We all know it… Guitar Center Sucks… GC is like the Wallmart of the music world… Corporate Amreika BS and all but this particular bit of BS really bent me out of shape.
Guitar (Totally Sucks) Center
So here is my story: I was in the market for a 12 string acoustic… Basically so I could make dying cat sounds with a little harmony added in. After scouring FleaBay and Craigslist I tripped into GuitarCenter.com and started perusing their used equipment deals and I’ll be damned if I didn’t find what I was looking for… Not once but twice.
Ordering online from GC is a pain in the A$$
USED FENDER CD100-12GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICE Now: $179.99
and I said alright!
So 20 or 30 minutes later after filling out the asinine online forms and poking in my credit card number… TaDa! it was on it’s way to me… Or so I thought.
Then the next day I got this Email:
Dear Village Idiot,
Per your request, your order has been cancelled. Please call us at 866-498-7882 if you have any questions or want to place a new order.
Sincerely,
Guitar Center Customer Service
So I replied: “Huh Wut?” And got this:
Dear Guitar Center Customer,
Your recent email to us arrived at an unstaffed, automated email address. We’re sending you this response because your questions and comments are important to us, and we want to address your concerns.
For personal service, call our toll-free customer service number 866-498-7882
If you prefer online support, visit Guitar Center customer service online at
http://www.guitarcenter.com/GC—Contact-Us-Landing-g10075t0.gc
We’ll get back to you promptly with answers to your questions.
You’ll also find answers to commonly asked questions at:
http://guitarcenter.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/guitarcenter.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.phpThank you for giving Guitar Center this opportunity to meet your musical gear needs.
Okay… I checked the FAQs page… Alright I missed on that one, lets try again…
So I found this Ovation pulled the trigger… Email the next day ORDER CANCELLED… DICKHEADS!!!!!!!
Finally after calling Guitar Center’s Customer Service Line on the verge of a rant it was explained to me that my guitar was sold before the order went through… Okay fine I can dig that… It was also explained that I could call the store of origin to check on the availability before my next attempt… Okay Fine I can dig that.
I searched some more…
Woot Woot!!! USED FENDER DG-16 12 STRING NATURAL TOP GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICE Now: $149.99
Instead of jumping the gun I carefully copied down the item number and called customer service and received the number of the store where my guitar was located. I got the guitar department after listening to some distorted shredder music on hold for a good 5 min… Talked to two guys before I found one to go grab the guitar I was after and look at it for me. Very cool the guy said… Good action, no buckle rash and he played a few licks on it… Heck even over the phone I could hear it was in tune so I told him…
I’m pulling the trigger on it now hold it there for me. “Sure thing dude”
So Again… 20 or 30 minutes later after filling out the asinine online forms and poking in my credit card number… TaDa! it was on it’s way to me… Or so I thought… I’m an idiot.
Email the next day Again:
Dear Village Idiot,
Per your request, Order # ********* has been cancelled. Please call us at 866-498-7882 if you have any questions or want to place a new order.
Sincerely,
Guitar Center Customer Service
Followed by:
I am very sorry to inform you that the Fender 12 string you ordered was sold yesterday. There is a very small window where someone can order a guitar from the online facility that has already been sold in the store, unfortunately this is what occurred.
Again, we are sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your patronage.
I will be canceling this order after sending this mail.
Good luck on your search for a new guitar. Feel free to let me know if there is anything I can do to help.Cheers,
Brandon Tuber
Store Manager
Guitar Center Austin
(512) 419-1717
Son – of – a – bitch
Epilogue:
I hear so much bad stuff about GC day in and day out you’d think I wouldn’t even get mixed up with them… But here I am and I’m ranting (well that’s nothing new)… A sub $200 12 string was a very attractive item but after spending the better part of six days getting bounced around I am now willing to pay for some service… I don’t mean sickly sweet apologies and yet another coupon stuffed in my inbox… I mean someone that gives a damn about the person on the other end of the transaction for more than just their $$.
Massive Corporate Big Box Amerika… You can stuff it up yer a$$.