GC shenanigans.. Just a heads up

[War_in_D]

Hey all, not sure if this is in the right place but wanted to give a heads up to members here if you're in the market for a Mesa Boogie Roadster Combo.. This one at the GC in Sprinfield, MO is most certainly NOT in "excellent" condition as stated on their used website. I bought this 2x12 combo from the Boston GC about a week ago, and thanks to the bone-headed packing skills of the GC in Boston, this thing showed up to me missing some pieces and with some serious damage. The footswtich and amp covers were nowhere to be seen (I'm assuming they came out of the giant tear that had been retaped in the box), one of the casters was crushed and the cabinet is cracked on the top (opposite the crushed caster). I returned it to the GC in Springfield on Sunday, and it showed up in the used section almost immediately. So, buyer beware..

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Mesa-Boogie/Dual-Rectifier-Roadster-Tube-Guitar-Combo-Amp.gc

 

[War_in_D]

Some pics of the carnage..

 

[maddnotez]

"Excellent"

 

[dpeterson]

Looks like an easy fix, glad the 5 dollar castor took the hit, not the corner or something more expensive.

 

[War_in_D]

Looks like an easy fix, glad the 5 dollar castor took the hit, not the corner or something more expensive.

Yeah, caster was an easy fix.. but the cabinet is cracked also. You can see it under the tolex on the opposite side from where the caster was crushed. Not to mention, they say it comes with covers and footswitch and both of those were lost when it shipped to me. Springfield CG just basically regurgitated the description the Boston GC had... Even the price. I guess if a person is cool with the crushed caster, cracked cab, no foot switch, no covers and needing to replace the cord (ground prong is broken) for $1699 then more power to them! I had actually bought a foot switch cord right after I bought the amp from the Boston GC, because the description said it didn't have one. I priced out what it would cost to replace all the cosmetic stuff and a new footswitch (came to about $300 from Mesa).. but that cracked cab had me worried so I returned it. So, I've got a perfectly good foot switch cord for a Mesa Boogie Roadster... but no amp now. lol

 

[maddnotez]

Yeah, caster was an easy fix.. but the cabinet is cracked also. You can see it under the tolex on the opposite side from where the caster was crushed. Not to mention, they say it comes with covers and footswitch and both of those were lost when it shipped to me. Springfield CG just basically regurgitated the description the Boston GC had... Even the price. I guess if a person is cool with the crushed caster, cracked cab, no foot switch, no covers and needing to replace the cord (ground prong is broken) for $1699 then more power to them! I had actually bought a foot switch cord right after I bought the amp from the Boston GC, because the description said it didn't have one. I priced out what it would cost to replace all the cosmetic stuff and a new footswitch (came to about $300 from Mesa).. but that cracked cab had me worried so I returned it. So, I've got a perfectly good foot switch cord for a Mesa Boogie Roadster... but no amp now. lol

I think they need to make up for the thousands of dollars their employees gave away years ago lol.

My friend used to be a manager at the Springfield GC a long time ago and man...back then we could get anything we wanted 5% over cost. We cleaned house. Good times.

 

[cardinal]

Ouch.

I suspect it's a GC computer thing and not really for sale like that.

I ordered a 4x12 a while back and it shipped freight. The company didn't even deliver, saying sorry, it's been destroyed. So we diverted it to some GC warehouse and I was refunded. But the cab showed up back on the website at the same store location. I'm sure that there was nothing there to buy. It probably was processed as a return and automatically populated back to the website.

I doubt it's anything nefarious.

I have been disappointed in GC packing jobs lately. They seem to just get the biggest box they can find and indiscriminately fill it with bubble paper, which doesn't do anything if the heavy amp settles to the bottom or side of the box and the box then gets slammed into something. Had a few things arrive broken.

 

[thiswaythatway]

There's less to beware from Guitar Center than a lot of the goons on Ebay or Reverb. You don't like what you bought from GC...return it. Easy as that.

 

[War_in_D]

Ouch.

I suspect it's a GC computer thing and not really for sale like that.

I ordered a 4x12 a while back and it shipped freight. The company didn't even deliver, saying sorry, it's been destroyed. So we diverted it to some GC warehouse and I was refunded. But the cab showed up back on the website at the same store location. I'm sure that there was nothing there to buy. It probably was processed as a return and automatically populated back to the website.

I doubt it's anything nefarious.

I have been disappointed in GC packing jobs lately. They seem to just get the biggest box they can find and indiscriminately fill it with bubble paper, which doesn't do anything if the heavy amp settles to the bottom or side of the box and the box then gets slammed into something. Had a few things arrive broken.

You could be right.. when you click on the link now, you get that "who turned down the music" landing page. So, it's either been removed from the website, or some other poor schmuck bought it and is about to be very dissappointed. lol

They packed this amp in one of their 4x12 shipping boxes. The amp itself was wrapped in two layers of bubble wrap, then they put that brown shipping paper around it. That paper offered zero support, and the amp was basically 100 lbs. of dead weight wrapped in two layers of bubble wrap just banging around inside a box that was 3 times too big for it the whole trip. I honestly thing that most of the damage you see on the box was caused by the amp, and not so much the handling.

 

[War_in_D]

There's less to beware from Guitar Center than a lot of the goons on Ebay or Reverb. You don't like what you bought from GC...return it. Easy as that.

This is true. However, it's a 140 mile round trip for me to the nearest GC. That's why I like the idea of getting it delivered to my house. Honestly, this is the first time I've had a problem with GC shipping/damage. I've bought several heads and some 4x12's from them within the last year and all of them went off without a hitch. What shocked me the most was seeing the same amp that I know I just returned damage, back for sale. But, maybe as was mentioned by danyeo, it was just something computer related. I certainly hope so, GC's rep is bad enough already without adding this kind of stuff to it.

 

[thedeadzone]

I think I'm about 75% with the used items I buy from GC being in the condition described. When I was looking at a second Randall 667 as a backup, I saw one on GC's site in excellent condition, with the not uncommon head shell cracks on multiple sides, and a bent faceplate. I've had one or two items whose packing was gravely inadequate, but which survived somehow. On the other hand, I got an Ibanez AR2619 in mint condition for $1K, and I've gotten my two Celestion-loaded Egnater Tourmaster 412A cabs from them for $300 and $500, shipped, and the latter was a new, open box item. I also bought an early 90s Ibanez Tube King pedal from them, and found a 50s RCA Blackplate in it. Between some good finds and only 15 minutes drive to return something, it makes it worth the risk to me.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Paid for and just sent back a "brand new" BE100 Deluxe. It showed up in a beat to hell box 3 times too big for the amp. Amp was wrapped in bubble wrap just rolling around in the box. One of the transformers was bent to one side from the banging around & the tolex was ripped on the front. No original box or packing material, no manual, no power cord, just the amp and a footswitch. Don't know what they're thinking.

 

[motorboy1]

Here’s mine from last month. Figured I could fix the headshell and footswitch, bent trannie. Called the store, sent pics and asked the manager how much off for this? We can give you $75. Im thinking FUCK YOU. Lol. Dumped that back to my local GC and I’m done with them. Its already back for sale and bought. Excellent condition. Ha ha.

 

[thedeadzone]

I think some of it is unintentional, but sometimes I think stores take in bad trades, and then launder them by getting someone to buy them online. Then when it gets returned it's another store's problem.

 

[Chris6870]

Heres a dead mint Mesa Fillmore they destroyed. In a to large flimsy box with some wadded up paper for packing.I would love to know how many amps they have destroyed due to improper packing.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Almost have to wonder if they get some huge discount on damaged amps and intentionally pack that way. Blame it on UPS/FedEx, nobody higher up inspecting the pack job at GC before/after, huge discount on an amp today brah...LOL! It's hard to imagine someone being that stupid thinking a 40lb amp rolling around in an oversized non-heavy duty box with packing paper for protection...there are just some highly unintelligent people out there.

 

[ibzprestige]

Here’s mine from last month. Figured I could fix the headshell and footswitch, bent trannie. Called the store, sent pics and asked the manager how much off for this? We can give you $75. Im thinking FUCK YOU. Lol. Dumped that back to my local GC and I’m done with them. Its already back for sale and bought. Excellent condition. Ha ha.

Which guitar center was this from?

EDIT: Clearly it's the one I got, just looked. They repaired or hid the tolex.

 

[motorboy1]

Yeah thats it. Trannie was really bent, I straightened it out and fixed the headshell and footswitch. Took 30 minutes. Must of really taken a drop when I got it. Figured I was going to keep it if they gave enough discount. But there was some trannie hum and the pilot light wouldn’t go on intermittently so back it went. I told the Phoenix store about it but I guess they didn’t care.

 

[ibzprestige]

Yeah thats it. Trannie was really bent, I straightened it out and fixed the headshell and footswitch. Took 30 minutes. Must of really taken a drop when I got it. Figured I was going to keep it if they gave enough discount. But there was some trannie hum and the pilot light wouldn’t go on intermittently so back it went. I told the Phoenix store about it but I guess they didn’t care.

It sounds pretty damn good, I might keep it. Havent noticed any hum or the pilot light yet and been running it 6-8 hours a day the last week. Good job on the headshell and footswitch, looks nicely done!

 

[motorboy1]

Yeah the footswitch was badly dented but I took it all apart and straightened it out. Turned out pretty good. I should of charged GC for my time. You’re welcome!! Lol.