Dave C - GB Music

In defence of Carl, it is so easy to fall foul of a customer and anyone can make a mistake. My situation is even worse with regards to space / stock, given the range of stuff we cover but telling people we can get it is often no longer than buying online anyway. Many times I've heard of people buying something "in stock" online, then receiving multiple "updates" for their order from Gear... suppliers. That's when - damn it - they have to come to a shop. We had a customer about a week before Christmas that put it almost exactly that way - "F'ing Amazon said they'd sent it... now I've had to come here" - such a pleasure to deal with - just so happens we had everything they wanted anyway, and the same prices (phew!). From a Book to a Gong to an Ampeg cab, retailers can source most things - sometimes in less than 24hrs. A guy today couldn't believe that when he ordered his son’s Rockschool Debut Bass book at 3pm yesterday (yes, we’d sold out) he was able to collect it at 10am today. Online overheads differ due to scale and less chance of theft, but thankfully a lot of good people still love the face to face / browse / discussion of a retail store, and find a service they find lacking elsewhere. Instruments are inspected before sale but if something does go wrong it's easier to resolve face to face – including warranties and repairs. Margins are very tight so we have to enjoy what we do! I ‘shook my head inside’ when someone bought a guitar at Christmas asking for a "new sealed one". When I explained that stock on display isn't second hand (unless intended to be), they were more concerned about the sealed box than the instrument and didn't want it opened or set up, even if we packed it up carefully again! Of course we can thank the likes of "TV shopping experts" for that kind of misunderstanding, so you just smile, cross your fingers and say thank you as always! So, thank you for the endorsement, but Carl does a lot of stuff I don't do, and vice versa. A Retail shop is as much about passion than anything else these days. An apology is the important thing. Carl has tried very hard in that respect, but I know it is still annoying if you’re on the receiving end of an error. So, many thanks for those that live with Retail shop occasional inadequacies, but at least we don’t hide behind a mouse click like some of the giants online.