Is Musicians Friend Selling Used Gear As New?

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[michaelp.]

This just happened to me this week. I ordered a brand new Gretsch G2622 from Musicians Friend a week before Christmas. It shipped from a Guitar Center in Arizona in early January. The guitar arrived in a Taylor box wrapped in bubble wrap - not a single hang tag, allen key, or warranty card was found in the box. The guitar was clearly off the wall from Guitar Center as it had scratches on the back of the head stock from a wall hanger and had fine scratches on the pickguard. As an added "bonus", all the pots freely rotated in their holes. I immediately called Musicians Friend and talked to "Frank" at a call center who clearly did not care about my complaints, issued me a UPS return label, and then hung up. After 20 years of buying from Musicians Friend I will never buy from them again.

[modsleix]

Yes, they *_ARE_* selling used/store demo items as "new". I ordered both a bass amp and cab last week and I got the amp on the weekend (the cab is supposed to get here today) from my local GC, not MF. The amp that I got came in a typical cardboard box, not the original manufacturer's box (I had seen the original box so I instantly knew something was not right).

It was wrapped in bubble wrap, along with all the accessories. The cables came wrapped in brown paper (like a paper bag) and the amp was covered in greasy fingerprints and even had a small amount of damage on the front left corner of the faceplate.

When I called up MF to let them know of this, I got a kid who barely spoke above a whisper and whose English was very poor. I couldn't understand him half the time and he seemed lost as to how to handle my complaints. One thing's for sure though, good English or not, he was very adamant that what they had sent me was "new" equipment (according to his computer screen), despite the fact that I told him it was out of the original box, covered in fingerprints and was damaged.

He made no attempts to fix or rectify the problem and when I asked to speak to someone higher than him, he put me on hold only to come back and tell me he would give me a refund (and not a full refund, just partial as they will deduct the cost of the "free shipping" now that I was going to send it back).

I told him I wanted to cancel the cab order if it was going to be in the same used condition as the amp but unfortunately, it had already shipped. I have a feeling I'm probably going to have to return the cab as well. So, long story short, I am now without the item I ordered, plus I just lost money (and will probably lose more when returning the cab).

I hadn't bought new gear in a *_LONG_* time and I was really excited to start playing again. What was supposed to be a really cool and fun experience with new gear has now turned into a stressful and costly nightmare. I feel so disappointed, angry, disrespected and used. *_NEVER AGAIN_* will I *_EVER_* buy from MF, GC or any of their other affilitated stores...

[rbaker]

That happened to me last year too with a PRS. This was when everyone was out of stock seemingly everywhere. Sweetwater quoted me a full year for it to arrive. I happened to check MF, and they listed it as new, in-stock, ready to ship, so I ordered it. Never any communication about where it was coming from. Finally I get the guitar, from a GC store halfway across the country. It was a floor model. In this case, it was in good condition (except for a loose knob and one tiny scratch), had the right accessories, bag, etc. And I didn't want to wait another year to get it (this was the last one anywhere in the system), so I kept it. But it's a shady way to do business, and it may well be the last time I do business with MF. It needs to be disclosed up front if they are using floor stock to fill orders (with suitable discounts), and shipping damaged product as new is not acceptable.

[sasrpd]

I sent two Fender American Pro II strats back to Guitar Center in the last two weeks because they sent me floor models without the correct tools and/or matching documentation. Everyone that I worked with was super friendly and helpful. They explained that the warehouse was out of new unopened guitars of that model, so they has been sent off the shelf from local stores. I am hoping to pass this guitar on to the kids/family later in life and it was important to me to have the matching paperwork, especially since that’s what I was paying for. I ended up contacting Sweetwater and going through them instead and had a great experience with them.

[chrisdigital]

I called Musicians friend about some questions yesterday and the person answered with Guitar the center greeting then quickly changed to saying thanks for calling musicians Friend, lol.

[robertyork]

This happened to me as well. I ordered a new cheap squire from guitar center online and when it came in it was a floor model from another store. It was missing the tremolo arm and all documentation. I too it back to my local GC and they pulled a new one from their stock to replace it. Just stupid of GC to sell used as new.

[scottreynolds]

I had a somewhat similar experience at Guitar Center. Found my Boss Katana at a GC store. Went to buy it and all they had was a floor model. Asked for a discount and they refused. I checked it out and went ahead and bought it. Been very happy with the amp and haven’t bought anything else from GC again due to that experience. Left a bad taste

[BessieBopOrBach]

Thomann in Europe does this too. They did it to me. Nothing I could do about it because it was a discontinued/rare model and I really wanted it.

[mikeadams]

I bought an OM-21 a few months ago from a local mom and pop....It was new but had been in the store for more than a year hanging in their acoustic room unsold. They gave me a great deal and I got a great guitar. I would have been super pissed if they tried to sell me a demo model as new.

[RequiemDead]

I am going to copy and paste this story from TTK's video when it first came out, I forgot to mention it during the live stream: Something kinda similar happened to me when I purchased a new guitar during "Guitar-a-thon" from GC. I wanted the Parallel Universe Strat-Tele hybrid and they had them on Sale for $1599 down from $1999, and I thought that was a pretty good deal. I placed the order and I am waiting days and it still says processing. I call GC and they assured me that it will be going out the next day...Next day came and went and no tracking information. I called GC back and they told me that this is actually coming from a store and that they will contact the store to send it. Another few days came and went and this was getting to absurd levels. I called GC back and spoke to a very nice CSR who actually called the store and the store told them that the guitar was a return that sat in the store and this happened to be the last of this particular model in the entire GC system, not only that but the store had it marked down to a clearance price of $1199. They gave me the clearance price which was the right thing to do in my opinion, and I had a store associate text me pictures and from what I saw the guitar looked fine. I received the guitar and it was not 100% fine, it has a couple small chips on the back...I kept the guitar because it actually plays amazing and for a used guitar it's not in bad shape and plays amazing. I just don't appreciate the deception on GC's part and the hassle I went through to get the guitar to me.

[mikemorrisonmusic]

This JUST happened to me with an HX Stomp. No one called to inform me it would be a floor model. I just received it used. Back it goes!

[Nicky-T]

This is incredible. I've spent thousands of dollars at MF )and Guitar Center as well, but not nearly as much). Insane.

[StratBurst]

I have been a happy Sweetwater customer since 2008 and still am.

[HikaruIchijyo]

good reasoning phillip for letting them try to fix it . . . but its crazy that musicians friend and guitar center would do underhanded stuff like that.

[mojolefevre]

Thank you for the PSA. I just got approved for credit at Musicians Friend and I will be double and triple checking whatever (if anything) I buy.

[The-]

I like the clip format Phil ! Sometimes important stuff discussed in the live show might not make it out to people who dont watch the full show despite your time stamping. Plus, Joe Rogan does well w/ clips. lol

[rainxsupreme]

Happened to me! I ordered a “brand new” Ibanez 7 string from Musician’s Friend. They had to source it from a random Guitar Center far away from me. It was a floor model that had been returned at least once and had cosmetic damage. Asked if they could take anything off the price and they wouldn’t. So I just canceled my order and took my business somewhere else

[FultonStreetBeats]

They are still up to the same thing today. Received a "NEW" IBANEZ. Well NEW maybe 5 years ago new.🤣 Half dollar size chuck missing, and fret sprout the worst I've seen. Even faded. (Plus much more) It was unboxed, boxed back up, and shipped back within a hr. Yes it came from a Guitar Center, but ordered through Musicians Friend. Funny thing is I even Received an email stating it was guaranteed to be new. Just wow.

[latintraveler]

This happened to me today. Ordered a Sterling Cutlass CT 50 HSS roasted maple from MF in Kansas City and got it from GS box store in Macon, GA. Waiting to open it but if it's anything but new it's going back. (even with the $89 discount) Arrived in a Fender Box, UPS guy said hey a Fender, I said no a Sterling, he said why the box?, I said good question.

[julianrh]

I just received an email from guitar center. I was like wait a minute my order its from musicians friend this is crazy. Sounds like they gonna send me a demo store guitar.