Musical Instruments

[GeneGenie]

Well, i feel i must blow someone clean out of the water...

I've been a multi-instrumentalist (g., b., dr., k., vo.) since the age of 6, went pro at 13, won top honors in "downbeat" magazine's Student Recording Competitions in 1980, played the east coast lounge/party circuit from about 1981 thru about 1985, played with the pros: Dennis Chambers (Santana, Steely Dan, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Brecker Brothers, just to name a few), Vince Loving - a phenominal unknown bass player who recorded and toured with Special EFX, Randy Brecker, and Wayne Krantz, Stan Whitaker - Guitar player for Happy The Man, arguably the best progressive rock band ever to come out of the USA... , I've done a stand-up duo and solo act in the tri-state area in which I live for over 15 years playing covers and originals with and without my self-produced accompaniment, so no, i guess I don't have an ounce of musical talent nor experience!!!

BBY is trying to expand the best customer service this side of the universe to include musical instruments so that all walks of people can be exposed to the tools that allowed games like ROCK BAND and Guitar Hero to become what they are today. We (BBY) realize that game controllers are not musical instruments. And that's the topic of the day, not Laminates vs Solid Tops... I'm not saying that BBY is currently the end-all music store, but we're striving to be competitive enough to be among the top choices for musicians and students alike.

From what I can see, and my store doesn't even have a full-fledged M.I. department yet, and it's only been a positive experience for newbies, and a big surprise to pros.. 

Methinks you were a newbie once... So open up your heart and let the sunshine in.

[zakiue]

I'm always sorry to hear from people who have had bad experiences in our stores. Still, it's important to remember that Best Buy employees are individuals. Each employee has had different experiences and has different things to offer. Although you may have had bad experiences in the past, no two employees are alike and I hope that you change your mind after visiting our stores and meeting us. We're all here because we love music. None of us are any less qualified just because we work at Best Buy. We could just as easily be working at any of the other music shops in our area. Please give us a chance to change your mind.

[JoeChip]

Allow me to elaborate.  If you think you've got a great MI store in your BB, hoorah.  Maybe that means you're actually passionate about your job.  That's at least a start.  But it doesn't change the fact that most of BB's MI store employees are more comfortable clerking computer or dishwasher sales.  The difference between a laminated top and a solid top on an acoustic guitar is a simple thing to understand, and one would think an even simpler thing to explain to someone else.  Highlighting this level of ignorance, which I contend is common at BB, is a microcosm of the general incompetence one can expect at BB MI stores.  My local BB MI store has a few nice guitars (acoustics and electrics) which unfortunately have been played and handled so hard by disrespectful customers that no one in their right mind would buy one.  The staff, except for one manager, is generally untrained.

And in case you think I don't have a qualified point of view to make these remarks, I'm currently managing two independently owned full line MI stores (with a total of over 20,000 sq feet).  I've run these stores on and off for the last 15 years.  I've managed large retail teams in multi billion dollar corporations.  I've worked and managed in the retail consumer electronics business. 

From my experience and perspective, BB MI stores lack a professional level of salemanship and product knowledge in their employees.  This leads to unqualified sales, poor customer service, and an appeal to the lowest common denominator.  They are the W-Mart of the musical instrument business, which I'm not convinced will translate into long-term success.  

If you're store is different, congratulations.

[PantherJones]

I have to ask JoeChip, exactly how many MI stores have you been into? Because if you are basing the entire chain off of one or two, I am thinking that you are making a pretty broad assumption. I may be wrong but I am just calling it as I see it.

[zakiue]

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JoeChip wrote:
But it doesn't change the fact that most of BB's MI store employees are more comfortable clerking computer or dishwasher sales. 

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As a Best Buy MI employee, I would like to assert that nothing terrifies me more than trying to sell dishwashers or computers. I don't know nearly as much about them as my coworkers who specialize in those departments. I was hired to work in MI because that is my area of expertise. It's more likely that the majority of our employees who seem so ignorant are new to Best Buy altogether.

[fsumophead]

no offense, but you may just be a rude customer.  futhermore, it's not particularly fair to project your attitude towards an entire chain of stores composed of thousands of employees because your experience has been in your opinion, sub par.

[chgruver]

First I want to say I am not affiliated with Best Buy in any way. As working in a call center for a computer company I would even hear of many times correcting the diagnosis of computer issues that Geek Squad misdiagnosed. With that said, I was interested to see that a Best Buy near me had a MI. I think JoeChip hints at some of his possible reason for not wanting people to consider BB for their musical instruments. He stated he owns a couple of MI stores and probably considers stores like BB to be a major competitor. I also think his argument of lack of salesmanship meaning lack of knowledge. I know how to troubleshoot and repair computers, have had experience programming, and even building computers; but I am not a salesman and would do a horrible job at trying to sell computers. So my inability to be a good salesman regarding computers does not mean that I don't know anything about computers. Some thinking of lack of knowlege is also just trying to explain an answer to meet the knowlege level of the customer. If I were to be selling computers and was approached by someone who asked, "What is the difference between laminate and solid tops?" First thing I would think is how to explain this to someone who knows nothing about guitars. Then trying to explain it in the simplest terms that anyone can fully understand could come across to someone who actually knows a considerable amount about guitars as a lack of knowledge.

[montgomeryjim]

I agree with you... I too am a professional musician.  I have been since my teen years I am now 50.. and I am sorry to say that Best Buy techs are not knowledgeable on anything they sell (though the company wants you to think otherwise.) I went into their store one time to get a external soundcard for my laptop and the very knowlegeable techs said they don't make such a thing....mmm then why did I about 5 minutes later buy one at another company. This was not the only thing I needed to find out that made me end up going somewhere else....   I even asked about what kind of pickup was on a certain guitar that they sold and they said they had no clue.. they told me to contact the manufacturer of the guitar and I could find out........Buying a musical instrument from Best Buy will hurt the good musical instrument chains that do train their employees with the knowledge.

[PantherJones]

You sir are basing the entire company off of one interaction.....that is a ridiculous generalization.

[bestscam]

My view point on all this is from years of going to best buy, friends that go to best buy, friends that have bought the wrong thing based on best buy suggestions. I cant say that every person was bad but the majority were bad. I have been to best buys in several different states and its pretty much all the same. My initial beef was that best buy will take over the mom and pops music stores that actually have professional musicians that know and have experience playing and studio work. I just dont want that to go away because a big store wants to sell instruments. I am hoping that doesnt happen.