#31
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I would have asked permission before grabbing any guitar and using your own tuner and pick that you brought along to start playing. Maybe I'd do that if I was familiar to that person. But, a total stranger, coming in with their own tuner and pick, not asking for permission to grab a guitar and start playing? Seems a bit too forward to me. Establish a rapport with the sales staff before going on your playing endeavors, H |
#32
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I agree it would take some guts to do this.
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A couple of Halcyons and a Canadian made Larrivee "Wish I had more time to hear your reasons, but I have to go get a beer." 00-28 |
#33
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I'm guessing that people who are offended by a shop having ANY kind of policy about handling the instruments have never owned a business. To me, a guitar shop that has a nice inventory should be just as protective as the antique shop that has signs that state: "If you break it, you buy it." A policy gets established because there has been a situation happen that made the need for a policy.
No one is entitled to handle anything in a business. Be polite: ask. If you are offended, it is because YOU overstepped your assumed entitlement. It doesn't matter that CG allows it - no other business is required to do what they do. If I owned a guitar shop, I would definitely be profiling - not racial, but in terms of consideration: if someone comes in, is dressed appropriately (not with that studded jacket in an earlier post), seems respectful, I would give them more access than someone who seems inconsiderate. I have owned businesses before we retired. There were some people who came in that we knew by name, BUT not because they were a good customer, rather because they had been "a problem" previously. I guess I am not necessarily impressed when someone says, "They know me here." This whole thread seems to be based on a lack of communication rather than whether or not a business has the right to have any particular policy. If the OP had asked first, he would have had no reason to be huffy. As it is, his attitude is all on him, not the shop. |
#34
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Guitars vary from one to the next off the same line and I want the one I want. Not just one that looks like it.
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__________________ "Life goes on, within you and without you" Last edited by XYRN; 01-13-2017 at 12:08 AM. |
#35
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Well I guess I learned a lesson here and I still hate it turned out that way. I don't frequent that area often so no big deal.
After Christmas I made trips to several chain stores including GC and Sam Ash. All of these stores were new to me as I was just searching my area to see what was available, more than I have done in the last years. I was in the market for a new bass guitar and amp. Obviously the independent small time dealer has to have a different business model to be successful and I knew exactly what she was saying to me and how she felt, it was just my first time experiencing this. This store was 10% guitars at best which led me to believe they may be weak in the technician department which is undesirable to me. The independently owned store that I do frequent allows free play much like the GC which I am used to. The next time I find a new store, I will ask first and gladly state my intentions. That $300 Samick did sound good though......
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2006 Yamaha F200TXR 4 stroke. My Guitars - Yamaha FG700S Sandburst; Epiphone Les Paul Standard; 2018 Yamaha LL-16D Natural; Ibanez Talman Bass; Fender Standard Telecaster; Yamaha FG820-12 Natural; Yamaha FS830 Tobacco Brown Sunburst; ....A beginner practicing almost everyday since 12/15/14....{:::]==={=O=I} |
#36
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I can see it both ways but more so through the store owner's perception. It sounds like musical instruments are a small but fragile part of their overall picture with not a lot of backup inventory. Perhaps they've taken a hit before on damaged musical instruments; heck, maybe that same day. It sounds like the store owner/employee was very nice about it, but I also understand that you were miffed since you see yourself as one of the good guys when it comes to appreciating/taking care of musical instruments. I agree that it's best to ask first before handling instruments, especially in a small shop where you're not a frequent shopper/buyer...
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Emerald X20 Emerald X20-12 Martin D18 Martin 000-15sm |
#37
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See, this is why we can't have nice things.....lol. Actually, this is why I could never own a guitar store. I'd be fed up by the end of the first day. I know my local shop here in Louisville takes a lot of grief online because of their "policies". They will let you play anything in the store for as long as you want. But, they want to take it off the wall for you (while assessing that your giant silver Buck Rogers belt buckle is not going to decimate the back of the guitar), so it doesn't get dropped or banged into the others and people complain about it. They are also somewhat attentive (though extremely nice and knowledgeable) which people complain about too. On the other hand, the shop I frequent in Lexington, I can go in just to browse and the guy is always saying "hey, come on upstairs in one of the rooms and let me give you this 5K Koa or 10K Brazilian guitar I can't afford to try out. (so he can hopefully find those extra dollars in my wallet that are there for emergencies). And then he leaves you alone to play. And I read people complaining about it online as well. It all comes down to when people want to go in and browse, they seemingly want to be able to play anything they want to play, but when it comes time to buy they then want a "demo" price because someone else did the same thing to it. I'd throw everyone out of my store and be out of business in a week.....
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Steve Taylor 514ce FLTD, Sitka/Tasmanian Blackwood from Ted at LA Guitar Sales Taylor 618e 1st Edition, Sitka/maple (2015) Taylor 814ce, Sitka/Rosewood (2014) Taylor 526ce, all Mahogany (2014) Baby Taylor, mahogany (2014) Taylor 210ce (2014) (on consignment) PRS S2 Custom semi-hollow body Fender Blacktop Stratocaster Gibson Les Paul Studio Pro 120th Gibson SG Classic 120th |
#38
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I'm not sure. If the owner was nice about it and it seemed she was, it might not bother me. It would depend. I think a lot of us got spoiled by Guitar Center. I don't mind a guitar having minor scratches that can be buffed out, just like the ones my J-45 had, but who can predict what's going to happen to a guitar if everyone plays it. Some people are simply careless. Unfortunately, careless people don't have a sign on them declaring their status as an idiot, so the owners have to apply the "no play" rule to everyone.
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Barry Sad Moments {Marianne Vedral cover}: My SoundCloud page Some steel strings, some nylon. |
#39
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#40
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To me the lady sounded tough. He already stated interest in a bass and amp and she has the nerve to say.....we don't like people playing things if they are not going to buy them? Ok lady, how would I know if I wanted it unless I tried it?
I would have made a few comments to her, then left.
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Martin 00018 Last edited by cigarfan; 01-18-2017 at 05:46 PM. Reason: Language |
#41
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Glad to see so many experts here knowing how to run a business to stay in business,
H |
#42
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It seems pretty simple. You are in their store, the guitars are their property, you follow their rules. don't assume you have free run of the merchandise. Just like your Mama should have taught you, ask before you start handling someone else's stuff.
If the store policy is to ask the clerk for help before removing a guitar from the wall then they should have signs posted stating such to avoid the awkward confrontation. I've been to Artisan Guitars in Nashville, (very high end merchandise), and they are very polite and you can play anything you want as long as you ask first. If you have zippers, chains, buttons or anything else that may scratch the guitar they will ask you to remove it if possible or they will give you a towel to cover them with. Here is a tip. If you are going to a guitar store to sample guitars, wear something that isn't covered in chains and zippers or studs and buckles. A sweater or sweatshirt in the winter and a t-shirt for the rest of the year.
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1990 Alvarez Yairi DY-77 2009 Taylor 414ce ltd. Taz. Black |
#43
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And I'll bet they don't stay in business long.
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Martin 00018 |
#44
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The idea of "one to show and one to go" would then double the dealers mandatory out-lay per quarter. Some manufactures can require up to 30 grand in mandatory buy-in's. Following your suggestions (and admittedly hypothetical at this point) that would up the ante to unreasonable investments. All of that in one way or another is required for every line a dealer chooses to legitimately carry. Add on top of that inventory taxes and it takes about a nano second for a dealer to get in over their heads. There's of course also rent, payroll, utilities, payroll taxes, insurance an accountant to keep things under control. Cherry-picking 3 or 4 guitars and doubling the purchase to accomplish one to show, one to go is a thing of the very distant past. Now...on top of that understand the the MI (Musical Instrument) industry works on perhaps the absolute lowest profit margins in the world often hovering around 8% and it doesn't take much to imagine a shop owner being sensitive to their investments hanging on the wall. |
#45
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So the OP tells his local real world friends what happened. Some may not have it effect their future purchases, some may say "Hey, that stinks" and not shop there because of this. Every one of us is an expert in what we like (usually, lol) and what we will put up with. When I buy a TV, I don't buy a floor model. Why? Because I know PC Richards has more in the back, in the original unopened box. Music stores should do the same, if possible, for new stock.
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Barry Sad Moments {Marianne Vedral cover}: My SoundCloud page Some steel strings, some nylon. |