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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => LAB Lounge => Topic started by: Debbie Dunkley on July 13, 2014, 09:29:22 PM

Title: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Debbie Dunkley on July 13, 2014, 09:29:22 PM
I just remembered something that happened yesterday when I was in GC which I thought was quite funny.

I was in there purchasing some light fixtures ( as mentioned in my other thread) -I needed them quickly. I asked a couple of questions regarding specs on the lamps I was looking at buying. The young guy who was helping me said he wasn't sure and would look up the specs online.

He had the monitor turned to one side and I could see he was checking out the Sweetwater site. He saw me looking and smiled and said, "I don't like our website - I always use Sweetwater's - I find it has so much more information than ours".
I just smiled….
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Scott Olewiler on July 14, 2014, 06:44:00 AM
I just remembered something that happened yesterday when I was in GC which I thought was quite funny.

I was in there purchasing some light fixtures ( as mentioned in my other thread) -I needed them quickly. I asked a couple of questions regarding specs on the lamps I was looking at buying. The young guy who was helping me said he wasn't sure and would look up the specs online.

He had the monitor turned to one side and I could see he was checking out the Sweetwater site. He saw me looking and smiled and said, "I don't like our website - I always use Sweetwater's - I find it has so much more information than ours".
I just smiled….

At least he didn't pick the box and read it to you. I had a guy do that one time when I asked him if they had more info on the product. I walked out of the store while he was still talking. Haven't set foot in a MI store in over 10 years. Learn online-buy online. Don't even buy guitar picks in person anymore, but that's probably because I'm lazy.
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Bob Leonard on July 14, 2014, 07:18:12 AM
I use Sweetwater all the time Debbie. They keep me happy and their service is above the rest.
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: David Parker on July 14, 2014, 09:53:32 AM
I just remembered something that happened yesterday when I was in GC which I thought was quite funny.

I was in there purchasing some light fixtures ( as mentioned in my other thread) -I needed them quickly. I asked a couple of questions regarding specs on the lamps I was looking at buying. The young guy who was helping me said he wasn't sure and would look up the specs online.

He had the monitor turned to one side and I could see he was checking out the Sweetwater site. He saw me looking and smiled and said, "I don't like our website - I always use Sweetwater's - I find it has so much more information than ours".
I just smiled….
I bought a couple of things from sweetwater and they have live, breathing, sales people who call me to see if I'm cool with my purchase and if they can help me in any way.
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Debbie Dunkley on July 14, 2014, 10:44:48 AM
I have spoken to a couple of guys at SW and I agree - they know their sh** !!

I get 'roped in' with GC because 1) I have a 'guy' there (wasn't in the other day) who is 'relatively' knowledgeable, gives me very good pricing, they have great return policy and I can get the item (if it is in stock) right away.
I have NO confidence in the knowledge of 99% of the guys who work there or in their business practices and sadly I agree with the consensus who see them going away before too long.

I mentioned to the same young man who served me the other day just how much money I have spent with GC over the years and he mumbled, " well, when we start selling GC shares soon"……..
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Bob Leonard on July 14, 2014, 11:10:44 AM
GC is OK for many things and the pricing is usually fine. I don't need or want help when I'm there so I get what I need and then leave. I have Charlie Tappa for most large pro sound purchases, and everything else comes from Sweetwater. What many people don't add into the Sweetwater value is their sales force that can and will actually help you, their free and very fast shipping, and their web site.

I have purchased a number of vintage guitars using Ebay because I can communicate with the seller and demand pictures as needed. I had never purchased a new guitar without holding it until Sweetwater started to compete. You go to their site and you can see the actual guitar for sale and verify that because they show each guitar based on the serial number and at least a dozen photos. Call your rep and he will pull that guitar from their climate controlled storage area and take additional pictures, then send them to you. Recently I purchased a Gibson SG, 1961 LP with sideways vibrola. That went as far as Sweetwater calling Gibson for me before the purchase. I bought the guitar and 2 days later had it in my hands, plus I saved $100 bucks. Now to be fair to GC they used to do the same thing for me when I had a very good rep in Boston. But not anymore.

example:

http://www.sweetwater.com/guitargallery/
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Cailen Waddell on July 14, 2014, 11:58:21 AM

I have spoken to a couple of guys at SW and I agree - they know their sh** !!

I get 'roped in' with GC because 1) I have a 'guy' there (wasn't in the other day) who is 'relatively' knowledgeable, gives me very good pricing, they have great return policy and I can get the item (if it is in stock) right away.
I have NO confidence in the knowledge of 99% of the guys who work there or in their business practices and sadly I agree with the consensus who see them going away before too long.

I mentioned to the same young man who served me the other day just how much money I have spent with GC over the years and he mumbled, " well, when we start selling GC shares soon"……..

Mike Thrower? He is the only guy there i will willingly talk to....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Debbie Dunkley on July 14, 2014, 01:24:15 PM
Mike Thrower? He is the only guy there i will willingly talk to....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ha ha…that's 'my guy ' !!!
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Debbie Dunkley on July 14, 2014, 01:31:51 PM
GC is OK for many things and the pricing is usually fine. I don't need or want help when I'm there so I get what I need and then leave. I have Charlie Tappa for most large pro sound purchases, and everything else comes from Sweetwater. What many people don't add into the Sweetwater value is their sales force that can and will actually help you, their free and very fast shipping, and their web site.

I have purchased a number of vintage guitars using Ebay because I can communicate with the seller and demand pictures as needed. I had never purchased a new guitar without holding it until Sweetwater started to compete. You go to their site and you can see the actual guitar for sale and verify that because they show each guitar based on the serial number and at least a dozen photos. Call your rep and he will pull that guitar from their climate controlled storage area and take additional pictures, then send them to you. Recently I purchased a Gibson SG, 1961 LP with sideways vibrola. That went as far as Sweetwater calling Gibson for me before the purchase. I bought the guitar and 2 days later had it in my hands, plus I saved $100 bucks. Now to be fair to GC they used to do the same thing for me when I had a very good rep in Boston. But not anymore.

example:

http://www.sweetwater.com/guitargallery/

I certainly had no idea that SweetWater went to such lengths to provide all that info. That is really good to know Bob -thanks.

I usually find when I am in GC and talking to the guys in the pro sound department, they have no idea what the heck I am talking about once I get in the 'zone'. I am sure they all think I'm crazy - apart from Mike who  is the only one there who gets me because he understands what Im talking about.
So, I tend to know what I want before I go there too. Ironically one of the questions I had the other day was to do with lumens/lux numbers - just to see if by chance he might know. The guy had no idea what I was talking about.
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Steve M Smith on July 14, 2014, 01:55:19 PM
example:

http://www.sweetwater.com/guitargallery/


Did you have to show me that?!!!


Steve.
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Tommy Peel on July 14, 2014, 02:16:35 PM
Learn online-buy online. Don't even buy guitar picks in person anymore, but that's probably because I'm lazy.

Lol, I buy a lot of stuff online(not just sound stuff)... Amazon Prime is amazing and well worth the money for me. ;-)
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Debbie Dunkley on July 14, 2014, 02:54:41 PM
Lol, I buy a lot of stuff online(not just sound stuff)... Amazon Prime is amazing and well worth the money for me. ;-)

Yes - Amazon Prime member here.
Sometimes I find sound gear at really good prices on Amazon so I always check with them. And they have really looked after me over the years -their customer service is second to none !
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Tommy Peel on July 14, 2014, 02:57:47 PM
Yes - Amazon Prime member here.
Sometimes I find sound gear at really good prices on Amazon so I always check with them. And they have really looked after me over the years -their customer service is second to none !
Yeah, I've bought quite a few odd pieces of sound gear(DIs, cables, etc...) on Amazon. It's nice if I need something in a hurry; the $3.99 1 day shipping has come in handy a couple of times. I've also never had a problem with returns.

Sent from my Moto X (XT1053) using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Stephen Swaffer on July 14, 2014, 03:14:04 PM
Sweetwater has earned my confidence many times-they are my first choice for nearly any purchase.  If you like their website, you should really visit their showroom!
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Bob Leonard on July 14, 2014, 05:08:56 PM
I was there once some time back. I may have had a mild stroke, but at any rate they had to wheel me out like Hannibal Lecter mask and all with drool cup attached.
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Debbie Dunkley on July 14, 2014, 05:19:52 PM
I was there once some time back. I may have had a mild stroke, but at any rate they had to wheel me out like Hannibal Lecter mask and all with drool cup attached.

So happy memories then????

Joking aside…I hope you are well and have recovered. That must have been a little scary for you.
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Bob Leonard on July 15, 2014, 11:27:01 PM
Still out Debbie.
Title: Re: Comment spoke volumes...
Post by: Debbie Dunkley on July 16, 2014, 12:21:00 AM
Still out Debbie.

 :(