budget, reduced store hours, and reduced staffing. I would say the same is likely true of corporate service departments. That’s not an excuse for poor service, but I don’t necessarily feel like “I want my thing now” is the first fire these people might need to put out, especially considering the higher volume e-commerce going out of stores currently. And when I have had issues with guitar center in the past, they have always been rectified, local or online, used or new. I find it hard to blame the sales guy (who’s maybe the only sales guy) for not picking up the phone immediately. Logistics and sales had 2 different strings of employees, so it’s possible they’re asking the employees they have brought back to be fulfilling roles they hadn’t before. Again, if you feel slighted, no one can take that feeling away, but idk that I’d be so quick to write GC off as slack jawed teenagers who don’t care and just want my money.

 

[rohi]

GC was always tolerable at best as a customer, as a former employee-- well not so much. I'd be just as pissed, and rightfully so. That's not a small chunk of change. But...

Guess they'd rather sell $30 strings and talk on their cell phones to their friends.

At least be angry over the real situation, and not assumptions.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Even in states who have lifted the Covid restrictions, most stores are operating with a shoestring budget, reduced store hours, and reduced staffing. I would say the same is likely true of corporate service departments. That’s not an excuse for poor service, but I don’t necessarily feel like “I want my thing now” is the first fire these people might need to put out, especially considering the higher volume e-commerce going out of stores currently. And when I have had issues with guitar center in the past, they have always been rectified, local or online, used or new. I find it hard to blame the sales guy (who’s maybe the only sales guy) for not picking up the phone immediately. Logistics and sales had 2 different strings of employees, so it’s possible they’re asking the employees they have brought back to be fulfilling roles they hadn’t before. Again, if you feel slighted, no one can take that feeling away, but idk that I’d be so quick to write GC off as slack jawed teenagers who don’t care and just want my money.

Florida is not that situation, Amigo......