I like Guitar Center, but the last time I tried to buy new from them, the display model they were going to give me had a caved-in output jack, AND the pickup selector just wandered around without doing anything. Granted, it was just an Epi LP, but I was going to pay $700 for it. At that price point, I wanted a "new" guitar.
The biggest problem I have is GC's website, which makes it tough to search inventory. It takes three steps to add an item to your favorites list, and the pictures are usually horrible. Compare that to Music Go Round, whose web presence is so much better. I live in Metro Atlanta, so I have six GCs in the area, the Music Go Round, and a pretty good selection of independent shops. Every other place has better customer service than Guitar Center. GC's is not bad; I find it generally indifferent most of the time.