OT: New guitar center opened where I live...OMFG

jb61264 · Post by **jb61264** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 5:37 am

Okay, first of all...everyone from a bigger city has to understand that there simply isn't anything like the Guitar Center that just opened in the city I live in. I spent freaking 3 1/2 hours playing with everything they had in that damn store...got my hands on an MPC 2500 and 1000...they have all these workstations set up with every piece of equipment. My son and I were playing around with a pair of CDJ-1000's that they had hooked up in another room...I was looping and pitch shifting on one while he was cracking up at the fact that you could make a CD scratch like the DJ's he watches on TV. Played a Roland Juno for the first time then moved over to a V-Synth and got lost...it was a kid in a freaking candy store tonight and I'm going back tomorrow.

There goes my wallet!

longjohns · Post by **longjohns** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 7:34 am

I spent some time today in GC as well...

I found myself really liking this Yamaha S90 ES.

raapie · Post by **raapie** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 6:00 pm

I must say I prefer guitars over synths

And Guitar Center's name makes me wonder...

suburbanbather · Post by **suburbanbather** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 4:16 am

"Hello, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Yes, go away!!!!!!!!"

capta1nA · Post by **capta1nA** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 5:11 am

i'd like my local guitar center a lot more if they'd learn to properly set up the basses

rasputin · Post by **rasputin** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 6:26 pm

The good: they're almost within walking distance. They have a lot of stuff. Once in a great while you can score something exceptional at one of their clearance sales

The bad: 90% of the staff and the noise.

Justin Thyme · Post by **Justin Thyme** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 7:00 pm

I'm a former GC Guitar Department Mgr, and have chimed in from time to time on various forums when discussions of GC pop up.

Like any other large chain, getting and keeping good people can be tough. Not to mention that many people who would be well qualified....such as many participants in various forums.....feel that such a job would be beneath them.

Pricing at GC is weird. For starters, if not for companies such as GC or Mars, most people would still be paying list prices. The mega stores have helped bring prices down for the average buyer.

The other thing is getting deals at GC. Only certain manufacturers, such as Monster cables, have firm pricing. On other things, you can negotiate (and I've frequently offered negotiating tips). Unfortunately, most stuff in the Pro Audio Department.....keyboards and recording equipment....has very low profit margins, and therefore, not a lot of wiggle room. Matter of fact, this department gets paid differently than all the other departments in GC because of that....they get paid on gross sales, and not profit.

But knowledgable, and personable, shoppers can certainly get some good deals at times other than clearance sales!

eyeknow · Post by **eyeknow** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 7:38 pm

a. out of curiosity, where is this new store that just opened

I'm in sacto area and now we have two! (Though I'll never go to the arden store anymore.....toooooo crimey.....)

b. My biggest gripe with GC (and it's about the only one really) is when people LIE! I am tired of hearing how people always say "they have one" or tell me things that just are not true. I appreciate the enthusiasm......but it's bad practice to insult customers intellegence.

c. I have way more respect for someone that works at GC/mcdonalds/etc......than corporate b-wipes. If I needed to work, I'd do that. How do all those "snobby" dudes/dude-ets get all the "things" they think are so important?

I would for curiosity sake be interested in more info on exactly how system works at GC

ARDJ · Post by **ARDJ** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 8:55 pm

when i was broke in college i use to go to GC and play for HOURS. i mean, HOURS lol. now that i have more money in my wallet i try not to go as much because i'll spend like crazy.

although i do think there is a virus purchase in the near future. wowz'rs

glu · Post by **glu** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:04 pm

heads up, at harmony central there's a long thread where some peop's have bought alesis fusion going for $500 new in box at local GC stores...

free active monitors with purchase too. damn good deal...

jb61264 · Post by **jb61264** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 9:41 pm

eyeknow wrote:a. out of curiosity, where is this new store that just opened I'm in sacto area and now we have two! (Though I'll never go to the arden store anymore.....toooooo crimey.....)
Lincoln, NE

b. My biggest gripe with GC (and it's about the only one really) is when people LIE! I am tired of hearing how people always say "they have one" or tell me things that just are not true. I appreciate the enthusiasm......but it's bad practice to insult customers intellegence.

c. I have way more respect for someone that works at GC/mcdonalds/etc......than corporate b-wipes. If I needed to work, I'd do that. How do all those "snobby" dudes/dude-ets get all the "things" they think are so important?

I would for curiosity sake be interested in more info on exactly how system works at GC

This kid that worked there came up to me as I was looking at an MPC 2500 sitting on one of their workstation desks and says "wanna see some cool stuff?"...to which I said definately...this kid pounded out some serious hip hop tunes in a matter of minutes, I was very impressed....the kid will do well working because he totally was low key, just having fun showing me stuff and never once asked me if I was going to buy something or anything remotely pressure sales-like...I told the manager that I appreciated the approach and that it made me definately want to come back.

SUPERBANANBOMB · Post by **SUPERBANANBOMB** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 11:43 pm

I am extremely thankful there's a Guitar Center in my town as of a year ago... since it opened up, my friend got a job there and he hooks me up with his discount every time I go to buy something. I've saved a TON of money.

Justin Thyme · Post by **Justin Thyme** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 2:15 am

At one point I had this saved as a file, but can't find it now.

Bear with me as I try to hit all the high points.

Also, there will undoubtedly be some who disagree with my points. But I assure you, these are almost as assured as the sun rising in the east, and the sky being blue.

- Do your research...don't expect the sales dood to be the expert at everything.
- You will ALWAYS get the best possible deal by being nice.
- You may think by being a dick you can get a better deal. You may get a few bucks knocked off, but you will not get the best possible deal.
- Avoid taking the mentality of "do you know how much money I spend here?" For starters, unless you spend over $10,000 a month at that store, your individual business isn't that signifcant to the store on the whole. Additionally, if you did a significant enough business with the store, they would know how much you spend there! (obviously, the store should treat everyone like their business is the reason they exist. But the reality is a bit different)
- Be reasonable! The store will not give you the same amount for a piece of gear you are trading in that they could buy a new one from the factory. Nor can they sell below cost.
- Just about any store will price match. Do your research, and find the best price you can find.
- People like to do business with people who do business with them. Go to the same store to buy small things like cables and guitar picks. Develop a working relationship with the store.
- People will always make a better deal for a friend. How often have you seen a post in a forum along the lines of "I have this <X> that I was going to post on eBay for $100, but I'll sell it to a fellow forumite for $80".
- Try to do business with one person...get to know them. Buy everything from them, and refer people to them. In return, they will give you better deals.
- Be prepared to walk away (politely) in order to get the deal you want (as long as it's reasonable).
- Trade in cool gear (admittedly getting less for it than you would in a private sale) on occasion to cultivate a good working relationship.
- Don't expect a home run on every single deal. The store and the sales dood need to "win" on occassion too.

Ultimately, the store doesn't have to sell you things at any price other than the marked price. If you want good deals, give them a good reason to make you good deals.

Ultimately, the goal is for them to know your name when you walk through the door. And you want them to give you a great price without you even having to ask "what type of deal can you make me?".

I'm a guitarist by nature, so I have a better feel and knowledge of the guitar market. I know that in keyboards and recording, the profit margins are much slimmer than with guitars or accessories. I'm afraid I can't give you rules of thumb or and idea of how much discount you can expect to get on that stuff.

For guitars, a majority of stuff in GC is an A-mark...which means the stores cost is 50% of the list price. You also have to factor in shipping to the store for the final hard cost of the item. So, for example, a guitar that has a MSRP of $999, is probably marked at something like $749. With an A-mark, that means the piece cost GC $500, and then figure in maybe $10 that covers shipping. That means GC has to sell at $510 to break even.

Let's now discuss profit and commission. The first 10% above cost goes to the house....this covers things like sharing the cost of national advertising, rent, electricity and such. So that means that if they sell that guitar at $561 ($500 cost + $10 shipping + 10%), the sales dood get's credit for generating $0 profit....and hence no commission.

So what's "fair" to you as a consumer? And "fair" for the store and sales dood? Ultimately, if they sell it to you for anything under the marked price, you've saved money and that's a plus! On guitars, which have this type of margin, I would typically shoot for 15% over that $0 profit point.....so I would try to go for about $650. A $100 savings is significant, and yet the store has a chance to earn something as well. I'd say anything under $700 is "fair".

Keep in mind that not all brands can be discounted. Additionally, very popular brands, models and colors may be harder to get great deals on due to demand.....if you are a business, why sell something to one person for no profit if you know that dozens of other people will buy it at full price? (That is strictly a rhetorical question....I am well aware of all the reasons why they should consider selling it to someone at discount).

I HTH. Some people seem to think the only way to get good deals is to be a hard ass. I guarentee you, that is not the way to the best possible deal.

Sales Dude McBoob · Post by **Sales Dude McBoob** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 3:38 pm

Justin Thyme wrote:I'm a former GC Guitar Department Mgr, and have chimed in from time to time on various forums when discussions of GC pop up.

Do you mind explaining why you're a former manager?

I know a number of people who were once managers at GC.

I'm just curious.

D K · Post by **D K** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 3:48 pm

Justin Thyme wrote:
Pricing at GC is weird. For starters, if not for companies such as GC or Mars, most people would still be paying list prices. The mega stores have helped bring prices down for the average buyer.