I love all your videos man, just watched a bunch and you have a great way of getting the info across, very nice, keep it up!

I am very aware of this. As a consumer I always try to buy some stuff in my local store... just to support. I dont know if it makes a difference but having a music store around the corner can be very handy.

Went there today to look around and their customer service sucks. Can’t buy something if no one is around to help me

I was working there when Bain capital took over. I left at that time because I felt that was the beginning of the end. Not surprised at all how things turned out.

In Canada we have a company Long and Mcquade and it is some what the same but with a twist. When I first started 20 years ago we had 6 fairly big local guitar stores. Over the last 20 years one by one they were bought out. I think the saving grace was L and M Kept the space used by those local stores and every store does feel different and not too much like a Best Buy. When I was in High School we would go to a near by guitar store and as long as we were respectful to others the guys there would let us jam in the amp room. It took a year but I saved enough to buy my first guitar and in the coming years spent thousands in that store. That to me was how to build a lifelong customer. That store was bought by L and M and it just was never the same. It did force me however to do setups and maintenance on my own guitars as every time I got L and M to do one it was always half assed. The final straw was spray cleaner all over the pickups on my SG. SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC STORES!!!

Hey I used to bring my guitars in to get maintenance done! Even had some new amp inputs installed. Always top notch service and the prices were low enough for me to afford. Thanks guys!

@deadshot4245

Жыл бұрын

yeah but yet theres probably a local dude that would have done more detailed work for the same if not a bit more or less and gotten possibly even better results too in my little area alone theres about five local dude that are legit experts on amps and guitars and are all super chill dudes that just wanna help id rather them have the money than some shill corporation that treats the in store guys like shit for not selling credit cards to everyone that walk in within five minutes

Very interesting topic. The original business model of GC involved 4 premises: 1) Yes, people generally like to hold and play an instrument before they buy it; 2) a place where a customer can go and play dozens of guitars more or less unmolested at one sitting would be fun and very attractive; 3) 1 + 2 together would expand the guitar market, which has had a low ceiling in comparison to most other "big box" retailers; 4) the "big box" nature of GC would allow them to undercut the prices most mom and pop shops could offer. That worked to some extent for a while, but it turned out the guitar market did NOT expand to anywhere near what the company projected. Creating music with a guitar is just not as popular among young people as it once was. Digital technology has enabled people to create music without putting in 1000s of hours learning to play an instrument. Many mom and pops did go under, but those who survived created new business models. They emphasized customer support, higher end used gear, and more "boutique" brands in contrast to Fender/Gibson. Finally, no one anticipated the degree of impact the online retailers (Sweetwater, Musician's Friend) would have on the business. They ate into GC's market for very standard types of equipment. If, for example, you wanted a standard MIM Strat, Tele- or an Epiphone Les Paul, you could order it online and be reasonably sure you were getting basically the same thing you'd get at GC. However, customers are somewhat LESS likely to but used boutique gear or higher end stuff this way. They still wanted to buy from someone they thought they could trust, like the local mom and pop. The result was that GC was in trouble. Then add the fact that COVID took away the ability to just go into a GC and play, and vastly increased the online purchase of guitars, they are very much under the gun.

@vancomycinb

3 жыл бұрын

Then you have sites like reverb, which allow *anyone* to set up a music store online and sell gear, and oof. Guitar center can't keep up.

@charlesbolton8471

3 жыл бұрын

vancomycinb Everything in the original comment is definitely true. However, I think you just added the true reason the industry has changed so much in the last 5 years. I’ll also add something else. I think that the big manufacturers (Fender and Gibson) selling direct to the consumer has been another big change. In my opinion it is a negative one.

@stevenmqcueen7576

3 жыл бұрын

"... no one anticipated the degree of impact the online retailers (Sweetwater, Musician's Friend) would have on the business. They ate into GC's market ..." Guitar Center owns Musician's Friend.

@UnchainedEruption

2 жыл бұрын

I went to GC during Covid and tried out an instrument. I don't know if that's still as much of an issue now as it was in 2020 with retail doors being shut in the early pandemic.

@UnchainedEruption

2 жыл бұрын

@@stevenmqcueen7576 Of course they do. Everybody is owned by the same handful of mega-corps at the top. Illusion of diversity is the name of the game today.

I was excited to buy a used amp on their website at a killer price. Put it in the carts and ordered it. A day later it's showing as "cancelled" I think one of the shady ass employees after seeing the low price yoinked it out from under me. I should know how shady those people are I used to work for them and some of my coworkers were absolute degenerates.

@ChazSeamus28

2 жыл бұрын

That's why any used gear there at a decent price is gone immediately on the date they can sell it by. The employees are broke and try to make a buck.

😮 thanks sir. My next purchase will be at ye ole music,Hanahan SC ✌️

Thanks for keeping a Mom & Pop music shop going! I love handling guitars and browsing the used rack. Have you looked into selling strings and accessories via an in-store vending machine?

Purchased a couple "previous owner" guitars from GC in Bethlehem, Pa. Never bought new. One day between 10 and 11 am I went in wanting a specific amp. Had the cash ready. 1 other customer in the store. couldn't

This vid was pre-COVID, now that they haven’t bounced back since reopening you might want to do a follow up vid. Not looking good for them at all.

@GarysGuitarsUSA

3 жыл бұрын

What's happening with them is unclear. Honestly, I will take an inept "zombie" Guitar Center as a competitor any day. If they have better service, it would be harder to compete, long live (but just barely) Guitar Center!

@RogerThat902

3 жыл бұрын

And new news just came out this week!

Mannn, you saw the writin on the wall!!! Great call, time for a follow-up!

@GarysGuitarsUSA

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Follow-up coming soon.

@GarysGuitarsUSA

3 жыл бұрын

@@Spuzzmacher thanks.

Good breakdown, and valid. Its a write off. A way to show loss against any taxable income. And i do not use amazon. Will not!

I go to guitar center to try before I buy. I then go to my local mom and pop place to order. I try to order my strings 5 at a time (local mom and pop shop policy since they don't carry wound 3rd sets) In a pinch I will order strings or picks from Sweetwater if I can't wait for them to come in from the mom and pop shop. I would never let GC do a repair.

Watching four years later. They are still holding on, but their inventory is horrible.

@GarysGuitarsUSA

3 ай бұрын

The Pandemic boom got them through, but now they're in trouble again I fear.

Oh my! Heavily concerning 😮!

hope your business is doing well with all the complexities going on.

The rise of the bean counters marks the beginning of the end of all great institutions... Guitarget is no exception.

Hi ya Gary, sorry to felt the need to have a public rant about a competitor at the same time it must be frustrating to see genuine competitors being wiped out by "carpet beggars" who move in just to milk off the assets without a thought to what they're doing to your industry. Young musicians need to know, have and appreciated the expert knowledge and shared enthusiasim a good guy like yourself will share in any transaction or engagement when they walk into your shop be it to buy a nice shiny guitar or just a set of strings, it's all good stuff which I for one hope will last for a long time and I feel that of you just watching your videos from here in England.

id rather give my money to a mom pop place...but a $20 difference in $90 pedal is SIGNIFICANT...ive found lots of great guitars at my local mom pop shop AND at GC...

basically i am poor as fuck and had no choice to buy the cheaper option but I get it, if I could I would suppport the local but I just cant afford it.

guitar centers have been going down hill for years and the companies pay structure and ethics on the store employees vs corporate are massively a part of the issue too i pretty much stopped ever going to them years ago now i shop through either reverb on smaller local shops or sweetwater usually because their processes are in favor of quality

I’m done with them, I’ll go to the small local shops first.

🍿…. I’m here for the comments

That is a very interesting take on GC. Money laundering....

These small guitar shops are no bueno. They all over charge and profile people up and down when you walk in so no mercy here I'm all about guitar center !

I bought my last Strat from Amazon. Fender will survive.

I have Amazon Prime. So do you.

Guitar Center in Greenwood/Indy SUCKS. They used to have cool guitars and amps. Not anymore. Fortunately, Guitar Works in Greenwood is a large privateer and Arthur's in Indy is still in business. That's where J. Bonamassa's famous 59 Korina V came from. I much prefer privateer Mom and Pop shops.

🙈

That's why they had to declare bankruptcy, they couldn't do it either. Of course the guitar isn't what it used to be, drums, etc.

I have bought things at guitar center. I have found them to be very pushy. Always trying to upsell you. And at times patently dishonest. Hate dealing with them!!!

Honestly even before I played guitar I had been there numerous times with my musician buddies and I never liked the vibe. Same could be said with Sam ash. I definitely always prefer the small independent stores.

@UnchainedEruption

2 жыл бұрын

Why do you say that? (Not defending them, just curious). I do get something of a "standard big business retail" vibe from there, but the people there were friendly to me and other customers.

@fredymendez855

2 жыл бұрын

@@UnchainedEruption it could be the amount of guitars on display lol it could be intimidating. Also these big brand stores always have the current models and a few used gold gems. Also i have bought one Gretch hollow body from guitar center and it was missing a guitar strap knob then in Sam Ash i purchased a Fender Tele with a a bad neck that had to be adjusted as my high E sting kept slipping off the neck. Now i strickly buy from Sweetwater where i have no issues. ALso call me crazy but i prefer getting a guitar that hasnt been played by multiple ppl and comes with the box etc...sam ash also lied my fender didt come with a gig bag and the dude tried to sell it to me smh i wasnt that mad because i already have gig bags but the nerve !!!! Sweetwater and Guitar center say they include the gig bag.

@johnmarolakos9920

Жыл бұрын

Well, Guitar Center is a soulless corporate crap hole, Sam Ash is a family run business. Two very different animals.

How can guitar center be in debt ? Prove that . That company in super huge amd profitable. I do.t see that happening .

Guitar center will never be competition for decent mom and pop stores........crappy service....heavy handed wise ass employees who know way more than you and can play better than anyone in the room! I purchased a resonator guitar from one of their used gear stores....when I showed up the guy took about 45 minutes to get it in the back....asked me to not open the shipping box while in the store..checked my paperwork and walked away!!! Nice expensive guitar ..used with the case that I played and busked with for a few years. Never had a good experience in the 3 to re I went in there!!!

Here's one thing that beginner, or even intermediate guitar players don't see.... OK, so I go to GC because I can get guitar ''X''for $50 cheaper. Then I take it back the next week because the setup is so bad that it hurts my hands to play it, and I pay $55 plus strings for GC to set it up. Almost everytime I bought a guitar from a smaller shop, the guitar was ALREADY SET UP on the showroom for, and very easy to play. So by going to GC, the guitar buyer usually spends more up front, than at a smaller store. Just sayin'

It's worse than Walmart. GC is soul-less.

I hate Guitar Center for other reasons,. Apart from the arrogant clerks they don't carry or, have very few if at all left handed guitars. I haven't been to a store in many, many months. The time I've been there to buy strings I hold my nose buy strings and leave as fast I can. I'm in New York there no guitar stores that cater to lefties the stores that carry lefty guitars are out of state with one in upstate Adirondack N.Y out of reach for me. I won't miss G.C if they file for bankruptcy.

5 minutes is not exactly a brief rant

Guitar center sells crap. Nothing but junk 2nd's trash. The only time I go to GC is to look in the dumpsters. Then I make money. I rather pay more to someone that knows what they are talking about. Then some kid that was shitting his paints when I started working on my own guitars.

Guitar Center is worse than pawn shop when you try to trade your 1 year old Gibson Les Paul Standard in. One of my students tried just that. He paid $3200 for this guitar. It was in pristine condition. I would even say mint condition. Guitar Center offered him $950 cash or $1200 in store credit. He called me and asked me about it and I told him to walk out with your Gibson and never look back. I got sold for him for $2700. Guitar Center are in massive debt for a reason. Bad business practices. Judge them by they're fruits.

This guy is a great example of why GC has such problems. Who needs to hear all the baloney that goes into pricing a sale item. Who needs to all the behind the scenes baloney about GC finance history. Totally unnecessary posting.