How To Get Banned From GC

Baxter and Jonathan talk a sure fire way to get banned or flagged at a Guitar Center.

[@b2tall239]

A 15% "restocking fee" on all purchases over $100 would put an end to many of these returns and weekend rentals.

[@DrScrambles]

I just quit working at GC for the last year, and you won't get banned for retuning too many guitars. They have a 45 day return policy on almost everything but clearance and vintage items, pretty much no questions asked. They might ask if there was any damages in case they need to get the items fixed. We had multiple customers that would buy guitars and we would know every sing time they would come back. However we did have one customer who was a vintage reseller who would buy guitars and then find a problem with just about every used guitar he would buy from us. Then find some sort of issue with the guitar and demand a price adjustment, which GC pretty much has no wiggle room on used gear. There were sometimes damages we were 99% sure he was the one who damaged it. He would order them in from other stores and have them mailed to himself and then return them to the store so we wouldn't know for a fact it was him. He was the ONLY person he had to tell to F off. I told he my 2nd to last day this was the last time we were going to help him with his used guitar returns, and I know I was the 5th manager to tell him this. That's honestly the only time we had to tell someone to F off. just a little secret, don't be afraid to check GC used section in your store or even online. The company is huge and some employees really don't know gear very well and you can find some killer deals from employee's who bought things in wrong (it's also hilarious to check the things people priced way too high cause they didn't know anything). I bought an EXH russian big muff JHS moscow mod which retail for $250-300 at the time. My idiot assistant manager purchased it as just a regular EXH russian big muff and we were retailing it for $69.99. You know I snagged it as soon as I was putting it on the shelf and realized it was $200 under cost. Oh yeah Jonathan, the crappy camera is still there to take pics of used gear.

[@dalesmyth7398]

Since 2018, I've had to return 2 guitars, a Gibson SG and Epi Wilshire. The SG had a squeal in any amp I plugged into, fret sprout was awful, then under a magnifying glass, the frets looked like they'd been cut with cutters, and no dressing at all, really sharp. The 7th fret cut my finger. The pots said ''made in China'' on them, I took pictures of that. Not a big issue, but the high E string, had 2 wraps, I could not tune it at first, thinking the tuner was slipping...so a new string fixed that. I could not get the squeal out of it, so sent that back. Next was the Wilshire, it had 4 frets that were high, choking out, and only way I could play it, was raise the strings to gosh awful height. The first guy I talked to about returning the Wilshire give me crap, saying I cannot return a factory defect, had to send to Epiphone. Or...I could send back to GC, but I had to pay shipping, no free return. About 30 min later, and shout out to Davion at GC, he apologized for the other guys attitude, and made it right. I sent the Wilshire back, credit back on my gear card pronto, and they sent out the 2nd Wilshire, it's great. And Davion called me back about 3 days after I received the Wilshire, wanting to know if I was happy with it, and it was I told him, he was a good guy to deal with. I have bought quite a bit of stuff from GC over the phone, since I do not live nowhere near a GC or any other music shop, and the other things I've bought was great. There are people out here that want to keep guitars, or other gear, the first time around, I hate sending crap back. But I don't want to buy a new product, and the neck is crap right off the bat. I can see where people take advantage of their return policy, and using it for a wknd gig, then returning, that ain't cool. And I'm sure it happens more than we all know, and that hurts the people that have no GC or any other music shop within 200 miles of them, so ordering is the only option.

[@JoeR203]

I think a sure fire way to get banned would be to walk in, grab a guitar off the rack and fling it up at the expensive Gibson LPs that are higher up on the wall.

[@SeikoticTV]

I tried to buy an Epi LP off GC's website a couple years back. Fortunately I had it shipped to my local store. When I went to pick it up, there were loose parts rattling around in the control cavity, the bridge pickup had been removed and reinstalled with the mounting ring angled the wrong way, there was a big chip out of a control knob, and a thumbnail sized dent in the finish below the pickguard that had not been visible in their fuzzy out-of-focus photo. The website had described the condition as "good" when it was obviously poor. I rejected it and they still charged me for shipping it to the store. For me that was the end of buying from their website.

[@matt-770]

That peach finished Tele hanging between you guys looks edible.

[@Thunderpussy88]

"They beat that pride right outta you." Bobabooey Sir.

[@beandipcartography]

My favorite Bad Brains song is "Banned In GC".

[@Vykk_Draygo]

An Orange Rockerverb has been on my wishlist for a long time.

[@WolfgangR5150]

You're 100% correct that GC off-the-wall guitars haven't been setup or anything. Bad fret jobs on $1500 guitars and they don't even bother to restring or clean used gear. GC is a shithole in my town of Springfield MO.

[@MusicTherapyLaz]

I bought 3 guitars from Guitar Center in the last year, each of them was not in good playing shape… the new one was a Sterling by Music Man that had a missing high E string, but it played so good and vbecause it was the only one of those I've seen on sale for $399…. I told the guy put a string on it and I'll buy it after playing it through some Fender amps I was actually there to check out. The other 2 was a used 2019 Vintage Cherry Gibson LP Tribute I bought for $899 that was also not in great shape but it was a great deal as well.... and now plays AMAZING! That's a really sweet guitar if you're ok with a bare bones looking Les Paul that just rocks! The best deal of all ... a vintage 1990 below 1000 numbered Ibanez Satriani JS1 in black that looked like it'd been in the closet for the last 30 years… was all dusty and needing a set up... for... wait for it.. $599…. I SHIT YOU NOT!!! I felt like I hit the Lotto! I honestly rue the day Guitar Center gets it together and starts taking care of their used and new guitars in their showrooms... it will be the end of these kinds of deals ... but I have a feeling I have nothing to worry about! LOL 😆 😎🎸🤘

[@ToneD5150]

As a former GC employee, I found the return policy sucks! So many people just abuse this service beyond Redemption! I for one had customers try a product for hours and loved it, until a week later only to return it.... Over and over again! Certain customers need to be blacklisted for the constant abuse of this service.... So say what you will.... When you work on commission, you try your very best to make sure your customers are satisfied after the purchase!

[@JBmusicart]

I bought a dean mlx from guitar center. I sold it to guitar center for about 30 bucks less than i paid because i took care of tye guitar. A week later i saw my guitar, with broken strings, because some kid went in, and tried to down tune the floyd rose without knowing that you have to totally reset the floyd balance when you downtune, or you break strings. One week, and strings were broken. I have applied to guitar center for sales position. I guarantee i would do a better job than their employees.

[@jamesburge1983]

Buying from Guitar Center used dept.: Yeah the standards are low, across the board. Photos, description, pricing constancy etc. So I bought a used one from GC, I was real familiar with the model and the pics were good enough for me to see what I needed to see. So they shipped the guitar in one box and the case in another. Kind of sums up GC.

[@MrSmiley1964]

If you are a fan of Tele-Star guitars you need to check out Colemen Guitars in China Grove, NC. Chip is the MAN when it comes to collecting and sharing his knowledge of all things Tele-Star.

[@djay6651]

I thought I was gonna see a guy get kicked out of the Tulsa GC yesterday. Dude was getting ridiculously loud on a Fender Tweed with the bass dimed out and trying to shred 80s style.

[@stevehitch8745]

Guitar Center routinely represents damaged and defective gear as "great" or "excellent" condition, even after returned for those problems. It's not the customers' fault GC suffers a high return rate.

[@Mrguitarcraze]

Let’s be real. The revenue you enjoy as sellers of guitars is for the most part based on emotional purchases, as most will place their next guitar purchase above their other fiscal responsibilities. Having said that, you should embrace the few that are in the buyers remorse camp. They are part in parcel and the reason that you even have a guitar shop to begin with.

[@GrantSeinerOutdoors]

My Local GC is super sketchy. They are constantly taking pics from far away, only one, and misrepresenting the product on purpose. It is intentional fraud. I have driven in with money and gear to go get a newly listed guitar or amp, only to have it be completely trashed and tore up. I even bought three different amps, all had problems and one even blew a transformer while gigging, less than a month after purchasing. They have no expertise in checking gear sold to them, and they have put KNOWN broken gear back on the shelf after I returned a pedal. Matter of fact, it is still there, four years later on sale and has been bought and returned 100 times.

[@TheLupin22]

ngl, dolphine style sounds kinda hot

[@robertdeen8741]

I never thought about that. If one needs a bigger amp for a gig, why rent it? Just buy it the day before and return it the day after. That's why stores have exchange only, no cash back.

[@comicsrcool5483]

I have a massively dumb question about the whole documentation of used guitars and photos. Why aren't places like GC or even Casino hiring someone part time to do this? I mean maybe we are talking 20 hours a week. I will hunt down guitar specs for FUN when I either find a guitar used that none are listed or if I get one where the specs are "Single Coil Pickup" or "Fat Neck". You dont think I'd be over the moon if a guitar shop said to me "Hey! Wanna get paid to do that for a few hours a week?"!?!?!?!?! If you hire someone who actually enjoys guitars and amps and gear in general and give them 20 paid hours to document and photograph(if you have a decent set up and a decent camera) you'd be shocked and what you would get! Plus do a basic check of the instrument. I realize the main focus is get it up online and sell it. I really do get that. But I have to say as someone who purchases gear, when I find some place that has stellar photos and a really great overview of the guitar I want, I am very likely to buy from them. Why do we all think Sweetwater is burying GC into the ground. Attention to detail. I doubt when Sweetwater started out they were like "Ok! 50 point inspection, stellar photos and descriptions..." It all has to start somewhere.....

[@lhvent]

Years ago I bought two guitars from Guitar Center in Maryland that were both defective in the same day. Never again.

[@JBmusicart]

I can tell you 100 percent that the sales people at guitar center do not know specifics of any guitar unless it is a guitar they like. Most times, the employees there do not give a fuck.

[@mtpstv94]

I've purchased several used PRS from GC. No problems yet. Just realized you guys are 2 hours 40 minutes from me.

[@throughkenslens7972]

The only GC I've been to was at Disney World. I intended to buy a new guitar but the $1500 went to buying lunch 😟

[@rtmca1]

If you do a guitar center search on their website for a used anything, you get a crappy small picture and a one word description “good” or “poor” etc. you take a big chance buying it and the only way it would work is once you got it and actually get sufficient info by actually handling the guitar then you decide. The return policy allows them to have such a crappy used marketing system. I think actually the used system encourages people to buy new so it works for them.

[@TheMeJustMe75]

Easy! Just tell them you only buy from Sweetwater when they try to sell you something. I got banned from a local music store years ago because I told a salesman that I bought another piece of equipment somewhere else when he tried to sell me the exact same thing. The owner heard the conversation and threw me out. The music store went out of business not too long after that. The store screwed a friend on a sale of a Jackson. My friend put it on layaway and the store owner raised the price on the last payment then threatened to sue my friend if he backed out of the sale and asked for a refund. This store had tons of electric guitars but they were way over priced. I laughed when I heard the store went out of business. I have met a few other people that had really bad experiences with this particular store.

[@jfar3340]

If you buy new, then the guitar should be new. No swirl marks, no fine scratches, no dings however small they may be. New means new! If you're buying a guitar with swirl marks, superficial scratches etc, then sorry but this guitar is not new. Surprisingly, in Canada, big box stores take better care of their inventory than small stores.

[@jeffgutierrez8796]

As a lefty, I've always felt "banned" from guitar center and most other corporate music gear stores.

[@ShawnShipstad]

You should have your guitars made at Kiesel.

[@mikelord9860]

Yeah I hear ya - I feel like I'm wasting my time and gas. I go in the acoustics room, look around...and nuthin'!

[@JBmusicart]

But that is a personal problem. Work on that.

[@JBmusicart]

Plenty of lefty guitar deals on line

[@30smsuperstrat]

To clarity there are two categories of return. 1 I didn't like this, it wasnt what I expected. 2. This is defective, or not as described. Defective or not as described should never be counted on a accumulated limit return policy.

[@Necropheliac]

I don’t have a problem with this policy as a concept, but seeing as guitar center is one-foot in the grave I just don’t think it’s a good strategy for them to turn away any customers willingly. If they had a policy that you can only return a guitar 12 times a year, then that would make more sense. But Guitar center just isn’t in a position to turn away any customers. This isn’t Sweetwater this is guitar center, living on hopees and prayers.

[@guitaoist]

Great points, need a non commercial pov, aka a valid one

[@craigthomson3621]

If you are left handed you are effectively banned from buying from Guitar Centre.

[@dancompton1728]

There used to be a sign at the guitar center I used to frequent that would say "lefty land" in the corner, and the only guitars there were a squier affinity strat, a shitty beginner ibanez, and some junk used strat copies. It was like the island of misfit toys.

[@ryangunwitch-black]

Heck. One of my local GC stores had more lefties than right handed Strats last time I was there.

[@mikecorey8370]

You're not kidding. They might have one, usually a Squire Tele. G.C. only stocks what they can sell basically every day. They care nothing about the niche market. If you're a lefty, don't bother going in because they don't have any.

[@howlinhog]

I learned to play right-handed and always wondered if I should have been true to myself (not that the choice was there) and played left-handed instead.

[@craigthomson3621]

@@howlinhog I first learned to play right-handed but hit a plateau that I could not progress from. I then re-started from scratch and learned to play left-handed, and quickly became a much better player as a leftie than I ever was as a righty.

[@1ListerofSmeg]

IIRC GC will ship nonlocal used items to a store near you at no charge. I have 7 GC within 90 minutes of my house & I do surf their used inventory for sweet deals or interesting items on a semi regular basis.

[@MayorMcCheese2000]

damn... some game stop customers are watching this having no idea they're about to get totally ROASTED!

[@saleseng]

As long as the imperfections don’t affect playability short of something thats just wiz bang out of sorts over the top cosmetic flaw, no reason to return a guitar. Remember people, guitars get dropped at the factory they get dropped at the guitar shop before you ever put your hands on it

[@lfaf9509]

I think its stupid for any guitar store to ban a paying customer with out really really good reason. In this case, who cares if someone buys a guitar and then brings it back in a couple days.. It is your right, as a consumer, to return products that you are unhappy with.. So Guitar Center should be finned for doing what these guys described. We have Lemon Law's for a reason, its to protect the buyer from being scammed out of their money. In this case, if you buy a guitar from Guitar Center, and its not up to snuff, it is both Guitar Center's policy to allow you to return it for a full refund, and its the law in most country's as well. It may be annoying, and some might abuse it, but that does not mean any Guitar Store should be allowed to refuse to allow you to return a guitar for a full refund, providing you are still within 30 days of the purchase.. Think about it, apply this to any other store with any other product. Imagine buying a video card at Best Buy, and they won't allow you to return it for a full refund three days later, because it didn't run your favorite game. Would you ever, ever, buy anything from Best Buy again after that? Do you think its even legal for Best Buy to do that? Do you accept the excuse that Best Buy employees are annoyed that you are returning that video card? No, you don't.. No one would, so why on earth would you accept Guitar Center, or any guitar selling store doing that?

[@stevedaulton9655]

GC on used gear is like an As Is Car Dealership - the stuff is sold as it is with no real recouse if its bad. They will try everything to not return it from restock fees ban lists etc. Now new gear is different - I bought an Ibanez ArtCore from them 12 years ago - loved the guitar but it was of terrible quality - it started falling apart right away - the frets started falling off, the tuners broke, the neck was bent. I wanted a good hollowbody in my collection so I brought it back a week later with receipt - I really wanted traded out to something that would work - they traded me out to an Epiphone Casino with P90s which sold back then for about $600 where the ArtCare was about a $400 guitar. I still have the Ephiphone so they came thru and the Manager got involved and came thru - and I my local GC there are some very good guys that work there - but they don't have a real program to recondition used insturments. I have bought a few other things since but make sure to inspect and play them first - but mostly stick to things like pedals, amps, pa systems. By comparison I ordered my last guitar from Sweetwater with the Set Up. The condition and playing was perfect. The best part is they had the Consultant call me over the phone and get a feel for me and what I wanted. I really think Sweetwater is the king of big box stores for musical instruments and gear and have a very customer friendly return policy. I do have local Guitar Store and Luthier that does an amazing job on used and vintage instruments who also handles new instruments and can order about anything. I think its good to have a good big box go to and a great local option. Glad you did this segment and pointed out this stuff.

[@timgittar]

If you want people to choose your big box business over local, then stick to your return policy. Even it hurts.

[@epichalocat2887]

The camera GC uses that you're referring to at 6:40. They finally stopped using it like a year ago dog. It was so sad. Like a cheap, 2000s hunk o junk.

[@voiceofreasonjnp4112]

I recently got a preowned jp15 for 2/3 it's original price off their online listings. When I got it, there was no case candy. The strings were full of gunk and needed replacing. The guitar had the dirtiest fretboard from all of the playing. The previous owner must have screwed around with the bridge because it was not in the best playing shape. Hours of cleaning and adjusting the bridge and it was as good as new. If GC had cleaned up and adjusted guitar, they would not have had to drop the price of it so heavily.

[@idiotburns]

Guitar Center reminds me of Home Depot, I like both. I recently was ask to leave with my kids when I played a used amp too loud. I was 10 seconds from buying the amp when they got mad. It was NOT THAT LOUD. Tacoma, WA Guitar Center, havent been back since, sadly.

[@charliesox5397]

took a music man to have nut replaced at guitar center in Tucson Az , the customer ahead of me was returning for a second repair on same amp , the tech said sorry I failed to correctly solder correctly he had waited a couple weeks for this second repair. had my guitar picked up later . after opening the case at home I find the guitar to have the new nut hanging so far over the edges of fretboard it looked and felt terrible as well as not having the strings being so high it became unplayable . upon returning to guitar center to ask what happened the tech said he didnt know what size strings were on it before and if i came back and paid 65 more dollars he would spend time making the nut correct and do light set up .I had already spent 35 dollars to receive a guitar that played fine that now is unplayable. The most laughable part to this is the guitar had strings when taken in to guitar center and just a great set up . I only wanted a new nut 😐, this store is not one i would recomend to many problems for me

[@henrymrowicki7004]

Im in Illinois, GC doesn't give a crap about new guitars, much less used ones. Half the guitars on the wall look like they were dropped doan the stairs. Im at the point where i would rather shop about anywhere else.

[@0burrus]

My friend dropped a ukulele once and thought he was gonna be banned

[@TomMusick]

If you're going to get banned make it spectacular. I got banned from my local GC after trading a musicman axis (plus $85. cash) for a bc rich mockingbird st with a $999.99 price tag. When I got home I looked it up and was sickened to discover the bc rich was actually on sale for only $699. When I went back the following day to personally convey my irritation my trade in was on the wall with a $1400 price tag on it, which made me even more frustrated. While having a heated debate with the manager one of the meathead employees attempted to tackle me from behind but I side stepped him and instead he tackled a ibanez gem into a few other guitars on stands near the front door. I would have loved to see whet happened after I left, I laughed my ass off for months over that shit.

[@fl96inches]

I'd have let him tackle me.... always wanted to own a guitar store.

[@mykuntstynx9463]

Guys like Phillip McKnight from the Return Your Gear show?

[@scottbrower9052]

Bingo.

[@nebakanezer13]

Chain music stores are crap. Independently owned music stores is where it’s at.

[@HoracioGarciaMusic]

I hate that on guitar center's used site, when you click on the image to expand it, it gets smaller -_-

[@hellogreg1973]

Hilarious really

[@j.r.g3548]

THIS GUITAR COMES WITH A CASE.

[@valentinegordon2923]

Down here at the Pawn Shop- Its the only way to shop

[@rockingtr1]

First two minutes eliminate all Facebook posts! Wood, humans, dancing!

[@nightpandas7178]

GC guitars are almost always in terrible condition on the wall it's insane

[@philbert006]

If you're that person that's so picky about every little thing, you don't have any business buying a guitar online. Obviously it's always optimum to be able to handle/play whatever equipment before you spend your hard earned money, and it's great to be able to return something if you're not sure but willing to give it a few days to see if it's right for you. But if you aren't willing to take responsibility for the choices you make, which is what the real problem is, then you need to inform yourself to the highest possible degree before making them instead of being an entitled asshole and causing everyone else to suffer.

[@gsbguitarsgsb679]

Over the years I have purchased a few guitars from GC, along with numerous accessories and parts, pedals and a couple of amps as well. I’ve traded gear in and didn’t feel I got a good deal but I haven’t ever returned anything because I was trying to take advantage. It was to upgrade or differentiate a previous purchase. They have always been accommodating to me in those situations. Knowing me as a returning customer and familiar face I have a mutual appreciation with those folks. That is priceless to say the least.

[@stoneysdead689]

If- and this is purely hypothetical- I had an important piece of gear fail right before a gig- and I'm not saying I did, but "IF" I did- I might buy what I needed at GC and return it after said gig. If it was a vintage amp- I might buy the solid-state Fender reissue, be pleasantly surprised at how good it sounded- and then return it- just saying... "if" that happened... "if"... Damn Tone Masters are the shit huh- too expensive though man. We can't affords it, but we wants it- dirty little thieves, stole it from us, made us gives it back..... we hates the GC forever and ever....

[@billgrabbe9992]

I'd love to get banned from Guitar Center. The service is terrible and the rate of turnover makes it impossible to find someone that can answer questions beyond how many strings a 5-string bass has. And when I've able to point a salesperson to exactly what I want, it takes forever to pay for it. The only thing that has improved is that the stop-and-frisk at the front door seems to be a thing of the past.

[@applehead252]

My buddy buys something new every 45 days. I don’t agree with it but he says it’s their policy not his . He has a point. lol

[@ShinMadero]

Everything at GC is so poorly setup and maintained so I don't really blame people for returning.

[@StratBurst92]

Some people do not like to buy online but I have been a Sweetwater customer since 2008. Every guitar I have bought from them was set up well and in perfect condition. Only had one return which was a squire mustang that had bad tone pot nuts. No problem with the return. Good people there.

[@jeffreycarter2548]

I've gotten a couple really good guitars from the Raleigh store but my best ones came from the Sam Ash, across the street.

[@harrisonrg777]

first i’ve never returned a single guitar i’ve ever bought. for one i look at the guitar over and play it before i buy it. here is a story for you. years ago i lived in a city that had a GC and i would go there just about everyone weekend. one weekend i went there i saw my dream guitar a Ibanez Jem 7V white. i picked it up and was drooling all over it. a salesman comes up to me and is like that on sale for X and i had X in a savings account and i started looking the guitar over and i was torn i wanted it but i noticed a few scratches and worst of all there was literally rust on the lo pro edge on the guitar. i asked if it was new or used he said NEW!.. but it was on sale for almost $400 off so i knew something was up. but the part of me that wanted that guitar kept thinking about it but my eyes seeing red flags i said no and walked away from it. i say this story because had i not been as strong willed i may have bought the guitar and a week later regretted it especially with the rust and scratches. had it been used and lower in price i might have got it the rusted bridge was a big turn off. had it just been the scratches i would have bought it but might point is i can see why some people take guitars back but it should be a rare thing not something done daily.

[@davidp1192]

Moral of the story?? Buy only from Casino Guitar. 😎

[@CheshireTomcat68]

Caveat Emptor. You buy it, you own it unless the seller lied.

[@what1864]

unless something has changed 100% agree , never by something used on line from guitar center , it is a gamble and the odds are not in your favor , i've bought 20 used amps from them and had to return 15 of them for various reasons , like missing speakers to not even being the amp in the listing , not sure why i kept buying them that part was on me ...

[@RandellVandergriff]

I get all my stuff used from them. Expensive stuff too cheap I have had 1 small issue only. I love that place. A guy at TGP forum said that in a thread and they talk about it here. We told him either he abused it or it was not true. Just because he said it does not mean it happened. And they need to find their own topics and just not get ideas from our threads.

[@whimpypatrol5503]

used gear doesn't get much detailing because they don't want to make incorrect descriptions or claims

[@vampiricspirit]

being banned from GC is like being banned from the worst bar in town.... plenty of other bars.

[@MatthewBaron]

Counterpoint: Sometimes you just need a little spit and polish. I picked up 2017 American Elite Stratocaster for $1400. It didn't sound great in the store and the board was gray. But there wasn't a mark on the finish and the cellophane was still on the pickguard and the backplate. So I rolled the dice, took it home, threw it on my bench and gave it a proper setup. Judging by the amount of oil that the board soaked up, I don't think it had been conditioned since it left the factory. Plays great, sounds great, and was a pretty good bargain for a NOS guitar.

[@gtr1952]

I personally have never returned a guitar to GC, I have only bought 2 there. I have friends that have returned them though! They were clearly either floor models or used, and they paid for new! That has happened multiple times! So it's a two way street!! JMHO --gary

[@sqrly2u]

Today, Guitar Center shows one pic generally. And in the description, it will say "Case" on the good ones. GC is terrible to buy from via the internet.

[@keithbriscoe99]

When I retire, I would LOVE to work in a guitar store. I feel like I would be happy to sit and re-string and setup guitars, check them out so customers would like what they see and play. Might even do it at GC if they are still in business when I retire.

[@dexterplant778]

I suppose it could also depend on the store, the closest GC to me is not in good shape in regards to higher end equipment, knowledgeable staff and a general location issue, when it comes to spending a good amount of money on an instrument, $800 to infinite possibilities, you should be damn well sure that you're satisfied with the purchase, otherwise you may very well be just a schmuck.

[@sbbeowulf8296]

The Raleigh guitar is pretty amazing for a guitar center there are some good guitsr store in this area

[@texhaines9957]

If I spend an hour with a guitar in a store AND take it home, it's not coming back. Thanks Baxter and Jonathan

[@nicholasbstone]

Guitar Center is banned from me.

[@mattpavia8467]

Once brought a used od pedal from gc that squealed horribly when you plugged it in.I returned it and let them know it was bad.They took it back and immediately put it back out for sale without even trying it.

[@kenk7049]

I just returned an used Epi Explorer to GC today after buying it online. They shipped it with just bubble wrap and the head cracked at the nut. Nothing on the box about it being fragile or "this end up" . Shame too it would have been near mint and I got it for a good price.

[@52Tele]

“There is always so much a good dude could do.” Definitely going to get that on a tshirt.

[@Dian2Gig]

Orange amps rule!

[@mosessupposes2571]

The Kmart of music stores. I banned GC. They foisted off a “new” Line 6 amp on me and I didn’t find out it was used and already registered to someone until I took it out of the box at home. Ninety miles away. They argued and waffled about refunding my money so I drove back there and stood at their sales counter with the amp until they finally gave me a refund. The whole thing felt really shady.

[@Dragon_rls]

The Groob

[@wadeguidry6675]

I think Fender/Gibson send their guitars to be relic'd by the customers at the Guitar Center.

[@a-nus]

I've bought guitars from them and been shipped the wrong guitar, then charged return shipping for it, ordered keyboards and didn't get a power supply and was refused service guitar center is awful

[@wrobinson1702]

I have a story about a return to Guitar Center, in North Carolina, coincidentally. In about 2010, I flew in to play gigs in Chapel Hill and Raleigh, I played bass in the band, and was told that there was a great Stingray bass available for me to play, and that I didn't need to bring my own bass, so I didn't. (my mistake-live and learn) When I got there the Stingray didn't work right. The signal came out just intermittently, and we couldn't figure out how to fix it in the club, where we were rehearsing for the gig that evening. So, I went to the nearby GC (not sure which one-Durham, maybe?) and told them the situation. One of their staff people actually suggested buying a bass and returning it after the gig. So, I tried a few, and found the one I liked best. I played the gigs, and returned the bass afterward. The same staff person at GC was there, and he was very understanding, and made the return process as easy as possible. So, GC effectively "rented" me a bass guitar, although they officially had no rental policy.

[@vicenzor9699]

I would have kicked the man a $50 for the trouble

[@cdavidlake2]

Ah, GC Used of the famously grainy pictures. No excuse for that in 2023. Actually, no excuse in 2003...

[@MichaelMitchell9969]

Half the Time, strings are dead, missing strings, and loose pegs Floyds not adjusted. No QC, sad.

[@clarencevickrot3531]

GC will take in used cheapo guitars which the seller described as being a better-quality brand. They have no idea.

[@30smsuperstrat]

That dolphin realy hits the bell, and it rings all night.

[@derek5168]

I can tell by watching not just this video but all your videos that you're patience has been tested over the years

[@rpanchelli]

my local GC threatened to return ban me. I bought one guitar and the action was really high but it sounded and felt great. I bought it took it home and did a full setup on it and found the nut was cut wrong. took it back and they had the audacity to try and charge me for a new nut. it was a brand new guitar. traded it for a different guitar and it had problems with the electronics the tech kind of poked around like at it like a caveman. so I traded for another one and got it home and it had horrible fret sprout took that one back and the manager said I had one return left before I got banned. seriously? all I did was return faulty guitars. that's not my fault. I sat there and played just about every guitar on the wall before I found one that was good. also I did have the option to get my money back they said I had only store credit. I haven't been back since that was a year ago.

[@brianmckenzie1318]

Maybe I just show up at the wrong time during the week, never go on weekend, but the GC in Raleigh is strange. No one really acknowledges you or even says hi or hello. Maybe because I'm some old dude. Go across the street on Capital Blvd, and it's a totally different story. It has happened so many times, I've just stopped going there, so I banned myself. Maybe I just don't know how this new younger generation works, LOL!

[@JBmusicart]

I sell gear on all the apps, and I have to block buyers all the time because of bullshit that they bring to the table and their high expectations for not a lot of money.

[@rogermiller2742]

Not saying this isn’t a thing, I am sure it is. But important to note that it is NOT an organized effort via CRM. If GC had CRM, their UX would be 1MM times better.

[@Havanorange]

I don't like GC. Bought a used guitar from them online. It had some minor damages that didn't match the photos and description. It wasn't things that could happen in shipping. They must have switched or something and sent me a Fair with minor damages vs. a Very Good condition guitar. I kept it because it was still playable and sounded good enough for what it was, a used Korean made acoustic. Going into the local GC store is never fun either, because it's always understaffed and the service experience is like they just can't wait for their shift to end. If GC decides to ban me for some arbitrary reason they'd be doing me a favor. 😅

[@whimpypatrol5503]

I love GC and have found half of my guitar poor gear there.

[@whimpypatrol5503]

Dealers on Reverb -- nothing more needs to be said. But i will. Do they operate their own little informal network of buying and selling to each other to drive prices skyward to that of Lamborghini's and Ferrari's? Among them are, I suspect, the collectors, guitar enthusiasts, and scalpers who just kill the industry for players? They seem to troll the internet market for a deal and, instead of buying it to play, they seem to buy it to scalp hardworking, long saving players. It seems criminal to me. So much decent gear (if you could afford it) is so pricey you wouldn't dare gig with it. Instead of a used gear resource, Reverb (who's ultimately scalpers great helping hand) has become more of a dream machine than a market place for real musicians who actually want to use the gear.

[@minisurfbanana]

Only returned a prs se custom n fender jazzmaster troy sig at sweetwater

[@WalkenDead]

I have a Crate BV 120 head that weighs at least 60lbs, sounds good though

[@marcusbailey2632]

Wilcutt name drop! KY y'all.