Guitar Center — Attraction in New York

About two months ago, my daughter and I went to the Brooklyn Guitar Center for the first time. We liked the newly renovated store with its great room for high-end guitars and amps. It became our go-to place to visit before and after guitar lessons every week. The nightmare started soon after. We went to the store around 8:30 PM to try some keyboards (I’m a piano instructor teaching in Queens for over 20 years). At 8:48 PM, 12 minutes before closing, a security guard rudely told us the store was closing. We said we’d leave in five minutes, as my daughter was still improvising on the keyboard. The guard got upset and told my 9-year-old daughter to stop playing music. I was shocked—seriously, you work at a music store and tell people to stop playing 12 minutes before closing? I’ve been to many Guitar Centers across the country and never been treated so rudely. Staff at other stores always notify customers nicely, sometimes even in a funny way (Manhattan Guitar Center, thumbs up). But not this way, especially toward a 9-year-old kid. I didn’t want to argue in front of my daughter, so we left.

I called the store manager, Nick, the next day. He was genuinely upset, sincerely apologized for the issue, and took care of me on my next online order for used gear. Nick said the security guard was outsourced, would be gone, and I’d never see him again because this was unacceptable. Well, I still see him, and he got his revenge today.

I went to the store to try some guitars for my upcoming birthday and got into a Gibson Supreme yesterday. Sean was very nice and answered all my questions before he left work. I went home, did some research, and planned to finalize the deal today because I loved the guitar’s color. I talked with a staff member over the phone, went to the store, and was discussing the purchase. At 6:50 PM, I got a chance to try the guitar with a Magnatone amp, which was being used by a 1 year old baby with adults size semi-hollow guitar on her stroller. I don’t judge but trust me, if the strings are breaking and the baby got hurt, the parents will probably sue the store. (check the monitor footage if it’s hard to believe) I told the staff, who was in contact with Nick at the moment for the possible deal, that I’d try it for five minutes to make my decision. Then that same security guard came, said we had 10 minutes, which was fine since I only needed five. But he turned around, recognized me, and told me to stop the music again. It was 6:52 PM, two minutes after I connected the amp. I said, “Really? Do you remember telling my daughter to stop playing last time? Are you doing this again?” The guard got upset and said, “Money isn’t everything,” probably because Nick told him I’ve spent a lot at Guitar Center. He humiliated me in front of everyone—customers and staff. I was in shock and asked to speak to the manager. Nobody wants to stepped up and help, the staffs look at me said they didn’t have the manager’s direct number. I had to leave at 6:54 PM because I couldn’t take it anymore and it seems everyone in the store are expected it. Guess they can’t wait to get off work. Understand.

I should’ve written this review last time, but I trusted Nick to resolve the issue. I never thought this would happen again with the same guard. Congrats to him—he got his revenge. I’m reaching out to Guitar Center’s corporate management about this since it happening twice. I wonder if a 12-month customer who’s bought five Gibsons, two Mesa Boogie amps, travel guitar, effect pedals, and countless accessories, deserves to be treated a little more fairly. Maybe fair enough not to be discriminated by spend too much ?? and rudely kicked out of store 10 minutes before closing?? again and again?? (Shoutout to Guitar Center Manhattan and Carle Place, Long Island, for making me feel like a...

I would like to relay my experience at the Flatbush location because I believe it is important for the management to be informed of what's happening there.

At around 4:45pm on Wednesday, Dec 22nd,  I was at the acoustic guitar department choosing guitar for my 10 y o student. The girl and her mom were with me and we settled on an almost $700 steel string acoustic guitar.

I asked the guy who was handling the acoustic guitar department  (taller, short light brown  hair, white): if my student buys that guitar would it be possible to adjust the action of the neck because it was low and there was fret buzz?

He grabbed the guitar from me, played a bunch and said that there is nothing wrong with the guitar and that it doesn’t buzz. He said that they don’t sell guitar that have “problems”, that it was a normal sound and that’s how guitars are supposed to sound .

Being a session guitar player for the last 15 years  with a conservatory degree in guitar performance (I make my living as a performing/recording session musician and a teacher),  playing and owning multiple guitars throughout my career, I know what guitars with low action and fret buzz sound like.

I mentioned to the guy again:” the neck  definitely needs to be adjusted and that it has a definite fret buzz. Would it be possible to adjust the truss rod at this location? “. This set him off yelling at me in the presence of my young student and her mom saying that I either buy that guitar or not.

The mom stepped in for me asking him why he was so rude. This set him off even more and he left us saying that he doesn’t have any time for us.

The  level of sudden anger and hate in how he was treating us was surprising for someone who you just met.

I especially didn’t want a 10 y o girl who was so happy to come to a music store to choose a new guitar for herself witnessing a man 3 times her age treating a female guitar player like that and refusing her any assistance.

Stale, old school misogyny is the last thing I want my young students to see and experience. It is unacceptable that a guitar seller would behave like this around a child.

This should not be happening in a professional environment.

This experience entirely ruined the mood for us; the girl didn’t look as enthusiastic after that. We left without buying any guitar because the vibe was completely ruined.

This semester I have 5 students who  need new 4/4 size guitars and I was planning to bring them to the Flatbush location. Not any more. I told my fellow musicians about this experience. I don’t want my female students to experience the misogyny and  incompetence of guys who work there and have such a negative association with playing guitars.

If I was treated normally I would have brought in 5 more customers. Many new guitars need neck adjustments; not a big deal. There is no reason to yell at a customer who requests a slight truss rod adjustment.

I hope that the management at 139 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn NY location will have a meeting and conversation with the guys that they employ (they don't employ any women ever). No child or woman should have such an experience at a music store and if no one cares about that, then, at least,  they should care about the damage they wreak on their sales commissions and on the business.  Women  buy equipment and guitars as well and some are teachers with multiple students who buy guitars. These should be good enough reasons to address the toxic environment at the Flatbush location.

P.S. The location at the 14th is much better- way more professional sellers and treatment of...

NYC is my home, and Guitar Center in Atlantic-Barclay's is my music room😘 On my last visit there, I finally got what I was looking for! But, that was after the 3 exchanges (I do not recommend this behaviour!)! They were so very accommodating. I didn't like what I've been through when it comes to selecting acoustic guitar. But, I learned that, the guitar tones that connects with you makes your music harmonious and, you as a happy and content guitarist🙏.

My very own first guitar won't work anymore electronically and to have it fix will cost me more that I paid for it. So I tried to buy same one because I like how the way it sounded on my ear. But, the store was out of stock of the brand I like. So, I ended up trying a new one, a used acoustic Fender. But, a week later or so, I realized my soul was sad whenever I play😔. So I came back to the same store to exchange it, hoping they already have the brand I needed. Nope, none, and I couldn't wait till they have it or order it. So, I ended up getting a new one. But, just few days of having it home__it just sounded horrendous to my ear! I came back to the store, and they didn't still not have the one that I want__soooo, I ended up getting a another one, and it sounded almost same with my very first own guitar---but, something is not right few days later after bringing it home...when I used it to do basking and recorded my self: it sounded as if it has colds! 😱 And I said to myself, that's it, I really have to get a copy of my Yamaha acoustic guitar! I don't care if I needed to wait!

MORAL STORY: when we already know what to get and it doesn't have in stock__we must have patient to wait if you would like to get it on same store or have them ordered it for you. Because, you cannot replace an original! #IpersonalizedMyFirstYamaha🌹

I am new in the music world. March 22, 2020 when I bought my very own first guitar at this very same Guitar Center. I already know five chords since last 1993, G, D, C, Am, and Em. That's it. But it was enough to made my own very first music the next day, put poem lyrics the next day after that, and by the 3rd day, I was presenting my school's guitar mentor a song on my very first day of my guitar lesson❤️ and called me "You're a musically inclined musician!". It was March 20, 2020 when I registered on my Campus' Free Guitar Lesson program. Since buying that guitar, I became a frequent of this store. Bought my teenage son's keyboard, bought my guitar accessories, amplifier, etc...or sometimes, I dropped by to play on their guitars at their acoustic guitar room after a day of shopping spree in the mall!☺️ And I am always drooling on their Gibson guitars most especially their Gibson Hummingbird Original Heritage Cheery Sunburst 😍❤️😘🌹

This Guitar Center is perfectly laid out from the percussion room to acoustic guitar room, the floor areas for pianos and amplifiers and the wall of electric guitars, etc..and even the area where the lavatory, is also in its perfect place!

If ever I have complain (in which I did!) to this store, it's the frequent "out of order" sign of their scalators in which no fault of their own: they have only one company that fixes it and they were not doing a good job!!..😔 It keeps breaking down so obviously.😔

Just imagine, since 2018 March/April (when I signed up my 2 kids for piano lessons), this Guitar Center's own scalators never ceases to amazed me for being always out of order more than 2x yearly!!!...🤦 And it was out of order again on my last visit, May 28,...