Guitar Center — Local services in Town of Cheektowaga

The salesmen pushed me into opening a gear card account under the pretense of “prequalifying” for a purchase, claiming it’s a soft inquiry only and won’t open an account before completing a purchase. For anyone wondering, YES, “prequalifying” opens a new credit account, and YES, contrary to what both the salesman and the manager assured me, it DOES count as a hard inquiry on your credit report, where it will stay for 2 years, increase your number of revolving credit accounts and reduce your average credit age in the process.

I’m considering reporting them to the credit bureaus for opening a credit account in my name and against my wishes, as I explicitly told the salesman I didn’t want a new hard inquiry on my credit score, and didn’t want to open a credit account, and he reiterated to me four times that it was a soft inquiry only, and told me it would NOT open an account immediately upon entering the information. The manager also assured me multiple times on the phone that this was a soft inquiry only when I called to complain. However, synchrony bank themselves confirmed that they do in fact perform hard credit inquiries prior to opening any accounts, including in my case, but I had to waste a further 45 minutes on the phone with synchrony to find that out.

For future reference, apparently in Guitar Center speak “prequalify” means “open a new credit account.” This damages my credit score at a time when it is particularly important to me, and when I really did not want or need more credit accounts in my name. I’ll be taking my business to the Guitar Factory in West Seneca from now on, where I’ve had much better service and was never pushed into opening a new...

I was in the market for a Native Instruments Maschine MK3 controller and couldn't stump up the cost of a new one, the store in Cheektowaga, NY (I am in Minneapolis, MN) had a used unit that looked like everything that I wanted so I ordered. When it came it was certainly in good condition (what you expect for a second hand unit) but when I tried to register it, I found that the serial number was already in use. Obviously a little upset, I called the store and tried to get it rectified. I spoke to Brandon who is the customer service manager who told me that he would get in touch with Native Instruments to try and get the serial released. Unfortunately he wasn't able to but then discussed with me that he would try and source another used unit from another store for the same price point. Well, I received my 2nd used unit and it's even better than the first, came with all the original software, box, cables and seems like its almost brand new! I feel Brandon went above and beyond to help me out and I really appreciate what he did. I don't have many great customer service experiences these days and I very rarely write reviews, but for the small extra wait and the work that Brandon put in, I feel it was worth it. I just wish I was closer to this store now after my experience! Many thanks to Brandon and the GC store in...

Brandon (Customer Service Manager) was very patient and willing to work through an inventory issue I was having with a guitar I was attempting to purchase. He work diligently on finding a solution and even offered to work on the issue, if I wanted to leave. Ultimately, he was able to bring the issue to the GM - Dave, and although it took well over an hour for the entire issue to be resolved, they did not stop trying and eventually resolved the issue for me. I am truly appreciative and thankful and I will continue to shop here versus any other location, due to the level of service I received. Although David (sales associate) attempted to assist me immediately, I had already saw Zack providing great customer service to a couple in the acoustic room and he sounded very knowledgeable. The service I received from the sales representative Zack, was 5 stars and he was willing to demonstrate how the guitar would sound while I made my decision. He told me all of the differences between the choices I had made, but guided me in the right direction to the one I actually purchased. Thank you guitar center!! David Most importantly thank you Brandon, you have proved why you are the customer service manager!...