Should a dealer let you compare yours to theirs?

[Andyrondack]

Originally Posted by Shortfinger

You have a guitar you want to compare to one in a showroom, same seat same position same room same time. You want to take your cased Martin or whatever and play it back to back at a store, see if you want to keep it or sell it to buy the something you're trying out.

Do your stores permit this? I know CME won't. They think you'll walk out with the new one in your case and leave yours on the wall.

I don't know if they 'should' allow it or not, that's their prerogative, but it's a great idea.

[mawmow]

I did at least twice… and did not buy…

[KevinH]

I've done it and never thought twice about it. But in a busy shop I can see why they'd be concerned, and wouldn't have any problem checking the case in at the front. If they wouldn't even do that, I'd leave and let them know why.

[Osage]

I've done it at smaller shops without issue. I've also done it with electric guitars when buying a new amp. At GC once, they made me leave the case by the door and wrote down a description of my guitar and the serial number. It wasn't a busy day so it was no big thing at all but I could see where on a weekend or something, this could be problematic.

[hubcapsc]

Originally Posted by Shortfinger

You have a guitar you want to compare to one in a showroom, same seat same position same room same time. You want to take your cased Martin or whatever and play it back to back at a store, see if you want to keep it or sell it to buy the something you're trying out.

Do your stores permit this? I know CME won't. They think you'll walk out with the new one in your case and leave yours on the wall.

Chicago Music Exchange?

Maybe a rough place to do business... I've bought a couple of guitars
in small town Georgia. They sent me un-escorted downstairs to the
couch with their guitar and my guitar and told me to stay there how
ever long I wanted...

-Mike

[TennesseeWalker]

Yes, they should.

You may bring your guitar in for some work, a setup or such, and should be able to do so.

But, as a private business, they can make whatever rules they want.

[Gasworker]

I’m on the store owners side. They have people come in just to handle guitars and no intention of ever buying anything including the guitars. We’ve all seen it and some of us are guilty, the “auditioners” with the hat sitting on a stool in the middle of the store scaring away potential buyers. If you have the time and need different experiences take your own guitar to a park or a cave or under pass, empty stairwell. There are lots of ways to hear your own gear differently. You may be pleasantly surprised.

[ssstewart]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

I don’t ask permission, I just walk in carrying my guitar case and tell one of the staff that I’m going to compare my guitar to one of theirs. They’ve always said okay.

Lest that sound unbelievably arrogant, I don’t ever do this unless I’m seriously contemplating a guitar purchase. It’s too much of a hassle to do it for the sake of idle speculation alone.


Wade Hampton Miller

same here Wade, done it many times

"its easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission"

[Methos1979]

I've done this numerous times at stores up here in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine with no issues. Two of those stores (The Music Emporium and Northern Lights Music) have some REALLY high-end and expensive guitars but those stores are also fairly small and easy to keep track of people and what comes and goes.

I always walk in and politely announce my intention before just going at it. I have yet to have anyone balk.

[Shortfinger]

I'm the OP and it was the Chicago Music Exchange that stopped me and would not let me in the store carrying my cased D-18. I explained that I wanted to evaluate it against a couple of preowned Martin Ds they had in stock to see if it would be worth selling the old and buying the newer, and they said no.

I explained it was important for me to be able to hear and feel the instruments on right after another, in the same space, room, chair position, etc.

They said no.

No customer guitars. Period.

So I checked it at the door, went in and played the ones I had targeted, plus a couple new ones they had. Did not buy anything, except a tee shirt on my way out.

[Organic Sounds Select Guitars]

Originally Posted by Shortfinger

You have a guitar you want to compare to one in a showroom, same seat same position same room same time. You want to take your cased Martin or whatever and play it back to back at a store, see if you want to keep it or sell it to buy the something you're trying out.

Do your stores permit this? I know CME won't. They think you'll walk out with the new one in your case and leave yours on the wall.

Yes! In fact, I encourage it. By far the best way to evaluate guitars. But I have a small, one person shop so it's easy for me to keep an eye on things.

[dilver]

Originally Posted by frankmcr

Likewise around here nowadays.


At a high-endish place like CME, I would think a phone call ahead of time would be thoughtful.

The stores on 48th street used to also make you check your bags at the front, too. It was a good system, granted required extra staff and space. Every time I’ve been to CME, they’ve been super accommodating and cool. No hassles at all. I’m sure if you called in advance and explained what you were doing, said when you were coming in and asked for a name for when you arrived, they’d be cool with it.

[baseball]

GRUHN'S absolutely allows this because I have brought a reference guitar both times I bought guitar from them.
In fact, the first time, the guy asked "what's in the case?" and I told him what and why and he said "Oh..that's a good idea!"

The reason I do this is because not all rooms are equal. I almost bought a Martin 15 series back in the 90's. It was at the Sherman Oaks Guitar center. I loved the rich bass response. Then on a last minute whim, I went and got My Guild from Home. My 'Boring' Old Guitar sounded AMAZING in their guitar room and I realized that the paneling and design accentuated Bass frequencies to my ear. I was actually a little bummed, because I wanted to explain to my wife WHY I needed the Martin (LOL)

Even in the same store a guitar will sound a little different in different places. A guitar that sounds amazing under an archway or in a room with a Lower ceiling might sound a little flat out in the High ceilinged portion of the SAME ROOM.

So make sure and compare apples to apples, it's always a good idea when dropping a months pay on a guitar to bring one with which you are familiar

IMHO

[jseth]

Taking my "old favorite" with me to A/B with other guitars when I'm looking to buy is an absolute "must" for me. While I might make arrangements ahead of time to bring my own guitar, I would NOT do business with any establishment that would not allow it.

Now, if I'm just cruising around a store to check out what they have, with no intention of actually buying a guitar, then I could understand any reticence on the store's part.

Big difference between "looking" and "buying", in my mind.

[Br1ck]

I'm retired, so it is easy to go to Gryphon in the morning on a Tuesday. Usually I'm tire kicking. But I don't do it for free. I spend about $40 for every hour I paw their merchandise. A good shop wants you to have the perfect guitar for you, and that this is their focus rather than a sale is what sets this kind of business apart from others, and if you have a shop like that you should support it.

I bought an A1 Gibson mandolin on line on a Sunday night, and when I went to collect it, Frank said, you know, we won't hold you to the sale if you don't like it.

On the other hand, another store had a no customer instruments allowed in the store policy. I took my case to my car, went back and tracked down the owner. I told him he lost a potential sale after which he said oh, go ahead an tell them I said it was ok, to which I replied, no, I don't want special treatment, but I would have been glad to show the case opened coming and going.