DDR4LYF
My little rant for the day. I went into a certain music store (don't want to bad mouth anyone just yet) and was looking around. The shop assistant, being quite friendly came to check if I needed anything, and so I asked him about bass compressors (as I have been looking around for one). The guy seemed completely clueless about compressors! He first told me that bassists just use the same compressors that guitarists use... ??? Then went and took about 10 minutes at his little computer to find out what they could get and came back to me with one option. Only one. It was a T-Rex Bass Squeezer for R 2100. As far as I have seen, it is a cool pedal, but this guy just seemed to know absolutely nothing about compression (or maybe just bass compression).
I have done a fair amount of research, but am I being unreasonable or should a music store salesman know a little more about compression (like the fact that not all compressors work with 5-string basses)?
DonovanB
I don't think you can expect to have expertise of Ratcliffian proportions working in the butt end of retail.
refuogee
I wanted to get a noise suppressor and compressor awhile back and was told that they pretty much the same thing by a sales person...
I guess you can't expect much, gotta know that the person is knowledgeable or do the research yourself, I dont know what people did before the internet, really!!
AlanRatcliffe
Donovan Banks wrote
I don't think you can expect to have expertise of Ratcliffian proportions working in the butt end of retail.
Why not? I worked retail once. ?
But seriously, there aren't as many generalist gearheads working in retail as you might hope (and most end up quickly moving on to the recording side, if not out of retail and into a studio). Most people have their own specialised area of interest and that naturally correlates with their area of expertise.
Think about it - if someone were to ask you for info on mixing desks, a comparison between recording interfaces or an opinion of different drum heads, how useful an answer would you be able to give?
GoeieGenugtig
Depends if your expections are fair with the position of the sales assistant.
If you go to a reputable music store who advertise "guitar and bass specialist" with x years experience and they give you wrong information, then I would be angy as they market their knowledge
If you speak to a junior guy or a drumming expert who never said they know anything ...
Some assistents are only able to help you find the product and facilitate the purchase as they are stil learning their trade
As I don't know everything in my field of work, I would always admit if I don't have a clue and get someone who can help. But experts are not always available at hand.
shaundtsl
I would always research on the internet first or ask questions here at the guitarforum.
Then buy the time I make contact with the music shops, my questions are usually, I want abc, do you have in stock.
Warren
I don't have a problem with people not knowing stuff.
What I *DO* have a problem with is people who don't know stuff talking about it as if they do. What the sales dude should have done in this case is said, "Sorry, I'm not 100% clued up on bass compressors, but I can search the system for you or refer you to dude X over here who knows that stuff."
MikeM
+1 to Warren.
In today's world, it's often up to the buyer to find out what they want and where to get it.
aja
MikeM wrote
+1 to Warren.
In today's world, it's often up to the buyer to find out what they want and where to get it.
Indeed! Like buying a 4x4 from a car dealership and asking what *specific* model will be best suited to Sahara overlanding? Or buying a computer for a specific purpose - I have yet to find ANY sales guy from any store that has the slightest idea what workstation class graphics cards are , like the nvidia quadro cards...
The problem seems to be one of greed from the management/owner:
pay peanuts and get monkeys!
Pskaiy
Warren has got it! The worst is for someone to pretend they know something and then for you to find out that they don't. Also the music industry has become highly specialised; can't think of many (sales) people (other than Alan) who could actually give one sound advice on guitar pick ups - especially acoustic.
Ray
Ag really, any industry is going to have a sales guy talking buzzwords and stuff and he doesnt really know what's going on but he must make you think that he does.
I walk into music stores and ask the people what guitar or other stuff I must buy sometimes and they tell me this and they tell me that and sometimes I buy what they say I must buy. So if I get something that's not so grand it's really my fault hey. the okes job is mainly to sell stuff - not to educate the public. And if he can spin you then so be it, he's done his job.
vic
Alan Ratcliffe wrote
Donovan Banks wrote
I don't think you can expect to have expertise of Ratcliffian proportions working in the butt end of retail.
Why not? I worked retail once. ?
But seriously, there aren't as many generalist gearheads working in retail as you might hope (and most end up quickly moving on to the recording side, if not out of retail and into a studio). Most people have their own specialised area of interest and that naturally correlates with their area of expertise.
Think about it -
if someone were to ask you for info on mixing desks, a comparison between recording interfaces or an opinion of different drum heads, how useful an answer would you be able to give?
Eeeasy ! I will just refer such person/s to Mr Ratcliffe ! ?
AlanRatcliffe
Vic wrote
Eeeasy ! I will just refer such person/s to Mr Ratcliffe ! ?
Don't joke! One store's sales staff were doing just that until I complained and threatened to charge consultation fees. ?
DDR4LYF
Alan Ratcliffe wrote
Don't joke! One store's sales staff were doing just that until I complained and threatened to charge consultation fees. ?
Ha ha! That's funny!!!! ?
flatfourfan
1 thing that I do like about assistants is when they recommend something that their store doesn't stock, but they can organize to get it.
AlanRatcliffe
flatfourfan wrote
1 thing that I do like about assistants is when they recommend something that their store doesn't stock, but they can organize to get it.
+1. That shows they are interested in getting you the gear that you need, rather than just making a quick sale.
I ran into problems with my first boss because of that - he always maintained that "the best gear is the gear you have in stock", while I was of a different opinion (he liked and stocked Ovations - 'nuff said ?).
strataxe
I'm not an expert on stores, or music for that matter, but surely if you work in a store, you should know most of the brands, type of equipment you're stocking. so if a customer mentions Bass compressor(I don't evern know what that is, but, Im a 6 string electric humbucker pickup guitarist LOL) a sales person should know what it is.
Squonk
I suppose they can't know everything!
I asked a couple of questions on Cort Guitars at a shop on the weekend and the assistant got a bit flummoxed. But I didn't expect him to know the answers as I had done major research already but as Warren has said it's perfectly OK for them to apologize and offer to get the information for you.
Keira-WitherKay
warren and mike said it all +1 to that , but i would like to add that as buyers we should use the stores to supply us goods at right price . Since most anything is available from some or other outlet , and don't be fooled into thinking you always get lowest prices from stores that import the goods . I on numerous occasions called a store i knew was the importer or distributor for some or other product and the saleman gave me a price only for me to call another store who i'd even inform where to source the gear and then they an still get it from the original store i called and offer it to me at a better price , i think salemen do their own companies out of biz by not offering competitive prices . I can research most items myself , even try out the gear at a fellow muso who has one or a store who has on the floor but when i buy i'll buy from the saleman that offers me the best price or i'll source the same gear elsewhere cheaper . And this is my gripe that salespersons should offer their best prices when you enquire . I'm cool if they don't have copious amounts of info on that gear but when they too lazy on a phone call to work out or find out from someone authorised to negotiate the stores best price - and they simply rattle off marked price less 10 . And i know this happens cos after sourcing something elsewhere at better price i would speak to some muso who said oh store A offered them a similar price and so it means the saleman i spoke to then was too lazy or took a chance i'd be a sucker and not shop around . That irritates me
