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(But sometimes I used to sell perfectly good pretty-much pristine items as "shop soiled" simply because I wanted to offer a discount without selling below our normal price. Calling something "shop soiled" means you can knock 10% off without actually "discounting".)
Disclaimer: no-one taught me that policy. I have no idea how other retailers work. I just made our rules up because they seemed to make sense and, as we got bigger, trained new staff along the same lines. Maybe other retailers do the same, maybe they don't.
If I put a guitar on display today and you are the first to try it, with a view to a purchase, then after trying 2/3/4 other guitars, are those guitars now ex-display or still new ? - If handled correctly and cared for I don't see an issue - But now a question to you, the potential buyer and assume you have now visited the shop ? - Do you want to buy the clean display model that you've just tried, or a new 'boxed' example from the back store room - If you say the latter, then can I assume you don't need/want to try it before you buy it, because if you do and then prefer to buy the new/display example because you prefer the feel/set-up/look, then the new/boxed example has now just become a display example hasn't it ? - Potential for us all to be going crazy
We all know a guitar has to be placed on display and it is fair to say most of us will try 2/3/4 guitars on display with a viewing to buying the one that suits them the best - But IMO a guitar on display has to be clean, set-up with clean strings - No grubby old stained finger marks left on the finish, ditto clean strings, not manky and dirty and not piles of dust on it - Should not be an issue for any retailer to maintain clean guitars on display
I think there is a difference between say a new USA Strat that has been on display 6 months, picked up a few grazes and tried by many - Legally it is still new and maybe should now be on offer with an 'new but ex-display' price tag that has been adjusted accordingly
Based on my store/examples of guitars stocked/sold, then it is more a case of how they are cared for whilst I stock/display them, awaiting for a potential buyer - But today most of my stock is used, so not an issue when you are talking about 'box shifting' retailers with 1000's of guitars in stock and 10 of the same in the store room - In many ways, the latter is a new aspect of guitar retail that has only become more of an 'Amazon' form of retail in the last 5/10 years ago - And most stores, certainly in the UK, are handling front of house/shop floor retail + a 'box shifting' operation as well so in some ways sch topics can become distorted
I meant the absolute lowest entry level, like some off-brand Argos special where the lowest possible price is the selling point, as long as it's functional. Above that, where you're paying a bit more for a proper brand precisely for the purpose of buying something slightly better, it's not.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
On the 18th and 19th frets there is some hard shiny substance. It is on the edge facing the guitar body, and doesn't effect playability, but it is a bit unsatisfactory. I think it may be the coating they put on the maple neck.
There was also some uneven-ness and gritty feeling on one or two of the frets. This is only apparent when bending a note, so it isn't on a section of fret directly under a string. I can see how a brief play and set up in the shop would have missed it.
These problems are all fixable and now shops are opening up I'll take it to a local, but it did feel a little disappointing on my first big guitar purchase. Not worth sending back but disappointing.
I don't know how you'd do such an untidy job if you were using the correct materials, it really does look more like an amateur repair than a clumsy factory job.
And I have always sagged Gibson off in the past! Maybe tables are turning?!
Maybe the box shifters need to start opening said boxes every time.
they’re great in store, great service. But online is bloody appalling
I don't think the larger retailers move an item to b-stock until it actually has a lacquer chip (or something else as significant). Certainly the Denmark St stores that view their stock as there to be played - which means they can pick up minor marks and swirls. But this is all cosmetic and not the issue the OP has flagged, which is about poor QC.
Personally, I am in two camps - that brand new guitar feeling/smell/touch is a wonderful thing, as is the comfort of knowing it has been tried and tested to be a good 'un.
Will see what tomorrow brings, but these guys really are a shower of brown smelly stuff.
I'm going to update my case with Fender (who haven't responded since I logged the case on Monday) and see if they feel this is acceptable.
I have the aftermarket roasted maple Strat neck on a Squier Tele FSR Deluxe. This is satin on the back, and high gloss on the fretboard and headstock. Maybe the neck on the Strat started off just like this, but has been knocked back to satin, which has left the marks. GG advertise this as having a satin fretboard.