GC Sign Fail

Steve Milner

Steve Milner

Junior
Jan 10, 2011
298
0
16
Washington, dc
www.dcsoundop.com
I picked up a used Mackie HUI controller today to get some faders to use with Logic... and found myself needing a simple midi to usb adaptor cable. So, reluctantly I headed off to the local GC, which I have not been to in YEARS. The place was in absolute shambles... I haven't been following how their business is doing at all, but the place looked like an abandoned bus station... inside and out.

Shelves were somewhat bare of stock, what they had in was in horrible condition for display models, there was literally garbage... stains... nastiness all over the floors. I quickly found the cable I needed and then had the pleasure of standing in line for 10 minutes or so to pay for it.
I might add that the people amassed in front of me in line were not actually purchasing anything... a lot of question asking and speculative answers from the staff. The staff were so casual, I actually witnessed TWO different employes take personal cell phone calls while "assisting a customer"... even going so far as to complain to the person on the other end about having to go to help the guy trying to ask his question!!! The same salesman actually used the word shit 4 times in answering one guys question about a DJ mixer.

I paid up and got out of there... amazed at the experience. This isn't a rant... I don't go there often enough to care... it was just kinda funny and VERY disappointing at the same time.

The sign on the front of the shop kinda says it all.

IMG_0654.jpg

(I snapped this photo on the way IN... I had a bad feeling as soon as I parked the truck!) The place really was in shambles.
 
Re: GC Sign Fail

I hope it was on a sunday. If you are up that way, I would just stop in at Washington Music Center (who are closed on sunday, creating the only reason for me to go to GC).
 
Re: GC Sign Fail

Hi Steve-

I set foot in a Banjo Depot for the first time, ever, last week when I needed an iLok "right fuckin' now." Our local store is about 4-5 years old now, so it's still physically okay. The 'greeter' sent me to the accessories dept. After standing at the counter for about 2 minutes I was noticed and addressed by a clerk, who spent 5 minutes looking for an iLok. Another clerk finally said "that might be over in Audio." So there I go.

It took several minutes to be acknowledged as a customer, probably because of my small breasts or non-youthful appearance. :lol: I finally had to LOUDLY say "Hey, I'm here to actually BUY something!" What should have taken about 5 minutes took nearly 20. It was apparent that whatever training the clerks are given, "how to recognize a buyer" isn't covered.

I shop our local "dad and son" store whenever possible, but they didn't have an iLok in stock that day. My visit to GC probably won't, by necessity, be my last, but it confirmed why I like our locally owned stores better. It IS about service. The minuscule difference in price means nothing and it helps my neighbors stay in business.
 
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Once upon a time I was a Guitar Center customer - back when they're prices were actually good. Since they've stopped dealing, I've stopped shopping, and have taken my business to the other local providers and/or online. I've heard Stairway to Heaven enough times to last the rest of my life already, some of which were actually played well.
 
Re: GC Sign Fail

Jay Barracato said:
I hope it was on a sunday. If you are up that way, I would just stop in at Washington Music Center (who are closed on sunday, creating the only reason for me to go to GC).
Click to expand...

No doubt Jay... I have been going to Chuck's since I was in like 6th grade... Chuck's is closer to me too, but it was rush hour and I was driving my 14' Box truck. Anyone who has been to Chuck's knows that you ain't parking a 14' Box Truck within a mile of that place during rush-hour! Next time I will just drop the truck off at the house and take the metro up to Chuck's.

The really sad part about the trip to GC was that their physical building used to be Venneman's Music back in the day, and was a similar mom & pop type operation... always great prices, really smart (WORKING) musicians working behind the counter, always ready to hook you up with a deal if you spend some real money... I started going to Venneman's around the same time in 6th Grade and it was just so sad yesterday to see the SHIT state of affairs at GC.

It is very very rare that I need to pick up a part in such a rush, I honestly wish I had of stayed home and ordered the damned thing online.. it would have been a dollar or two more after shipping and taken a few days to arrive, but at least I would have enjoyed the great service and banter I get from the local UPS driver.

BTW... my UPS guy kicks ass... he knows my box-truck, and will back to back his truck to mine and then call me when he has a large item to drop off. I had a cable trunk and workbox show up from Audiopile and all I had to do was go out and pop the roll up door open!! Excellent!
 
Re: GC Sign Fail

Funny, I've always had the staff address me with "Hey how's it going man?" quite frequently throughout the store, maybe it's an age thing though.

I only go there maybe 3 times a year, so I'm not a regular customer. I do however like to see how many more faders and knobs are missing off the demo Eurolive since the last time I was there :-)
 
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I remember Venneman's but even back when they competed I was more likely that I would go to Chuck's. A good portion of the current staff at Chuck's actually started out at Venneman's.
 
Re: GC Sign Fail

Steve Milner said:
No doubt Jay... I have been going to Chuck's since I was in like 6th grade... Chuck's is closer to me too, but it was rush hour and I was driving my 14' Box truck. Anyone who has been to Chuck's knows that you ain't parking a 14' Box Truck within a mile of that place during rush-hour! Next time I will just drop the truck off at the house and take the metro up to Chuck's.

The really sad part about the trip to GC was that their physical building used to be Venneman's Music back in the day, and was a similar mom & pop type operation... always great prices, really smart (WORKING) musicians working behind the counter, always ready to hook you up with a deal if you spend some real money... I started going to Venneman's around the same time in 6th Grade and it was just so sad yesterday to see the SHIT state of affairs at GC.

It is very very rare that I need to pick up a part in such a rush, I honestly wish I had of stayed home and ordered the damned thing online.. it would have been a dollar or two more after shipping and taken a few days to arrive, but at least I would have enjoyed the great service and banter I get from the local UPS driver.

BTW... my UPS guy kicks ass... he knows my box-truck, and will back to back his truck to mine and then call me when he has a large item to drop off. I had a cable trunk and workbox show up from Audiopile and all I had to do was go out and pop the roll up door open!! Excellent!
Click to expand...

Yeah - I hear you. Bought my D35 from Venneman's in '71.
The other GCs in the area are also a sloppy mess - at least the one on Falls Church has (had?) a decent guy behind the counter that was pretty good.
I actually stopped by one in Raleigh on the way home from something. Seemed just like the ones at home. I think they are adhering to an image corporate promotes.
Jay turned me on to a very good man at Chuck's -
 
Re: GC Sign Fail

We oddly happen to be one of the largest regular customers at all 3 largest music stores in town (1 being GC), as we buy almost all our backline gear and little accessories thru them instead of opening up the MI lines/Remo/Zildjan/Evans/ETC lines. Ironically, I find that the local shop Grandma's Music and sound & Guitar Center both usually well stocked and tend to have many people who atleast recognize our company logo on the shirts and tend to be attentative both in assisting finding what we're looking for, or gettting us the right person who knows, and not just a "go talk to joe schmoe in audio", but rather hunting the person down and personally handing us off to the appropriate person. Talk about service...
 
Re: GC Sign Fail

IIRC there was an upper management change a couple years ago (a buyout or something like that). At the time there were changes in general pricing behavior and probably belt tightening to improve profit margin.

JR
 
Re: GC Sign Fail

Steve Blaski said:
Funny, I've always had the staff address me with "Hey how's it going man?" quite frequently throughout the store, maybe it's an age thing though.

I only go there maybe 3 times a year, so I'm not a regular customer. I do however like to see how many more faders and knobs are missing off the demo Eurolive since the last time I was there :-)
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Hello Steve,

Yeah, I've gotten that same familiarity from the local GC employees. But, it was more like: " hey Buddy !" My response was "I'm not your buddy. I don't even know you Jackass!" (I guess it's My age thing) I find this familiarity on par with the Hookers in Vegas calling me "Honey" or "Baby" . I know what they want, but what can they do for me without f'n up my day?

Hammer
 
Re: GC Sign Fail

There is a delicate dance involved when sales people engage customers they don't know. I am not very good at it (but better than I was), and that is one reason I don't miss booth duty, even a little.

Generally you want to break the ice and get the customer talking with something non confrontational, and not to familiar like "how are you today" or something like that. Once you get the customer talking you can generally figure out what they really want.

When I was a newbie in the PV booth, I once got called on the carpet for not kissing enough ass to some big Peavey dealer, who came in asked me a flippant question. As was my nature I gave him a flippant answer in response.

Did I say how much I don't miss booth duty.... :-)

Oh yes, the customer is always right, even when they're a cranky asshole... (I don't mean you Charlie, but you're always right too).

JR
 
Re: GC Sign Fail

John Roberts said:
There is a delicate dance involved when sales people engage customers they don't know.

Generally you want to break the ice and get the customer talking with something non confrontational, and not to familiar like "how are you today" or something like that. Once you get the customer talking you can generally figure out what they really want.


Oh yes, the customer is always right, even when they're a cranky asshole... (I don't mean you Charlie, but you're always right too).

JR
Click to expand...

Haaaa....JR., that really made my day, in so many ways!

There was a time where/when saying "hey buddy" or "Pal" to someone that was unfamiliar was considered an insult and fight'n words at the same moment.

"Hey buddy" was a common prelude to a physical confrontation.

I suppose it was more in this spirt that I was insulted than the gesture of this unfamiliar person's attempt.

Funny how phrases, words and slang terms morph over the years.

Your buddy, ;o)

Hammer
 
Re: GC Sign Fail

No doubt there can be all kinds of passive aggressive undertones from some salespeople who haven't quite figured out yet whence their paycheck comes from.

Still not my cup of tea... There is something dishonest about me pretending to want to answer the same lame questions, a hundred times in the course of a 4 day trade show. Usually the dealers I am pitching are equally disinterested, since they have the exact info in their new product handouts they were given at the preshow.

Hire some buxom booth bunnies to memorize and recite the FAB. Meet me in the bar for the real trade show duty (bring the bunnies).

JR
 
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