guitar stores & salesmen WHY...rant

[pro-fusion]

Re: guitar stores & salesmen WHY...rant

As far as Guitar Center goes, I just pull any guitar off the rack that I want to play without worrying about it. The salespeople are spread so thin there that one ever seems to notice or care. Of course, if I looked like I did 12 years ago, things might be different...

[shreddermon]

Re: guitar stores & salesmen WHY...rant

Not all salesman are bad, but here's a couple of stories on how to get back at the ones who are @-holes....

Before the local Mars went under, I was in there wanting to buy a multi-effects unit. Several hundred bucks, not small change. I had done my research before going in, knew that was the model but I, of course, wanted to try it out before buying. Long story short, the @-hole guitar salesman leaves me standing & waiting while he talks s**t with his buddy about last weekend for OVER AN HOUR. (...All the while, his buddy's noodling on their new gear, BTW.) So I ask the drum section guy, and get immediate service. Guitar salesman gets pissed at potential stolen commission, drum salesman concedes and hands me back to him. At this point, I could care less. I'm finally paying for the unit, and guitar salesman's eyes pop out of his head when he notices I'm paying with a platinum card. i.e., Large credit line. I pick up on this and ask him "Hey, do you carry any Jacksons?" (...me knowing full well that they don't.) Him: "No, sorry our region doesn't. Why, you looking for something?" Me: "Yes, I'm in the market for an RR1." (...I really wasn't.) Him: "Really? Those run around $1,500 you know." Me: (Looking at my credit card, and rolling my eyes) "Yeah, I know. Too bad, you could've had a nicer commission there." [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

At a different local shop, I was trying to negotiate a PC1 they had in stock. It had been on the wall for about a year already and I was looking to deal on a trade-in. We settle on the trade-in price, so we start talking price on the PC1. This was right about the time Jackson had increased their prices. I tell the salesman that I think their price is above market, and he responds that Jackson just increased their prices 20 or 25%. I said, yeah I know, but that's one of last year's models and you're pricing it with this year's price increase. I give him a final offer on the PC1: $1,500, and tell him I know I can get that from another store in Cal. and, hence, save sales tax to boot. Just match it, dude. He won't budge, and responds: "try trading-in with them." (...He's cocky, thinking I can't swing the full cash price and will have to relent.) I tell him "No, I may not be able to trade-in with them, but I'll certainly get better than what we've settled on by selling outright on EBay. $1,500 is my final offer, or I make a long-distance phone call." He wouldn't budge on a very reasonable deal, so I walked. Sold the trade-in on E-bay, immediately bought from the Cal. store. A little inconvenienced, but much better off money-wise. ...A year later I go into the same store. There's the same guitar on the wall, marked down to $1,500 [img]graemlins/poke.gif[/img] after having been scratched up by every ham-fisted monkey coming into the shop and trying it. Same salesman sees me looking at it. Not remembering me, asks if I'm interested. I said no, but I was a year ago. "What do you mean?" My response: "I offered you $1,500 then, and you wouldn't take it, so I walked. Not too smart, dude. You lost that commission." [img]graemlins/thebirds.gif[/img]

The saying goes "Money talks, bull s**t walks." But my money walks and talks. [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Dreamland_Rebel]

Re: guitar stores & salesmen WHY...rant

i was in that same boat for years. but now all the people that work at GC know me and know that i'm only coming in there cause i actually have to. if i want to browse or find info on gear i do it online or find a buddy that has that particular piece. i hate guitar shops. they never have the axe i want, and the prices are allways too high. now since the guitar manager has seen my band play, when i do walk in he tells the salesmen to hook me up which is real nice, but the only things i ever buy from them are parts and strings. i'd rather buy a used axe from one of you guys here then a new one from a store. i have only bought 2 guitars new in my whole life and don't really have any intentions of ever buying a new one again (unless its from a custom shop.) i hate guitar salesmen. i alway seem to know more than them about most of the gear they have anyway. and they never tell you the real deal about the gear your interested in. anyway i just wanted to rant about that for a moment, cause i know exactly what you guys are talking about. i think i'll get off of here and leave work now. C - YA.
~JW

[Gpops]

Re: guitar stores & salesmen WHY...rant

I hate most places like GC and SA. Like when i bought my first electric at GC, the guy gave me the wrong tremolo, so i came back and he said i was lieing. I've bougt stuff that apperantly sounds "good" (certain mutlifxs and pedals) that suck. and their service is bad. I went to SA a week ago to trade in an old keyboard that the guy said $50, so he goes to ask his manager, and the jerk says $10. What the hell is $10...it's not usefull enough to buy anything, might as well wipe my ass with it lol. A few days ago,i went to GC and i wanted to try a soloist that was to high to reach, so i had to wait an hour for the guy to help me.. then he says the string broke and he'd fix it right away... i ended up climing the ladder myself so i could get the kelly next to it. as i left, i saw the soloist still had a broken string after like 2hours... what jerks! [img]graemlins/rant.gif[/img]

[IrfaanSE801]

Re: guitar stores & salesmen WHY...rant

irfaan , i see your point i just dont agree with it. there is a store i do like. u walk in "Hi", a salesman walks over & asked can I help U or if you need anything let me know. no attitudes, no asking if your goin to buy, no treating people differently because they are not with mommy.

Not all stores are like this. That's just the reason why the asshole salepeople u run into are assholes. I can honestly say our store have nicer salespeople. Now that I'm not bashing anyone, I work for Manny's Music on 48st in Manhatten. I've never heard of or seen them be jerks unless it was obvious someone was wasting their time.

[Stinkbug]

Re: guitar stores & salesmen WHY...rant

When I was younger and had very long hair I had that problem in almost every type of store. There are a number of stores I still avoid because they treated me so badly back then.

After I cut my hair, took out all my ear rings, and fit into the "norm" I noticed a massive change in peoples attitudes towards me. People at parties actually started talking to me. Guys who would normally take a swing at me because of my looks, would start up conversations! I actually thought they were gay and trying to pick on me. (no kidding!) Then I asked other friends who had made the same transformation and they said they had the same experience.

Now I get the reverse. I am an engineer and the company I work for does a charity show every year. When I first started a lady mentioned she was going to be in it and I jokingly said "Oh, I could play guitar." To which she responded "Keep practicing and I bet you could." I laughed and said "I have been playing for 20 years, I think I can hang." The funny thing is she is an old hippy, I would have figured that prejudice was against her hippy values. (Hippy values?...I think that is an oxymoron) [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Now and then people see all the holes in my ears and ask about it. They are always shocked about my past because I look like such a freakin nerd now. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] I have tons of stories, as I am sure many of you do or will.

[JacksonShredder]

Re: guitar stores & salesmen WHY...rant

Well i don't like to say this store is bad or good that is how come i did not say the store name or were it ways. also that was not the only store i had problems with i went to another store here in AZ and whoooow that was a nightmare i had the store owner comeing up to me saying in the old days we would be out back fighting this out and all i did was pick a guitar up off the rack and told the sells man to not tell me haw to hold a guitar i have been playing guitar longer then you have been out of dapers but that is anoter story

also i worked for GC for almost ten Years on an off since 1989( i am no longer with them) and i have seen over the years the customer service has gone out the window for the all mighty dollor.

Originally posted by jem777az:
[/qb]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hey Sid, that shop wouldn't happen to be the one on Indian School. The same one where I got my XTRR would it? [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] [/QB][/QUOTE]

[jem777az]

Re: guitar stores &amp; salesmen WHY...rant

Originally posted by JacksonShredder:
You Don't need to tell me brother
i know all about it
heck after 20 some odd years of buying guitars you would think it would change but NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!.............................

Case in Point.
Last year i went to a Music Store Here in town
i was warring my lazy clothes (old shirt and sweat pants)
the store had some custom shop BC RICHS
one i really liked it was a Speed V
well i stood around for about 30 mins looking up at the V and no one came to help me so i went to ask for some help
the Sales guy i asked was the Asst. Manager
he asked me are you buying today i said i don't know i have not tried out the guitar he then said well when you are ready to buy come back.

i looked at him and said what did you just say.
he looked back at me (me being 6 foot 7 370lbs) (him around 5 foot 9 and maybe 220lb) said look i am short handed today i do not have anyone in guitars. so when you are ready to buy come back.

i took my wallet out and threw three credit cards on the table and said look dude i have not even looked at the guitar or even played it
i have more then enogh money to buy the guitar RIGHT NOW!
he said well i would not sell you that guitar i would order you a new one.
I told him, What i don't think so if i want that guitar i will buy it. it is for sale right?

well to make a long story short i walked out and then called the owner and left a message on his answer machine what had happened
but i never got a call back
go figure.

I only go in that store once every two months now just to see what they have.

Man i would just have to say People all over the world are just Plan Rude and they are getting worst.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hey Sid, that shop wouldn't happen to be the one on Indian School. The same one where I got my XTRR would it? [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[jgcable]

Re: guitar stores &amp; salesmen WHY...rant

My take on it is this. Guitar shops are unique environments. They are one of the few retail establishments where every patron has access to the actual products that are going to be sold. It is kind of like going to Home Depot and demanding to try out every jigsaw or lawn mower before you even consider buying it. The problem with letting every person who walks into the store "test out" every guitar without prequalifying them is obvious the second that somebody picks up the the "now used display" guitar and complains that it has scratches on the back on it or other "player wear" and wants a discount. In a perfect world guitar shops would have skids of your favorite guitar that are all exactly the same in tone/fit/finish/playability in the back room all wrapped up and minty and let you play the display model that is on the rack till your hearts content. BUT THAT CAUSES ANOTHER PROBLEM!!! Every player wants to play the ACTUAL guitar that they are gonna buy so they would never try the display model and then say "bring me a fresh one from the back and I will definately take it". I think that we have to live within the scenario what we all actually created ourselves when we were all 13-16 years old with spiked wristbands and sharp beltbuckles with that emergency pick in our pocket (or worse yet we would just take one off the counter) and we would cruise guitar stores all the time to wail on guitars that we could never afford at the time. I think that most "buyers" you find in a guitar store have a specific guitar that they are looking for. The "lookers and tire kickers" really have no intention of buying. They just want to jam on a really expensive guitar for a while. Well... thats my 2 cents and that is all that it is worth. [img]graemlins/nono.gif[/img]

[Doc Dryer]

Re: guitar stores &amp; salesmen WHY...rant

Actually, TWO real-life scenarios come to mind regarding this subject...One is ME, and one is a younger buddy from NJ...FIRST, HIS deal...

This kid in Jersey is a SHARP COOKIE, and a TRUE GUITAR VIRTUOSO, and HAS been since - like - age 8 or so...{He knows all the guys from Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Skid Row and a TON of those Jersey rockers...I have a PICTURE of him sitting with ZAKK WYLDE at Zakk's kitchen table eating P-B-J sandwiches and jamming with Zakk !!!!}

Being a typical "kid" and trying to fit in with other kids his age, he would walk in ANY music store {Be it a GC-SA type, or a Mom-Pop where they DIDN'T KNOW or KNOW OF him}, he'd slide up with a chain-driven wallet, pants that looked like denim Hefty garbage bags, cheesy leather and stud necklace and bracelet, and pick up a Historic '59 Quilttop Les Paul Reissue or REAL old Gibby Flying V or whatever, and the owners or salespeople would come FLYING out to try to SNATCH it out of his hands and say "Sonny, the Squiers are over HERE"...

He would LIGHT UP that Les Paul with a VENGANCE of UNBELIEVABLY COMPLEX riffs that would make Vai as Jack Butler in "Crossroads" look like a PIKER, set it back in the stand, and say - "Guess my Mom will have to look ELSEWHERE for something for me to take to Julliard this Spring"...and WALK OUT with the IDIOT that tried to stifle him's JAW ON THE FLOOR - IN AWE !!!!!

Same kid started E-Baying at 15 or 16, junking out new MusicYo Kramers, entry-level Jacksons and ESPs and selling the parts {as the sum of the parts is worth DOUBLE what the guitar cost !!!}...Soon he started buying bulk parts from Japan and Korea to E-Bay and became a dealer of some import lines like Dillion, Raven, etc. - then moved up to Schecter and some Japanese lines...

FIVE YEARS LATER {two weeks before his 20th birthday} he bought a NICE HOUSE in a small coastal NJ township {around $200-$250 grand} to move out wih his girlfriend...

and PAID CASH - IN FULL !!!!!!!!!!! [img]graemlins/notworthy.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/notworthy.gif[/img]

__________________________________________________

The other scenario is ME...I was a DAMN successful stockbroker/brokerage principal for 12 years...I was GOOD enough at it, that I was able to grow my hair to my ass, and they couldn't say SH!T, as 95% of my business was done by phone...

I'd park my Benz around the corner, and slum into an exotic auto, bike or boat dealership in ripped-up jeans and RayBans, and these HIGH AND MIGHTY stuffed-shirt salespeople would shake their heads, figuring I was a tire kicker and send the NEW, green sales kid over, as they were TOO GOOD to wait on me {that was BEFORE they saw the fresh manicure and the Rolex [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] }, and I'd ask the new kid, "How much for the '57 T-Bird ??"...He'd answer, "That one is $22,500.00, Sir"...

I'd look at the pompous A$SHOLES that snubbed me, and tell the green kid...

"I'll TAKE IT"

You could HEAR these high-and-mighty "SALES PROS" asses TIGHTEN UP ENOUGH to CRUSH COAL into THE HOPE DIAMOND !!!!...I'd ALWAYS go back to pick whatever up in a Hugo Boss suit and Gucci loafers, JUST to CHAP THEIR AS$ES !!!!!

It JUST goes to SHOW...

...you CAN'T JUDGE a BOOK by it's COVER !!!!! [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[xenophobe]

Re: guitar stores &amp; salesmen WHY...rant

Wow... I've experienced some of what's been said, but not nearly to that extent. Every time I'm ready to buy, I must have this serious, "I'm ready to buy" look or something.

At my local guitar center, many of the sales people do know me, but they know I'll go straight to the General Manager when I'm ready to purchase a big ticket item. They'll help, but won't rush out of their way. Whenever the GM sees me, he makes it a point to come over and shake my hand and say hi, and I'm usually in jeans, boots and a cheap $4 t shirt.

Then again, this is the bay area, and a lot of the people who used to spend money here don't look like they have that kind of money, and every salesperson has been burned by treating customers that don't "look" proper over here. They know better.

[Venomboy]

Re: guitar stores &amp; salesmen WHY...rant

I've never had to deal with the situations you all have mentioned. I'm with Xeno...in the Bay Area you have millionaires who dress like homeless people. My brother's ex-boss was freakin LOADED and would always wear dirty shorts to work and it was a big day if he actually wore shoes or didn't have holes in his socks.

Sounds like bad managment is sadly the norm at a lot of music stores. Belittling co-workers and being condescending will get you nowhere real quick.

[Doc Dryer]

Re: guitar stores &amp; salesmen WHY...rant

HERE, HERE Venom and Xeno !!!...And if I was a GM at a Manny's, GC or Sam Ash and saw one of my salespeople pull that sh!t JUST ONCE, they'd be having a THREE-LEGGED RACE with me to County General to get my SIZE 16 BOOT outta their ASS !!!!...I tech for all 3 GC's here in the Mile High - one in PARTICULAR...My guitar teacher used to work there, and he holds the RECORD DAY, WEEK and MONTH from 2 Decembers ago, and that number will NEVER be broken, and the way he does it ???...HE LISTENS !!!!...People LOVE to talk about themselves and they will TELL ya EXACTLY what they want and throw MEGA-CA$H down...If ya JUST LISTEN !!!!

"It's NICE to be IMPORTANT...But MORE SO...It's IMPORTANT to be NICE !!!!"

[ March 21, 2003, 11:28 AM: Message edited by: Doc Dryer ]

[data187]

Re: guitar stores &amp; salesmen WHY...rant

Well i live in northern jersey and the gc by me is terrible. There use to be one guy there that was cool, but he got fired cause he gave people small discounts. By small i mean like 5% or 10% max, but you know what, everyone bought from him and he had the highest sales. The manager found out and fired him.

Now, i go back to gc and they got all these losers working there. I went to try out a $$$ prs which i had intentions to buy. So i try it out and i thought it was disappointing for a 2g guitar. I told the salesman that and put it back on the rack. He asks me what is wrong with me and that i'm crazy to think that its not that great. He then tells me to come back when i'm ready to step up to a real guitar.

that got me real pissed off and i'll never buy anything from that guy ever.

[chrisolson]

Re: guitar stores &amp; salesmen WHY...rant

Geez...I'm glad I buy used guitars...