Dude - did Ibanez custom make that 4 u????

[pri0531]

I just thought that Ibanez may like to know the above referenced subject title is what was stated to me as I walked into Guitar Center in Houston, TX (on Westheimer). I brought my guitar (Ibanez RGT3120) there to try out the Korg PXR4 and as you know when you walk into a GC you must check your packages in and give them the serial number of the guitar. As I opened the case about 5 or 6 salesmen walked over and 2 of them asked me if Ibanez "custom made that guitar for me". As flattering as that was I had to say no and that it is a regular production model. If those guys worked in the drum section or keyboard section I would not be writing this. As I found out the two guys that stated that comment work in guitars.

I thought that you might like to know this so your Ibanez rep for the Houston area could go into the GC and give them a quick tutorial.

Best Regards,
Gregory

[systemhead_cina]

Hah, that's the Guitar Center I go to...It's a small world, no? This one dude is always trying to sell me stuff when I go to try out gear. Everybody else leaves me alone except him. He's like, "You need any help with anything? If you decide on buying something, I'm right here."

I just proceed to plug the guitar in and play.

[Sevenstringer]

That just goes to show you......You don't need to know anything about gear to work in a music store. haha

[screamndemon69]

most salesman don't know DIDDLY!!
example: i walk into the music store here (Lipham Music) and the salesman asks ME questions about the Ibanez guitars They carry! i have learned more in a DAY from this website on Ibanez guitars than they have in the 10 or more years they have carried this line!

[Ferrous Lepidoptera]

Heh, I bought a 3120 from that very GC about 4 years ago.

[zEr0]

What does it take to work in places like that? I've been wanting to have a part-time job in a music store for a long time but it seems impossible even if you tell them that you are a professional guitar-player and you know your stuff or whatever.

Anyway my point is, these guys working in music stores, they don't know crap and even though I'm no expert luthier or anything, I could be giving them lessons on gear and equipment for ever. It's just so annoying to see them making money only by standing next to all that beauty.....

[darren wilson]

Originally Posted by zEr0

What does it take to work in places like that? I've been wanting to have a part-time job in a music store for a long time but it seems impossible even if you tell them that you are a professional guitar-player and you know your stuff or whatever.

They don't give a damn if you know which end of the guitar is up. There's only one thing you need to know to work in retail:

How to sell.

[sanitarium]

Lol yeah, I know this is a bit off topic but I thought i'd share it with you all as it's along the lines of not having to know anything to be in retail. My new job is in a computer game shop and although I know my stuff it's amazing how little the people higher up know, we have the area manager come round once a week and give us all a bollocking and he knows nothing.
We trade in and sell Pre-owned (second hand) games and as the company make twice the profit on these they want us to push the sales of preowned. Now most customers that trade games in trade them in coz there crap, which means we have to sell crap and customers think we've stupid trying to sell them Fifa1999 or something. The area manager of course doesn't see that as he knows nothing about games at all! Seriously my grandma knows more than he does.
I know that was all way off topic but my point is to back up what Darren said, all a shop will want you to do is sell a product.

I go into my biggest local guitar shop and the most expensive guitar is a Fender strat at £650. That is the most expensive guitar I have ever seen there so the chances are they don't stock high end guitars so don't know about them. The reason they probably don't stock high end models is because there aiming there customer market at little kids with not much money. Acctually come to think of they did have a 555 once, I remember all these little kids looking at it saying what a bargin it was at £950 as it's normally £2000. Oh how sad it is when people don't know the differance between a 555 and 7vwh.
I can't wait to get my guitar back from Herc Fede and go down there and "test" out the amps. I'm not that much of a show off but I would like to show them what a decent guitar looks like, lol.

[screamndemon69]

i guess i should add that i work at a local music store and have for a couple years now. i have LOTS of retail experience (managed record stores, toy stores and worked at many retail stores for more than 15yrs) and i have been playing guitar professionally for over 10 years.
i know i am rare to actually know about what i sell and if i don't know what i have on the floor, i research it and also learn about things from one of my best assets - the customer.
it probably helps to have LOTS of GAS and enjoy being a gear head!
when a kid comes in to the store looking for work, chances are they have NO retail experience and probably 99 out of 100 play guitar. we sell ALL types of instruments and i had to really brush up on saxophones, trumpets, clarinets and ALL band instruments to really be effective in my store as MOST of our business is from those types of instrument sales.

[mattsmusic]

If I had a nickle for every time someone came into one of my stores and had a wierd experience at a GC, I'd be rich!

The thing that baffles me is as much as people don't particularly enjoy shopping at a GC, they continue to do it. Independant guys like us rely on your business so we can stay in business. Next time you need something, look me up (or any independant dealer for that matter!). Most of us small guys are very up to date on all things gear and if we don't know the answer for you, we'll find it, quickly. And 9 times out of 10 our prices are better than what you see at your local GC to boot!

Ok, I'm done with the shameless promotion. Off to Ozzfest I go!

Matt

[sanitarium]

You got a veyr good point. I have two local shops, one if a big multi chain store and they stock crap guitars and know nothing. The other shop is about 1/3 of the size and is an independant store, but it stocks decent high end guitars (including vintage Gibsons with price tags of £3000+) and the guys really know their stuff. I'd rather go to a smaller shop with not as much stock and speak to people who know what they're talking about than a big "faceless" store that just wants to squeeze as much money out of you as possible.

[Ferrous Lepidoptera]

None of the local guitar shops around here that I know of seem to carry any high end Ibanez in stock, not even RGx5xx's only RGx3xx's or below. They do carry some high end stuff grom Gibson and Fender, PRS though.

[slowcmfrtablscrw]

Anymore, I dread walking into any of the three or four Guitar Centers within an hour of where I live. The reason I keep going back though is simply because of the prices. I've seen all of the online ads for "Lowest Prices In The USA" , but I haven't found one that can beat GC's prices. Now, I have to admit that I've dropped about $10,000. at GC in the past year. And, I go to the same salesperson "to get hooked up"...... And yes, I would feel as if I were in the twilight zone if anyone there ever came up to me with actual helpful knowledge or advice. And that's why I always take my gear to a smaller independant shop for modifying or any repairs. Now, if there's an independant store out there that I've missed, who can really beat the prices I'm getting already.... let me know for sure.

Jeremy

[bammbamm]

THe thing I find that drags me back to GC is the low prices on cheap stuff. You can't get much of a deal on a high end guitar there. They can sell you $199.00 Squires all day long, but you can't get that great a deal on a Jem or Fly or Gibson (in fact I'll bet the ream you on a Gibbo) So in some instances, I'll either buy used from a private party or go local mom n' pop. Although there are a few that leave me with a bad taste in my mouth too, feeling like you've been fleeced by a used car dealer. Not my idea of a good time.

But anyway, I buy my case of strings once every few mos and I'm good on the GC experience for a while. It usually takes no less than 30 to 45 minutes just to get things paid for. No mind you this also includes the time I spend meandering around waiting for someone to even show up at the counter to help me, so I'll check out the used racks or consignment area to see if there is a diamond in the rough (not to often) but finding someone to just ring you up is near impossible.

Gets old.

I miss the days when that place was like magic to me.


Bamm