Further proof that Guitar Center sucks

[xenophobe]

Guitar Centers here always have at least a few USA Jacksons...

[roodyrocker]

I have visited a few different Guitar Centers in different States and find that most of them carry import Jacksons and MAYBE one USA Select hanging on the wall. One time I saw two USA's in the same store and was shocked
The reason they don't carry more USA's from what I understand is that Jackson can not produce the volume a big chain like GC would want and still keep the quality high. I usually see more used USA Jacksons for sale at GC than new ones which is fine with me. I got one used Rhoads LTD and Jack Frost's custom shop Kelly from GC's used section
Gibson on the other hand seems to be moving towards getting rid of the "small" dealers and at some point might end up being sold exclusively at places like GC! Even at NAMM the last couple years Gibson had the most snobbish attitude of any guitar manufacturer there. You couldn't get in the Gibson booth unless you were a dealer until very late in the day. And after seeing what was in there, it wasn't very impressive either.

Rudy

https://www.wickedrocks.com

[skorb]

the GC's in LA have some decent guitar prices but their amp prices including used amps are like 130% of what they should be, every day all the time. who is buying those amps, about no one. it's a shame.

[Robert Burns]

Oh yes guitar center blows, and blows hard. Theres a guy when I'm there who is just the biggest smartass in the world. I've only been there 3 times, I don't intend to go back again. They treated me like complete shit, I couldn't dial on an amp without some jackass standing over me suggesting things (grabbing the knobs).

Its like umm, excuse me I'm tapping. I hate GC. All 3 times have been a downward spiral to delay a main event, cause I don't want to go ever again.

And yes, they had no Jackson USA here either! Damn shame.

******************
Im really surprised, as we have 4 stores in the Phoenix area...and everyone is very nice..dont bug me at all... and i do like the return policy.
And in Phoenix(Scottsdale) area.. they carrry RR3's.. one or 2 RR1's..
RR5 etc... I would say in the whole 80 mile radius GC's probably have
20 Jacksons over the price of $900 Heck they even have a mint used
WAYNE! Anyway.. i have had the opposite experience. Sure, its a bunch of kids...but 4 out of 5 are very friendly imo. Its that laid back
Arizona attitude! LOL My Brother in Law spent $1600 yesterday on
a PA, Boss BR900 digital recorder...speakers etc.. if he doesnt like them..
he has 30 days!

[PowerTube]

The employees at the Knoxville GC are pretty nice. I don't have a problem with them. What I DO have a problem with is the store policies; no USA Jacksons, insane pricing on used gear, and very seldom can you get a *correct* answer to a question. They don't seem to train their people very well if at all.

[guitarzan2]

Gotta admit that the employees at our GC are pretty darn cool. However, rarely do they have a USA Jackson. They do have 1 used DK1 marked as an SL1 at $1700 though !

Sad story: We have a local music store that's been around for years. Everybody loves the guy who owns the store. Really cool guy. They carry as many electric guitars as Guitar Center and have lots of high end stuff. Well anyway, Guitar Center comes into town which basically kills the local guys business. He has to lay off employees and cancel all medical insurance coverage. Now he has cancer and about $350,000+ worth of medical bills. Guitar Center killed his business and is now killing him.

[semagic]

Now he has cancer and about $350,000+ worth of medical bills. Guitar Center killed his business and is now killing him.

why do you blame guitar center for his unfortunate illness? all these G.C. sucks threads are useless. especially after a few hundred threads about the same topic. if you don't like shopping there then why do you go? why go thru the stress . to be honest i've been to few local shops that put more pressure on you to buy, than the local G.C.'s sorry for the . i'll get back to work now.

[guitarzan2]

why do you blame guitar center for his unfortunate illness? all these G.C. sucks threads are useless. especially after a few hundred threads about the same topic. if you don't like shopping there then why do you go? why go thru the stress . to be honest i've been to few local shops that put more pressure on you to buy, than the local G.C.'s sorry for the . i'll get back to work now.

You might want to reread what I wrote. His illness was not blamed on GC. His not being able to afford his medical bills from losing his medical insurance and not being able to get further treatement is however a direct result of GC coming in and taking away his business. Like I said, sad story, nobody wins.

[Jacksonite]

Me > Guitar Center

Im a legend in my own mind!

[memphiskat]

The GC near me (Langhorne,PA.) carries only the imports. They have a decent selection of the higher end imports- DKMG, SLSMG, DK2 ect. but I've never seen a USA Jackson there. I'll ask next time I'm there if they ever stock them. Karl

[BTB007]

Also, remember to look in the high end rooms. The GC here in Dayton has a KE2 in the high end room.

[emperor_black]

why do you blame guitar center for his unfortunate illness? all these G.C. sucks threads are useless. especially after a few hundred threads about the same topic. if you don't like shopping there then why do you go? why go thru the stress . to be honest i've been to few local shops that put more pressure on you to buy, than the local G.C.'s sorry for the . i'll get back to work now.

First off, let me say that I do not like guitar center's business policy and strategies. I hate their sales people. When I was a noob, I went there once and was trying to play some metallica's riff and this sales guy passed by me a couple of times. I then asked him a question. He answered it and he was like "Are you actually going to buy that guitar or are you just having a good time?" I told him "I'm having a good time". :ROTF:

But then, on GC's defense... guitar tone is so complex. I mean, a pickup, even a pick will make a big difference in tone. Not to mention, a amp, guitar wood, attack, and other variables. BUt what the heck is GC supposed to do when some noob (no offense, we've all been there) walks in, points to a $200 guitar and says he wants the tone of Metallica's master of puppets? I've actually overheard a girl who was with her parents telling a sales guy that. He then plugged in a $300 guitar into a $1500 marshall amp and obvioulsly the guitar sounded awesome to them. A sale was made. the other thing is that when someone walks in, GC has no idea if that guy is a noob or a guy who knows his stuff. They just assume you're a noob and try to coax you into buying their over-priced stuff.

And the reason IMO they dont carry high-end guitars is that they dont want it scratched up. Some kids actually steal the knobs to replace their guitars'. I've seen two USA jacksons, SL1's tagged at $1600+ with lot of scratches. I'm not gonna buy them! They've been sitting at the GC san jose for almost a year. Maybe because of the scratches, I might get a good deal? Too bad they were'nt hard-tails.

[semagic]

Gotta admit that the employees at our GC are pretty darn cool. However, rarely do they have a USA Jackson. They do have 1 used DK1 marked as an SL1 at $1700 though !

Sad story: We have a local music store that's been around for years. Everybody loves the guy who owns the store. Really cool guy. They carry as many electric guitars as Guitar Center and have lots of high end stuff. Well anyway, Guitar Center comes into town which basically kills the local guys business. He has to lay off employees and cancel all medical insurance coverage. Now he has cancer and about $350,000+ worth of medical bills. Guitar Center killed his business and is now killing him.

You might want to reread what I wrote. His illness was not blamed on GC. His not being able to afford his medical bills from losing his medical insurance and not being able to get further treatement is however a direct result of GC coming in and taking away his business. Like I said, sad story, nobody wins.

sorry i misunderstood, i stand corrected.

[UFORocks]

i cant say i've had a bad experience at GC, nothing besides the usual annoyance of not being able to try anything out without being bothered. And thats where the 30 day return (rental) policy comes in handy.

I actually prefer to drive an hour to the closest GC versus going to the local stores here. I know that I can always go to GC and get a reasonable deal, I've never paid sticker price for anything I've ever bought from GC, even strings and pics. There are three local shops near me, 1.) is basically a musicians friend outlet run by mindless school kids, 2.) is a decent music store but with assholes for employees and they sell EVERYTHING at list 3.) is a junk vendor that sells used stuff at new prices, and tries to pass off his own brand name crap as being just as good as <insert brand>.

I'm all for small business, and it sucks that GC drives the little guy out of town, but honestly Im tired of getting screwed with premium prices everytime I go to a local shop.

[hippietim]

No true musician shops at GC, you use GC to check stuff out and then buy online or from eBay used. Damn, new shit's expensive as it is, now you let them mark it up, sheesh!

I call bullshit. I buy stuff at the local GC's all the time and I'm as much of a "true musician" as your or anyone else. I've never had a problem getting good deals at GC. I never pay the asking price at GC unless it's already a blowout price or something. You just have to be willing to negotiate prices. The same thing happens with any music dealer including the JCF sponsors.