Guitar Center - Is it me?

[T-bone]

First off, I'm a fan of GC and have purchased a couple of basses and an amp from them. However, and I pointed this out when we had Martys ear that day, I'm amazed I can walk into one of their stores, plug in, spend at least 1/2 hour inside, and never be greeted or acknowledged by anyone in the store. Here's my most recent test:

Portland this past Monday - I walk in, plug a 30th S/R into the Markbass amps and do a side x side comparison. If anyone had taken the slightest amount of interest in me, I would have bought one.

Seattle (last night) - I started with the store in South Center and did the same thing. Side x side comparison using an S/R 4 (oh, and by the way, I'm digging the mark bass LMII). I was in there at least a 1/2 hour and not one person approached me. So, off to the downtown Seattle store I go. Again, another 1/2 hour but this time, I played an HS Sterling. Oh my, that instrument is some serious wood. I think if anyone had approached me there I would have gone home with a new bass and amp. But (sigh) not one person said one word to me.

Is it my breath? Is it cause I look middle age?? Is it cause I tuck my shirt in and don't have any tats??? Dang, I'd love to buy a new amp but I'd like to be kissed at least once.

Please know this isn't meant as a rant. I've done a fair amount of business with GC and will continue to do so. I'm just a little confused as to why they seem to ignore me lately. Could it be the summer help?

I'll be in Milwaukee this weekend, maybe I'll try there.

tbone

 

[roburado]

I kind of like it when no one approaches me. I don't like having someone check on me every few minutes. I'd rather not be bothered.

 

[Big Poppa]

Lets see what Marty says.....

I think from my experience that there is a reluctance from some staff to overlook fat bald middle aged guys.....I also think that they are trying to create an atmosphere that is less pressure packed. The old old days of guitar center they would lock the store and not let you out until you bought something.

 

[asianjeff]

+1 on roburado
a lot of times i enjoy being alone... i guess just me, if i have a question or something, i would go get them... i guess im not big on meeting new people

 

[Aussie Mark]

I kind of like it when no one approaches me. I don't like having someone check on me every few minutes. I'd rather not be bothered.

+1

If I have a question or want to buy something I'll go to the counter and bail up a staff member, otherwise leave me alone to do my thing.

 

[phatduckk]

ya... maybe u looked like u knew what you were doing so they took the "lets not annoy him" approach.

and like mark said... if you're interested in something go get em. waving a credit card in the air should do the trick

 

[asianjeff]

ya... maybe u looked like u knew what you were doing so they took the "lets not annoy him" approach.

and like mark said... if you're interested in something go get em. waving a credit card in the air should do the trick

or a large bundle of cash

 

[T-bone]

I'm with you all on high pressure sales tactics. Nothing worse. But I wouldn't mind a greeting of some sort. Something like:

"Good evening Sir. May I get you a drink? Martini?"

or

"Lovely day isn't it? May I get you a drink? Martini?"

I'm telling you, a couple martinis and I'd own a lot more equipment.

Seriously though, I wasn't even greeted at the door. Which surprises me because they greet me at Home Depot (my other favorite retail chain). Maybe I look more like a handyman than a rock star.

tbone

 

[Psycho Ward]

My GC here in GSO is staffed by several musicians that I've worked with over the years, it's almost a mom and pop shop to me. They ask about my kids and fellow musicians and I have fun there. They all know my deal, meet or come close to the web prices and I'll pay my taxes in my own state instead of paying shipping.

That said, almost all of my bass collection come from the internet, Pete, Beaver and a couple of other sites stock the lefties that I buy. If I ever walked into a GC and they had a lefty EBMM I'd buy it just to encourage the stock.

We lefty's almost never get to try before you buy.

 

[SquidLizard]

I'm the same way. I like to be greeted and then left to whatever I want to do. It's nice to chat for a moment, so if you have any questions later you at least have a person to check in with. And I also agree that if I go into a store to shop for more than basic commodities I'll leave if I'm ignored.

I guess women don't go into GCs all that much. There isn't one around here, but the few times I've been in one I was greeted appropriately. Most memorably, the Chicago GC near Midway was quite pleasant.

 

[bdgotoh]

I visit the Seattle GC regularly and what happened to you isn't typical for me. I match the middle aged description above and nearly every time I'm there someone asks if I have a question or need help.

How busy was it while you were there? I tend to visit in the mornings because I'm allergic to crowds and traffic.

 

[Kristopher]

I hear ya. It seems on the days I'm just looking I get approached, and on the days where I want to take something home I don't. But really I just walk over to one of the counters and ask for help and I'm taken care of within less than a minute.

I think when you have a store like GC who lets anyone try out any instrument on the floor, you'll get a lot of store traffic that has no intention of buying. They just want to play the cool bass they saw on MTV or whatever. I know I'm guilty of this; Guitar Center is the only store I feel comfortable going to with no intention of buying anything. BUT I spend most of my music dollars there, so really it all works out in the end.

 

[The Crow]

Better than walking in & having every salesman in store swarm you like a pack of flies for the commission. I'd rather have time to myself to scope the equipment out, then pick someone myself to handle the sale.

 

[mynan]

I bet if you had walked up to a sales counter with 30th in hand, someone would have jumped to help you.

I, personally, appreciate it that GC salesmen aren't hounding me when I'm checking things out.

I've said this before, and I know this wasn't the case with you, but if you go there on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon prepare to wait in line for any kind of help.

Other than that, quit being such a Sally and be a little more assertive. I had to do the same thing. When I go to GC, if I don't know, I find out who one of the asst. managers is and try to deal with him, especially if it's a big purchase like a bass or amp. It saves a lot of headaches, especially if you have to order something.

 

[leftymike]

The two GCs we have here in Austin have a greeter at the door at all times. Once I get in though I very rarely have had anyone bother me, which I like as well. I am usually there just to kill time and check out amps anyway. As Chuck said being a lefty you really don't get to try any basses out.

Although my very first Stingray was purchased at GC. A salesman came up to me and asked if I needed any help. I told him I was looking for a lefty Stingray or Sterling and he got on the phone and ten minutes later I purchased a sweet lefty SR that was being shipped from a California GC.

 

[roburado]

At all the GCs I've been to in the past few years, there has been someone at the door who greets people on their way in, says goodbye and checks people's receipts on the way out the door.

 

[muggsy]

I like the fact that I can walk into GC and try what I want without anyone acknowledging my existence. The stores near me usually have a greeter at the door, but beyond that they leave the customers alone. If I have a question, I ask. If I want to buy something, I look for a sales person. I can't imagine leaving it up to them whether I buy something: "OK, if that guy makes eye contact or asks if he can help me, I'm buying this bass."

If you want to wait to be approached, pull out your wallet and pretend to count your money very slowly. That should get some attention.

 

[bbernard]

There is a big space between ignoring a customer and being high pressure. Just a simple "EBMM and MarkBass...nice combination...let me know if you have any questions or need anything". Salesmen aren't doing their job.

I think it is also good to acknowledge everyone so they know they haven't slipped under the radar and it may cause them to be a bit gentler on the merchandise / less likely to rip off.

On the other hand, if I was hot for a piece of gear I wouldn't care about the salespeople and buy it anyway (unless the employees were out and out jerks).

 

[midopa]

I prefer not having a salesperson over my back. You can always go up to the counter and ask for help anyway.

 

[tadawson]

+ whatever . . . . to me, the best salespuke in a music store is the one that you can't tell is alive until you approach him/her/it . . . . The rest are just a pain in my a** . . . I can't count the number of times I WAS going to buy something, and some pushy asshat caused me to go make the purchase elsewhere . . . . and (not to in any way start a GC bash . . . ) I have found the "help" at GC to be, um, less than helpful? (Useless, in most cases?) Perhaps that's just me . . .

- Tim