The Dangers of Guitar Center and Online Shopping

This Guitar was ordered from Guitar Center and arrived With an undisclosed Broken Head Stock!

Have you ever gotten something like this from Guitar Center?
Let us know in the Comments Below!

Check out Steve From Boston's Similar Experience with Guitar Center!

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[sykness-]

GC has a bass listed as a Sterling Ray34CA when it's pretty apparent that it's a Ray24CA. I called to find out what the return policy was, and they ended up offering me free shipping. Not wanting to pass up a potentially amazing deal, I took a flier and purchased the bass. When I got the bass, I sent the pictures to Sterling so they could verify. Unsurprisingly, they confirmed it was only a 24CA. I returned the bass to a local GC, explained to them that Sterling verified the bass as a 24CA, only to see them relist the bass as a 34CA again!

[machine-madedog]

I had a less-bad experience than this one. Ordered an MXR Super Comp from a GC location 800 miles away, had it delivered to my door. Plugged it into my pedal board and.. nothing. Tried different power cables, nothing. Put a battery in it, it worked fine, but I definitely don't use batteries. The invoice even said "Guaranteed tested", hehe. My local GC did the return for me and apologized and said the other GC location obviously didn't test a damn thing.

[Ravman]

I went to my local GC to buy a Mitchell MS450 a little over a month ago when they were on sale for $229. They didn't have any Aqua Burst in stock so they ordered me one and I had it shipped to me. It arrived about 5 days later in a regular box with just a little bit of bubble wrap around it. The headstock almost busted its way through the box. When I took it out of the box I found it had a crack in the finish on the body right beside the where the neck was set. I took it right back to GC and they ordered me another one. I complained that it better come brand new and packaged properly or I will be returning it as soon as I receive it. The next day I got a call from the manager of a GC in a neighboring state saying he had one that he can send but wanted to talk to me first to make sure I would accept it, It was a demo on their floor for a couple months. After talking too him I decided to drive down there and get it, they are just over an hour away from me. In the end I got the MS450 for $200 and got a their year warranty with it for 3 years. After this experience I will never order from them again but I will shop in store. I blame their corporate greed on issues such as mine because the staff can only do what the corporation lets them.

[npwx]

I just wanted to thank you for my Tele type of guitar you sold me. I see where Phil had changed the bridge and kept the tool kit that came with it. Thanks for the picks and sticker. I will have to see what else you have I may buy another guitar. I have been looking for a blonde fender strat. Thanks again Brother.

[ericwarrington]

Sent me a floor model strat for brand new and it was missing trem bar etc...gave me hard time and never gave me one..bought one from Sweetwater and 15 k worth of business with me

[brianpartlow]

The guitar center I go to is great. Their used guitars have every little or big thing wrong written on the tag. I would be careful with any on line sale no matter who it is. I like to see and hold a guitar before I buy it. Used? I don't know. Too many guitar players think they are trained guitar techs and will screw it up. Then sell it to the newest guy working the counter at the music store.

[wooserthethird]

Got my les Paul from GC knowing that if it was bad I could send it back.

[jefferymoreno]

I bought a Fender Montreux amp to match up with a Fender strat of the era. The amp was sent in a large cardboard box, period. No padding or packaging done . The amp broke out the box and had a couple of smashed corners plus a loud hum when turned on. Fortunately the local Guitar center took it back. Very disappointing experience.

[andyguitar]

Got a Taylor T5z used from GC in Texas, with 45 day return policy added year extra coverage. Cost was $1000 less than brand new and was absolutely perfect. No complaints from me. Get protection and ask questions.

[Stewiecookie]

I bought a used guitar from GC and the guitar originally came with a gig bag so it was somewhat understandable that it didn’t have that anymore but the way that it was shipped…. It was wrapped in the bubble wrap that is like giant punches, like cell phone shaped bubbles, wrapped around from top to bottom and just put in a box. No additional packing to fill all the empty space, just sat in there floating in the middle suspended by giant bubbles. Glad it had no issues and it only came from one state over but holy. Imagine that had multiple stops and loading/unloading. It would’ve been destroyed.

[stepvanjoe]

I bought a NEW Gibson les paul special from them and when it showed up it clearly was a return and the neck was badly cracked back it went and bought one from Sam Ashe

[patrickhoglund]

i have had an up and down recent experience with ordering online or over the phone with GC. In the last few weeks had 2 used Stratocasters shipped without tremolo bars. (After specifically asking over the phone with one GC store.) One guitar arrived in otherwise flawless condition, one had undisclosed "dents" - the phone order arrived with no receipt/paperwork and GC failed to email the receipt or any shipping info (will see how quickly issues are rectified). Purchased a used pedal board they sold (undisclosed) without the power supply but with a hodge-podge of connector cables. Had them cancel a used guitar ordered online from local store - 2 days after purchase. On a good note had another used guitar arrive in tune and just as described online. Finally, ordered 2 new guitars at Christmas ... one of the guitars was not the color ordered ... close but not the right color. ;-) It does feel more inconsistent than in the past.

[SquirrelDarling]

This apparently is normal for them to lie. They lied to me on a purchase and setup. I’ll never buy from them again.

[richardrardin]

JUST HAVE EM SHIP IT TO THE CLOSEST G.C. STORE, AND OPEN IT IN FRONT OF THEIR EMPLOYEES, INSPECT IT, THEN TAKE IT TO THE ROOM HOOK IT UP TO A PEDAL AND TEST IT.