Great Deal alert

[paranoid70]

Just to add a bit more to this debate. I talked to my buddy who bought a really nice PRS guitar at GC a few years ago... yes he had to pay extra for the case as well.

You would figure any guitar that costs over $1,000 should include a case! Except for F-Bass for some reason.

 

[6pack Jon]

I walked into a GC right after I bought my '86 stingray. It was in a beat up non original case. Got a "new" EBMM hardshell case for about $100. Salesman said the guy who bought the bass it went with claimed "He Didn't Want The Case".

 

[adouglas]

Separating the case from the instrument so they can make the prices look better is understandable, if a bit, um...well, you know. At least you can get the case, right? Just do the math differently. Add $100 to the hang tag price. That's what they're REALLY charging you.

What really disturbs me is if they do this with special instruments like the 30th Stingray that come with dedicated cases. You buy this gorgeous, premium instrument that is supposed to come with a special case, and what....if you buy a case they're apt to give you a generic SKB or G&G?

Or what about Bongos, which don't fit into some generic cases?

That would be simply unacceptable business practice in my book.

I'd use it as a bargaining tool. We all know that the bass ships with a case. Insist that the OEM case get included in the deal or you walk. If they try to BS you about whether the instrument ships in a case or not, just get the manager, whip out your cell phone, put it on speaker, call Customer Service and set them straight in public.

 

[Mobay45]

IIRC, the first Bongos that came out didn't include cases.

 

[cdb]

Separating the case from the instrument so they can make the prices look better is understandable, if a bit, um...well, you know. At least you can get the case, right? Just do the math differently. Add $100 to the hang tag price. That's what they're REALLY charging you.

What really disturbs me is if they do this with special instruments like the 30th Stingray that come with dedicated cases. You buy this gorgeous, premium instrument that is supposed to come with a special case, and what....if you buy a case they're apt to give you a generic SKB or G&G?

Or what about Bongos, which don't fit into some generic cases?

That would be simply unacceptable business practice in my book.

I'd use it as a bargaining tool. We all know that the bass ships with a case. Insist that the OEM case get included in the deal or you walk. If they try to BS you about whether the instrument ships in a case or not, just get the manager, whip out your cell phone, put it on speaker, call Customer Service and set them straight in public.

EXACTLY! Insist on it!! i didnt even know when I bought mine, but apparently the salesman did. I was really happy with my SR5, but the fact that a case was included sealed the deal for me.

 

[Big Poppa]

Adouglas I havent heard anyone claim to not have recieved the proper case with the 30th or LE's...What did I miss or are we starting hypothetical rants?

 

[silverburst]

The case was not included in the price of my 30th. It was a separate point of negotiation.

 

[Ken Baker]

Talked to a GC store manager a few minutes ago.

Apparently, the ability to break up a case/instrument package is allowed and is a separate point in price negotiations, even for high(er) end instruments.

Looks like an additional caveat emptor at GC, so it pays to ask and grind a little more.

Ken...

 

[adouglas]

Adouglas I havent heard anyone claim to not have recieved the proper case with the 30th or LE's...What did I miss or are we starting hypothetical rants?

No, I'm talking about misinformed salespeople. See earlier in the thread....

I got my SR5 new from GC last month and it didn't come with a case. They said they don't order cases. That seemed odd to me ....

The salesperson didn't say "sure, we've got it...it'll cost you $xxx." Instead it was "we don't order cases."

I recall another thread where a sales guy told one of the forumites that trans teal had been discontinued. Not true, but stated as fact by the salesperson.

No malice or underhandedness involved, just a lack of knowledge about what they're selling. If it's possible to have a misnformed salesperson, then it's equally possible that they might not be aware that the 30th comes with a special case.

Look, I buy from GC all the time, and I don't want to launch another GC rant and rave. It's just a "caveat emptor" thing. Sure, there are knowledgeable salespeople at GC. Are all of them knowledgeable about everything in the store, or about every single store policy? Of course not.

 

[SLUGGO]

For what it's worth....
I just checked my receipt for my 30th from GC. They list the guitar and case as separate items (different sku #s and prices). The total of the 2 combined is what you typically see 30th's go for. Additionally, the hang tag actually stated that the case was included. Regardless of the reason behind the inconsistancies, it seems that they need to be made aware that EBMM's are meant to come with a case.

 

[mynan]

The salesperson didn't say "sure, we've got it...it'll cost you $xxx." Instead it was "we don't order cases."

Right...he said he could order one, but that they only had a Sterling case in stock and my SR5 wouldn't fit it. It seems strange because they had about 5 EBMMs in stock...everything from Bongo's to Sterlings to SR4s. Where did the cases go?

 

[Musicman Nut]

Hmmm. That is all I'm going to say. Hmmm.

I'm not a dealer, although I did play one on TV, and all I can say is that all my dealer price lists INCLUDED cases.

(SUBS excepted.)

Jack

Well I only have room for about 30 more so after that my bass buying will probably be done, I have no more room.

 

[agplate]

Whassup Buddy, my SR5 and it's case were separate items / separate prices from the get-go and were listed as such on the receipt. Yo Dude, I realize GC stocks and sells alot of EBMM products for BP and the gang, but out here "on the ground", I have to say that the floor staff at most GC's are often misinformed or apathetic about these (and other) very fine instruments. Hey Man, EBMM should send out more undercover experts posing as flunkies (like me) to see whats going on. That said, I did have a generally good experience with GC when buying my SR5 (and case) by phone with the Store Manager last year, and they DO have the freshest Slinkys around (though one guy tried to talk me out of them in favor of DR's. Not Groovy Man. Take care Guy, Later Dude.

 

[robobass13]

If you guys look on the point of purchase tag on the bass at GC it will have the letters WC in the description always, of the bass, wich stands for "with case" now if you want to be a jackass and "grind " for a better price, GC has the option of taking the case out of the deal. when a guitar or bass arrives at GC with a case it is exploded or devorced from the instrument, the reason for this is that the store is broken up into departments and guitars are there own dept. and cases are an accs. dept item. It's just the way it's done to keep inventory straight. my guess is that if you got an EB instrument from GC without a case, It was either on clearance or you "ground the poor guy down to where he had to take the case out to make a little money.

 

[mynan]

my guess is that if you got an EB instrument from GC without a case, It was either on clearance or you "ground the poor guy down to where he had to take the case out to make a little money.

Wrong and wrong again....

 

[Straight UP]

Case

I bought my Bongo 5 at a store that is part of a very reputable chain here in Canada.
The price I paid included the case.. The first case they brought out was damaged.
So they brought out another.. perfect..

Case should be with the bass..

 

[silverburst]

now if you want to be a jackass and "grind " for a better price...

This is the point where the thread will go straight into the crapper.

 

[robobass13]

This is the point where the thread will go straight into the crapper.

you are absolutely right about that, in case you haven't guessed it by now, I am an employee of GC(assistant manager) and I know what I'm talking about when it comes to the inner workings of the stores, we all follow the same set of guidelines when it comes to gear from store to store. It makes me angry when I keep seeing the GC bashing going on on a company forum, when that same company has a lot of inventory hanging on GC walls. I have been working for GC for 4 years now and it is a great company to work for, as I'm sure EBMM is a great company to work for. but I don't hear any EBMM bashing going on hear, and I bet if it did the moderators would be quick to shut it down. I will follow this rule if you all do, IF YOU DON"T HAVE ANYTHING GOOD TO SAY, DON"T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL!!!

 

[bovinehost]

Robo,

Thanks for the info on the manner in which GC handles the case issue. This is useful and clears a lot of things up.

I am not inclined to enjoy any Guitar Center bashing. Useful information is more than welcome, but bashing based on "common knowledge" (which is commonly wrong) is not my cup of tea.

Hope that clears up my views on it!

Jack

 

[mynan]

IF YOU DON"T HAVE ANYTHING GOOD TO SAY, DON"T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL!!!

I can't speak for anyone else here, but I wasn't bashing GC. I've bought a lot of gear from GC and overall, it's been a good experience. I only stated what I experienced in purchasing my SR5 and I think I got a good price.

There, I HAD SOMETHING GOOD TO SAY...

Now here's what I think is sad....there were at least 4 other EBMM basses in the store that were not Sterlings and all they had in stock was a Sterling case.

So first I had to take a step back over the fact that this high-end bass doesn't even come with a case, which is fine...I would have paid an extra $100 or whatever for the case, but it was shocking because as far as I know GC is the only dealer that does that.

Then, I find out that they didn't even have the case for it...that it shipped without a case because GC doesn't order them with cases, according to the salesman. So either the salesman lied or the "same set of guidelines" isn't the same at my local GC.

Again I'm not complaining about the price I paid for my SR5 or the price I would have had to pay extra for the case. I just think it's sad that there wasn't one available considering the class of instrument that I purchased.