I had a problem with the Gibson G-45 studio guitar I had purchased in October. The Frets from the…read more12-15 were pretty much dead. I took into for warranty work and when I got it back it was playing better than the original set up. The tech, Kelvin Henderson, offered some great advice that I will heed. As far as the dead frets are concerned, after some tweaking and a bit of work Kelvin rectified the issue. Thank you Kelvin!

Apparently, "new" now means "previously displayed, visibly handled, and tastefully pre-tarnished."…read more I purchased a flute at LM Kanata location that was sold to me as "new". Upon closer inspection at home, however, it had obvious discoloration, tarnishing, and signs of handling. It was, in fact, a display instrument--a minor detail the store apparently considered too unimportant to disclose before taking my money. When I returned it, the response was even more impressive. Rather than acknowledge that a visibly tarnished display instrument should not have been sold as new without disclosure, the sales staff were rude and dismissive. A person who introduced himself as the shop's repair technician decided to join the conversation, only to dismiss the visible marks as "just tarnish." How reassuring. Perhaps scratches are "just scratches," dents are "just dents," and honesty is "just optional." There was no meaningful apology, no acceptance of responsibility, and no apparent understanding of why a customer might object to paying the new-instrument price for a handled and tarnished display model. Instead, I was treated as though noticing the condition of the flute was somehow the real problem. I returned it immediately and left. Buying an expensive musical instrument requires trust, and this store managed to lose mine before I played the first note. Very disappointing, thoroughly unprofessional, and an excellent lesson in why customers should inspect the meaning of the word "new" before shopping here.

I've been dealing with Long & McQuade for over 11 years, mainly with the Kingston, ON store, and…read morehave always been super impressed with their service and professionalism. Unfortunately, my recent experience at the Hunt Club Rd store in Ottawa was the complete opposite. I called ahead about selling a pair of Yorkville EXM Mobile Tower speakers -- only a year old and in great shape. The person on the phone said to bring them in so they could take a look. I drove an hour to get there, only to be ignored for several minutes when I arrived. When someone finally spoke to me, they didn't seem to know what I was talking about. (It's surprising, considering Yorkville is one of the main brands Long & McQuade carries.) After some confusion and checking the computer, I was told, "We already have five of those; we don't want them." That could have easily been said over the phone before I wasted a two-hour round trip. I later called the Hawkesbury store, and even they couldn't understand why the Ottawa location wouldn't take them -- especially since they could easily be used as rentals. If you value your time, avoid the Hunt Club Rd store. I've had nothing but great experiences elsewhere with Long & McQuade, but this location missed the mark completely.

I can't say enough about the wonderful customer service and help I had from Joseph (Joe) Fraser. I…read more originally made the mistake of ordering a Bassbreaker 15 head from Amazon, thinking it was the combo, and was helped by Joe to find a suitable speaker cabinet for it. When i got home, I wasn't able to get sound from the setup. Joe first tried helping me troubleshoot on the phone and when nothing helped he suggested I bring the combo in and we'd be sure to get it working. He was so warm and comforting at a time when I was feeling a bit overwhelmed tbh. Well, it turned out there was a problem with the Bassbreaker I ordered from Amazon so understandably, the best L and McQuade could do was send it in for a repair estimate to see if they could repair it and he suggested I also contact Amazon directly to see if they could offer a free repair just to cover all the bases. Joe was so kind and patient and suggested we look at other amp combos in the meantime. As fate would have it, they had just received a used combo amp and speaker that was a great deal and fit my needs perfectly. It was obvious Joe just wanted to be sure I was happy with no pressure. We ended up exchanging the original cabinet he sold me for the great combo setup. I am 75 and it is so much better for me to deal with the combo vs an amp and separate speaker. I have been playing with the used combo I settled on and it sounds amazing Making it even sweeter was that I was given a refund through the exchange. No upselling. It's caring people like Joe Fraser who just want a happy customer that ends up with the best option for their needs that will keep brick and mortar shops operating :). Thanks Joe from the bottom of my heart. A huge shout out to Terry Calder, the repair guy too, who keeps my prized acoustic well maintained each year. I wouldn't trust anyone else. Great team at Hunt Club. That obviously says something about management at this location too for hiring the right people. Thank you :). Myra Bourne Ottawa

I have truely enjoyed my group guitar lessons with Rob! The class is paced just at my speed. I have…read morecome away with being able to know the core chords and even play some songs! Highly recommend for beginners!

Purchased an 8 class group introduction to guitar. I made 7 of 8 classes. Can safely say it was…read morethe best deal I have ever had. Great course...our Instructor Robert was a lot of fun. Highly recommend it!

We were pointed here by the Record Centre folk, for a record player repair…read more It's an old school store, nothing glamorous. Tiny and packed with various electronics in various states of repair, it's interesting to gaze around. A few things are for sale. The owner is genial. He'll chat if you like. He won't if you don't. Repair was done within the time he committed to. He knows what he's doing. Call ahead to get hours from a live person. The answering machine recording is not always accurate.

The only place in Ottawa that repairs Kitchen Aid mixers. Dropped out unit off, and he knew right…read moreaway what was needed. He said it would be ready in a week. Got a call 4 days later that it was ready. The service requested was delivered at a price that was better than expected.

Don't be fooled by what their website says " We love our customers, so feel free to visit us in…read moreperson". I wanted 5 minutes of the salesman's time to quickly assess a rocking chair i packed into the trunk of my car. I want to put it on kijiji and don't want to ask too little. It's not so much the policy (although i assume they assess everything they have because it's all antiques.), the guy was just plain rude.

Located on the edge of Wellington Village, A Fine Things Antiques is one of the few antique shops…read morein/near downtown Ottawa. The shop includes a large basement, filled will carpets, bed frames, furniture and is somewhat of a maze, as the basement is made of up multiple rooms. The main floor is filled primarily with furniture and framed pictures, although not all items would fall into the category of being a true antique. Most items are affordable, as this is not an upmarket shop, but one that caters to the casual antique store browser. Given the lack of antique shops in Ottawa, A Fine Things Antiques is a welcome addition to the local antiques retail scene.

I love this store. It is one of the most welcoming and comfortable businesses to visit. True Bijoux…read morealso has beautiful merchandise at very fair prices. It's a joy to do business with Lindsay and staff.

True Bijoux is one of the best jewellers I have worked with. Their customer service is fantastic,…read morewith an honest and caring approach. Their products are of excellent quality (I really like their estate jewellery), and their craftsmanship is stunning. Most importantly, it is a joy to visit. The staff always make me feel like a guest, rather than just a customer. True Bijoux has to be one of Ottawa's finest locally owned, and run businesses. --J.E.C.--

Needed some fabric shears sharpened, and wasn't sure where to go. Happened to walk by here, so…read morereached out via email, got a quick response that they do indeed sharpen Fabric Shears, so headed over with mine. Of note, fabric shear sharpening requires skill. Don't sharpen at home! Typically it's about a 2 day turnaround but the week between xmas and New year's is quiet so they did them on the spot. Five minutes and $4 later (2022 pricing) I was done. Shears feel like new. Customer service was fabulous, lovely people. Glad I found them.

Great service! Highly recommend them, they do more than just sharpening they also sell and service…read moreheavy kitchen equipment. Best in town by far!

I stood in the shop for 20 minutes waiting for service, looking around. There were several…read moreemployees rushing around. No one offered to help, or said hello, and I couldn't manage to flag anyone down. Finally I politely asked someone if she could assist me and she told me, dryly, that she was in the middle of something. Ten minutes later she was drinking coffee behind the counter and I asked if she was available. She rudely responded "we're all really busy." I left. I found the service horrible and cold; I felt invisible.

Kunstadt has become my go-to ski and bike shop in Canada…read more I always walkout with the gear that I need or have made a plan with one of the staff to special order gear that matches my passion for outdoor adventure. Whether I'm hitting the slopes or exploring the trails, their impressive selection of top-notch equipment never disappoints. The knowledgeable staff, who are avid outdoor enthusiasts themselves, always take the time to understand my needs and guide me towards the ideal gear for my skill level and budget. One thing that truly stood out for me was their exceptional service and attention to detail. When I purchased my new ski boots this winter, they meticulously fitted them to my specifications, ensuring the perfect blend of comfort and performance. And when I needed some fine-tuning on my bike just last week, their skilled technicians went above and beyond to make sure it was dialed in just right. They've never overcharged on service or replaced parts just for the sake of replacing parts. Their dedicated team is always there to lend a helping hand and ensure that my equipment remains in peak condition, ready for my next thrilling escapade. Beyond their product range and expertise, Kunstadt is always supporting the Ottawa adventure community and so we should support them too. Being a customer should feel like returning to your hometown, not becoming another number in a big box store's ledger. Shop local and support family business's in Ottawa.