Guitar Center Salesman...I have heard it all now!!

[beej]

I think when you're an expert on a product, like most of us are with the EBMM line, you're going to know more than most sales guys.

I also think a lot of sales staff don't know what they're talking about. I don't blame them, especially at jobs where there's a high employee turn over (like GC). Often people just wing it, hoping to get a sale.

Unfortunately, just the way it goes.

 

[ShaneV]

The thing I like about Guitar Center is that you can grab a guitar, go to an amp, and just play in your own little area.

You can manage to hear something over the 10-20 talentless beginners playing smoke on the water and sunshine of your love through cranked solid state Crates?

 

[PugNinjas]

I must be one of the few lucky ones with regards to finding knowledgable GC staff, especially with regards to EBMM. The guys over at the GC in Summerlin are very aware of the EBMM line and always looking to talk about what new items EBMM has to offer. It could be because both of the cats I talk to are, in fact, Morse and Petrucci fans but if that's the case, it works.

 

[GoKart_MoZart]

You can manage to hear something over the 10-20 talentless beginners playing smoke on the water and sunshine of your love through cranked solid state Crates?

I had the same thought! Best to go first thing on weekdays (when school is in session, that is) if you want to hear yourself.

Your GC must have better players than mine. No "Smoke", but lots of "Iron Man"...

 

[Jack FFR1846]

My GC guitar manager is awesome and at this point, the other sales guys know that if he's not in, I'm not buying that day. Some of the sales guys are ok otherwise, but some are obviously looking to sell the high margin guitars (cough...prs...cough).

He's enthusiastic, lets me and the kids play there endlessly and offers answers and advise about not only guitars but "what is this song" or how to play certain things.

I have not heard anyone ever downplay EB's.....but the entire staff is used to me going directly to either the 1 axis or JP that they have hanging on the right wall, 3rd from the back...middle and top hooks.

Any GC and any music place will have both good and bad. You could very well go back and find someone whose far more knowledgable and/or helpful.

I expect that 90% of the people coming into their doors only know Fender/Gibson and maybe leave knowing Epiphone. Whose ever heard of Schecter, PRS, Ernie Ball, Dean, Ibanez....or Godin?

jack

 

[Jack FFR1846]

You can manage to hear something over the 10-20 talentless beginners playing smoke on the water and sunshine of your love through cranked solid state Crates?

Oh...I gotta relate one day.... My kids and I were setting up. We sort of take over one little cove. I got us all set up and someone on the other side was struggling with the beginning of Back in Black by AC/DC. After 3 or 4 times, when they'd stop after the first 3 chords, I'd finish with the rif and wait for them to continue. I think after 3 or 4 times, they gave up. It was pretty funny. (at least I was amused....)

jack

 

[floyd99]

you guys should thank your stars you're in the USA where at least some stores stock MM guitars.

Over here no-one does. Out of a dozen or more stores within an hours drive, only half were listed as MM dealers, and upon phoning them, none actually stocked any. The closest store that actually had any guitars in stock was 1.5 hours away, and even they only had 1 luke and a couple of axis. I ended up traveling to them anyway, after ordering my Silo over the phone as they offered an amazing trade-in deal on a Gretsch they'd never even seen. Their service was worth the travel.

Basically the only way to get them over here is to take the huge risk and buy unseen/unplayed. Lucky I wanted a black Silo as that's the only one that was available at the distributor, so I got it - although it didn't have matching headstock or piezzo, but I wasn't prepared to wait the 5-6 months for custom order.

I think a lot more MM's would be sold if stores actually stocked them over here.

 

[TwAn]

I bought my first Axis SS from a local dealer (about 10 minutes from my house)...

I had informed at this dealer earlier about MusicMan and he had no problems with ordering them (since he already worked with the MusicMan-importer in Holland for other brands)...

Few weeks pass and the owner calls me, saying the importer brought two MM's over for me to try. I didn't have to buy them, I could just try them and if I wasn't happy, the importer would just pick them back up later... He brought an Axis and an Axis SuperSport (which I bought!)

Eversince, my local dealer has a few MM's brought over by the importer every once in a while and he has sold several. He always calls me when he has new MM's in stock so I can come over and try them!

In my opinion, that's great service!

 

[koogie2k]

I guess I am one of the lucky ones here. The "turn over" rate at my local GC is very small and the same peeps have been working there at least 5-6 years. Knowledgable guys/gals....and almost all of them play in a band of some sort. So, I am guessing that helps.

Lately though...no EBMM guitars...just basses. I could order one if I wanted and they know all about the EB's. Problem is...I think I am the only one in the area that REALLY knows about them.

I have always been happy with my local GC....good people there.

 

[kbaim]

I consider the manager of my GC a friend. He's helped me with lots of gear purchases and we've had dinner together a few times.

Not to mention how helpful Marty (ceo) and Phil (guitar buyer) have been to many of us here on this forum.

It pays to 'seek out' the most knowledgeble salesman in the store as opposed to being targeted by the less informed ones.

 

[GWDavis28]

My GC guitar manager is awesome and at this point, the other sales guys know that if he's not in, I'm not buying that day. Some of the sales guys are ok otherwise, but some are obviously looking to sell the high margin guitars (cough...prs...cough).

He's enthusiastic, lets me and the kids play there endlessly and offers answers and advise about not only guitars but "what is this song" or how to play certain things.

I have not heard anyone ever downplay EB's.....but the entire staff is used to me going directly to either the 1 axis or JP that they have hanging on the right wall, 3rd from the back...middle and top hooks.

Any GC and any music place will have both good and bad. You could very well go back and find someone whose far more knowledgable and/or helpful.

I expect that 90% of the people coming into their doors only know Fender/Gibson and maybe leave knowing Epiphone. Whose ever heard of Schecter, PRS, Ernie Ball, Dean, Ibanez....or Godin?

jack

You talking about Glen at GC in Natick? I have a friend that told me that have way more stuff out at the Millbury store, though it is smaller.

Glenn |B)

 

[A.J.]

I used to be a GC salesman in Tucson. They can't all be bad

 

[Lou]

You talking about Glen at GC in Natick? I have a friend that told me that have way more stuff out at the Millbury store, though it is smaller.

Glenn |B)

The Millbury store is pretty small - but they did have some stuff that I haven't seen in other GCs in the area.


I have yet to encounter a GC salesman who knows a more about what they sell than a plumber would.

 

[Marty Albertson]

Hi all...been a while since I connected but love getting involved in threads like these. Sounds like Charlie7 got a bad apple and thats not to say we only have one but I want to point out that over the last three years we have cut our sales staff turnover in half and today have one of the better turnover stats in retail. It was actually many interactions on this forum that nudged us to make the investment to correct this aspect of our buiness....so thanks.

As for stocking EBMM guitars......the fact is that MM guitars are a niche brand and too a degreee we would like them to stay that way. The brand has a very boutique appeal that drives up its value and if it was as available as Fender and Gibson it would lose its cache. If it got to that level the pressure to distribute it in mass merchants would diminish its appeal to us and most music stores. It is a unique brand that through great mangement has grown its value through carefully managing the supply. This means there will be many stores including some GC's that do not and cannot carry the instruments.

As always when any of you or your friends has a bad experiene at one of our stores we would love to hear about it so we can address the problem. We want all of you to feel like you own a piece of our stores and therefore can help us shape them to suit your needs.

I think it is also important to appreciate that 99% of all our sales staff are first and foremost musicians.....JUST LIKE YOU. They work in our stores to try to make ends meet while pursuing their dream of making music. Many go on to become successful musicians and many go on to become the management that helps us run our stores for you. While some may not have the best of intentions, I would wagger that the overwhelming majority want nothing more than to help you find and appreciate the best instrument for you. It is probably impossible to be an expert on all the instruments we carry and in many cases you know much more on any given instrument.....it may sound a little "apple pie and golly gee whiz" but if you treat them as you would liketo be treated we would all have better music stores to shop and work in. There is no value in leading a saleperson along just so one can demonstrate how little he/she knows......when you find a situation where you know more, tell the salesperson and maybe he/she will listen and learn from your knowledge and experience...then the next customer that comes in will have the benefit of the collective knowledge.

Granted that's not your job nor obligation but in the event you really want to help EBMM, you can assist us in the training of these instruements......just a thought.

EBMM does not employ sales reps in the field to help in training our staff but through the EBMM "training militia" you could make a difference.

Now that's assuming you really know your Balls.

 

[Marty Albertson]

please excude the typing errors......

 

[Marty Albertson]

excuse......d is right next to s and my fingers have LSD flashbacks at ttttimes.

 

[Sweat]

Marty,

You hit it on the head, the GC I frequent in North Dallas has a great staff and the guys know I have Ball knowledge and ask me questions which is great, but I could not tell them chit about any other brand or amps ( I am an amp dummy), makes for fun visits.

And off topic to all Dallas area formites I was in this store this morning and what a nice selction of Balls, including some Silos and a nice Bongo on sale, wish i would have had more time to play but only had a minute as I was buying a leaving co-worker a gift card.

 

[Big Poppa]

Thanks Marty... the best point of many points was instead of getting indignant or just going in there to trap the guy talk to him give him some of the tidbits you have collected.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

At least you have GC, we have nothing like that in the UK...

 

[Spudmurphy]

I think a lot more MM's would be sold if stores actually stocked them over here.

First of all I'd like to say "thank you" to Marty for contributing to this thread - can't get better than that eh?

I take what floyd is saying - the facts are though, that the output from EB is such that there are not enough guitars made per month to stock every store with an assortment of balls.

We have to live with the fact that output is what it is and we have wait for our orders which aren't kept in stock.

I travel a lot around the UK and always frequent the local music stores. The number of EB Guitars I have seen have been few and far between (not including basses).

Now on the other hand there is one guitar store here in Cardiff that has a new Axis for close on a half of it's rrp - and can't sell it! - salesman says the kids all want Fender and Gibson guitars!!