Saturday, August 21, 2010

the little guy...the independent stores

i went to the Guitar Center last week. Gosh that place is really starting to annoy me....sure, i played a few guitars that i liked pretty well, but i'm starting to think i'm not gonna go there anymore...i've got some indy stores in my own town and in the neighboring towns that seem to be close price-wise and geez they even do stuff like 'set-up' their instruments, etc.

plus with the internet it seems like the options are greater...and another thing...some of the 'lower level' brands are really making strides to put out products that are just as solid as some of the big names....i could play some of Johnson's and Sunlite's products and be just fine....and have more money in my wallet...

plus the customer service is more relational at these places...

3 comments:

  1. I used to be friends with a guy who owned a guitar store in Phoenix. I wish I could remember his name and the store's location. He was a pretty good guy and he ran a good store. Unfortunately I lost touch with him. Doug something. He was talking about moving to Jerome and letting his employees run the store. That has a way of going badly.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Worked in an independent music store for the last 7 years. Prices overall are cheaper at an independent store because of add ons (cases, services, stuff like that).

    ReplyDelete
  3. Guitar center is a scary place. Every time I've been to one, the people who work there are terribly condescending. Especially when I ask for something like a pitch-pipe or some strings. Invariably they look at me like I've just asked the stupidest thing anyone has ever asked. And I'm scared to pick up a guitar and play, lest I be laughed at. I have enough insecurities about my playing as it is, the last thing I want is a salesman to show me up when I am looking to spend money. Strangely, I've had only positive experiences at Sam Ash--another large music chain. Don't know why their staff has always been so much friendlier.

    ReplyDelete