Guitar Center has become a complete joke ...

jeebustrain · Post by **jeebustrain** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 9:04 pm

I agree that the failure to ship lies primarily with korg, but this is pretty much the main reason why I went with Sweetwater when I ordered mine. I knew I would get it...

Plus, it didn't hurt that their price was a hell of a lot lower than what GC keyboard dept manager offered me for a K88 and that didn't even include the no sales tax and free shipping.

tomd · Post by **tomd** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 9:17 pm

I have a love/hate relationship with gc. My local gc (there are three in Atlanta) was originally a mom & pop store that I've done business with since 1982 when I moved here. Guitar Center bought it out about 10 year ago or so. The staff is always a revolving door and I usually do know more than them. However there are some really good staff and they are usually the department managers. I got a 61 key Kronos which I had to take back. The day I returned it I found out they had an 88 key in stock and got that. It's a great keyboard. My big problem with gc is the same as with Sweetwater, where I also shop, which is that their online info is not always accurate. They'll say they have something in stock when they don't or will say they had it in stock but it sold out quicker than anticipated etc etc. Bottom line is there's not much choice anymore. All the on line sights basically have the same pricing and for me it comes down to who has it ready to ship or pick up.

PinkFloydDudi · Post by **PinkFloydDudi** » Tue Aug 16, 2011 4:21 pm

As a note to anyone that does deal with sweetwater or GC...they are a huge company that likes to make their customer happy.

My conversation would go something as follows:

"You lied to me about a promised ship date. I don't care whose fault it is. The end result should be that you throw in a free case (or a big discount) for my troubles".

(Or maybe a bench seat, or free pedal, or something...)...expecting a case might be a bit much. But it never hurts to ask!

mm-pro · Post by **mm-pro** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:18 am

My 73 is shipping today from GC...they got two.

Regards,

MM

dregsor · Post by **dregsor** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:32 am

Hi MM,

Congrats buddy! I really mean it. I was told yesterday that they were getting 2 out of the ten units they orderd and I was number 4 on the list so out of luck. I move up to #2 now I guess. IF they get more in September then who knows.

Enjoy your new Kronos and let me know about that keybed. You lucky dog!

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:23 am

dregsor wrote:Hi MM,

Congrats buddy! I really mean it. I was told yesterday that they were getting 2 out of the ten units they orderd and I was number 4 on the list so out of luck. I move up to #2 now I guess. IF they get more in September then who knows.

Enjoy your new Kronos and let me know about that keybed. You lucky dog!

Soooo, are you a Gc customer ? Yes or no ?

dregsor · Post by **dregsor** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:40 am

After checking around it doesn't make much sense to pre order from somewhere else. It seems there is little I can do about this situation except just keep waiting. Now that MM's 73 is on the way I'll most likely get one next month. I can't control how people run their business.

To answer your question more directly, I won't do business with dishonest company's. That's something I can control. This is just a sad exception.

scales · Post by **scales** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 4:22 am

GC is good for one thing: 18 months same as cash. Other than that their prices can easily be beaten by a lot. There's a little music store in Port St. Joe, FL (St.Joe Music.com) that smokes them by hundreds.

Mystic38 · Post by **Mystic38** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:40 am

What you say may sound solid and logical.. But that is not how things work.. It is fully automated based on supplier provided dates.

PinkFloydDudi wrote:
RKfan wrote:Failure to ship to retailers is KORG's FAULT

Feeling sorry for those little shops out there Guitar Centre, Thomann, Digital Village etc. getting the stick for refusing to give you your pre-ordered Kroni - Which KORG haven't delivered yet!!

Still waiting - still hoping to be blown away - but this is getting beyond a joke..

A retailer with a bit of intelligence would know better than to give a "promised shipping date". The Kronos ship date has been moved like 6 times...what would make them think this one is definitely going to be the one that happens.

mm-pro · Post by **mm-pro** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:56 am

This is why I ordered from them...free financing if you are diligent about payments (I am).

My local GC guy also is willing to work decent deals for me, so I give him my business along with the local mom & pop shops.

Regards,

MM

scales wrote:GC is good for one thing: 18 months same as cash. Other than that their prices can easily be beaten by a lot. There's a little music store in Port St. Joe, FL (St.Joe Music.com) that smokes them by hundreds.

scales · Post by **scales** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 5:36 pm

You've got a good thing going if your GC salesperson will haggle on price. In the past I could get great deals there but as of late it doesn't seem to be the case unless it's on clearance. They have some great prices on M3's right now.

BrickPilot · Post by **BrickPilot** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 6:05 pm

I was on a waiting list from Kraft Music and was likely going to have to wait until mid-to-late September for my K88. My wife said, "Surely there must be one for sale somewhere in the country." I said, "You might be right, but don't call me Shirley." Ha.

Anyway, so I looked on Korg's site and found their vendor list and started calling. Within about 3 calls, I had located one (only one) at Sam Ash music, and they even matched Kraft's "Stage Essentials" bundle, FWIW. I had my K88 less than a week later and cancelled my pre-order with Kraft.

YMMV, but rather than just waiting on one vendor, start calling around. Who knows what you'll find. I was pretty convinced I'd have to wait until I started digging.

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 6:26 pm

BrickPilot wrote:I was on a waiting list from Kraft Music and was likely going to have to wait until mid-to-late September for my K88. My wife said, "Surely there must be one for sale somewhere in the country." I said, "You might be right, but don't call me Shirley." Ha.

Anyway, so I looked on Korg's site and found their vendor list and started calling. Within about 3 calls, I had located one (only one) at Sam Ash music, and they even matched Kraft's "Stage Essentials" bundle, FWIW. I had my K88 less than a week later and cancelled my pre-order with Kraft.

YMMV, but rather than just waiting on one vendor, start calling around. Who knows what you'll find. I was pretty convinced I'd have to wait until I started digging.

there is 1 left in the whole chain if someone wants to pay $3799.

Unfortunately, the distribution on the 88 been a mess, to be gentle. I don't have to call to much to figure out much more.

lesfarrington · Post by **lesfarrington** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:04 pm

I hear you on the KNOWLEDGE (or lack thereof) but dont write them off too quick. if you need anything call the GC Pro guy "jeff mcDaniels"> he is located at the Dallas Store on 635LBJ freeway.
call them and they will get you his phone number.
he is Nationwide GC Pro rep and he knows ALL ABOUT EVERYTHING AND CAN MAKE s**t HAPPEN.
i got my Kronos EARLY and it got there 2 weeks before they told me it would.
it is true that the guys working at guitar center keyboard department are usually just dipshits who work there to get good prices and flexible GIG hours. i walk in and educate them on every visit!
hell, how hard could it be to READ KEYBOARD OR SOUND ON SOUND OR FUTURE MUSIC!!!! it aint hard!
and I LOVE MY KRONOS

JPWC · Post by **JPWC** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 3:24 am

GC needs to get a clue. To me, it all comes down to customer service, which they lack.

Sweetwater calls me every few months, and asks how it's going. He'll match any deal and will generally offer a good deal when asked. My salesman holds an intelligent conversation showing interest in both my current equipment list but also in my production/musical needs.

Guitar Center continuously sends me coupons for 15% off. (which others will match) and that's about it.

A few weeks ago I went to GC, asked about the Korg monotribe, the salesman asked me what that was. I asked about the Kronos, the salesman stated that it was a really powerful keyboard, but he had not seen one yet, I then informed him that I'd had my Kronos 61 for 5 weeks already, he then informed me he hadn't really done any research into it yet and was waiting for one to arrive in the store.

Maybe I'm old school, or just plain old, but this is poor customer service. And all the sweepstakes in the world won't make up for that. I've already whined about the poorly maintained items.

Of course I know many of my statements are most likely locally base. A few years ago I visited a Store in Washington (Seattle area) everything looked great, shiny and new, the salesperson answer many questions and when he did not know, he said as much, and continued to offer to find out.

I hope some GC corporate person is following this thread and takes note, they, corporate, should set the standards and communicate issues to the local store, like lack of product. Corporate should require qualified salespersons and offer training. This would help develop customer confidence, which leads to better sales with satisfied customers.

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