Guitar Center strikes again

  • Thread starter Thread starter MadAsAHatter
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MadAsAHatter

MadAsAHatter

Well-known member
A day of excitement turned into immediate disappointment because of typical GC antics. Bought a Synergy Bman module from them online while they're on sale. What I received was either a broken ass customer return or floor model sold as new. Whichever the case it arrived not working; no sound at all, and didn't even have all the original packing or documents. I should have known better than to deal with these assholes. At least I got my money back.
 
Sweetwater is all I deal with unless I’m purposely looking for something used or fucked up and for a good price accordingly. I scored my fucked up 74 Marshall from guitar center pre covid and it needed a complete rebuild.
 
I've been looking at a used Splawn Quickrod halfstack in the Portland, ME store not too far from me and just emailed about it to ask some questions. I'm sure, since it's been there for a while, that some fucking dipshits have been trying it out on the sales floor and just firing it up w/o letting it warm up, probably turning it on w/o the cab hooked up, etc and it's probably a half destroyed amp by now.
 
GC ...... always a gamble .... sometimes worth it .... sometimes not

and just a heads up on Synergy modules ..... I've had two now that the main PCB was grounding out on the Case ..... a little bending and some tightening and they fired right up ...
 
I have had the exact same experience with Guitar Center over the years. Pay for new, get used. They need to be investigated for those business practices.
 
You have to use their ignorance and incompetence to your advantage. They regularly mis-label stuff on their used site. They list a head as a combo, an EBMM Axis as an EVH Wolf, etc. You can snag some killer deals that way and that's all they're good for. I saw them list a real EBMM EVH as an Axis for $1000 once. But I was too late.
 
Rick Lee said:
You have to use their ignorance and incompetence to your advantage. They regularly mis-label stuff on their used site. They list a head as a combo, an EBMM Axis as an EVH Wolf, etc. You can snag some killer deals that way and that's all they're good for. I saw them list a real EBMM EVH as an Axis for $1000 once. But I was too late.
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I’ve also seen it go the wrong way, listing a 2x12 cab as a combo for example 🤣
 
Yeah, you gotta know what you're looking for and you really have to know more than the guy who put the listing up. But at least you have a very generous return period.
 
Yeah, GC is a double edge sword. Sometimes you can score a killer deal and other times you get something that was listed as great condition all jacked up. Sucks when that happens but with their return policy, not that big of a deal. They still pretty much beat everyone's prices on used gear and with the return policy, I'll take a chance on purchasing stuff knowing if I don't like it for whatever reason, I'll get my money back with no hassle.
 
When I think of GC I imagine the next gen know it all, wanna be rock star slugs with no real life experience and no a fucks no consequence attitude.. What you get is a lazy half ass packed, finger fucked, smudged and molested piece of gear. LOL
Buyer Beware..

My SW Salesman is seasoned and all around great to deal with.
 
In my quest to find a Landry, GC has an LS100G3 that's been listed now for about a month that still doesn't have any pics. Been waiting for them to post some, but no go. Called the store the other day and before I could even get the request for pics of of my mouth, the guy tells me it's only him and one other person at the store and he would not send me any pics. Flat out refused. I said cool, and just hung up. If they aren't even willing to take the time to send a pic, I can only imagine how the pack job would look if I pulled the trigger on it. Return policy or not... I'll pass.
 
War_in_D said:
In my quest to find a Landry, GC has an LS100G3 that's been listed now for about a month that still doesn't have any pics. Been waiting for them to post some, but no go. Called the store the other day and before I could even get the request for pics of of my mouth, the guy tells me it's only him and one other person at the store and he would not send me any pics. Flat out refused. I said cool, and just hung up. If they aren't even willing to take the time to send a pic, I can only imagine how the pack job would look if I pulled the trigger on it. Return policy or not... I'll pass.
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I think while we're trying to game them on deals, they're trying to game corporate on crappy purchases, offloading dodgy equipment to online buyers who will end up returning to another store, knowing no one will ever follow up. The lack of pictures is a give away.
 
I think I estimated that when I buy something used online from GC, there's about a 35% chance it's going back. Usually some significant difference in condition, maybe even DOA. It's a risk I factor in, but they make returns easy enough.

On the other hand, I've gotten some pretty incredible deals too.
 
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I ordered a Katana 100 from GC because i wasn't sure if I would like it and I knew they'd mess up somehow and I'd be able to send it back free of charge.. i.e. no shipping or restock fees. Well, I could tell the amp had been unboxed.. probably a return or floor model but it was in great shape and boxed well in the original box with all the original packing. I'm really impressed with the amp and might end up keeping it anyway.
 
Rick Lee said:
Here's how a used GC DSL40C arrived on my doorstep.


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Man, that is well packed by GC standards. I'm at the point where I've stopped taking pictures but I've seen some shit. Like a guitar without a case in a big empty box with no padding on the sides at all and it shows up with big dings on both sides of the body etc


On the other hand I've gotten stuff that was super professionally packed, like my Marshall 6100 half stack came perfectly. Just depends on the specific store and who felt like caring that day. Either way, as long as they have a reasonable return policy and good deals on used stuff I'll keep buying there.
 
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