Too Big to Care: What to Look Out for When Shopping at Big Box Stores

ernieballmusicmanA while back, I was in a local big box guitar store and saw an Ernie Ball guitar with a ‘Black Magic Crystal’ finish hanging on the wall.  This thing was beautiful. Being a collector, it satisfied many check-boxes for me.  It was a brand that I didn’t own.  It was a well-respected USA made instrument. The features were killer (Dimarzio pickups, Floyd Rose trem, and a flamed maple neck) And the finish blew me away.

When I asked the salesperson what kind of deal he could give me, he said, “Nothing at all.”

So, I walked away. I started emailing a few friends, seeing if there was anybody out there who could get me a good deal on this thing. Finally got in touch with a guy that I had never met before, who happened to be a manager from the same chain. He gave me, brand new in a box, 15% off, no sales tax and free shipping.

Sold!

Fast-forward about 4 years, and that guitar is still hanging by its neck at the same store. Grungy. Old. Beaten. Tired. No surprise, the price hasn’t moved either.

This got me thinking.

How can they still sell that thing as new?  Is that 4-year-old guitar that’s been played by countless souls and seen its fair share of dirt and grime from a crowd of greasy fingers still “new?” When’s the last time that guitar’s neck was adjusted? From the looks of it, that guitar hadn’t even been cleaned since Disco was still a thing.

Let’s look at it from this angle. If I decided to sell my pristine guitar that I bought new, played for a total of 10 minutes, wiped it down, and put it right back in the box that it came in, can I sell that guitar as “new” on eBay?

Obviously, that answer is, “No!”

But, why the hell not? It’s obvious that my guitar was better cared for, not played by as many greasy fingers, and isn’t even as old as the one hanging in the shop. So, what justification is there that makes their guitar “New” and mine “Used?”

Maybe it’s time for the big-box stores to take this into consideration. If a guitar sits for too long, like food at a grocery store, maybe that guitar should get marked as “used” or “shop-worn.” There comes a point where that guitar simply isn’t new anymore.  How many people need to wipe their dirty asses with the guitar before dealers will call it “used?”

And, warranties are bullshit (in my honest opinion).  If something’s wrong with the guitar, the store should know about it in advance.  They shouldn’t be selling guitars with twisted necks, popped frets and electronics that don’t work. Besides, considering the cost of a simple repair ($20 bucks or so for a truss rod adjustment, or scratch pot or a full set-up for about $40-$50) I’d rather get a guitar set up properly in lieu of a bullshit warranty. Besides, I’d rather get a few bucks shaved off of the overall price knowing I can get a tech to make it play like I want it to play.

Remember, stores are there to make money. So, if they can sell their gear at full pop with no added cost of maintaining the instrument, they win the game.

You, on the other hand, are the loser.

If the guitar is swinging, ask the dealer if they’ll shave a few bucks off of the price so that you can get the guitar professionally adjusted. If they try to tell you that it’s already been adjusted, say, “Yeah? Well, it hasn’t been adjusted the way that I like.”

Most dealers will have no problem with that. They’ll either set it up for you, or they’ll recommend a place where you can get the guitar to play like new. If they won’t do it, turn around and walk away.

If you buy something from eBay or from a ‘non-dealer’ take into account everything I mentioned. You might be lucky to get something better than what’s hanging on the wall of your local music store.  On the other hand, just because you’re nickel and diming your way through places like Craigslist and eBay, doesn’t mean you’re going to get the best deal.  Most importantly, keep in mind that anytime you buy online, you’re at the mercy of the dude you’re buying from.

Personally, when I sell a guitar, it’s fingerprint free. If I sell it in person, I open the case in front of them and pick up the guitar with a soft white towel.  Out of respect for the future owner, I don’t let anyone play the guitar until I see money on the table. It lets them know they are dealing with someone who truly cares about their instruments.

If someone just wants to play, I tell them to go to Guitar Center. When you’re ready to buy, come back here and see me.

Don’t get me wrong. I get it! Retailers have to put the guitar in the player’s hands before they’ll buy. But, don’t hand me a greasy, grimy, booger covered, relic that I’ll need a tetanus shot after getting cut with one of the rusty frets.  Keep it tidy, or I’m gonna walk away.

Think twice about buying from a shop that’s too big to care for its gear. There are plenty of smaller dealers out there that can better manage their inventory that ultimately leads to a better experience with your purchase. You can even find a few online. Like, DrumCityGutiarLand.com.  With every purchase, they ask you what kind of strings you’d like on the guitar. The guitar gets a full set-up before it ships. Cleaned. Filed. Adjusted. Intonated. That’s good business.  Good for the consumer and good for the store. Remember, if the shop’s too big to care for its gear, they’re probably too big to care about you.

Tell us about your good and bad experiences below …

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Filed Under: GuitarsCommentary / Editorials

About the Author: Hello. Welcome to TheToneKing.com! My name is Louis, but in name of good fun & entertainment - I call myself The Tone King. This website was born back in 2008, to compliment the videos I started uploading to YouTube on guitar & related gear (guitar, amps, pedals, etc.). It has since grown, thanks to the thousands that tune in, making it what it is. If you subscribe to TheToneKing.com, you can expect lots of Guitar, Amp, Pedal Reviews & Shoot-Out videos. I also have monthly Live Webcasts, perform Artist Interviews, and try to get all the juicy coverage Backstage and at trade-shows like NAMM. The cherry on top is that there are no shortage of How-To Videos & TTK Killer Deal Alerts getting you the most knowledge & gear into your hands & mind! Thanks for stopping by to check out my website! Rock ON!

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