Jump to content
Gibson Brands Forums

Guitar Center just gave me $20

pohatu771

By pohatu771
in Epiphone Electrics

Recommended Posts

pohatu771

pohatu771

Posted
Posted

I just got the mail, and I have a letter from Guitar Center inviting me to a "meet-and-greet" with the store manager on August 17 after the store is closed. It's because I'm one of their "most valued customers."

 

I also got a $20 gift certificate, valid that weekend. That's mighty nice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
copper1281734000

copper1281734000

Posted
Posted

That sounds pretty cool, but I'm not a guitar center supporter. I'm a mom and pop supporter, but whatever you like it what matters.

 

My local mom and pop store has a point system that giver you a certain percent off when you reach a certain amount of points, and it gets higher the more you spend. I'm at 5% right now, I think.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pohatu771

pohatu771

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I have three "mom and pop" stores in my area... (I've explained this before).

 

The closest is ridiculously overpriced. A PA system I could buy at Guitar Center for $450 is $700. They don't normally stock Epiphone or Gibson, but when they had a '56 Goldtop in stock, it was $750. Prices on Fenders aren't bad, but still higher than Guitar Center.

 

The other close store is overpriced and owned by a jerk. He wanted to sell a used Squier Standard Strat for $150. This is the guitar that he advertised as a "Fender Japan." As far as choices go, you don't really have any. If you want an amp, it's a Kustom. If you want a guitar, it's either used or a PRS copy.

 

The third store is excellent, but about an hour away. It's the Great House of Guitars. They'll beat Guitar Center almost every time, and that's without price matching. If they have something marked at $600, and I say I can't afford it, they'll drop $50. I was offered a brand new Casino for $495... I still didn't have the money, but I was impressed. I'd love to shop there more often, but distance is an issue. Going to college, though, I'll be an equal distance from Guitar Center or House of Guitars, so I'll be able to go more often.

 

I try to support the first store when I can, on minor purchases where the price difference is virtually nonexistant, but for large purchases and differences of several hundred dollars, I have to go with what's cheapest. I can't afford not to.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Just Strum

Just Strum

Posted
Posted
That sounds pretty cool' date=' but I'm not a guitar center supporter. I'm a mom and pop supporter, but whatever you like it what matters.

 

My local mom and pop store has a point system that giver you a certain percent off when you reach a certain amount of points, and it gets higher the more you spend. I'm at 5% right now, I think.

[/quote']

 

+1 I know people seem to love them, but just not for me. It's Mom and Pop or I buy used. However, I still would use the $20 for strings, picks, those type of things.

 

When I shop on the web, it's Sweetwater.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pohatu771

pohatu771

Posted
  • Author
Posted

 

That House of Guitars sounds like a cool place' date=' do they have a website?[/quote']They don't have a website, but they're on MySpace.

 

http://www.myspace.com/thehouseofguitars

 

As far as music stores go, this is probably one of the best. Famous musicians come in a lot, as customers. Metallica actually schedule their tour once to include a midnight stop at the store. They tried some guitars, ordered a pizza, and hung out with the locals.

 

I don't know if I can call it a "famous" store, because what seems famous to the locals may not be to the rest of the world. If you do a Google search, you can see a few photos of the... "chaos" inside. There's also one particularly nasty review... this is definitely a musician's store. The review is a little bit exaggerated. If you read it, I'm sure you'll be able to tell which one I'm talking about.

 

If you're ever in western New York, you have to stop in. There's a maze of sorts that separates the instruments from the music, and if you've never been there before, it's actually easier to go outside and walk around the building to the other entrance.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Guitars

 

[EDIT] I keep remembering stuff... in the music part of the store, they have memorabilia hanging on the ceiling... there's a pair of Elvis's pants up there. They also had a case of "Beatle guitars" in the front last time I was there, with a McCartney Texan, and a Hofner bass, and a Lennon Casino. Inside the display there was a little note, saying "Happy Christmas from John."

 

The Wikipedia article says they have vintage instruments, and they don't lie. There are a few basses from the late 1800s in there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Just Strum

Just Strum

Posted
Posted
They don't have a website' date=' but they're on MySpace.

 

http://www.myspace.com/thehouseofguitars

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Guitars

 

[EDIT'] I keep remembering stuff... in the music part of the store, they have memorabilia hanging on the ceiling... there's a pair of Elvis's pants up there. They also had a case of "Beatle guitars" in the front last time I was there, with a McCartney Texan, and a Hofner bass, and a Lennon Casino. Inside the display there was a little note, saying "Happy Christmas from John."

 

The Wikipedia article says they have vintage instruments, and they don't lie. There are a few basses from the late 1800s in there.

 

Pretty cool stuff. If I ever get anywhere near there, I'll have to make sure I include a stop there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
byrds1965

byrds1965

Posted
Posted

Sounds like a nice store.

 

I'm lucky I have 4 local stores and they all match prices or do better, one is a Fender dealer, one Epiphone Gibson, another Fender Grestch, and the last one mainly used stuff and a G&L dealer.

 

I buy strings a GC, SA because they are close, but not too much gear anymore. Got most of my recording gear from GC then followed the pro audio guy when he went to SA. The small guys don't carry much recording gear.

 

Have bought all my recent amps from the Fender guy and he also has the Traynor line, where I got my Traynor. They have great amp prices I don't know how they sell them that cheap, but I'm not going to argue. I would shop there more but I just don't need more than one strat and tele so they are my amp store.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
s1120

s1120

Posted
Posted

Well the GC in my area has went downhill big time the last few months. The help is less then useless, not all that plesent, and they will not deal at ALL! I just got my Les Paul there the other week, and paid full price, and could not eaven get a pack of strings out of them. Guy said "Well you dont ask for a discont at Wal mart do you?" I said... "well the sales staff also does not work on commision at Wal mart"

 

So I will be taking my big $$ buys elsewere from now on. Sadly I have no real local Mom, and Pops. One that has nothing and is never open, but thats about it. Looks like mail order for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Just Strum

Just Strum

Posted
Posted
Well the GC in my area has went downhill big time the last few months. The help is less then useless' date=' not all that plesent, and they will not deal at ALL! I just got my Les Paul there the other week, and paid full price, and could not eaven get a pack of strings out of them. Guy said "Well you dont ask for a discont at Wal mart do you?" I said... "well the sales staff also does not work on commision at Wal mart"

 

So I will be taking my big $$ buys elsewhere from now on. Sadly I have no real local Mom, and Pops. One that has nothing and is never open, but thats about it. Looks like mail order for me.[/quote']

 

I don't advocate buying off the net when there are available sources locally. There is nothing like being able to touch, play, and listen to the instrument or gear that you are purchasing. I don't mind even paying a little more when it comes to guitars, because I know the instrument has been taken out of the box, inspected, and the places around here do a set-up before it leaves their store.

 

However, the fact is that you cannot always buy locally due to availability, local access, or cost prohibitive. Let's face it, when it's free shipping and no tax (ok, I pay mine at the end of the year, just like everyone else :^o ). I have found for me, that Sweetwater offers the closest thing to mom and pop type service. I have a specific tech assigned to me, I have his direct e-mail, I have his direct phone number, I've spoken directly with the president and vp of marketing by phone and by e-mail (not form letters). They still maintain a connection with the customer. Are they perfect? - no, but neither are mom and pop shops. Oh, and I can haggle with them without being asked if I would do that at Walmart (which by the way, I do haggle at Walmart too).

 

Oppps, think I strayed off topic.=;

Link to comment
Share on other sites
pohatu771

pohatu771

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Well the GC in my area has went downhill big time the last few months. The help is less then useless' date=' not all that plesent, and they will not deal at ALL! I just got my Les Paul there the other week, and paid full price, and could not eaven get a pack of strings out of them. Guy said "Well you dont ask for a discont at Wal mart do you?" I said... "well the sales staff also does not work on commision at Wal mart"

 

So I will be taking my big $$ buys elsewere from now on. Sadly I have no real local Mom, and Pops. One that has nothing and is never open, but thats about it. Looks like mail order for me.[/quote']The price deals were done away with by the new ownership.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Lerxst1281733995

Lerxst1281733995

Posted
Posted

That explains it.. The last time I tried to talk them down on the price of a guitar, the 12 year old who was waiting on me said they're not "allowed" to haggle anymore.... ever.

 

I agree with Strum... Sweetwater's customer service is from another time and place... I bought a Korg Pandora from them recently, and a couple days later, I got a call from one of their reps asking if I got it alright, if it works ok, if I like it, etc... I ended up talking to the guy for like half an hour.. He said he'd cut me a deal on a pair of Yamaha studio monitors, when I'm ready to buy.. Gave me his phone number/extension, e-mail address... I was stunned.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...