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Guitar Center Strikes Again
Re: Guitar Center Strikes Again
On Apr 26, 8:18 pm, Jeff Witkop <jwit...@frontiernet,net > wrote:
> Well, not that this is a new phenomena, but Guitar Center has decided
> that my blood pressure is just too low and has set out once again to
> raise it to steam boiler levels.
>
> My gigging rig is heavy, heavy, hernia-inducing heavy, so after
> reading about MarkBass for about the tenth time today, I figured God
> was sending me a sign and that I must go to GC and buy one. Of course
> all the salespeople are playing instruments and the 1 X 15 that I
> really want is out of stock, but I had already made up my mind that if
> I couldn't get the 1 X 15, then the 1 X 12 will be mine.
>
> After waiting about ten minutes, a bewildered youth approaches me.
> Turns out he is a salesman. "Is there one in a box?", I ask, pointing
> to the 1 X 12, already knowing the answer is no. "Just a minute, let
> me see." Ten minutes pass. "No." Arggh.
>
> "Well, can you take off a few dollars since this one has been sitting
> here for a month or two?", I ask, knowing my optimism will soon be
> dashed to the ground by the 13 year old waiting on me. "I'm new
> here," he says (what a surprise) "Let me ask my manager." Wait ten
> minutes. "No."
>
> "Can I see the manager?", says I, in my most restrained, biting my lip
> until it bleeds, voice. "Yes, he's in there.", pointing to an office
> with a 17 year old senior manager. I gird my loins for battle and
> enter the 17 year-old's sanctuary. Amazingly, he is respectful (Well,
> hell, I probably remind him of his grandfather.) and convinces me that
> the unboxed unit will come with all manuals and warranty paperwork -
> even a MarkBass sticker! Oh, boundless joy! I agree to wait, while
> the 13 year old retrieves said paperwork.
>
> After 20 minutes, during which I watch 3 other salespeople interrupt
> MY PARTICULAR IDIOT, I am informed that they can not find this
> mythical paperwork. I leave the store, sans amp, defeated and humbled
> once again by the unmet promise of Guitar Center. Aye, she is a cruel
> mistress.
>
> Jeff
Pass on the LMII. HAd one and it just sounds like a sterile, lifeless
solid state amp. Check out the Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.0. No contest. The
Shuttle will blow the dorrs of the MArkbass any day of the week.
On Apr 26, 8:18 pm, Jeff Witkop <jwit...@frontiernet,net > wrote:
> Well, not that this is a new phenomena, but Guitar Center has decided
> that my blood pressure is just too low and has set out once again to
> raise it to steam boiler levels.
>
> My gigging rig is heavy, heavy, hernia-inducing heavy, so after
> reading about MarkBass for about the tenth time today, I figured God
> was sending me a sign and that I must go to GC and buy one. Of course
> all the salespeople are playing instruments and the 1 X 15 that I
> really want is out of stock, but I had already made up my mind that if
> I couldn't get the 1 X 15, then the 1 X 12 will be mine.
>
> After waiting about ten minutes, a bewildered youth approaches me.
> Turns out he is a salesman. "Is there one in a box?", I ask, pointing
> to the 1 X 12, already knowing the answer is no. "Just a minute, let
> me see." Ten minutes pass. "No." Arggh.
>
> "Well, can you take off a few dollars since this one has been sitting
> here for a month or two?", I ask, knowing my optimism will soon be
> dashed to the ground by the 13 year old waiting on me. "I'm new
> here," he says (what a surprise) "Let me ask my manager." Wait ten
> minutes. "No."
>
> "Can I see the manager?", says I, in my most restrained, biting my lip
> until it bleeds, voice. "Yes, he's in there.", pointing to an office
> with a 17 year old senior manager. I gird my loins for battle and
> enter the 17 year-old's sanctuary. Amazingly, he is respectful (Well,
> hell, I probably remind him of his grandfather.) and convinces me that
> the unboxed unit will come with all manuals and warranty paperwork -
> even a MarkBass sticker! Oh, boundless joy! I agree to wait, while
> the 13 year old retrieves said paperwork.
>
> After 20 minutes, during which I watch 3 other salespeople interrupt
> MY PARTICULAR IDIOT, I am informed that they can not find this
> mythical paperwork. I leave the store, sans amp, defeated and humbled
> once again by the unmet promise of Guitar Center. Aye, she is a cruel
> mistress.
>
> Jeff
Pass on the LMII. HAd one and it just sounds like a sterile, lifeless
solid state amp. Check out the Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.0. No contest. The
Shuttle will blow the dorrs of the MArkbass any day of the week.
Re: Guitar Center Strikes Again
OK, perhaps this is a tad off topic, but it relates to salespeople in
music stores.
I've got a local indepentent store chain (just 3 stores) in my area.
Some time ago I went into the largest of these. It was a weekday
morning, virtually no customers, an impromtu meeting of salespeople on
the sales floor drinking coffee and talking about their weekends. They
were in the area of the bass dept.
I walked over, no one acknowledged me. I browsed the gear, no one
acknowledged me. I thought, "I know - I'll take down a really
expensive bass. That'll get me some attention!". Took down a two
thousand dollar instrument and started to play it. No one acknowledged
me. I put the bass back and decided on one last test, now with a smirk
on my face. I slowly walked over to the 4 or 5 salespeople that were
chatting, and, saying "excuse me, excuse me" in a soft voice, as I
walked directly into and through their group, placing myself in direct
line of their face to face chit chat. As I emerged on the other side,
laughing inwardly, someone finally said "Uhhh, do you need some
help?". I bought nothing.
Same store, different month: I was eyeing an SKB road case for a head
I was considering but hadn't bought yet. I said to the salesperson,
"I'll buy this case, but since I'm still deciding on the head that
will go into it, and may not even buy the head, I may need to return
it. Is that OK?" "Sure", he said. "How much time do I have?", I asked.
"One week" he said. I said, "Well, I'm not often in the area. Will you
accept a return in 2 or 3 weeks, understanding that it had not been
used, was in mint condition, etc.? That will give me time to make the
other decision and then get back here if I choose to return it."
"Sure", says he. I asked, "Will you write it on the receipt that I can
get my money back in 2 or 3 weeks, since it's an exception to your
policy?". His response (all I could do to keep from laughing in his
face) - "Why...don't you trust me?". I didn't say "NO" (polite to a
fault, that's me), but said "I'll pass on the purchase. Thanks,
anyway." Guess what? Before I could leave the store he decided he'd
write it on the receipt. I bought it, but the incident stuck in my
craw and returned it.
Last straw for me and this store: I had a student who wanted a 5
string bass. He was not a very good player, new at it, young, didn't
know instruments. He was not from a wealthy family. He saved up his
money over time and went to this store against my advice. Next time he
came for a lesson he showed me what they sold him. A used 5 string
with a neck like a ski jump, far beyond any adjustment fixes, simply
unplayable. They took terrible advantage of him.
Got home, emailed the owner of the store who, it turned out, was in
deep denial. "But we've won awards for sales!" Not from my purchases
or recommendations, ever. That's for sure. Scum.
BW
OK, perhaps this is a tad off topic, but it relates to salespeople in
music stores.
I've got a local indepentent store chain (just 3 stores) in my area.
Some time ago I went into the largest of these. It was a weekday
morning, virtually no customers, an impromtu meeting of salespeople on
the sales floor drinking coffee and talking about their weekends. They
were in the area of the bass dept.
I walked over, no one acknowledged me. I browsed the gear, no one
acknowledged me. I thought, "I know - I'll take down a really
expensive bass. That'll get me some attention!". Took down a two
thousand dollar instrument and started to play it. No one acknowledged
me. I put the bass back and decided on one last test, now with a smirk
on my face. I slowly walked over to the 4 or 5 salespeople that were
chatting, and, saying "excuse me, excuse me" in a soft voice, as I
walked directly into and through their group, placing myself in direct
line of their face to face chit chat. As I emerged on the other side,
laughing inwardly, someone finally said "Uhhh, do you need some
help?". I bought nothing.
Same store, different month: I was eyeing an SKB road case for a head
I was considering but hadn't bought yet. I said to the salesperson,
"I'll buy this case, but since I'm still deciding on the head that
will go into it, and may not even buy the head, I may need to return
it. Is that OK?" "Sure", he said. "How much time do I have?", I asked.
"One week" he said. I said, "Well, I'm not often in the area. Will you
accept a return in 2 or 3 weeks, understanding that it had not been
used, was in mint condition, etc.? That will give me time to make the
other decision and then get back here if I choose to return it."
"Sure", says he. I asked, "Will you write it on the receipt that I can
get my money back in 2 or 3 weeks, since it's an exception to your
policy?". His response (all I could do to keep from laughing in his
face) - "Why...don't you trust me?". I didn't say "NO" (polite to a
fault, that's me), but said "I'll pass on the purchase. Thanks,
anyway." Guess what? Before I could leave the store he decided he'd
write it on the receipt. I bought it, but the incident stuck in my
craw and returned it.
Last straw for me and this store: I had a student who wanted a 5
string bass. He was not a very good player, new at it, young, didn't
know instruments. He was not from a wealthy family. He saved up his
money over time and went to this store against my advice. Next time he
came for a lesson he showed me what they sold him. A used 5 string
with a neck like a ski jump, far beyond any adjustment fixes, simply
unplayable. They took terrible advantage of him.
Got home, emailed the owner of the store who, it turned out, was in
deep denial. "But we've won awards for sales!" Not from my purchases
or recommendations, ever. That's for sure. Scum.
BW
Re: Guitar Center Strikes Again
rhythm5@sbcglobal,net wrote:
> On Apr 26, 8:18 pm, Jeff Witkop <jwit...@frontiernet,net > wrote:
>> Well, not that this is a new phenomena, but Guitar Center has decided
>> that my blood pressure is just too low and has set out once again to
>> raise it to steam boiler levels.
>>
>> My gigging rig is heavy, heavy, hernia-inducing heavy, so after
>> reading about MarkBass for about the tenth time today, I figured God
>> was sending me a sign and that I must go to GC and buy one. Of course
>> all the salespeople are playing instruments and the 1 X 15 that I
>> really want is out of stock, but I had already made up my mind that if
>> I couldn't get the 1 X 15, then the 1 X 12 will be mine.
>>
>> After waiting about ten minutes, a bewildered youth approaches me.
>> Turns out he is a salesman. "Is there one in a box?", I ask, pointing
>> to the 1 X 12, already knowing the answer is no. "Just a minute, let
>> me see." Ten minutes pass. "No." Arggh.
>>
>> "Well, can you take off a few dollars since this one has been sitting
>> here for a month or two?", I ask, knowing my optimism will soon be
>> dashed to the ground by the 13 year old waiting on me. "I'm new
>> here," he says (what a surprise) "Let me ask my manager." Wait ten
>> minutes. "No."
>>
>> "Can I see the manager?", says I, in my most restrained, biting my lip
>> until it bleeds, voice. "Yes, he's in there.", pointing to an office
>> with a 17 year old senior manager. I gird my loins for battle and
>> enter the 17 year-old's sanctuary. Amazingly, he is respectful (Well,
>> hell, I probably remind him of his grandfather.) and convinces me that
>> the unboxed unit will come with all manuals and warranty paperwork -
>> even a MarkBass sticker! Oh, boundless joy! I agree to wait, while
>> the 13 year old retrieves said paperwork.
>>
>> After 20 minutes, during which I watch 3 other salespeople interrupt
>> MY PARTICULAR IDIOT, I am informed that they can not find this
>> mythical paperwork. I leave the store, sans amp, defeated and humbled
>> once again by the unmet promise of Guitar Center. Aye, she is a cruel
>> mistress.
>>
>> Jeff
>
> Pass on the LMII. HAd one and it just sounds like a sterile, lifeless
> solid state amp. Check out the Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.0. No contest. The
> Shuttle will blow the dorrs of the MArkbass any day of the week.
Thanks. I hope so, because I just placed an order for the GB Shuttle
6.0 with 2 X 10" last night from Zzounds. I'll post a review when I
get it.
Jeff
rhythm5@sbcglobal,net wrote:
> On Apr 26, 8:18 pm, Jeff Witkop <jwit...@frontiernet,net > wrote:
>> Well, not that this is a new phenomena, but Guitar Center has decided
>> that my blood pressure is just too low and has set out once again to
>> raise it to steam boiler levels.
>>
>> My gigging rig is heavy, heavy, hernia-inducing heavy, so after
>> reading about MarkBass for about the tenth time today, I figured God
>> was sending me a sign and that I must go to GC and buy one. Of course
>> all the salespeople are playing instruments and the 1 X 15 that I
>> really want is out of stock, but I had already made up my mind that if
>> I couldn't get the 1 X 15, then the 1 X 12 will be mine.
>>
>> After waiting about ten minutes, a bewildered youth approaches me.
>> Turns out he is a salesman. "Is there one in a box?", I ask, pointing
>> to the 1 X 12, already knowing the answer is no. "Just a minute, let
>> me see." Ten minutes pass. "No." Arggh.
>>
>> "Well, can you take off a few dollars since this one has been sitting
>> here for a month or two?", I ask, knowing my optimism will soon be
>> dashed to the ground by the 13 year old waiting on me. "I'm new
>> here," he says (what a surprise) "Let me ask my manager." Wait ten
>> minutes. "No."
>>
>> "Can I see the manager?", says I, in my most restrained, biting my lip
>> until it bleeds, voice. "Yes, he's in there.", pointing to an office
>> with a 17 year old senior manager. I gird my loins for battle and
>> enter the 17 year-old's sanctuary. Amazingly, he is respectful (Well,
>> hell, I probably remind him of his grandfather.) and convinces me that
>> the unboxed unit will come with all manuals and warranty paperwork -
>> even a MarkBass sticker! Oh, boundless joy! I agree to wait, while
>> the 13 year old retrieves said paperwork.
>>
>> After 20 minutes, during which I watch 3 other salespeople interrupt
>> MY PARTICULAR IDIOT, I am informed that they can not find this
>> mythical paperwork. I leave the store, sans amp, defeated and humbled
>> once again by the unmet promise of Guitar Center. Aye, she is a cruel
>> mistress.
>>
>> Jeff
>
> Pass on the LMII. HAd one and it just sounds like a sterile, lifeless
> solid state amp. Check out the Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.0. No contest. The
> Shuttle will blow the dorrs of the MArkbass any day of the week.
Thanks. I hope so, because I just placed an order for the GB Shuttle
6.0 with 2 X 10" last night from Zzounds. I'll post a review when I
get it.
Jeff
