Hey, BP! You're gonna love this . . .

[BigBallz]

GC pays their employees a base wage, plus a commission struction that varies dependant on your position.

I have nothing but positive things (well, almost nothing) to say about GC, in my 10 years of dealing with them including the majority under their employ. I was given so many opportunities that I would not get almost anywhere else.

-free gear from sales conests totaling around 16,000 dollars.
-GC open house / training at St Louis Music (ampeg). Free booze/food/swag/trip
-personal tour of taylor factory
-mesa factory
-bottle of Marshall Handwired
-hung out with steve vai and talked about video games
-played eric claptons strat
-took a 2 week cruise (free)
-backstage passes to ozzfest everyyear in addition to many other concerts
-recieved extensive training on all sorts of cool gear (it happens before they open folks, mostly no training during the day).

one of the best parts for me was the fact that I was helping people realize their dreams. 90% of people can't afford to buy basses when ever they want, so I worked with them, encouraged them to buy the right piece, even if it meant waiting, or buying and returning to upgrade.

I say yay for GC, i made plenty of money once commission kicked in, before that, it was tight, but one month, my manager gave me 200 bucks to help me get by. No payback expected, such was the level of family that we fostered in my store.

I rest my case......

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

Didn't Gibson buy GC...or is that the other way around?? I swear I heard something to that effect. (Totally Serious)

 

[bovinehost]

I thought Gibson bought us.

 

[BigBallz]

And, once again, this comes down to what your personal perception is.

Have I been guilty of GC bashing? Yes. Am I willing to try to understand what it is they're up against? Yes.

If your mind is made up that:

a. all Guitar Centers are impeccably run and chock full of supremely informed sales staff or
b. all Guitar Centers are FUBAR and overflowing with mouth-breathers, then....

Give it up. You've closed off input.

As someone reminded me not long ago, it's not in my best interests to go to bat for Guitar Center. I see the logic in this, but I don't/can't really compete with them. It is my opinion that more options and more choices benefit us all.

And again - they've been tremendously successful. It wasn't just luck.

Jack

It's very easy to be # 1 in a no competition field. The internet will/has woken up GC. They will have better trained staff or parish. I like shopping naked, and not having to deal will incompetent staff.

 

[bovinehost]

I didn't say they're number one, just that they have been very successful. And they've had competition - Sam Ash, although their model seems to have changed lately, and Mars come to mind. RIP, Mars.

Something else to keep in mind is that we - the vastly overeducated consumer - may not be their primary target. Hell, we're not the primary target of ANYONE, really, because there are really so (relatively) few of us.

How many Bongo 5HHs does GC sell compared to how many Squier Affinity Ps? We're talking a huge price point difference, and I think I know which sells more.

I'm not disagreeing with you that GC could do a better job, and will probably have to do a better job to keep up with guys like, um, me? But I am saying that they're not quite the Musical Retail Antichrist you make them out to be.

the don't shop naked with me, buddy,

Jack

 

[tkarter]

When I shop I know what I want. I don't need or ask the sales staff to tell me what I want. When I am shopping that is what I am doing.

I rate my experience in any store by how long it takes for someone to help me. Help in the context of giving me permission to play the bass I am wanting to play.

Next how quickly they can ring it up after I decide I want it.

I think that could be had at GC just as well as at the mom and pop.

When I want to talk about basses or amps I have the Internet for that.
Funny I get some really varying advice on gear and amps on the Internet too.


tk

 

[BigBallz]

I didn't say they're number one, just that they have been very successful. And they've had competition - Sam Ash, although their model seems to have changed lately, and Mars come to mind. RIP, Mars.

Something else to keep in mind is that we - the vastly overeducated consumer - may not be their primary target. Hell, we're not the primary target of ANYONE, really, because there are really so (relatively) few of us.

How many Bongo 5HHs does GC sell compared to how many Squier Affinity Ps? We're talking a huge price point difference, and I think I know which sells more.

I'm not disagreeing with you that GC could do a better job, and will probably have to do a better job to keep up with guys like, um, me? But I am saying that they're not quite the Musical Retail Antichrist you make them out to be.

the don't shop naked with me, buddy,

Jack

You all can put whatever spin you want on GC. It is a huge retail outlet. From my personal, (working) with big retail chains....they have no clue as to what the right hand is doing relative to the left.

To be quite honest, this (Ernie Ball) is one of the first manufacturs that seems to know what's going on with their product as well as the retailers who sell it.

And by my past posts, I am not an Ernie Ball ankle licker.....I do have respect for the company trying to get a handle on the GC problems.

 

[BigBallz]

When I shop I know what I want. I don't need or ask the sales staff to tell me what I want. When I am shopping that is what I am doing.

I rate my experience in any store by how long it takes for someone to help me. Help in the context of giving me permission to play the bass I am wanting to play.

Next how quickly they can ring it up after I decide I want it.
I think that could be had at GC just as well as at the mom and pop.

When I want to talk about basses or amps I have the Internet for that.
Funny I get some really varying advice on gear and amps on the Internet too.


tk

Now, please re read what you just posted......trained monkeys can point you in the direction of a bass and ring you up.

 

[tkarter]

Why would I ever have to reread what I posted? You are going to either tell me what I meant or what I should have meant.

I sure wish I thought my opinion mattered as much as you think your does.

tk

 

[BigBallz]

Why would I ever have to reread what I posted? You are going to either tell me what I meant or what I should have meant.

I sure wish I thought my opinion matter as much as you think your does.

tk

Your opinion does matters as much...actualy more.....you shop in GC way more than I and I respect your opinion.....check your ego bro.....

 

[Dargin]

Big Ballz stop **** disturbing.

 

[TSanders]

Big Ballz stop **** disturbing.

+1


Dang BigBallz. You would argue with a brick wall. I dont see the need. WE ALL KNOW YOU DONT LIKE GC. Lets move on.

This used to be such a happy place.

 

[BigBallz]

Big Ballz stop **** disturbing.

My appologies Dargin...should of known EB personal monitor this string...It has to do with GC.

I am not **** disturbing...I am posting my opinion...just because you don't aggree with it....give me a break.....I have NEVER sworn, treated anyone with disrespect, called anyone names...I want GC to gets its **** together. I would think EB would also...they are your main retailer.

 

[BigBallz]

+1


Dang BigBallz. You would argue with a brick wall. I dont see the need. WE ALL KNOW YOU DONT LIKE GC. Lets move on.

This used to be such a happy place.

Please!

 

[TSanders]

Please!

Well, thats my opinon.

I wish you knew that Im not alone.

 

[tkarter]

I have never shopped in a GC not because I don't like them but because there isn't one near enough to my hick town to have one to shop at. I am betting I could shop at one and get along just fine.

Bigballz is it okay with you if I think I could shop at a GC if there were one here for me to shop at?


tk

 

[Beth]

I rest my case......

below the belt, Big Ballz. Come on... can't we all just get along?

 

[BigBallz]

I have never shopped in a GC not because I don't like them but because there isn't one near enough to my hick town to have one to shop at. I am betting I could shop at one and get along just fine.

Bigballz is it okay with you if I think I could shop at a GC if there were one here for me to shop at?

tk

Absoulty, but the question is, can you stand to be away from the forum carring the Ernie Ball flag long enough?

 

[smallequestrian]

Oy!

 

[tkarter]

You throwing me out of the forum now?

I think not.

tk