Rant: Ethics of Guitar Stores in Singapore

[tpiledriver]

[QUOTE=theunknown;

hey bro just name the shop here, i'd like to know.
I believe people get what they deserve and you can't nego with customer service they way you nego 2nd hand products in soft.
And you probably deserve some respect from that store man, I can't see a problem in a customer borrowing a pick to test your own product, you know what I mean..
or that man is trying to be funny but fails at his attempt.

 

[jskadiang]

i think i know what shop he's talking about, but naming it here will just get my post edited. I had the exact same experience with the shop. Asked to try a pedal, but instead of passing me the guitar he just went on with his generic shredding demo that included playing with his teeth, which, might i add, makes him look completely retarded as a salesman. And he didn't even offer the guitar after that, just saying "can?". He only handed over the guitar after being specifically asked to, and then stood right in front of me and stared. Poor customer service, much?

Edit: It appears me and theunknown are actually talking about different shops. But same experience, although mine was with the one commonly associated with poor service and arrogant staff.

 

[lordie]

just name the shop lah...

 

[teleplayer]

hmm.... that shop sells a lot of vintage stuff right? If yes, I also had the same experience... I asked to try this ds-1 (ss btw) and that boss of the shop thought i am some nerd or something and didn't let me try myself...

 

[theliverevolution]

Doubt we can name the shop. There would be too much negative feedback about it.

If we name the shop, people will avoid it. If people avoid it, then their business would fail, and eventually close down.
Problem is, we as musicians needs the support of the shop as much as they need our support. A lot of shops in Singapore specializes in their own way, bringing in good products that are exclusive to themselves only. If they close down, then we would also lose out because that exclusive product they bring in would be gone.
Even if there WERE alternatives, what would make the alternative any better, both tangibly and intangibly? Singapore already has so few shops, losing a shop would be a bit of a blow in one way or another

All I can say is, if you're been around here long enough and visit the shops often enough, you would know which shops you would avoid for your own various reasons

 

[theunknown]

yeah wouldnt wanna name the shop, though those who wanna know can pm me.

some clues:
- the shop dont exactly sell guitars, just that they distribute this good brand of pedals and amps which i am interested in, i see mostly they sell sound systems.


theliverevolution: yeah pity some shops have exclusive rights to distribute products. makes us not having much choice.

 

[ciki]

theres only a few shops in that building so its not hard to know which are the shops been mention or had a reputation for their "soooo good service" if you had been to that area frequent...

i had to say that some of the shop staff serve u depending on how u present yourself, if you r well dressed look like you can afford the expensive stuffs thats for sale, you get good service from them, else...

as there are limited shops in SG and they have their exclusive distribution, we aint got much options if we are interested in their products.
1 thing i stick to, do a research on that particular interested product, suck it up, go to the shop, try, purchase and be a happy man out from the shop.

and i know which are the shops been mentioned..

 

[theliverevolution]

You forget that the shopkeepers themselves, are also human. If they are having a bad day, it is possible (and very likely) that they may also deal with customers in a way that perhaps they would not have done on a normal day.
Of course, I'm talking about times where its just a one-off thing
That said, it also depends on what they do.
And also on how often they do it. I recall going to a shop to check out a guitar (I was buying my first one) and the first shop I went into, had... really bad customer service.
Seems like THAT shop has quite a reputation for it as well.
That... is ... unforgivable. Goodness, how do they ever survive?!

 

[jskadiang]

You forget that the shopkeepers themselves, are also human. If they are having a bad day, it is possible (and very likely) that they may also deal with customers in a way that perhaps they would not have done on a normal day.

This is hardly an excuse though. Human as they may be, their job entails treating their customers well and catering to their needs, and most definitely not taking out their emotions on their customers. It would be highly unprofessional to do so. Evidently being "unprofessional" is not a concern of theirs however.

 

[theliverevolution]

True, but that's only in cases where its a one-off thing, and it just so happens its only THAT day. Sorry about that, didn't make myself more specific

 

[Whitestrat]

A lot of shops in Singapore specializes in their own way, bringing in good products that are exclusive to themselves only. If they close down, then we would also lose out because that exclusive product they bring in would be gone.

The marketplace is fluid. When one shop closes, if the demand is there, there will always be another shop ready to take it's place.

Furthermore, the shop is not the creater of those pedals. If the shop closes down, what makes you think another shop wouldn't pick it up if it were lucrative?

Furthermore, there are always online sources.:twisted:

 

[charles]

hmm. i think i know which shop it is. is it the indian man who runs the shop? in the basement of penin

 

[taypeng81]

Haha just name the shop la instead of beating ard the bush and giving enough clues for pple to figure out themselves.

what's wrong with naming them? I see customer feedback complaining about poor customer service every other day in the papers.

 

[Ized]

Haha the shop selling some tube pedals that are now all in the rage right?

I think they are quite ok lah. The guy is pretty friendly although he's a little too self-opiniated for my liking. Playing wise, he did ask me to share some tips with him though. haha so we kinda ended up jamming.....

 

[crajche]

yeah mates, just name the shop already im dying to know! so many faulty incidents! can i just pm u guys one by one?

 

[theliverevolution]

Lol. Not everyone has the ability to do online shopping, and there's a lot more risk in online shopping as well

 

[Whitestrat]

there's a lot more risk in online shopping as well

Really? What's the difference from not receiving your order compared to getting conned right in your face? At least, if you don't receive your order, you CAN get your money back!:mrgreen:

 

[fretness]

Will smiling help ease the tension? Like flashing a million dollar smile ande say HEY can I try theses stuff? LOokks REall cool! Hmm?

 

[theliverevolution]

Lol. My friend once received her bill and there were stuff she didn't buy reflected. We suspected that someone stole her data online (she does a lot of online shopping), and that scared her like crazy, lol.

But yea, one thing I'm not fond of online shopping is there's no way to personally check the goods until it reaches you, and by then it may be a little late to do anything bout it. I prefer going down to the shop and making sure that the goods are in good condition before buying. At least if there is something wrong with it, it would be easier to pinpoint whose fault is it, be it mine or the seller's.

My 2 cents, at least.

 

[squirrel]

hmm.... that shop sells a lot of vintage stuff right? If yes, I also had the same experience... I asked to try this ds-1 (ss btw) and that boss of the shop thought i am some nerd or something and didn't let me try myself...

Maybe you are?