Musical Instruments

[bestscam]

I am a professional musician and I would never buy an instrument from best buy. With the quality of the techs in the computer area of the store I don't think there musicial instrument tech's will be any different. Go to a store where you can get professional advice even if your a beginner.

[ccox30]

Bestscam -

I'm sorry to here you had poor service with our computer techs.  Let me say that in the Musical Instrument department we take pride in offering an experience that counters other major instrument dealers.  By having noncommissioned sales people, we offer our customers the ability to play any instrument they please as well as take lessons from us to either begin or continue their musical education.  Also, non commissioned sales allows to match and beat our competitors' prices.  It is our main focus to aid our customers in getting everything they need and immediately.  If we do not have the product you are looking for, we make strives in trying to find a comparable product or finding another way to get you what you need.  

I hope you do give our Musical Instrument department a chance to help you with your needs. 

Thank you.

Chris

Musical Instrument Specialist

Store 169

[GeneGenie]

You didn't mention where you buy your musical instruments from. Could it possibly be Guitar

Center, or Sam Ashe, or Mars Music, or another chain? Best Buy is a great place to buy

musical  instruments. There's not a tech need that they haven't met yet - at least for me!

I'm a semi-pro musician myself. I shop all the stores in my area that sell instruments - just to see what they've got. I hit Best Buy up cuz they're always turning up new stuff, but especially for their service. They're always happy to price-match. So if I see a Line-6 amp on sale at Guitar Center, and i know I'm going to Best Buy for something else, I'll stop in and see if Best Buy has that amp and then get them to match GC's price. It earns me points on my Reward Zone, and I can get 18 months interest-free financing on anything over $500 bucks!

I can't do that at a ma-pa guitar shop or at any other chain...

Your point is purely speculative. I challenge you to go down there and talk shop to their techs. I guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Best,

LAE2K

[bestscam]

Well I have and didnt have a good experience but another point they don't sell the type of instruments I usually buy. I see alot of basic guitars and amps. I really don't want them to put the mom and pops stores out of business. There is no competition for them but if they really want to do it right I just really suggest getting different type of instruments and focus on the customer.

Having sales people that understand what you want and what you are talking about is a biggy. I met one sales guy at Best Buy that hasnt even played on stage yet in front of thousands but knew the instruments half way. So if I ask him anything about live music in that relm he wouldnt know what to give me advise on. t's all about experience in this business. Learning from people that have been there. That's why I choose the mom and pop's and small chains like Sam Ash, Chuck Levin's and others. To me Best Buy may end up doing school band equipment and be on that level of the scope.

If they want to get into this arena it has to be focus on the customer and get sales and techs with knowledge of the craft. I still don't think I will give this a chance because of other experiences at this company. It sounded good when I heard about it but after thinking it through its not the choice for me.

[JoeChip]

GeneGenie, you sound like just another BB employee who doesn't know his back side from a hole in the ground.  Mars Music has been out of business since 2002.  Many "ma and pa" stores offer deferred interest programs just like BB.  As a further example of the BB ignorance, next time you go into a BB musical instrument store, try and get one of the clerks to explain to you the difference between a laminated and a solid top.  My point is that BB employees are not salesman, they are not experienced musicians, and they do not have the kind of training, product knowledge, or background that you are likely to find at a locally owned competitor music store.  BB employees are clerks who generally only know how to process a sale.  If you're looking for a massively different level of customer service, before and after you've purchased an instrument, I suggest staying away from the big box players (BB, GC, and yes, even Sam Ash).  And many "ma and pa" stores are also highly competitive with BB on price. 

[fsumophead]

Best Buy's 435 store has very experienced employees. We have a full sail graduate who has years of studio work and production under his belt, two FSU music grad students and 4 other post-secondary study students with band touring and studio recording experience. We all have very extensive musical backgrounds with an expansive passion for music in general. I think we know how to do a little more than press a button on a cash register. I would love for you to come in to our store and try to leave disappointed because it's not possible.

[John-BBYMI]

JoeChip, where exactly are you shopping other than the big boxes?  Everytime I go to a mom/pop they try to sell me no-name gear at ridiculously high prices.  And all the employees that work in my store are either gigging musicians or music students.  But be assured that all them are fanatical gear heads.  Also the next time you're shopping in any music store, you might want to just ask what that salesperson's expertise is.  I can tell you anything you want to know about guitars, basses, amps, effects, pro audio, home recording, etc., but I'll look at you like a deer in headlights if you ask me about professional DJ equipment outside of what we sell at the store. 

[4sdDrummer]

"I met one sales guy at Best Buy that hasnt even played on stage yet in front of thousands "



Doesn't that seem like a pretty narrow standard to hold an instrument salesperson to?

I know people that have built beautiful guitars out pieces of wood, who have never played in front of thousands of fans. They can still supply you with an ocean of information about guitar construction and upkeep.

I'm just as sure you can find people who have played to sell out crowds at stadiums  who don't know very much at all about the technical aspects of music or equipment.

I work at Best Buy store 291 (Houston TX) and every person working here is honest with the customers about the information we know and when we are unsure we take the time to research it in order to see our customers get the help they need.

[PantherJones]

I am employed at the Dallas Best Buy MI, and I have been a musician for the greater half of my life, as well as being a fourth generation guitarist, I have also toured pretty extensively, and I can say that I would not work a store that sold second rate gear.

[mcguirejarrod]

Knowing the difference between laminant and solid tops... Really? Thats pretty simplistic, I think everyone knows that one. I also dont think that it is exactly required to have played in front of thousands either; I think we would all agree that Leo Fender knew a thing or two about guitars, and he didn't even play one.

All of this sounds to me like a case of judging a book by its cover!