large chain music shops aren't for me?

[shakinbacon]

Not sure what the point of starting this thread is - probably to vent or see what others think

Went to a local large chain music store today that carries Musicman basses. (You can guess but I don't want to start a flame war) I was excited - I'm very busy and this was a rare treat to try some gear. I wanted to try a 25th, or a SR5 or a Big Al. They were all on the wall and beautiful. They were all up high and out of reach. Nobody around to help... Tried to find someone in the department but no luck. One guy was helping someone so I waited and waited... when I checked back 10 minutes later nobody was at the station.

Ok, I'll just look some more...

I start thinking, "what if I had $2K in my pocket just itching to spend it? Nobody is hungry for a sale - would I give this place my business? Probably not."

I don't like to be hounded by salesman but this was pretty bad. 20 minutes later I left in disgust.

Yes I could have gone to the front counter and asked somebody in the strings deep for help, but by that point I had better things to do with my time. Maybe they were busy or short staffed, dunno.

However, now I see why people buy off the internet. Maybe large music shops just aren't for me.

 

[TNT]

Shakin'

Sometimes (as with any store) you need to be a little more aggresive with getting some attention, especially if the instruments you are interested in are too high to reach.

They know only serious customers will ask to see them, and they also know that "they" have to get them down.

Believe me, these stores don't win awards at the end of the month for "who has the most guitars still hangin' on the wall."

 

[Grand Wazoo]

You've mentioned 3 high quality instruments on the wall which were out of reach, well that could be a blessing in disguise, I would rather have that than knowing that every spotty emo kid in the neighbourhood has had his filthy paws and piercing all over them.

But you should have asked for attention if you really were keen to try one. you don't ask you don't get You should go back to the store when you have more time and I really recommend you to try that 25th before it goes, give the store another try and Saturdays are notoroius for idle handed punks loitering in music stores.

 

[danny-79]

Ive worked in a couple of music shops in the past, (not to the size scale of the chain that you might be talking about), but the high end stuff was kept out of reach for a reason, there wasn't that much high end stuff kept in stock or on display in the first place due to the fact that if you were a serious customer about to make a decent size purchase you would no exactly what you wanted so we could order in for you an the only person to touch it before you would be the tech checking it over.
Ive never seen a customer walk in off the street as they were just passing the place and buy a top end anything on impulse.
But i do understand your point of you can never tell who's just walked in.
Cause at the end of the day the window shopper will get GAS after randomly walking in to try and then return later to buy so if there isn't the stock in the first place an nobody asking you if you "need any help" then you are going to go else ware..
But its nice that the big chain places have the resources an turn over to be able to keep in stock all these lovelies for you to look at an try out in the first place.
But it can be very frustrating when you have go and find a member of staff yourself to ask for help an the person hasn't a clue what your on about.

 

[Big Poppa]

FIrst off this is going to end badly they all do. It is too easy to bash the store that the bashees ALWAYS buy from if the price is right. I would not still be in the guitar and bass business without their huge purchases and fast payment. Im not showing favorites here...I love MOST of our dealers hehehe....If some of the smaller dealers still dont understand that there would be no Music Man without GC then I hope they read this.
First off you are upset because you wanted to tire kick and tie up a salesman with zero intention of buying. Thats ok...but lets keep it in perspective...there was no salesman to hold your hand while you played bass...not shopped.

Secondly....Time and time again in these threads the store manager gets called out by management and posts here that he is sorry and make sure you ask for him next time. He also always says that anytime you are not satisfied to ask for management. Sometimes these threads are that they were not left alone to shop in peace.

Thirdly there are only maybe a dozen dealers that carry the product mix that GC does...Most of them are active here.
If it werent for GC you would go to your local store and not be able to even look at these instruments and would be forced to buy them sight unseen. GC gets bashed for not having product and now they have it and they get bashed anyways.

Bottom line you are not helping us by not asking and then venting your frustration on the forum.

Shakin please dont take this wrong....I want everyone to be able to play our stuff...\

 

[shakinbacon]

i get it

 

[maddog]

...or see what others think

my thoughts:

I'm very busy and this was a rare treat to try some gear.

Many of us are busy, fair enough.

One guy was helping someone so I waited and waited...

but you decided to stand in an imaginary line instead of begging the salesman's pardon and asking to get another associate or let him know you were waiting.

when I checked back 10 minutes later nobody was at the station.

you're busy but you had time to wander around for 10 minutes looking at whatever.

Ok, I'll just look some more...

again, you're busy but you had time to look some more.

I start thinking, "what if I had $2K in my pocket just itching to spend it? Nobody is hungry for a sale - would I give this place my business? Probably not."

what if?

20 minutes later I left in disgust.

So you had time to waste 20 minutes in the store and walk away empty handed.

Yes I could have gone to the front counter and asked somebody in the strings deep for help, but by that point I had better things to do with my time.

Yes, you could have. Would've saved yourself time out of your busy schedule to get what you want and even have more time to do other things.

However, now I see why people buy off the internet. Maybe large music shops just aren't for me.

Not sure how you arrive at this conclusion. Sure, I can click a button loading up a bass into my virtual shopping cart but I can't get my hands on it to see if it speaks to me until it gets delivered. And if I don't like it, I have to hassle with shipping it back (if I can even return it) instead of simply putting it back on the rack.

Assert yourself, politely, as a customer and you'll be rewarded.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Maddog said it much nicer than I would have.

 

[Bloodfist]

I start thinking, "what if I had $2K in my pocket just itching to spend it? Nobody is hungry for a sale - would I give this place my business? Probably not.

In all honesty, if you had 2K that you were going to spend that day, I think you would have tried harder to get a salesman to help you. I'm not trying to defend the large music stores, but to get irritated because no one helped you, and you weren't planning to buy anything to begin with is retarded. Give these guys a break, they deal with a lot of irritating people who waste their time all day. If you go in there and tell them you want to spend some money today, they will help you %100. Personally I don't think they should allow anyone to play the high end instruments unless they are serious about buying one, it would reduce the risk of it getting damaged.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Bacon you are a valid member of this forum, you haven't just joined and I have had many chats with you off line about Bongo's piezo etc eetc, I know you are not a fool, but I really really stress that you, are the one who missed out, and if you value my opinion, regardless of the situation, you should give yourself, and that store another chance, beside I said this to you before: those 25th's are now few and far between one another, you miss one, you've only got regret to deal with. A lot of regret.

Those are the company's flagship basses, I know Bongo's are what they are and the Big Al's are also exceptional, but to quote a line from the movie Pulp Fiction, "you shoot a 25th and you'll know where the extra money went." They are THE best, the most versatile and unique, I've had mine since Dec 21st 09, I still get goose bumps everytime I pick it up and with the variety of tonal options, every day I find a new "nuance". It hasn't bored me once, or never failed to impress me and my mates when playing it live.

 

[bovinehost]

Big chain stores rock.

My buddy Kevin bought two SBMM guitars and today decided he needed an amp. I went to Guitar Center in Lewisville and had a nice chat with the bass guy, Zack. Meanwhile, Kevin was trying some Vox amps with built-in modeling and so on, attended by Noah, who was also very nice.

Yes, the SLO Special needed a truss rod adjustment. Yes, I did it myself while Zack looked on. We talked bass stuff and Kevin bought a Vox.

It was a most excellent experience.

 

[DTG]

I would love a big store that I could go and look at basses
I can't afford!
That said where people a bit hard on shakin
I don't think I have ever seen a guy quoted
So many times in one post

 

[maddog]

Aye, Jack. Take GC for what it is, a music instrument toy store. Not many other places offer a large selection and the opportunity to try it all. They may not be 100% perfect but they offer an option. Nothing wrong with options so long as you get to choose.

 

[shakinbacon]

I would love a big store that I could go and look at basses
I can't afford!
That said where people a bit hard on shakin
I don't think I have ever seen a guy quoted
So many times in one post

Its ok DTG, I just had one of the best gym workouts in my life thanks to several replies

I made multiple mistakes and will move on

 

[five7]

The customer is always right? Or is it left, as in left out?

 

[Jim C]

A good store is one that can offer good, honest advice, along with professional service.
Have seen both big and small stores excell and fail miserably in this regard.

I've had the best experineces with the specialty shops; also suggest making an appointment with a particular sale rep and start a long term relationship.

At very least, go when the store is not crowded like the middle of the day during the week. I never go to a GC on weekends as they crowds make it impossible for the staff to give timely service.

 

[lorino]

Is the horse dead yet?

I am in the distribution business and my academic career is in supply chain management. The concept of a portfolio of products and distribution channels rings true accross products and industries. It is hard and cold - you cannot have high-end without low-end. And, it's not just profit related - availability of raw materials and distribution channels are also big issues.

I'll use an example from a former hobby of mine that translates pretty well to the music business - pipe smoking. As with any hobby, there is craziness those not involved would be surprised. Pipes are made of briar, which is essentially the root of a tree / bush. It is very hard to harvest, it is done by hand, and the yeild is terribly small. High-end pipe smokers always decry the 'cheap' guys and 'drugstore' pipes. Here again, there is no high-end without low-end. Why - there's no reason to harvest briar if all you are going to get is the 'high-end' market. Its painfully small and the yeild from your efforts is painfully small. But, if there is a market for the not-so-great and sub-standard briar - it becomes worth my while. So, whether its one manufacturers portfolio of business, or an industry, there is great need for the entry level or lower-end product line.

Same relates to retail outlets - they are distribution channels. GC is not gooing to make any money with a store full of EBMM Ball Reserve - there just isn't a mass market for that. The little guy ain't making money in the same situation.

Lastly, I'm in the beer business. We are set up to make lots of it, and we do. Its what the market wants - we aren't brainwashing anyone to drink mass produced beer. The afficianodos all bemoan us - imports, craft, etc. etc. Listen, we make the best stuff on the planet; we've got it here; we get it here in our employee pub; I'm 50 yards from our tech center pilot brewery - we've got tons of products we could push out. There's just not the market for it. We have a large production and distribution beast to feed - the smaller brewers, teas, waters, etc. feed off that distribution channel. Small brewers aren't getting quality hops, grains, etc. without us either (see above).

Anyhow, my bloated .02. What does it mean? I like Guitar Center, if there large scale distribution channel did not exist - we'd see way less products in the market place.

JIM

 

[bovinehost]

Plus, Lorino can get you beer.

 

[Powman]

You've mentioned 3 high quality instruments on the wall which were out of reach, well that could be a blessing in disguise, I would rather have that than knowing that every spotty emo kid in the neighbourhood has had his filthy paws and piercing all over them.

I know I am late to this thread and everyone covered all the bases quite well (pun intended). But I just have to say that I got a good chuckle out of Wazoo's reference to spotty emo kids with piercings.

 

[ZiggyDude]

One cultivates relationships. I stop by the local GC about once a week. Mostly touring the used stuff (same ol same ol new). I always say "Hi" to the ones that we recognize each other. Not just the guitar dudes. I have bought some pro sound stuff and chat with "Tone" who really knows that end.

So where am I going with this? When I am ready to get something or at least really want to try it. They jump.

And this is not just GC - I try to visit the local stores a lot also. I take my 3 year old (Who one day can say he has been gear shopping since 3 months old :-> ) Same deal And one thing - cultivating these relationships really helps when you are looking for a new band!

I know how you feel to get ignored. It really burns. Also consider the time to shop. One thing that works is talk to the doorman. Ask him what times things are calm. Come back then.

Think about it for a minute. We play a club. By the end of the first set you can walk about the place like you own it. So, what holds us back in a friggin' store? Be cool unto others and others will be cool unto you.

Or something like that..................................