Music Shop Bashing

[cheddatom]

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='543363' date='Jul 17 2009, 04:34 PM']Ooh that's bad. Defo wasn't me...I couldn't sleep for the guilt.

I once heard of a guy charging someone eight quid for changing the top E string on a guitar.[/quote]

It bloody was bad at the time! They basically ruined my musicmaster. It's not a massive shame as I swapped it for a drumkit soon after.

EDIT: Since then I have continued to use the shop as they have good stock, are nice and friendly, and generally knowledgable if you get the right guy for the right field (which you do 9 times out of 10).

Edited July 17, 2009 by cheddatom

[xilddx]

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='543330' date='Jul 17 2009, 04:07 PM']The previous young poster who's bleating about rude staff etc reminds me of Kevin the teenager, and how hard done he is in the shop. How would you like it if I came to your house uninvited and started playing your bass?[/quote]

I think you now have a ingrained attitude towards young people you can't get past. fatgoogle doesn't strike me as someone who would abuse your instruments uninvited. He's complaining he's being unfairly stereotyped and it is, frankly, discriminatory. Everyone's a loser in this situation. There's rudeness from all quarters, not just young people. You said yourself adults behave bloody stupidly in your shop. It's a basic lack of respect some people have for others and others' property. It's always been the same. I remember the same sh*t going down in Coventry 35 years ago. If anything it was worse.

I was on the tube a couple of days ago, and a 50ish year old blind woman got on. All seats were taken but only a couple of people were standing. She stood holding the hand rail for two stops before a bloke with headphones on noticed her and offered her his seat which she gratefully accepted. The other eleven people on this carriage section ranged from teenaged to middle aged, black, white, and brown. Most had seen her, all but one ignored her. I see rudeness from all types everyday, and kindness from all types every day. It's really not fair to blame one section of society for your problems.

[Doddy]

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='543363' date='Jul 17 2009, 04:34 PM']Ooh that's bad. Defo wasn't me...I couldn't sleep for the guilt.

I once heard of a guy charging someone eight quid for changing the top E string on a guitar.[/quote]

The moral of the story being......learn to re-string your own instrument.

[Pete Academy]

Another problem in music shops is the old commission factor. The basic wage will be low, so the commission makes all the difference. However, this also means that any of the staff will have a go at selling you something, despite their lack of knowledge. In the land of the blind etc...a complete beginner can be easily bluffed by a non- bass player.

[cheddatom]

silddx - you were standing up right?

[quote name='Doddy' post='543370' date='Jul 17 2009, 04:38 PM']The moral of the story being......learn to re-string your own instrument.[/quote]

I was 15 and scared!! Anyway, yes, that's what this particular incident taught me.

[xilddx]

[quote name='cheddatom' post='543376' date='Jul 17 2009, 04:45 PM']silddx - you were standing up right?[/quote]

Wot, with my knee?

[cheddatom]

[quote name='silddx' post='543378' date='Jul 17 2009, 04:47 PM']Wot, with my knee?[/quote]

I've no idea what that means

[Pete Academy]

[quote name='silddx' post='543369' date='Jul 17 2009, 04:38 PM']I think you now have a ingrained attitude towards young people you can't get past. fatgoogle doesn't strike me as someone who would abuse your instruments uninvited. He's complaining he's being unfairly stereotyped and it is, frankly, discriminatory. Everyone's a loser in this situation. There's rudeness from all quarters, not just young people. You said yourself adults behave bloody stupidly in your shop. It's a basic lack of respect some people have for others and others' property. It's always been the same. I remember the same sh*t going down in Coventry 35 years ago. If anything it was worse.

I was on the tube a couple of days ago, and a 50ish year old blind woman got on. All seats were taken but only a couple of people were standing. She stood holding the hand rail for two stops before a bloke with headphones on noticed her and offered her his seat which she gratefully accepted. The other eleven people on this carriage section ranged from teenaged to middle aged, black, white, and brown. Most had seen her, all but one ignored her. I see rudeness from all types everyday, and kindness from all types every day. It's really not fair to blame one section of society for your problems.[/quote]

I see your point, but I'll stick to my guns here. There's always been lack of respect, but it's worse than ever nowadays. The majority of damage done to our instruments is by younger people.

[fatgoogle]

Ill agree with you there Pete, i do try not to, as i do reliase how much instruments cost, and am not going to bang around instruments. But i can jst hope that you dont discriminate all young people like this.

[Doddy]

I go into Academy of Sound pretty(very)often,but still ask before trying anything out. I actually get annoyed
at the people who come into the shop and proceed to play 'Rock beat number 1' on the electric kits for ages while
their mates hang around and get in the way. This happens in most music shops lately,and it can take the enjoyment
out of gear hunting.
Pete's comment about the 'commission factor' is true aswell-I don't like when a salesman tries to feed me a load of bull,
when I know full well that they are wrong. That's another reason I shop in AoS-I never get fed any cr*p and I know that
Pete knows what he's talking about.

[Spartacus]

I was in AoS Nottingham once when a guy late teens/early 20s came in wanting to try a BC Rich guitar. Lether jacket with big zips, those big studded leather wristbands you metalheads like , bullet belt, all the metalwork. If the guy had stood under a big magnet, he'd have beaten and kicked himself to death involuntarly. Had all his mates with him, looked like theyd been covered in superglue and kicked around a scrapyard.

The guy dealing with him was only about 16, Saturday job or something, and stood his ground to Mr. Metal and his mates when he asked him to take off all the studs and crap in case he scratched the guitar. Mr. Metal got very stroppy and refused as it was a slur on his identity or something like that. \m/

A few of the usual bits of 'Saturday furniture', me included, backed up the sales lad and Mr. Metal stormed off in a huff. Saw him later practically sobbing on a nearby doorstep and all his mates saying they were going to go back and do the windows.

Im not making a point at all (except that a lot of sales people have to deal with arseholes), it just made me laugh to remember it

[LukeFRC]

I agree with you pete.

I wonder if it isn't helped by the way in large music shops the guitars are laid out. SOund control and the like seem to operate like supermarkets, with a similar large stock, lots of variations of the same thing (ie 5 US P basses) and similar low paid young staff. The stock then is a commodity and nothing seems special. Contrast this to the small independant music shop with its better staff, more specialist stock and friendlier attitude.
tesco is winning that war though.
One of the best ways I have seen it done was Guitarguitar in edinburgh. You walk in and the counter is next to the door. Politeness forces you to say hello as you are welcomed. Imediatly, and in a friendly way ppl ask if they can help and to give them a shout if you want to try anything.
Human contact and in a positive way re affiriming- dont touch anything with out me saying so, you wander around- but the good stuff, the expesive stuff is in the back, up a wee step and in a carpeted area. You know this is the expensive stuff and so are almost afraid to breath.

[budget bassist]

I agree with the OP, you should be allowed to try things out if you ask, but that's just it, it's rude not to ask. Even if there's no sign saying "please ask before trying", i still do it. It's polite. I always take off anything with zips etc too. I can understand what the staff are feeling, particularly if it's not a large corporate chain and is family owned or something.

[Pete Academy]

[quote name='fatgoogle' post='543398' date='Jul 17 2009, 05:00 PM']Ill agree with you there Pete, i do try not to, as i do reliase how much instruments cost, and am not going to bang around instruments. But i can jst hope that you dont discriminate all young people like this.[/quote]

I am definitely not discriminating against all young people, just those who have a lack of respect.

[Doddy]

That's great that is Spartacus. I'm glad the store guy stood his ground.

On another note,I once went into a music shop in Birmingham that I'd been to a number of times,
and was denied access to the guitar department upstairs because I was wearing a full length jacket.
I didn't quite understand this as they had no problem with me checking out the acoustics or the drums.
And,this was only 18 months ago,so I wasn't a young scallywag. I went somewhere else and spent money instead.

[Pete Academy]

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='543417' date='Jul 17 2009, 05:17 PM']I agree with you pete.

I wonder if it isn't helped by the way in large music shops the guitars are laid out. SOund control and the like seem to operate like supermarkets, with a similar large stock, lots of variations of the same thing (ie 5 US P basses) and similar low paid young staff. The stock then is a commodity and nothing seems special. Contrast this to the small independant music shop with its better staff, more specialist stock and friendlier attitude.
tesco is winning that war though.
One of the best ways I have seen it done was Guitarguitar in edinburgh. You walk in and the counter is next to the door. Politeness forces you to say hello as you are welcomed. Imediatly, and in a friendly way ppl ask if they can help and to give them a shout if you want to try anything.
Human contact and in a positive way re affiriming- dont touch anything with out me saying so, you wander around- but the good stuff, the expesive stuff is in the back, up a wee step and in a carpeted area. You know this is the expensive stuff and so are almost afraid to breath.[/quote]

I totally agree. We have a similar setup, and try to acknowledge customers as they enter the store.

[Pete Academy]

[quote name='Doddy' post='543421' date='Jul 17 2009, 05:25 PM']That's great that is Spartacus. I'm glad the store guy stood his ground.

On another note,I once went into a music shop in Birmingham that I'd been to a number of times,
and was denied access to the guitar department upstairs because I was wearing a full length jacket.
I didn't quite understand this as they had no problem with me checking out the acoustics or the drums.
And,this was only 18 months ago,so I wasn't a young scallywag. I went somewhere else and spent money instead.[/quote]

A few years ago I went into a shop in Brum to try out some Ashdown cabs. It was first thing in the morning, and I stood around for ages waiting for someone to speak to. Eventually I found someone, who was very uncooperative. He pointed me in the direction of the gear and told me to plug the cabs in myself. Afterwards I tried to get a price but gave up after half an hour of waiting around.

[Pete Academy]

[quote name='Doddy' post='543421' date='Jul 17 2009, 05:25 PM']That's great that is Spartacus. I'm glad the store guy stood his ground.

On another note,I once went into a music shop in Birmingham that I'd been to a number of times,
and was denied access to the guitar department upstairs because I was wearing a full length jacket.
I didn't quite understand this as they had no problem with me checking out the acoustics or the drums.
And,this was only 18 months ago,so I wasn't a young scallywag. I went somewhere else and spent money instead.[/quote]

Scallywag? Now that's a term you don't hear much of these days.

[Beer of the Bass]

I'm not going to name any names, but I reckon you haven't properly encountered condescending, elitist shop staff until you've checked out certain classical string instrument shops! Even the surliest guitar salesman can only aspire to that sort of attitude...

[Rich]

[quote name='Spartacus' post='543414' date='Jul 17 2009, 05:13 PM']I was in AoS Nottingham once when a guy late teens/early 20s came in wanting to try a BC Rich guitar. Lether jacket with big zips, those big studded leather wristbands you metalheads like , bullet belt, all the metalwork. If the guy had stood under a big magnet, he'd have beaten and kicked himself to death involuntarly. Had all his mates with him, looked like theyd been covered in superglue and kicked around a scrapyard.[/quote]
And there's today's coffee->screen moment.

[hubrad]

[quote name='fatgoogle' post='542768' date='Jul 16 2009, 11:41 PM']I see were im not wanted. [/quote]
Come to Yorkshire, mate!


[quote name='BurritoBass' post='542833' date='Jul 17 2009, 02:33 AM']I agree with the comments made by Pete. I think there has been a lot of talk in the media recently about respect. This is a good example. I always ask before I try and I do buy. I wouldn't dream of picking up a instrument without asking. The newsagents signs are a sign of the modern times.

All of this is a shame as most young people are great. It's a few that spoil it for the others.[/quote]
+1.. There is a general air of ageism in this thread, which going on Pete's comments is not entirely unfair, but I have to confess I think our shop is lucky in that the local rock (or regional folk) youth who enter our hallowed portals generally behave as Fatgoogle has described - they don't give the staff hassle, ask if they're ok to try gear, and if they're getting a bit much they'll shut up and wander on elsewhere. Instrument damage is spread across the age spectrum. Pain!
Consequently many are regular customers and a pretty decent number end up coming to us for Work Experience, which is a good head-turner for them as they get to see the day-to-day stuff rather than just getting to play guitar all day!


[quote name='GreeneKing' post='542870' date='Jul 17 2009, 08:13 AM']Killing time in music shops sometimes ends up being an expensive business too [/quote]
Heh, heh!

[quote name='Marcus' post='542886' date='Jul 17 2009, 08:53 AM']Bully !!

Musician make horrible customers - Shops get a raw deal these days with everyone throwing Internet prices in their faces......

I don't mind paying a bit more for good service...... I've built up good relationships with a good number of shops both locally and nationally, they value my custom and I respect their need to make a living ![/quote]
Nice comment Marcus!

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='543371' date='Jul 17 2009, 04:39 PM']Another problem in music shops is the old commission factor. The basic wage will be low, so the commission makes all the difference. However, this also means that any of the staff will have a go at selling you something, despite their lack of knowledge. In the land of the blind etc...a complete beginner can be easily bluffed by a non- bass player.[/quote]
Most of our staff have managed to persuade the boss it's better to set a more reasonable regular wage and forget commission. It means that if you're better informed speaking to a different member of staff I'll happily point you to that one, and it's better results long-term for us all. We'll each be as helpful and honest about our own level of knowledge as poss, sometimes poking fun at our own lack of ability on a particular instrument. Seems to go down well!

[quote name='Doddy' post='543421' date='Jul 17 2009, 05:25 PM']That's great that is Spartacus. I'm glad the store guy stood his ground.

On another note,I once went into a music shop in Birmingham that I'd been to a number of times,
and was denied access to the guitar department upstairs because I was wearing a full length jacket.
I didn't quite understand this as they had no problem with me checking out the acoustics or the drums.
And,this was only 18 months ago,so I wasn't a young scallywag. I went somewhere else and spent money instead.[/quote]
I did hear recently of a spate of accordion thefts involving a group described as E.European, whereby they reckon a woman with voluminous skirts made off with an accordion [u]under[/u] said skirts!

[ARGH]

[quote name='Spartacus' post='543414' date='Jul 17 2009, 05:13 PM']I was in AoS Nottingham once when a guy late teens/early 20s came in wanting to try a BC Rich guitar. Lether jacket with big zips, those big studded leather wristbands you metalheads like , bullet belt, all the metalwork. If the guy had stood under a big magnet, he'd have beaten and kicked himself to death involuntarly. Had all his mates with him, looked like theyd been covered in superglue and kicked around a scrapyard.

The guy dealing with him was only about 16, Saturday job or something, and stood his ground to Mr. Metal and his mates when he asked him to take off all the studs and crap in case he scratched the guitar. Mr. Metal got very stroppy and refused as it was a slur on his identity or something like that. \m/

A few of the usual bits of 'Saturday furniture', me included, backed up the sales lad and Mr. Metal stormed off in a huff. Saw him later practically sobbing on a nearby doorstep and all his mates saying they were going to go back and do the windows.

Im not making a point at all (except that a lot of sales people have to deal with arseholes), it just made me laugh to remember it [/quote]
Utter twat...

I have always made a routine of removing ANYTHING that might/could/would scratch an instrument...and in my more 'image' metal days..if it was spikes,nails,chains,Bullets etc etc..IT CAME OFF.....Ive even asked 'Can I have a bag,coz Im bound to leave summat...'

The public are f***tards,I wouldnt let half of them out without professional care workers

[LukeFRC]

not sure it is agism, its a specific demographic causing problems.
Honestly i think if it was my shop I would kick them all out....
I work in a cafe and we arn't licened for under 18's on their own, its a good thing.
I don't see how this would be too much of a problem in a music shop. Under 16 or so to make a big purchase you would expect an adult with them?


Another thing, why dont music shops have hand washing facilities? I cycle and by the time i get to a shop my hands are grimey enough i wouldnt tuch my own guitars...

[Rich]

[quote name='ARGH' post='543456' date='Jul 17 2009, 06:28 PM']The public are f***tards,I wouldnt let half of them out without professional care workers[/quote]
Absolutely right.



[size=1]Hold on, surely [i]we're[/i] the public too..?[/size]

[ARGH]

[quote name='Rich' post='543466' date='Jul 17 2009, 06:45 PM']Absolutely right.



[size=1]Hold on, surely [i]we're[/i] the public too..?[/size][/quote]
NO you are scum..and that 3ft of chipboard/MDF that some shop fitter has glued together that seperates you from me,clears my vision to see you for the penniless cretin you are...NOW get out you unwashed mentalist,stop haggleing over the price coz you saw it 100 quid cheaper on some pissant belgian website,that when you phoned up DIDNT have it in stock..nor will it have for the next 8 weeks....8..... BLOODY..... WEEKS..DID YOU EVER HAVE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE YOU SAY!!!!and LEARN that the service we provide isnt cold research lab,its NHS,its honest and direct and does what you want just at a random,human face and speed....and with a full service after 12 months..with new strings....

And if you live in Selby,you CAN afford it you tightwad...the real skint ones live in Goole*


*Selby had a pound shop,it closed down after 6 months because the natives couldnt argue the prices.FACT! Goole got bombed by Jerry,in mistake for thinking it was Leeds...hense,it reminds me of Coventry with cranes.