OT kinda:Secret Shopper

[newtley]

I was visiting my son in Denver last week and while there visited the local (insert megasuperchain ) music store.

Visually I found their MusicMan selection to be quite impressive; great model, color, etc selection. However..I found that upon playing a few that they were pretty consistently in poor playing condition.

If I was seriously considering a purchase that day I would have walked..

I know of at least one manufacturer that asks that anyone seeing their instruments in stores in anything less than perfect shape inform them. Of course to the average shopper it reflects more on the manufacturer than the retailer. My local dealer is very good about keeping up with adjustments impacted by seasonal humidity changes, installing fresh strings, etc.

Any retailer or EBMM staff reflections on situations like this?

 

[BigTony]

I was visiting my son in Denver last week and while there visited the local (insert megasuperchain ) music store.

Visually I found their MusicMan selection to be quite impressive; great model, color, etc selection. However..I found that upon playing a few that they were pretty consistently in poor playing condition.

If I was seriously considering a purchase that day I would have walked..

I know of at least one manufacturer that asks that anyone seeing their instruments in stores in anything less than perfect shape inform them. Of course to the average shopper it reflects more on the manufacturer than the retailer. My local dealer is very good about keeping up with adjustments impacted by seasonal humidity changes, installing fresh strings, etc.

Any retailer or EBMM staff reflections on situations like this?

I simply love posts like this. The Vagueness of the post speaks volumes, seems to be a few posts recently where all actual details are left out of the post.

No store name, and no list of instruments, how is this supposed to help EB?

 

[newtley]

I simply love posts like this. The Vagueness of the post speaks volumes, seems to be a few posts recently where all actual details are left out of the post.

No store name, and no list of instruments, how is this supposed to help EB?

I don't think any manufacturer would appreciate a public flogging of one of their big volume buyers. It would be more professional as well as effective to approach it from a more constructive perspective.

If however they ask me publicly, then it'll be there, in all its train-wreck glory. Otherwise pm/email works wonders to keep things clean and civil.

Plus, if you re-read the post, I was looking at the situation from more of a general policy viewpoint from retailers and EBMM staff. Sorry if that was unclear to the linear thinkers.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to clarify this BigTony!

 

[BigTony]

Otherwise pm/email works wonders to keep things clean and civil.

I was just confused as to why you didn't do just that in the first place. An email to EB that there was a situation you had experienced.

I now see your point more clearly. My Bad. Apologies

 

[newtley]

I was just confused as to why you didn't do just that in the first place. An email to EB that there was a situation you had experienced.

I now see your point more clearly. My Bad. Apologies

no worries chum.. engrish am a hard language..

I was just in yer neck o the woods last month on a little whirlwind tour.. The Wirral, Lakes District and in between...lovely..simply lovely..
..however..having to bear left at your roundabouts makes me come a bit undone..

 

[Big Poppa]

BIg Tony...I know you are grumpy but you are starting to be a self appointed moderator. Love your participation but lets try to give people some freedom to communicate how they see fit. (provided of course they dont piss me off!)

ANyone residing in the US knows exactly who he was talking about.

I appreciate the intelligent and diplomatiuc way in which he posed the question. There are hundreds of "Guitar Center Sucks" threads that just get silly.

THis topic has been bashed and pummeled however...If you want the gutiars and basses pristine then don't allow the customers to handle them. You dont allow a 30 day guaratee of satisfacton. Guitar Center lets people play anything. Ying and Yang for us. How many people had no idea or no intention of playing our stuff and stumbled on to it at a GC?

Both Guitar Center and Ernie Ball Music Man would prefer the stuff be perfect. If you forumites want to help if you see something ask for the guitar or bass manager and point it out to them. If you get a less than satisfactory responce then please contact customer service and let us know the details.

thanks a bunch

 

[BigTony]

no worries chum.. engrish am a hard language..

I was just in yer neck o the woods last month on a little whirlwind tour.. The Wirral, Lakes District and in between...lovely..simply lovely..
..however..having to bear left at your roundabouts makes me come a bit undone..

Yeah, the Lakes is very beautiful, I visit quite often during the Summer with the Kids. Hope one day to visit the US, and yeah, the whole driving thing will certainly be fun!!

BIg Tony...I know you are grumpy but you are starting to be a self appointed moderator.

Thanks for the kick. Grumpy, me!

 

[candid_x]

There are stores which require a note from your mother before you can try out an instrument. Reminds me when I was trying out a guitar with my foot resting on the Mesa amp I was playing through. The store owner came by and read me the riot act for abusing his amp, until I told him it was mine.

I imagine it's sometimes hard for a store owner to strike a happy medium. Maybe an inspection of hands and belt buckles may be in order, or just special order everything, which isn't always conducive to robust sales.

 

[PugNinjas]

How many times have you seen a kid who just started playing with a top of the line guitar with a ridiculously high priced rig? We used to let the younger bands play a set at parties and it never seemed to amaze me that Mom & Dad would by "junior" a PRS & Mesa stack when the kid has only been playing for 6 months

I'm sure that these stores have had many a great sales day when that happens

 

[newtley]

I was really only in that store to buy my son some strings, until my eyes were drawn to the wall-candy..

I'm very fortunate it seems to have a local dealer that, tho small and low-volume compared to many, is very caring and meticulous about instrument setup.
I purchased a NOS 2001 Stingray from him a few months back that was just as clean and minty as the impulse-buy box-fresh 07 Sterling HS that followed me home last week from his shop. My first Sterling purchased used there several years back was no exception either.

I'm on the road a lot and don't normally have much time to stop in on other shops so I've come to expect that everyone has the same shot at a factory setup as me. I'm admittedly spoiled too in that he'll even let me take stuff out for a week or 2....

Certainly I expect to do my own tweaking to taste later on, but it's unfortunate to have a first experience overshadowed by something as simple as a 15-minute shakedown with a tuner, allen wrench, screwdriver and polishing cloth.

Kinda like having your first date show up with dirty teeth...tho I do realize there are some that dig that mess...

 

[candid_x]

How many times have you seen a kid who just started playing with a top of the line guitar with a ridiculously high priced rig? We used to let the younger bands play a set at parties and it never seemed to amaze me that Mom & Dad would by "junior" a PRS & Mesa stack when the kid has only been playing for 6 months

I'm sure that these stores have had many a great sales day when that happens

Yuppers. Some young kids gots da money, and that's got to be a big part of the equation. Unfortunately, along with that comes another dozen kids who have no intention of buying anything, and hammer away at that same high end guitar. arrrgg...

 

[candid_x]

Hi Newtley,

Yeah, I think we do get spoiled. I’m crazy meticulous about my guitars’ setup. I doubt many guitars would satisfy me right off the rack, or at least not in a heavily trafficked store. But then, I’m sure there are exceptions. I think that’s where the customer’s relationship with the sales guy or gal can come in; if you let them know to call you as soon as what you’re interested in comes in, you may get it right out of the box.

 

[Quarter]

...How many people had no idea or no intention of playing our stuff and stumbled on to it at a GC?

Raises hand ... count me as one.
I really did'nt know much about guitars or EBMM's a year ago when I decided to learn to play. Once I picked up a Musicman, it became all too obvious that this was the real deal.
To this day I thank my lucky stars I stumbled into EBMM's!!

 

[Sweat]

Raises hand ... count me as one.
I really did'nt know much about guitars or EBMM's a year ago when I decided to learn to play. Once I picked up a Musicman, it became all too obvious that this was the real deal.
To this day I thank my lucky stars I stumbled into EBMM's!!

Count me as one as well, BP is right as well, I heard about EBMM guitars but really new nothing about them and was in that other land of guitar manufactuers, until I decided I wanted a guitar with 2 sincle coil EMGS and an EMG 81 or 82, not knowing anyone who made this config, I went to guitar center at christmas last year and there on the wall way up high was a Luke, just what I imagined, played the Luke and the rest is history, this was this last December, since then I have learned alot about EBMM and the fine guitars that they make, and I also found a new dealer to buy from as well and have turned my old guitars into a nice collection of BALLS, so without GC I would not be on this site and would not know about EBMM and yes it is great they let anyone play whatever they want.

 

[uvacom]

That's why I love my local guitar shop which *isn't* a big mega-superchain (Dietze Music in Omaha, for the curious). Although their stock of EBMM guitars could be much better (I think they stock all of the basses though!), they strike a really good balance with the merchandise. They take very good care of everything, it's not uncommon to see one of the staff polishing or tuning an instrument. They also don't hassle you about playing the stuff on the wall, even the more expensive pieces. They give me space while still being available and knowledgeable about the products they sell.

That goes a long way for me, the simple fact that they recognize being gracious for that 90% of the time when I'm there just to kill time and mess around goes a long way towards that other 10% of the time when I'm actually ready to throw down some serious cash and I want to do it without any hassle. For that reason, they get my repeat business.

 

[Marty Albertson]

I agree that we would love to have all our guitars in pristine condition every minute of every day. I visited our San Francisco store with BP several months ago and found a store where the instruments were very poorly taken care of...it was an embarassment. The store manger made immediate changes and the district manager was read the riot act. We do care and want to present our vendor's instruiments in the best light possible....it is only commonsense...much better for sales. Given our "hands on" policy it presents a very diffcult standard. I also just recently visted our Manhattan store and the manager had placed "do not touch" signs on many high end instruments...which was also unaceptable.

Let me stick my neck out here.....
A suggestion.....since this forum represents the highest of pride for EBMM products
how about we mobilize the "forumite's army" and I authorize all of you to have the ability to go into any of our stores and if you see any EBMM product that needs some tender loving care...you provide it.....meaning ask the store to let you adjust the neck, replace strings or polish....not that I am looking for free labor....but what better way to show your respect for the instruments as well as demonstrate what you expect from GC.

We can use all the help we can get.....and so can EBMM.

Good idea ? Bad idea ?

 

[PugNinjas]

IA suggestion.....since this forum represents the highest of pride for EBMM products
how about we mobilize the "forumite's army" and I authorize all of you to have the ability to go into any of our stores and if you see any EBMM product that needs some tender loving care...you provide it.....meaning ask the store to let you adjust the neck, replace strings or polish....not that I am looking for free labor....but what better way to show your respect for the instruments as well as demonstrate what you expect from GC.

We can use all the help we can get.....and so can EBMM.

Good idea ? Bad idea ?

I have to say the GC on Flamingo is Las Vegas has always treated me well and seems to keep most the guitars in great condition. Of course, now after a hard day of classes at UNLV I will have to swing over and check the EBMM selection (what a great excuse to try out all the MusicMan products)

 

[silverburst]

Hi Marty. Sounds like a fine idea to me, but in my case the GC's I frequent have nicely maintained inventories, although I wish they had more EBMM basses and guitars in stock to play.

Not to start a big round of ass-kiss rodeo, but Kevin Stroud at the Lawndale (southbay) store has been a great help to me, and recently helped put together a deal with researching and acquiring a hard-to-find MusicMan bass from an East Coast store, and really made sure I was happy.

I also got both of my Mark Bass amps from him, as well as some other brands of guitars and basses.

He is a keeper.

Rex

 

[Big Poppa]

Hey Kids
How are we doin here? The CEO of the largest entity in the music business is posting in response to this thread
Welcome Marty! I have a pretty good idea of just how busy you are but you are always welcome here.

I have an idea...since we are doing this business in the open...Is there a contact sort of a point person in the GC org that they can email both the good and the less than good and either have that person take care of it or recognise the positive?

I do exactly what Marty is sugesting of the forumites. If I see a truss rod that needs tweaking I ask for the tool. If you guys are uncomfortable doing this I ask is possible if you could alert the dept manager.

To add a little to what Marty is saying realize that the CUSTOMERS damage the guitars, not the staff. Those damages result in markdowns to get them a home.

Lets keep the dialogue going here and maybe we will get some more info directly from the top

 

[Marty Albertson]

I will do my best to stay involved...but I will also assign a lead contact at your suggestion...we can figure it out tomorrow.