God I Hate Guitar Center....

[guitarpl8ya]

Or rather, the employees. So I bought an RP80 effects pedal for my guitar last year. Sure, it's nothing fancy, but it does the job just fine. So I went up to the register, and the guy looks at me and goes "Oh nahhhh man you're making a big mistake! You definitely want the RP350 it's so much better. That thing's a piece of junk, trust me on this dude. I mean think of it this way, you could buy that thing and regret it forever, or buy the RP350 for another $150 and never regret it." I replied "No that's fine I'm just going to stick with the RP80 thanks." "Nahhhhh man that's not a real smart decision let me tell you! Surely you want the RP350!" Finally, after 5 minutes I made him sell me the damn thing I wanted in the first place. So I went back there yesterday to get a longer cable. I saw a bunch of good, 20ft cables on sale for $15 so I just decided to go for one of those. But, of course, I go up to the register and guess who's there? That's right, my old buddy from last time. "Hey buddy, can I interest you in another cable?" "No, that's ok I'm going to get this one" “Nahhhh dude those things are terrible! I’ve had several of them man and they always break! What you REALLY want is one of these here monster cables. They’re guaranteed for life. The way I see it, why wouldn’t you just spend another $25 and get one of these, and save yourself the trouble of buying 10 of those things?” “No thanks, I’m all set.” “Oh come on dude! You look like a smart kid! You definitely want a monster cable!” So basically, I’ve come to the conclusion that Guitar Center employees are all on commission and out to sell you the most expensive thing regardless of the truth. Anyone else have bad experiences here? Please, do share…

[Aragha]

Some funny looking employee gave me a greasy guitar pick.

It was cool :cool:

[Masquerade]

Ew, I hate that. I mean, fine you're working on commision and all, but I need my personal space : D



Makes me wanna bite someone in the juggular. Hard.

[Alright_Computer]

I've had nothing but good experiences at Guitar Center. They even gave me a free whammy bar for my Fender Strat HSS. Plus one of the guys there looks EXACTLY like Dave Mustaine. It's pretty awesome.

[BuRn7 CaK3]

i'd be like "Shut the hell up and let me buy what i want, damn it" But that would be mean, and i'm not like that.

[SonicRocker15X]

Once in a GameStop I saw the employee trying to trick people into buying more GH/RB instruments, and got upset with me when I gave truthful info on the instrument compatibility.

Another time my mom went to a GameStop (buying a gift, I wasn't there) and the employee was telling someone you needed the Wii Wheel to play Mario Kart Wii, and got pretty mad when my mom straight up explained you can...

[topperharley]

When I bought my guitar, I wanted the combo kit they advertised on the website, but they were out of stock, so the guy who helped me put together something equivalent, but with a little better practice amp and cable, for the same price. I was happy.

You can get pushy salespeople anywhere. Certainly more likely if they're on commission, but even if they're not, since chain retailers have sales quotas and the salespeople get pressure from the managers to upsell and push slow moving items.

The store I hate is Schmitt Music. Granted, I haven't been to one since high school, and maybe Guitar Center has made them adjust their prices, but talk about gouging the customer on markups.

[Lakers_Fan_24]

I'm not sure if they work on commission. I've never seen anyone so aggressive as your describing (unless your playing crazy train or stairway to heaven...). Generally the GC salesmen hide in the back and smoke/goof off.

I bought a Gibson Black Beauty Les Paul for 5K and the salesman wasn't jumping up and down that he just got a nice fat commission. Nor pressuring me to buy it.

Sounds like you got a meth head / tweaker at your GC.....

[Banky71]

Yeah I will never go there again. I would much rather go to a small store that needs my business. Guitar Center won't even negotiate with you. I went in and said I want this guitar with a case for this much money and they wouldn't even bargain even after I said another store would give me the same deal I am asking for it's just in the next city over. They wouldn't even deal so I went to the other guitar store and they gave me the deal I wanted and even threw in a banjo...A BANJO!!!! I am glad that Guitar Center turned me down and now I won't even go near the place.

[Lakers_Fan_24]

Yeah I will never go there again. I would much rather go to a small store that needs my business. Guitar Center won't even negotiate with you. I went in and said I want this guitar with a case for this much money and they wouldn't even bargain even after I said another store would give me the same deal I am asking for it's just in the next city over. They wouldn't even deal so I went to the other guitar store and they gave me the deal I wanted and even threw in a banjo...A BANJO!!!! I am glad that Guitar Center turned me down and now I won't even go near the place.


Not sure what GC's you guys are going to, but the one in Hollywood (Sunset Blvd), makes deals all the time. They list a Roland TD20 for $6400, I could've walked out of there with them OTD for $4100. Just so happened I bought my set a day earlier from an online store. Dunno if it's my handsome personality, but they always treat me right.

They always throw in free stuff too. Maybe I'm older now and have the respectability factor, dunno...

Generally they will price match everything, surprised the guy didn't call that shop and confirm the price. Oh well, now you can play some deliverance. :D

[daftuprising]

I went in there scouting e-kits and he started negotiating with me on spot, even though i said i wasn't buying.

[svartikins]

I've had good experiences with Guitar Center, too. Granted, all I usually buy are strings, picks, and the occasional cables or effects pedals.

[HPLabonte]

I've had nothing but good experiences at Guitar Center.

Same, I got a mad good deal on a Jazz Bass and everything, they're pretty helpful, too.

[Shredder87]

I love the place. The chicks love me, asked me to show them Nutshell on guitar. Andrea was her name now that I remember.

They've never bothered me.

[freman23]

guitar center is ok, but i prefer my local mom&pop music store

[Tinykoko]

i've been into stores where the employees get paid by commission. it SUCKS. they treat you like youre a big dollar sign... hell, i just interviewed at one! (base pay + 2.75% of every sale)

you should complain to corp. that usually helps.

[Ultimatum]

Or rather, the employees. So I bought an RP80 effects pedal for my guitar last year. Sure, it's nothing fancy, but it does the job just fine. So I went up to the register, and the guy looks at me and goes "Oh nahhhh man you're making a big mistake! You definitely want the RP350 it's so much better. That thing's a piece of junk, trust me on this dude. I mean think of it this way, you could buy that thing and regret it forever, or buy the RP350 for another $150 and never regret it." I replied "No that's fine I'm just going to stick with the RP80 thanks." "Nahhhhh man that's not a real smart decision let me tell you! Surely you want the RP350!" Finally, after 5 minutes I made him sell me the damn thing I wanted in the first place. So I went back there yesterday to get a longer cable. I saw a bunch of good, 20ft cables on sale for $15 so I just decided to go for one of those. But, of course, I go up to the register and guess who's there? That's right, my old buddy from last time. "Hey buddy, can I interest you in another cable?" "No, that's ok I'm going to get this one" “Nahhhh dude those things are terrible! I’ve had several of them man and they always break! What you REALLY want is one of these here monster cables. They’re guaranteed for life. The way I see it, why wouldn’t you just spend another $25 and get one of these, and save yourself the trouble of buying 10 of those things?” “No thanks, I’m all set.” “Oh come on dude! You look like a smart kid! You definitely want a monster cable!” So basically, I’ve come to the conclusion that Guitar Center employees are all on commission and out to sell you the most expensive thing regardless of the truth. Anyone else have bad experiences here? Please, do share…

Last time I went there, there was a huge 50% off sale and I got the best help of my entire life at mine.

I was looking at Crashes and a Hi-Hat, and the guy knew everything that I wanted. First I said I wanted some bright hats with a nice chick, and pulled out 3-4 sets, and I played them all. After seeing I hadn't found quite what I was looking for, he asked me what drummers I liked and what style. I told him I really dig Dave Weckl's hats and he knew exactly what Weckl used and showed me over to the HHX hats. After seeing I was still unsatisfied with those, he pulled out 2 more sets of hi-hats, a 14" Zildjian Ks and 14" Sabian Paragons. I debated for at least 30 minutes and he patiently waited until I was set on the Paragons.

Went on to Crashes next, after spending at least an hour in the room, I walked outside and he told me that that not everything is in there. I asked if he had an AAXplosion Crash in a smaller size, and sure enough, he checked and found one. I had my 14" with me. Then I asked if there were any Paiste 18" Fast Crashes left, and sure enough, he found one.

He also helped me select new bass drum heads. I told him what I wanted and he recommended the Powerstroke III, 2 months down the road and I'm still satisfied.

I ended up not getting the Paragons because they were over $300 even after 50% off. Either way, his service was remarkable, of course, this is to be expected of a person whose card reads "The Duke of Drums".

[supernova1324]

Sounds a lot like my experience at Gamestop. I was about to buy Champions of Norrath and then the guy at the counter says, "Dude, this game isn't that good. You should get Lego Star Wars, it's so much better!" So I gave in and bought it. In less than three days I had 100% on the game. Another time an employee jipped my brother. We had a copy of FF7 and my ******ed brother gave it to him for $5. I found out later that they sell for $50 on eBay...

[AKALink]

He is right about the monster cable though. They are the best sounding cable and the best made cable out there. That guy was just stupid.

[Bullseye]

Went into the Guitar Center looking for some drum sticks, the rubber practice tips, and maybe a practice pad (in my silent drum phase) and actually had one of their "salesman" walk away from me. The rest of the employees were too busy goofing off with the display instruments to be bothered with a sale. Least helpful sales staff I've ever encountered. Then I took a look at some of the prices and realized I could do better online. Walked right out, like I hadn't wasted 10 minutes of my life.

Not sure why Gamestop stories have cropped up, but I'll share anyways. In one of my local stores, the salesman actually showed me how to find backwards compatible xbox games by the "BC" codes on the price sticker. Extremely helpful guy for selling $3 games.

[harbingerofdoom]

guitar center is ok, but i prefer my local mom&pop music store

this.

[R33DH4M]

I regularly visit GC for sticks and occasionally cymbals and hardware. I've never had problems and they always give me good deals. They also have a bigger selection then most of these mom and pop stores.

[davidshek]

I'm fairly certain GC employees don't get commission. Guitarist in my old cover band works there (or at least did when I was in a band with him) and I do remember him telling me that.

Guitar Center doesn't suck, you just had the bad luck of getting the same douche twice in a row.

[GuitarJax]

I got the same mess, when I wanted to try out a phaser. The guy probably thought I sucked 'cuz I had only played for one and a half year. Right then, I started of with the intro of Bark at the Moon...

[davidshek]

I got the same mess, when I wanted to try out a phaser.

Did you make sure to try it out on "Stun" setting as well as "Kill"? :D

[AlliterationAmy]

I was at Guitar Center earlier today. When I asked on of the employees for a guitar pick, he gives me one that's slightly bent right in the middle, WTF.

The nerve of that guy.

Edit: The thing I love about my Guitar Center is the variety of hairstyles worn by the employees. There's this one guy who has like a foot tall flat top; It. Is. Awesome.

[Ultimatum]

That's why you bring your own picks/sticks.

All the "tester" sticks are generally defects or tiny.

[Shredder87]

I was at Guitar Center earlier today. When I asked on of the employees for a guitar pick, he gives me one that's slightly bent right in the middle, WTF.

The nerve of that guy.
You should check out the sharp Tortex picks.

They're the best in my opinion. Well not really, they're the best period. AND they have to be purple.

[PenguinTipper]

That's just like when those punks "forget" about fifty thousands things when i got a drum set. "ok, so that will be 600 dolllars" and after i finally fall in love with the drums "oh, dude, sorry i forgot the foot petal" i get over it and of course "Ohhhhh... dang bra, i'm sorry, i forgot about the snare base". "Ok, that will be 680 dollars. Oh jeez man... you know what?" ugh... so annoying. i end up paying 110 dollars more than it said i would pay for the whole drum set that was "on sale"

[freman23]

this.

i know, it's much better

but i'll go to gc if i have to

[AlliterationAmy]

You should check out the sharp Tortex picks.

They're the best in my opinion. Well not really, they're the best period. AND they have to be purple.
Interesting.... Although, I don't think I'll ever need to buy picks again. I took like 50 free ones (and they're pretty good, too) from some concert. I think I have too many, in fact. The pick gnomes will never be able to steal them all.

[Alright_Computer]

Interesting.... Although, I don't think I'll ever need to buy picks again. I took like 50 free ones (and they're pretty good, too) from some concert. I think I have too many, in fact. The pick gnomes will never be able to steal them all.

LOL, pick gnomes

Unfortunately, since I hammer-on with my pick rather than tapping, my picks get worn out pretty quickly. I can't say how many half-eaten picks there are laying around my room.

[Shredder87]

Interesting.... Although, I don't think I'll ever need to buy picks again. I took like 50 free ones (and they're pretty good, too) from some concert. I think I have too many, in fact. The pick gnomes will never be able to steal them all.

I punch those little fu**ers right in the mascara. I'd trade in all them 50 picks for a simple pack of sharpies. That's just me. One lasts me forever, while the regular ones, I kill those in one play through.

[GuitarJax]

Did you make sure to try it out on "Stun" setting as well as "Kill"? :D

Hahahhaah x'D, nice one you made there :D.

But no. It was a Phase 90, and I bought it anyway, and right one day after, I do nothing with it anymore..

But that's a personal mistake, and not one of my guitar store.