Had a extremely bad experience I would like to share with everyone.
I'm in the prospect of buying a gibby lp, currently considering between the 50's and 60's neck. Having not much experience in how they both feel, I was down at the peninsula/excelsior area with a couple of friends. Came to a certain shop, which shall remain anonymous became of the earlier good rep i heard about from this forum.
I asked the guy if he had any gibson's with a 60s neck, and he said he had a gibby classic(most likely second hand, judging from the display). When i asked him if i could try it and have a feel, he snapped at me in a rather insulting tone. "Are you interested in buying it, or do you just want to try it?"
Taken aback, I told him I wanted to try and consider, to which he just went back doing his own stuff and ignoring me.
I would like everyone to think about the following points:
1.Attitude
This is so damned important when it comes to service, whether your customer is interested in purchasing anything or just having a look around before deciding. It shouldn't matter how old your customer is or how he looks(I'm 16, went there perhaps rather shabbily in jersey and shorts), he's still a potential buyer. Not to say one should tolerate rude customers or the like, in fact those type of customers should be downright slammed(but not without initial toleration, that should be basic courtesy). However, I don't recall being rude or anything, on the contrary speaking in a very polite manner. Does my age matter? Cause if it does, maybe i should just shy away and keep my money after all or just buy lots of those beginner guitars that are supposed to be for the younger ones.
2.Testing
Touchy subject, i know. I noticed many shops not allowing testing, which is perfectly fair in my opinion, it wont be easy to sell off damaged gear. But without testing, how will customers know how the guitar feels and plays before deciding? You expect them to gamble with their money, paying first before hoping the guitar is right for them? I doubt any customer would want to do that. Of course, im not suggesting unlimited testing where the customer would play all he wants without paying for it.
Having the impression of the store offering very good service, I was extremely disappointed by this incident, and I'm still very much ticked off by it.
After I left the shop in a rather bitter mood, my friend suggested that I go over to Swee Lee nearby and try the gibby. The guy over there brought me one, the only question he asked was to reconfirm that I wanted to try the 50s neck. I sat there enjoying the neck and guitar for 20 full minutes, without anyone asking me to return it or whether i wanted to purchase it. I don't understand why people would say their service sucks.
I hope everyone, especially merchants, think further about this. It really won't be pleasant for customers. No one would like to be dissed just because he wanted to try anythign without buying it on the exact day(even if you had to, do it politely). In turn, if no customers want to buy anything from you because of your ****ed up attitude, how are you going to earn your money?
I'm in the prospect of buying a gibby lp, currently considering between the 50's and 60's neck. Having not much experience in how they both feel, I was down at the peninsula/excelsior area with a couple of friends. Came to a certain shop, which shall remain anonymous became of the earlier good rep i heard about from this forum.
I asked the guy if he had any gibson's with a 60s neck, and he said he had a gibby classic(most likely second hand, judging from the display). When i asked him if i could try it and have a feel, he snapped at me in a rather insulting tone. "Are you interested in buying it, or do you just want to try it?"
Taken aback, I told him I wanted to try and consider, to which he just went back doing his own stuff and ignoring me.
I would like everyone to think about the following points:
1.Attitude
This is so damned important when it comes to service, whether your customer is interested in purchasing anything or just having a look around before deciding. It shouldn't matter how old your customer is or how he looks(I'm 16, went there perhaps rather shabbily in jersey and shorts), he's still a potential buyer. Not to say one should tolerate rude customers or the like, in fact those type of customers should be downright slammed(but not without initial toleration, that should be basic courtesy). However, I don't recall being rude or anything, on the contrary speaking in a very polite manner. Does my age matter? Cause if it does, maybe i should just shy away and keep my money after all or just buy lots of those beginner guitars that are supposed to be for the younger ones.
2.Testing
Touchy subject, i know. I noticed many shops not allowing testing, which is perfectly fair in my opinion, it wont be easy to sell off damaged gear. But without testing, how will customers know how the guitar feels and plays before deciding? You expect them to gamble with their money, paying first before hoping the guitar is right for them? I doubt any customer would want to do that. Of course, im not suggesting unlimited testing where the customer would play all he wants without paying for it.
Having the impression of the store offering very good service, I was extremely disappointed by this incident, and I'm still very much ticked off by it.
After I left the shop in a rather bitter mood, my friend suggested that I go over to Swee Lee nearby and try the gibby. The guy over there brought me one, the only question he asked was to reconfirm that I wanted to try the 50s neck. I sat there enjoying the neck and guitar for 20 full minutes, without anyone asking me to return it or whether i wanted to purchase it. I don't understand why people would say their service sucks.
I hope everyone, especially merchants, think further about this. It really won't be pleasant for customers. No one would like to be dissed just because he wanted to try anythign without buying it on the exact day(even if you had to, do it politely). In turn, if no customers want to buy anything from you because of your ****ed up attitude, how are you going to earn your money?
