Help Big Poppa...Want your opinion

[jakedawgwhite88]

I will make sure someone gets into hollywood and check out those al's!

I am glad to see that. Recently this okie got to go to the hollywood gc and the eb guitars I did play did not feel like my ernie balls. I played a jpxi and was kinda disappointed but I always have to remember I get to play a set up done by the eb factory and I don't think I've touched a guitar that I like better including my jp7 or any other eb and I really try to keep it close to the set up for a reason. I often wonder how many people that play eb guitars, in gc or any store, don't get the full awe effect compared to their reaction when somebody plays mine LOL. Part of the educated employee expert should know how to identify how a guitar needs to be set up..... and that goes for any company's set up not just eb

[tommydude]

OK, this was a lot to read!

I am trying to look at this from the point of view of a Parent who has a child interested in a MusicMan guitar. With that in mind, the feature would be nice. Is the guitar their child interested in the right one or does it just look cool ?

Now, from a teenager point of view, the term "Expert" can be either intimidating or helpful. They can feel like their question would be a waste of time for someone highly trained or they have too many questions. Seeing an ad in Guitar World could prompt a visit to the Website....

As a Forum Member, surrounded by smart people who are always willing to help, the link does me no good.

[Spudmurphy]

Haven't had time to read all this and hope I'm not duplicating info already given?

So as a UK resident, it is of course difficult to comment on a thread that centres around GC.

FWIW

Q Let me know if this encourages you to shop.
A. I like the idea of having a contact with an expert. GC has so many different lines of merchandise I would feel more comfortable talking to someone who had more than just a basic knowledge of a certain line. Now I don't know whether this is possible but the telephone contact number allocated to them. If I ring that will it go to a phone just on the desk? is the technology there that would route the call to the mobile works phone of the employee/expert?

I think that this is also good for the employee - it helps the company with staff engagement and would also maybe spur on the employee to gain knowledge in other field/lines of GC business.

I feel that the expert facility enhances the web site rather than hinders it. It would work great if the employee has a balanced approach and is not biased. For example the guy who runs Knighton Guitars in the UK also stocks a wide range of Gibsons. He sings the praises of both and will talk about the nuances of each instrument. He knows that a well made instrument will sell itself and I hope that a similar balanced approach would be taken by the experts. That's about all I can comment on really and I hope GC well with this approach. Monitor the situation - my field is "Continuous Improvement" so maybe a feedback facility could be offered to customers who use the expert service - maybe an enticement of some sort would encourage feedback and help GC to improve this aspect?

[gtrojan]

Thanks for observation regarding guitar techs. Big reason we implemented the program was to be able to improve setup and condition of our store inventory. Hard to sell a guitar not set up great!

[gtrojan]

Thanks again for all of the honest and constructive feedback. Helps me and our team make this feature, which is just getting going, more useful. Thanks also for the welcomes and allowing me to be a part of the conversation.

[luv]

Greg,

Obviously we are only scratching the surface of what our feedback is for Guitar Center as a whole. I tried to keep my comments geared toward what the original objective (presented by Sterling) was. I found myself wanting to drift off on tangents that I feel are important to me as a consumer, but had to bring myself back on point to address the issue at hand....which was "does the added presence of an expert enhance your shopping experience?".

I think if you want feedback from this group of people, they are more than willing to give you constructive criticism.....and praise.

Good luck in your endeavours.