Finally got around to going shopping for speakers today. What a trip. Went to the GC in Marietta, GA. I don't know why I always get the feeling that if you're over 40, the staff looks at you like you just wandered off from the local nursing home. Apparently they draw straws and the short straw gets to wait on you.

Since I knew I was going to the pro audio section, I had the foresight to bring ear plugs. Even though it was mid day on Monday and nobody was in the area, five different sets of speakers hooked up to the in-house 5000w super amp, were cranked to about 3 o'clock. Using sign language, I finally got someone to turn the speakers down to a point where my brain stopped vibrating.

First I tried the Peavey PR15's. No joy. Compared them to a pair of similarly spec'ed but slightly higher priced, Yamahas. Sounded completely different but didn't like either. The sales guy, who was obviously a big Yamaha fan, kept insisting that I would like the next level up Yamaha. Three more levels up and we were up to $1000 (UNPOWERED) speakers that weighed at least half a ton each. He suggested that maybe my wife could help me move them. Heck, the two of US couldn't even move them. Plus, they would require a larger amp than the Mackie 808S that I already owned and had planned to use. By that time, I was too stressed from ear fatigue to test any more speakers, but to keep the trip from being a complete waste, I bought a pair of balanced speaker cables. This required that I have my receipt stamped at the exit door, which was manned by a tattooed young lady who looked remarkably similar to the picture of a 16 yr-old runnaway posted at the local supermarket. Cassp, those Cerwin Vegas are starting to sound better all the time. I plan to go back maybe next week once the self-induced tinnitus subsides a little. I'll report back then.

chas

Hilarious! Thanks, Chas!

Taike

When over 40 year olds come into my store.....they feel right at home with me! (57 years old!). There is something to say for small mom and pop shops. Whenever I walk into a guitar center to do some price comparisons for what I'm selling, I can walk around for over an hour and not a single sales person comes over to me. If there weren't so many of them and with such noticable name recognition, I can't imagine they would still be in business today. Unfortunately, they are all over the USA and many shoppers only know their kind of store doing business the way big box stores do these days.


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George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, California
818-881-5566
www.kayesmusicscene.com

Similar experience at Daddy's junky music, a northeast chain. I even walked up to three salesman and they scattered, did I mention I was the only person in the store.
I was so mad when I got home and sent them an email they sent me a $25 gift card, but I just don't think the abuse is worth $25

What I meant was I don't think $25 is enough to get me back into the store.

Yeah, if I owned the chain I'd make all employees go through MacDonald's training.
Also, any employee with a pierced tongue would not be re-hired until they could clearly enunciate "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers..............." at 250 BPM.

Also, speaker demonstrations would be expanded to include material other than just Death Metal. Also, seperate restrooms (and guitar sections) for paying customers and out-of-work musicians just hanging out.

Also, a sign warning of pedophiles should be posted in the digital piano section to discourage "stage moms" from bringing in their annoying little weirdo/prodigy brats to audition the pianos (and impress the rest of us mortals).

Lastly, there should be some comfortable chairs for us "older" customers to sit in while we wait for one the three "salesmen" currently selling "Sid Vicious" a set of guitar strings. The fact that we're there to spend several thousand should count for something, shouldn't it?

chas

Chas, I went to the guitar center here, and played on a Gibson. Two kids came over to me and asked if I could come over to their practice. They were trying to play rock-a-billy and wanted the opinion of an OLD TIME musician! (Little B******s!

At my regular patio job, a waiter came up and said "Man, where did you get that antique guitar"? I told the little jerk that I bought it NEW! Then, I realized that the guitar was older than every employee on the patio but me! Grabbed my walker and headed to Dennys!

Damn!

"Historic" Russ

My trip to Guitar Center in Memphis was only slightly better. The sales people were nice enough, but tended to "talk down" to me because at my advanced age I couldn't possibly know much about gear. I found they didn't know anything at all about arrangers, or the Bose sound system. That's o.k., but they tried to make me think they DID, and it took about 3 words from them to let me know what was up.
I suspect these young guys are not making a lot of money and obviously have not been trained adequately.
In the "old days" a local store had enough profit margin to hire, train and KEEP qualified sales people. Internet marketing is a two-edged sword. It's great to keep the prices down, but that results in a lower level of dealer support, at least in many cases.
I suppose the answer is a hands-on dealer like George or Frank who runs a small enough operation to deal directly with customers. There are unfortunately few of these stores left. It's not really convenient for me to drive 2000 miles for a demo, so I stop in Guitar Center when I'm in Tulsa or Dallas or Memphis if there's something I want to see that I think they might have in stock.
I've learned that when the salesman ignores me that's a GOOD thing. I can check it out myself and not feel obligated to buy. If I like it I can go home and order from them or from somewhere else and save the sales tax at least.
My shopping priority is first to check availability with my local dealers. If they have something in stock, I'm even willing to pay a little extra to get it locally. Usually they are happy to sell to me at a great price because I am a "center of influence" who others see using the gear in public. Unfortunately they have about 11,000 guitars and 30 keyboards, one of which might be a low end arranger.
Then I check the dealers who post here and are always so willing to help us even if we are not their customers. Then I check the big guys like M. Friend, Next Day or 1,2,3.
If I want to buy something that I have NOT seen, of even if I have seen and have not had time to really check out entirely, then the 30 or 45-day option to return with no restocking fee and no questions asked is invaluable.
Right now I'm waiting for George to get a couple of items that he has ordered, even though I could get them at the same price somewhere else and not wait. Why? Because he's a good guy and I'm not in a hurry ... yet.
DonM

Since I basically like young people, I'm gonna' cut them some slack. Maybe we DO look weird (and ancient......and scary) to them.

chas

Don, your appoach is a good one. Buy locally IF YOU CAN, especially if it's a "mom and pop". If you're shelling out a grand or more, a coupla' extra bucks ain't gonna hurt you. Besides, it's a lot easier to return something than if you buy off the net and you will help insure that that homey store with the pleasant, knowledgable staff, will still be around next year.

chas

Chas, I like kids, too, and, sometimes the communications "gaps" are hilarious. If fact, I've known some GREAT, hard working kids over the years.

Russ

Chas, I like kids, too, and, sometimes the communications "gaps" are really funny. In fact, I've known some GREAT, hard working kids over the years. A bunch of them started off as bussers in restaurants I played, or my students at UK. Now, most are business owners, business professionals...parents...responsible members of the community. It's been great watching them grow up.

"Grandpa" Russ

Hey Russ, I'm good at reading between the lines, but this is ridiculous.

chas

My experience at the GC in Towson, MD has been a bit in between. One of the salesman there is very knowledgeable and goes out of his way to take care of pro musicians. Not only does he know the equipment, but additionally, he goes out of his way to take care of us old guys. And, we get a great discount.

The same is true at Washington Music, where a salesman that is older than me takes care of the keyboard and piano department. No discounts, but he's very knowledgeable and does anything he can to help the old timers.

Some of the youngsters at GC know everything there is to know about equipment--it you don't believe so, just ask them and they'll tell you.

Cheers,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

My last visit to Sam Ash in the Ft. Lauderdale area started out pretty much like the GC experiences listed above.

I wanted to see the S-900. Most of the personnel were young guys sporting various adornments from tattoos, pierced noses and eyebrows to dreadlocks. Among the din of guitars and drums being tried out was the house system belting out reggae.

Finally a 20-something young man asked if he could help me. And, help me, he did. I asked about the S-900. He said two had just come in and were in the back warehouse. He offered to pull one out for me. While he did, I had a chance to preview the Korg PA 800, one of the very few other arrangers on display.

The young man arrived with the S-900 still boxed up. He set it up, plugged it in and I inserted my thumbdrive and started getting acquainted with the subtle differences it has compared to my 3000.

While I didn't purchase anything on this visit, the young salesman, who previously knew little about arrangers, got a pretty good introductory lesson on some of Yamaha's capabilities. And, not once, did he call me "Pops".

Another potential customer came up and got interested while I was putting the S-900 through some paces. He was asking some very "buyer-like" questions. I wouldn't be surprised if that kid sold that board soon after I left.

Eddie