Members DeepEnd Posted August 27, 2015 Members Share Posted August 27, 2015 Earlier today, I was near a local Guitar Center and I needed to pick up some strings. I couldn't find what I wanted and an employee walking by asked me if he could help. I told him what I was looking for and he asked, "Is phosphor bronze a brand of strings?" I explained that it wasn't. My guess is that he's an electric guy and that he probably understands nickel and stainless steel--or maybe he's a drummer or keyboard guy--but I was amazed that he hadn't at least picked up something by osmosis. All I can say is Wow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members garthman Posted August 27, 2015 Members Share Posted August 27, 2015 Kids of today, huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted August 27, 2015 Members Share Posted August 27, 2015 Visiting GC makes me appreciate my local store all the more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted August 28, 2015 Members Share Posted August 28, 2015 Earlier today' date=' I was near a local Guitar Center and I needed to pick up some strings. I couldn't find what I wanted and an employee walking by asked me if he could help. I told him what I was looking for and he asked, "Is phosphor bronze a brand of strings?" I explained that it wasn't. My guess is that he's an electric guy and that he probably understands nickel and stainless steel--or [b']maybe he's a drummer or keyboard guy[/b]--but I was amazed that he hadn't at least picked up something by osmosis. All I can say is Wow! Maybe he was covering the accessories booth while some one was at lunch or dinner. Who knows. The employee turn over rate at the GC is really high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted August 28, 2015 Author Members Share Posted August 28, 2015 ^ Given that it was a bit after 2PM, I doubt anyone was at lunch. Visiting GC makes me appreciate my local store all the more. Me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Chuck Manson Posted August 28, 2015 Members Share Posted August 28, 2015 I had a similar experience at Sam Ash the other day. I was after a certain cable and was looking for a rack mounted reverb/FX unit. The kid who tried to help me ended up just sort of hanging around trying to learn stuff from me. A more experienced employee later showed the knowledge the kid lacked. I guess we all have to start somewhere. The willingness to learn and a humble attitude goes a long way in cutting a beginner some slack. Most of us bring a lifetime of obcessing over gear to the table. Just to mess with their heads, next time ask for a Pocket Synclavier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve_man Posted August 29, 2015 Members Share Posted August 29, 2015 Visiting GC makes me appreciate my local store all the more. This ^^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members panhandler Posted August 29, 2015 Members Share Posted August 29, 2015 My experiences with local Guitar Centers have been mostly good. A very friendly knowledgeable, not too pushy staff that leaves me alone unless I need some help. My only gripe with what is now my local GC is a lack of quality guitars other than dreadnoughts. (no 000-00 or parlors)And my old neighborhood GC once had the most disorganized, sloppy acoustic room I've ever seen. One email to the mgr and that was rectified. Sure, they have some young kids in the learning curve, no retailer is perfect. GC is generally pretty handy to have around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted August 29, 2015 Members Share Posted August 29, 2015 I wonder if you could trademark "phosphor bronze" as a brand name. You'd make a fortune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted August 29, 2015 Members Share Posted August 29, 2015 Earlier today' date=' I was near a local Guitar Center and I needed to pick up some strings. I couldn't find what I wanted and an employee walking by asked me if he could help. I told him what I was looking for and he asked, "Is phosphor bronze a brand of strings?" I explained that it wasn't. My guess is that he's an electric guy and that he probably understands nickel and stainless steel--or maybe he's a drummer or keyboard guy--but I was amazed that he hadn't at least picked up something by osmosis. All I can say is Wow![/quote'] Keyboard players are smarter than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted August 30, 2015 Author Members Share Posted August 30, 2015 Keyboard players are smarter than that. Probably. OTOH, our Music Director at church plays various keyboards and flute and she doesn't know beans about guitars or strings. Our bass player started out as a trumpet player and he still doesn't know anything about a bass except how to play it. Of course, he doesn't sell them either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tomm Williams Posted August 30, 2015 Members Share Posted August 30, 2015 I'll put on my Kevlar and take the opposite side.....................I've dealt with my closest GC (Reno, NV) several times in the past few years both buying new, used and trading in. With rare exception, I've always walked out happy with the deal I got. Trade-ins can be a hosing but my most recent occurrences of this were quite fair. In regards to knowledge, I think that for a bunch of kids, they don't do bad. Knowing that their true expertise is about zero, I do my own research before I go in and then buy what I need. I've also been in the Roseville, CA GC and found their staff to have the answers I needed. As those are the only two GC's I'm actually familiar with, I'll leave my opinions right there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AJ6stringsting Posted August 31, 2015 Members Share Posted August 31, 2015 GC in my area has the most clueless staff on the planet. I think the main reason they hire someone is based on solely, how many tattoos and face piercing one has ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted August 31, 2015 Members Share Posted August 31, 2015 I'll put on my Kevlar and take the opposite side.....................I've dealt with my closest GC (Reno' date=' NV) several times in the past few years both buying new, used and trading in. With rare exception, I've always walked out happy with the deal I got. Trade-ins can be a hosing but my most recent occurrences of this were quite fair. In regards to knowledge, I think that for a bunch of kids, they don't do bad. Knowing that their true expertise is about zero, I do my own research before I go in and then buy what I need. I've also been in the Roseville, CA GC and found their staff to have the answers I needed. As those are the only two GC's I'm actually familiar with, I'll leave my opinions right there.[/quote'] Uh oh...This has turned into a Kevlar thread. Keep your heads down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emory Posted August 31, 2015 Members Share Posted August 31, 2015 Maybe I'm an anomaly or something, but my experiences at GC have been good. I usually know what I am looking for but am open for suggestions. Friendly but not overbearing. Gave me extras without even asking (like 3 sets of Elixirs with new git with 15% discount). Once in error they gave me speaker cable instead of instrument cable (which I found out when I got back to Thailand). Apology and gave it to me correct one for free. Pre GC days in my town good luck on exchange or anything after laid money down, no 30 day trial, price match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 I have generally had good experiences at GC stores... including well before HC was owned by them (for those who have been hiding out under a rock for the past few months, GC no longer owns HC), but I knew the managers at the local stores and they knew who I was... I also made sure they knew that if they ever had a tech question about something that they could call me any time. Plus, when I go in, I typically know exactly what I want - I'm not relying on their product knowledge, I've already done my own research. Typically I call the store, tell them what I want and ask if they have it in stock, ask how much it's going to cost me, and tell them I'll be down in a few minutes to pick it up. There aren't a lot of mom and pop music stores left in my area, so if I want to pick something up locally, it's either GC, Sam Ash, one or two small local stores, or a trip in to LA or OC... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted August 31, 2015 Members Share Posted August 31, 2015 We have our own version of GC with similar but not so huge corporate thinking and low pay. Like Phil I always know what I'm after if I go there and if there's knowledge transfer it usually comes from me. I'd be staggered if some kid could give me good advice that I hadn't heard. I enjoy chatting with them if they initiate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted August 31, 2015 Members Share Posted August 31, 2015 You wouldn't expect a part time worker at Home Depot to know if a particular fastener would be suitable for use on a boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EdBega Posted August 31, 2015 Members Share Posted August 31, 2015 You weep for Guitar Center and curse the employees. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of knowing what they don't know. That phosphor bronze strings while tragic, probably aren't a brand name. And their employees existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves customers time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted September 1, 2015 Author Members Share Posted September 1, 2015 . . . Plus' date=' when I go in, I typically know exactly what I want - I'm not relying on their product knowledge, . . .[/quote'] Fortunately, I also knew what I wanted, I simply didn't see it. Turned out they--or at least this specific GC--don't stock heavy gauge phosphor bronze strings in any brand. You wouldn't expect a part time worker at Home Depot to know if a particular fastener would be suitable for use on a boat. No, but I'd expect him/her to know stainless steel isn't a brand of screws. I might also expect him/her to recognize that stuff used on boats gets wet and might rust if it's the wrong material. You weep for Guitar Center and curse the employees. . . . I'm not cursing anyone. You can be frustrated by someone or recognize ignorance without cursing him/her. Beyond that, I don't consider phosphor bronze strings "tragic," nor do I understand why you do. I'm not really sure what you mean by the rest of your post so I guess it's your turn to curse me and my grotesque, incomprehensible existence since you have the luxury of knowing what in the world you're talking about and I don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted September 1, 2015 Members Share Posted September 1, 2015 Understood. No offense intended. This is just part of the consequence of online kicking brick and mortar stores butts. There's no money for smart experienced folks at the bleeding edge anymore. People have spoken with their wallets and won't pay more for service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted September 1, 2015 Members Share Posted September 1, 2015 Remember pulling into a service station and having a person pump your gas and clean your windows? I do. Do I miss it? Not really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members panhandler Posted September 1, 2015 Members Share Posted September 1, 2015 Remember pulling into a service station and having a person pump your gas and clean your windows? I do. Do I miss it? Not really. Oh I miss them pumping the gas! Love my trips thru New Jersey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted September 1, 2015 Members Share Posted September 1, 2015 Actually, that is nostalgic. We used to travel from Canada down to NJ to see relatives. Are they still doing serviced gas there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted September 1, 2015 Members Share Posted September 1, 2015 Strings and Beyond hasn't been that cheap lately w/its specials - at least not with the ones I buy. Plus I've had website problems with their site. So I went to music stores my recent trip back to the US. I even went to GC in Metairie. Stocked up on strings - a few less than I'd buy from S&B but they'll last me a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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