I'm not here to tell you Guitar Center is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I am here to tell you what my expectations of a company are and what I expect to receive as treatment. Now I do not know any other reviewer here but I also am not someone who needs to be pampered. I also recognize when places are short staffed and trying to do their best along with companies that just hire lazy workers. I have gone to the Saginaw Guitar Center multiple times since the Pandemic began, and will be making the hour and a half drive today. I have not once been treated poorly! I have had to wait considerable amounts of time but like I said earlier, short staffed (you can't force people to work and when you do, they are lazy). I was there for specific reasons and understood I would have to wait and did not need someone to tell me that. As for disrespectful employees, you find that everywhere where someone feels their horse is high enough. That's not a company fault, that's an individual fault, so when a company is trying to get people to work understand that, especially in an ERa where people don't want to work. And that is definitely true for any job in sales. Like I want to deal with anyone let alone a Karen. Now I understand that some job environments are toxic and promote that thinking, but is anyone seriously trying to suggest that a major corp is trying to be toxic and deliberately treating you like a beyotch?... if so then you probably are and it is true. Sure you may have your thoughts about Guitar Center but there is no better place that buys back gear or trade ins, and that's my fact! Now I gave 4 stars because they are lacking in employees which does translate into less customer care, but that is all they lack I feel. Some other reviewers seem to have gotten prissy during their learning of Rock and Roll !..! Be clear and concise everytime you speak , otherwise you invite the travesty you blindly seek....aka... people aren't mind readers and don't know what it means when you get puffy. Speak up in person and it might save you from writing a 1 star review. read more

As a previous GM at the baseline Guitar Center in Gilbert AZ and 33 years of playing.. I know what to expect, and this is the worst guitar center in the nation. For starters, I went in with the intention of spending $2,000 cash on a brand new 7 string Ibanez and accessories. I get the guitar off the rack and begin to unlock the tuners so I can try it out. instantly 3 strings come undone because they had absolutely zero coil on the tuning peg. I take the guitar to the salesman and ask him to string it up because I wanted to buy it. His reply, "no worries, we will get those back on?!?!!!!!" uhhh, no. The whole thing is a trap. The instant you go to tune it the strings sling out. Let's put some new ones on and string it up correctly since after all it does say "set up to play" RIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT. So, instead of restringing the instrument properly for a sale he tables the guitar and ask what else I would like to try. nothing really, I came in to buy the ibanez. regardless, I grab a jackson 7 string value guitar and begin to play hoping he will get on stringing the guitar I came in for. INSTEAD this newbie grabs a guitar off the wall and begins to play "7 nation army" and "killing in the name of" (really loudly I might add). what's worse is he began to try to drown me out with the Marshall stack?!?!!!!!! are you kidding me??? you are supposed to be stringing up my new guitar and instead you are trying to "outplay" me on a 200w full stack amplifier???? at this point I'm frustrated. I drove an entire hour to see this guitar and YOU WANT TO PLAY CRAPPY SONGS when I'm dialing in the Boss katana 50w amp to match my tone at home. maybe someone should remind you YOU'RE AT WORK, maybe string the guitar RIGHT so you can make a sale for a change. none of the guitars are wiped down, the strings are not strung right and the action on a majority of the guitars is abominable, nothing is remotely in tune, and when someone is serious about a purchase YOU DROWN THEM OUT WITH BAD MUSIC?! this 1 star review is SO DESERVED. You lost almost $3,000 in revenue yesterday. I would fire the clown playing guitar on his shift when he had a guest, he's the reason we left without buying anything (not that he noticed at all). PS you shouldn't be working at a Guitar Center if you can't resist playing "7 nation army" on repeat. it is the modern day "smoke on the water"... especially when you are drowning out my 7 string rendition of "Arpeggios from Hell" and you have work to do. For future reference YOUR JOB IS TO SELL GEAR! maybe suggest your favorite strings and tell me why, or suggest pro audio gear, or even a stomp box or pedal. I'll probably want a guitar case with that new guitar too right??? A strap even?? Any of this ringing a bell yet? My wife and I were the only customers in the store and this is how we were treated. Absolutely unforgivable behavior. We won't be back, online ordering is the new way to go. These guys want commission but have no idea what they are supposed to do to earn it. I ended up ordering a Schecter C7 apocalypse w/FR, the fender studio bundle, AND a ESP Baritone guitar from Zounds... that sale could have been yours. if this review offends you imagine how we felt experiencing it first hand. it's almost like he thought we couldn't afford the gear so he just ignored our existence. read more

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Walked in looking for specific electronic parts, at first I didn't get a good feeling, but Nick , the manager came out and was outstanding in helping me out, he also helped me find other things I was interested in! I will definitely be back he changed a lot on my original opinion thank you so much for all your help read more

I tried ordering a new shred stick TO Guitar Center. Talked to a young fella on the phone who told me he would have my axe ready for inspection in a couple of days. A couple of days rolled by and before I drove to GC Saginaw I thought I'd give them a ring, in case the guitar didn't make its way in shipping. Things happen, I understand. I get some young cat on the horn telling me they have no idea what I'm talking about, talking to me like I'm a real piece of trash, saying they can't find the order and would get back with me via phone when they figure it out. An hour goes by - at this point I have a 12 pack of Busch heavy sitting on the porch with my name all over it, looking delicious. But I can't crack a cold one because I know I might have to drive to GC and I'm not about that drinking and driving stuff since my last stint in county back in 82. Anyway, I decide to take matters into my own hands after another hour sober flys by and give them a ring. Dude tells me they're still trying to figure it out and that he would "CALL ME" when they sort it out. Its been over two weeks and I haven't heard a peep from the good people at GC Saginaw. Worry not, I got hooked up with a Sweetwater gear card and have already ordered the same guitar I was going to purchase through Guitar Center. Oh. And Sweetwater's 48 month 0% interest financing makes GC's 24 month financing seem like a 12 pack of Busch N/A. No thanks, guitar center. Keep on rockin in the slow lane. read more

Five minutes after showing up and mentioning my name to the manager, I get a message from a third person I barely know saying "hey, what are you doing at Guitar Center?" I ask how he knew I was there, and he says he heard it through a grapevine but mentions by name Ryan Cairo as being the initial source. Apparently Guitar Center Saginaw employees like to gossip about you pretty broadly and quickly as soon as you show up, because I barely know anyone in this town. I tried calling Ryan and working it out with him directly, but he chastised me for being too upset on the phone, and told me I wasn't welcome at his store. Funny, I had already decided I didn't want to shop there anymore. Don't shop here if you value your anonymity, I guess read more

Trying to purchase a $400 guitar an amplifier and cord for my son not the most expensive sale of the day but for 3 out of 4 employees doing nothing but sitting and having conversation while the older gen takes care of everyone is bey me. Then ask two of the guys sitting talking to each other for help to be ignored because their conversation was more important then my over $500 dollar. My son really wants this guitar and it's his birthday or I'd be going elsewhere and will not return for this type of service. I manage a mechanic shop where this ty of customer service would cost people their job. read more

After this past incident, I did write corporate guitar center, but, I did read some other incidents from other stores in the U.S. so, I guess its not this particular store, where there is employees w/bad attitudes! I rec. a call from this store mgr who I know its his job to reach out as he got my info via corporate. He was was cool, as I was, conversation cordial, I appreciated the follow up. Maybe in time, I'll go to this store again, but now, Muscians Friend & Sweetwater will be my "go to" stores now. By the way, I did buy a guitar.... thru Muscians Friend. Sale lost guys & gal, hope you unfolded you arms by now! read more