Why does Guitar Center run on rock star hours when none of their employees have played a live show?

[Shreddy Mercury]

Seriously, why do they operate on rock star with drug and alcohol problem hours when they're all too busy sniffing corks and talking about how they'd play a song differently and can do it better than everyone else to have an actual band that plays shows?

I went with the sole intention of checking out some US or Mexican Fender Strats or maybe even a used Charvel and got there at 10:15 after work, and these buttholes don't open until 11. I have half a mind to write a sternly worded letter.

 

[TheBiggestJerk]

It’s the business model. People with money don’t even go in there

 

[Findthetone1]

Less hours= less payroll. Probably no choice at this point considering the financial problems they've had.

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

Less hours= less payroll. Probably no choice at this point considering the financial problems they've had.

I was just talking to a friend the other day about that. I don't see how they're still in business considering how bad Sweetwater kicks the shit out of them. I was looking at Temple Audio boards/accessories and Guitar Center has basically nothing in stock, only a few used items, while Sweetwater seems to have just about everything I was interested in stocked in their warehouse or a store and ready to go. I'm sure this happens on many many more brands they both sell.

 

[Findthetone1]

I was just talking to a friend the other day about that. I don't see how they're still in business considering how bad Sweetwater kicks the shit out of them. I was looking at Temple Audio boards/accessories and Guitar Center has basically nothing in stock, only a few used items, while Sweetwater seems to have just about everything I was interested in stocked in their warehouse or a store and ready to go. I'm sure this happens on many many more brands they both sell.

I stopped in a local GC a couple of weeks ago for the first time in years. Every guitar I touched felt like it came from a flea market or garage sale. I don't know how they're still in business either.

 

[Shask]

Everyone who has money to buy anything are at work during the day....

I would assume they get no morning customers, so why be open for no profit.

 

[BABMusic]

Seriously, why do they operate on rock star with drug and alcohol problem hours when they're all too busy sniffing corks and talking about how they'd play a song differently and can do it better than everyone else to have an actual band that plays shows?

I went with the sole intention of checking out some US or Mexican Fender Strats or maybe even a used Charvel and got there at 10:15 after work, and these buttholes don't open until 11. I have half a mind to write a sternly worded letter.

I guess they figure most who play guitar wake up hung over. I've also wondered why they open at 11. Maybe it's because they have to stay open late due to private lessons? My GC is thriving and always busy, which I like to see.

 

[Alpha Stryke]

IDK but i get up b/f the sun & everytime i go there its close to my gym and they don't open til 11am LOL.
Amazon is faster / cheaper.
#1 registered complaint w/ GC is the amount of time to checkout @ the register. Its b/c of their computer system.
If you got 2 people ahead of you in line will take 45 min.

 

[BABMusic]

I only knew of one person who worked at MF and he did have a band that was performing often, and even went on tours. I don't know how he did it, but he had to wake up at 5:15 most mornings for his shift from 6 -2:30 or whatever it was. He also said he hated working there. He did own a house and was doing pretty well back in around 2010, but there's no way he could buy a house with that salary now.

 

[311boogieman]

Seriously, why do they operate on rock star with drug and alcohol problem hours when they're all too busy sniffing corks and talking about how they'd play a song differently and can do it better than everyone else to have an actual band that plays shows?

Not my experience at all. I don't see any cork sniffing going on. And as noted, the hours are what they are because most people going to a brick and mortar store to take lessons/browse/buy gear are not going in the morning. So it makes sense that they stay open later/close later. They have tried to reinvent themselves (at least my local) but it is usually painful going in there for a variety of reasons.

 

[70 Mach 1]

what's wrong with opening at 11
most stay open until 9pm 6 days a week

 

[Rottweiler]

It likely lets them operate with only 1 shift as opposed to 1st and 2nd shift crews

 

[mentoneman]

we experienced a period of really catastrophic flooding here on Oahu recently. ironically during that time a building water pipe burst at our local GC and seriously flooded the store. they’ve been closed for 5 + weeks as insurance assesses the damaged instruments and crews replace walls, carpets and outlets.

the positive is that smaller surrounding music stores have been seeing a lot more traffic!

 

[VonBonfire]

I went with the sole intention of checking out some US or Mexican Fender Strats or maybe even a used Charvel and got there at 10:15 after work, and these buttholes don't open until 11. I have half a mind to write a sternly worded letter.

You have to be at the doors at exact opening staring the guy down when he unlocks them, then beeline for the strats and charvels, plug into the loudest amp you can find, and just dime it. When they come to shut you down shove the guitar you wanted to buy into their hands aggressively and say "whaonchuringatupferme" and head to the checkout.

 

[DrewJD82]

I’ve got no gripes with GC right now, a few months back the CEO did that interview where he noted how people were bitching about walking into stores and only finding beginner/intermediate guitars and how that was going to change. I didn’t believe him until I walked into the closest GC to me and almost shit my pants, there were barely any beginner/intermediate guitars and they even had LP Customs at eye level and unlocked. The only thing they still had way up top were some nice PRS’s.

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

I’ve got no gripes with GC right now, a few months back the CEO did that interview where he noted how people were bitching about walking into stores and only finding beginner/intermediate guitars and how that was going to change. I didn’t believe him until I walked into the closest GC to me and almost shit my pants, there were barely any beginner/intermediate guitars and they even had LP Customs at eye level and unlocked. The only thing they still had way up top were some nice PRS’s.

Hmm, ill have to verify this for myself....as long as it's after 11 lol

 

[CoreyW]

I dunno man, I like GCs hours.. I get to check out a lot of different stores across the SE, but since I have to do it in the evenings I don't get to see many that are not a GC.

I would say across the board atleast in the SE, there have been noticable improvements as far as quality of stock and employee interaction... but that could be because I am older now and look like I could actually afford something... jokes on them, my disposable income dropped way down when I got married.