:ph34r:
I have had so many wonderful personal experiences with Guitar Center(Getting lied to as well as being called a liar for example) I just wanted Give everyone a few reasons to go and shop from this amazing corporate giant. I tried to end this but it's back by popular demand, It's the top ten list.(soon to be edited to perfection I'm sure) have at it: You know you want it:
1. Their(by "their" I mean guitar center for those who may not understand)guitars are nice and "played in" right off the rack.
2. There is always the ambiance of every kind of popular music imaginable being played at once(breathtaking)
3. Not always the best price but, hey at least we're supporting a group of owners who love mus..., wait I mean MONEY!
4. You will always find the greatest (machine made) guitars in the world there. At least that's what the paid magazine ads told me, so it must be right!
5. They can usually give you a case with the guitar for a good deal(even if it is supposed to come with the guitar for free)
6. You can play anything you want and treat it however you want. Awesome( I actually do like this, but for selfish reasons perhaps)
7. The employes work on commission so they are definately going to get you into the best guitar your MONEY can buy.
8. They can help to get rid of those pesky "Mom and Pop" music shops who actually care about the customer(Don't mom and pop know that we live in the 21st century, duh! it's ok to only be interested in the bottom line these days, get with the times)
9. You will probably hear some amazing renditions of classics such as( the A Minor scale through a marshall stack, or the latest chart buster on MTV. Gotta love it).
10. And finally, God bless America may we always have the right to make this country as bland and commercial as possible by making available the sam exact resturants, grocery stores, hotels, home improvement stores, Malls, Supercenters, Oil change facilities, COFFEE shops(don't get me started), and yes you guessed it MUSIC SUPERSTORES. Who needs character, or orginality or change or something unfamiliar! Gotta love it!
I'm sorry I just had to say it even though I know this will be beaten to death.
UHMMMM.OK.Thanks.
:ph34r:
Oh yeah, I forgot Doughnut shops (or donuts to us) :mellow:
"I'm sorry I just had to say it even though I know this will be beaten to death"
Interesting. Sorry, for being so abrasive.
Stuco-I can see this place has brought out your sense of humor! Better to laugh than hold a grudge. :GRN>
Quote from: kilgorekid on June 30, 2006, 08:38:10 AM
Stuco-I can see this place has brought out your sense of humor! Better to laugh than hold a grudge. :GRN>
Or to laugh instead of receive a letter from corporate attorneys.
E. Shoaf
Ratish, freedom of speech...He was merely complaining as a customer...proving slander in court is harder than winning the lottery.
Why take such a negative stance, just because you can get away with it?
I am having a great deal of difficulty trying to understand the negativity some of the members here seem to have the need to promote.
Quote from: ronmac on June 30, 2006, 11:14:02 AM
Why take such a negative stance, just because you can get away with it?
I am having a great deal of difficulty trying to understand the negativity some of the members here seem to have the need to promote.
Merely conjecture, but it seems that the internet is where people take their life's frustrations to release. A lot of unhappy people in the world.
E. Shoaf
:ph34r:
I know the negativity is no good and I'm sorry, but like it or not this world is a not always positive and with the subject which I am addressing I have no choice but to post my views(which may be negative) I haven't simply chosen the internet to "vent" or 'release frustrations". I could simply speak with musicians about this but this is a much more efficient way to reach more musicians. I do not intend to bring anymore negativity than I feel is necessary. I just want to add one more thing, another man's rant on the same topic:
http://www.edromanguitars.com/rant/chains.htm
I suppose sometimes we must fight negativity with negativity. This will be my last post on this thread, I feel that my point has been made so make of it what you want.
Thank you, Have a nice day :ph34r:
Stuco,
Don't take it the wrong way. I didn't single you out to slam. I too am ranting. :WNK>
It urks me when I see the slide this Forum has taken in the last few days...
ps. We don't have GC in Canada, so I guess I really can't feel your pain. :GRN>
this thread makes me think of something. . .
with all the complaining that folks do (including myself) about guitar center, wal*mart, home depot, and other large, soulless, money-grubbin', bottom-feeding, corporate pond scum companies, they are still making money.....lots of it.
when's the last time you saw a guitar center or wal*mart go out of business? home depot? lowes? target?
i live in a very populated area and have never seen it.
it just makes me think, ppl talk about conviction and how much they hate these places, but i'd bet that most of them shop there from time to time. i mean, who are all these ppl keeping these corporations in business afterall?....if so many ppl hate them?
Quote from: the_sound_of_acoustic_soul on June 30, 2006, 04:35:10 PM
this thread makes me think of something. . .
with all the complaining that folks do (including myself) about guitar center, wal*mart, home depot, and other large, soulless, money-grubbin', bottom-feeding, corporate pond scum companies, they are still making money.....lots of it.
when's the last time you saw a guitar center or wal*mart go out of business? home depot? lowes? target?
i live in a very populated area and have never seen it.
it just makes me think, ppl talk about conviction and how much they hate these places, but i'd bet that most of them shop there from time to time. i mean, who are all these ppl keeping these corporations in business afterall?....if so many ppl hate them?
Good point. But I think most people don't feel that strongly about the issue.Alot of anti-GC post start out "every time I go in there..." So they are at least going into the store. And probably alot of people are buying stuff who "hate" GC.
I rarely go into wally world these days. I feel queezy when I go and it's busy... all those "people" :WNK>.
Quote from: ronmac on June 30, 2006, 03:57:24 PM
Stuco,
Don't take it the wrong way. I didn't single you out to slam. I too am ranting. :WNK>
It urks me when I see the slide this Forum has taken in the last few days...
ps. We don't have GC in Canada, so I guess I really can't feel your pain. :GRN>
Ron I agree with you. This forum is not as pleasant a place to come to lately.
Stuco, now that I look back I think I may have misunderstood your intentions. It seems you were mostly just sharing an opinion or how you felt about GC. But your post seemed to read as a call to action and you were presenting reasons to do so. I suppose that was the reason you got such strong responses. Sometimes it's hard to get across. I still may be wrong. Anyway, Sorry.
QuoteThis forum is not as pleasant a place to come to lately. . . . .
I can see why you'd think that. All things considered and put in perspective, it's always the minority of whiners that give things a negative bent. I've done it too, to prove a point. But, by and large, most of the threads here are at worst benign and at best relative to Larrivee guitars or guitar music or technique or gear or. . . .
It's still a nice place. A little negativity from time to time isn't going to ruin it. Ignore the trolls, they'll go away. Consider cynicism as another point to be made. Move along.
Regarding Guitar Center: My first impression tells me I'd probably never buy a guitar there. But I've only been in one store. 'Nice place to browse - with ear plugs - and look at most of what I'd call junk.
It's obvious than Stuco has some history with Guitar Center. I'm guessing either his wife ran off with a Guitar Center salesman or a Guitar Center salesman ran over his dog :SHK> :SHK> :SHK>
Seriously though, I read post bashing Guitar Center on alot of forums. I've got a solution, Just DON'T GO and then you don't have to bash them. I've bought 2 guitars from Guitar Center, a Taylor 710CE and a Martin D18V. I had good experiences both times. I also got great prices and the cases came with my guitars.
Google Guitar Center Sucks...many like minded folk, stuco.
I like GC overall:
nobody hovering over you when you play. I don't like looking over my shoulder like many "mom and pop" shops
good selection (not great, but good)
some sales people are helpful and enthusiastic - takes a while to figure out who
return policy is very permissive
Downside:
Guitars get abused and it seems no one cares - I once sold them a used Martin DM that was in much better shape than all of their "new" DMs.
Fri and Saturday is loud and crowded.
Too many dreads, too few smaller bodied steel string acoustics (don't know why)
No Larrivees (at least at the local GC)
Here is an interesting point:
If a stand up comic does a routine where he/she make fun of people, politicians, government etc, we all laugh and applaud. But if someone finds humour in a guitar store and the way they conduct business, we quickly shoot him down. Funny isn't it.... why is that? There is humour in most things in our life, but I guess it's depends on how it is presented. :huh:
Just thought I would throw that out there.....
NewStrings
I see where GC is opening up a store in Dayton Oh. which is a short distance from me.
I've got to go in there just to see what all the fuss is about.
Quote from: NewStrings on July 02, 2006, 08:26:20 PM
Here is an interesting point:
If a stand up comic does a routine where he/she make fun of people, politicians, government etc, we all laugh and applaud. But if someone finds humour in a guitar store and the way they conduct business, we quickly shoot him down. Funny isn't it.... why is that? There is humour in most things in our life, but I guess it's depends on how it is presented. :huh:
Just thought I would throw that out there.....
NewStrings
yeh, it didn't make me laugh. your analogy isn't analogous to this situation. A comic presents things for a different reason(to make people laugh). Stuco wasn't doing a comedy routine. And we don't "ALL laugh and applaud" at a certain comedy routines, I'm sure some disagree and are even offended.
And "shooting someone down" is a strong phrase to use for someone having a different opinion/view. It's not like anyone called stuco an Ovation loving troll.
I can see some humour in stuco's post. On the other hand I don't see any humour at all in some of the post replies.
My blood begins to boil when "freedom of speech" and "I can say it because I can get away with it" is played as some sort of trump card that is supposed to remove all personal responsibility for action. There is nothing wrong with a healthy debate on any of these issues. In fact, I like to see it because it demonstrates our diversity of experiences and views that can benefit all of us, if we take the time to listen.
Thoughtful and respectful disagreement is not a bad thing. Rage and needless personal attack are another thing altogether...
End of rant.
Well put Ron, I couldn't have said it any better!!!
NewStrings
"Rage and needless personal attack are another thing altogether..."
I don't remember anyone in a rage or personally attacking anyone.
Those comments are not specific to this thread. Have a scan through threads of the last week or two and you should see what this reffered to.
I havent been here as often lately, and I hear/see there is a bit of growing pains going on, but I am glad you are here putting in good, rational, and most often kind words, Ron Mac -_- (among others, I should add).
I think the core of the Old Crew can weather this storm and stay and be happy...
or just wander off and play guitar instead :GRN>
So, where is Zac?!
Quote from: jeremy3220 on June 30, 2006, 05:26:12 PM
A lot of anti-GC post start out "every time I go in there..." So they are at least going into the store. And probably alot of people are buying stuff who "hate" GC.
I rarely go into wally world these days. I feel queezy when I go and it's busy... all those "people" :WNK>.
Kind of reminds me of a Yogi Berra quote. "Nobody goes there anymore; it's too crowded."
Quote from: ronmac on July 03, 2006, 08:00:33 AM
My blood begins to boil when "freedom of speech" and "I can say it because I can get away with it" is played as some sort of trump card that is supposed to remove all personal responsibility for action.
I agree 100%, Ron.
When people use the phrase "freedom of speech," they often do not even understand what that phrase means.
All the Constitution says is that the government cannot prevent you from expressing yourself. Nowhere does the Constitution say that you can say whatever you want without consequence or without being held responsible for what you've said.
End of my rant.
Jim
Quote from: the_sound_of_acoustic_soul on June 30, 2006, 04:35:10 PM
with all the complaining that folks do (including myself) about guitar center, wal*mart, home depot, and other large, soulless, money-grubbin', bottom-feeding, corporate pond scum companies, they are still making money.....lots of it.
That's because so many people will express their political, moral, ethical views but when it comes to taking an action, they go right for the lowest price.
Jim
Quote from: jwsamuel on July 11, 2006, 12:14:39 PM
That's because so many people will express their political, moral, ethical views but when it comes to taking an action, they go right for the lowest price.
Jim
bingo, jimmy. most of us are all talk and no walk. :mellow:
Quote from: the_sound_of_acoustic_soul on July 11, 2006, 06:54:48 PM
bingo, jimmy. most of us are all talk and no walk. :mellow:
when I think of shopping at walmart, I don't necessarily think of it as compromising any sort of moral values...living a life that goes against anything corporate isn't exactly a fulfilling way to live a life...it seems pretty small minded if you ask me
There's something to be said for helping local businesses stay afloat.
Quote from: Tycho on July 11, 2006, 07:24:21 PM
There's something to be said for helping local businesses stay afloat.
That's true, but they need to adjust there prices accordingly, and most of them don't...most family run businesses mark up products pretty rediculously.
Quote from: roknroll on July 11, 2006, 07:21:58 PM
when I think of shopping at walmart, I don't necessarily think of it as compromising any sort of moral values...living a life that goes against anything corporate isn't exactly a fulfilling way to live a life...it seems pretty small minded if you ask me
i care very little about what most ppl believe in, but the fact is that lots of folks simply dont stick by those beliefs very closely. the only way to live fullfilled is to live what you believe in, whatever that may be.
Quote from: the_sound_of_acoustic_soul on July 11, 2006, 07:28:08 PM
i care very little about what most ppl believe in, but the fact is that lots of folks simply dont stick by those beliefs very closely. the only way to live fullfilled is to live what you believe in, whatever that may be.
here here...life's to short to worry about "the man" screwing everyone over...whethers it's oil companies, walmart, microshaft...who cares...I know it means nothing in the long run, so why worry.
Quote from: roknroll on July 11, 2006, 07:34:42 PM
here here...life's to short to worry about "the man" screwing everyone over...whethers it's oil companies, walmart, microshaft...who cares...I know it means nothing in the long run, so why worry.
i see your point, but i cant agree with your worldview....seems to fatalistic. to me, everything means something in the long run. everything that is past has made what you see today. and everything we do today will matter tomorrow. just make the choices that are important to you and dont waste your vote. you only get one.
Quote from: the_sound_of_acoustic_soul on July 11, 2006, 07:38:54 PM
i see your point, but i cant agree with your worldview....seems to fatalistic. to me, everything means something in the long run. everything that is past has made what you see today. and everything we do today will matter tomorrow. just make the choices that are important to you and dont waste your vote. you only get one.
I'm talking about how life is so short compared to eternity...there are plenty of other important things to direct my concerns...I'm not saying just wait around and do nothing until you die, it's just that I have more important things to think about and deal w/, other than walmart.
Quote from: roknroll on July 11, 2006, 07:58:08 PM
I'm talking about how life is so short compared to eternity...there are plenty of other important things to direct my concerns...I'm not saying just wait around and do nothing until you die, it's just that I have more important things to think about and deal w/, other than walmart.
but what if walmart is actually the devil? :wacko:
Quote from: the_sound_of_acoustic_soul on July 11, 2006, 08:01:40 PM
but what if walmart is actually the devil? :wacko:
then the devil comes up w/ some pretty cheezy disguises.