Guitar Center
Reviews and Complaints

As a customer who values quality and service, my recent visit to Guitar Center - Country Club Hills left me utterly disappointed. The merchandise I received was of low quality, overpriced, and lacked essential components. The resale value of their products is abysmal, making it clear that Guitar Center prioritizes profit over customer satisfaction. The lackluster customer service and the overall experience have left me questioning why anyone would choose to shop at Guitar Center. It's evident that the business is not customer-centric and fails to meet basic expectations. My advice: Look elsewhere for your musical needs.

My name is Alfred Colvin I am a producer, Singer and Musician. I buy all my musical equipment there and buy all my piano's there. I love their services and every worker I run into know there stuff and loves music. I have been referred to websites like https://pianofree.com https://guitarlessons.org because of that I can play both instruments fluently All base from a Guitar center employee.

Went to Southington store today where Staff member named David went above and beyond to help me with a long unresolved problem.
Snnchonty Bank and other Guitar Center staff did absolutely nothing and totally ignored my problem. David is equivalent to numerous outstanding employees in one. All others can learn a great deal from him if they would make an honest effort. Once again, hats off to David at the Southington Guitar Center!

I ordered a new $1500 acustic guitar from guitar center.com (had it shipped to my house) it came in exactly 5 business days, the receipt said it would email you when it was on the way... But I didn't get one, so be on the lookout for you guitar or equipment on the expected date. It was wrapped up in thick bubble rap; around a hard case, It was brand new just as I'd bought it. Very pleased. I'm sorry for everyone else's bad experiences but this gets a five star from me.

I ordered some DJ lights at guitar center at Jw clay blvd Charlotte nc. After standing in line behind a customer for about 10 minutes. Finally I get to the counter. I gave the salesman my information & then another customer steps up to ask the salesman a question. The salesman steps away from the counter leaving me at the counter & begins to help the other customer for about 5 minutes as though I wasn't even there. That was very rude from the salesman & the customer & very unprofessional.

I deal with the Arvada Colorado location mostly and their staff is super cool. Zero attitude given, no pressure felt and doesnt matter what level of musician you are, they simply take care of you. Going to this location is always a good experience, however the online experience is great as well. I have found amazing deals online and all stores in the country can be accessed for inventory in mere seconds. I have called many other stores to purchase something and have it sent to my home store. Always friendly and professional. Thank you Guitar Center staff!

I took my guitar in for a broken knob and the guy who fixes things hooked me up with a matching knob within minutes of arriving. I could have paid him $10 to install the knob for me, but opted to install myself.
Besides their fix it center, I love guitar center because they let me play whatever I want, from drums to banjos, for however long I want, no questions asked. Plus, the staff is knowledgeable on their guitars, ukuleles, and equipment. I've bought ukulele's and electric guitars from Guitar Center and for a couple extra $, you can get a 2 or 4 year warranty on your product.

Back to Guitar Center Orlando Florida the outcome was ugly I purchased a guitar for the general manager said it was a deal wasn't a good deal corporate never call me back spending $2,000 plus on the guitar should be a happy day in your life I get so mad every time I see that guitar I sold it so I didn't have to be reminded of it in all the sad memories a box of my life Guitar Center offer to buy it back not even a month later for $700 I took a beating on it anyhow just to get rid of it all I can say is buyer beware don't make the same mistake I did I listen to all the lies Dayton make money off commission they will tell you anything you want to hear to sell it to you at the purchase is made they don't even wanna know you

I went in knowing what I needed, wanted. I called ahead. No wait, they directed me back to guitar area. Travel Guitar (came recommended by friend so could take on vacations to practice for upcoming gig)--Price was as mentioned on web site; case as well--not overbearing on trying to sell me something extra. I was in store for 10 minutes max.
Item is HIGHLY recommended --fits in overhead bin on airline and pocket of case large enough for tuner, capo, my miniVOX headphone / distortion/ amp and even a short cable if you want. Can play acoustic and fret board feels not a ton different from my Strat. Allows me to work on riffs from Cancun, Florida, wherever! Can plug in headphones and link to my mp3 and play along without disturbing others. I have even amped this little guy up and sounds pretty damn good. I've read others who actually gig with it? I don't think that's the best purpose as no eq /volume/ tone knobs, but for travel practice and taking up no space---awesome! Really helps when playing to have the little metal weight bar attachment for balance and easier if I stand when playing rather than sitting b/c of weight distribution. Has attachment for guitar straps. Highly recommend. Already did, actually, and another friend bought one and loves it, too.

So, I just chatted with one of your people about why you send me an email about free shipping then when I put a very expensive guitar in my cart theirs is a 24-dollar shipping charge. So, for 24 dollars you have lost a customer. Just want you to know that Sweetwater is eating your lunch because when you talk to them the answer is yes sir, we will fix that, and we want your business. So, I will be cutting up my guitar center credit card. Maybe you could teach your customer service that the customer is always right before you end up like Sam Ash.

Thank you

John Mitchell

[protected]@gmail.com

MY NAME IS DAVID EICKHOLT... ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 17 AT THE GUITAR CENTER IN HUNTSVILLE ALABAMA, ANOTHER CUSTOMER AND MYSELF WERE MEETING UP AT THE GUITAR CENTER TO CHECK OUT SOME EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES AND TALK ABOUT WORKING ON ONE OF HIS GUITARS FOR HIM BECAUSE I AM A LUTHIER AND A REPAIR TECHNICIAN, I DO A LOT OF MODIFICATIONS THE NORMAL TECHS DON'T DO. I WAS ALREADY IN THE BUILDING WAITING ON MY FRIEND AND CUSTOMER, MR YOUNG. MR YOUNG IS AN EXTREMELY GOOD GUITAR CENTER CUSTOMER, HE HAS SPENT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THERE. AS HE ENTERED THE BUILDING, THE MANAGER, TYLER STANSELL ASKED IF HE COULD HELP HIM AND HE SAID THAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR ME AND STANSILL ASKED HIM WHAT FOR, NOT THAT IT WAS ANY OF HIS BUSINESS BUT MR YOUNG TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS GOING TO GET ME TO DO SOME WORK FOR HIM. AT THAT TIME TYLER STANSILL TOLD HIM THAT THEY HAVE A TECH THERE BUT MR YOUNG TOLD HIM THAT BASICALLY I WAS HIS PREFERRED TECH AND TYLER STANSILL, THE MANAGER TOLD HIM THAT HE COULDN'T COME TO THE GUITAR CENTER TO DISCUSS SOMEONE ELSE DOING WORK ON HIS GUITARS. STANSILL THEN APPROACHED ME AND TOLD ME THE SAME THING AND THAT WE NEED TO LEAVE THE BUILDING.

FIRST OF ALL, NO EMPLOYEE OF GUITAR CENTER CAN TELL ANY CUSTOMER WHO THEY CAN OR CANNOT TALK TO ABOUT WHATEVER IT IS THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT. PEOPLE MEET UP AT THE GUITAR CENTER JUST TO HANG OUT AND TALK ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS BECAUSE THE GUITAR CENTER HAS ALWAYS HAD THE VIBE OF BEING A COOL PLACE TO HANG OUT. WE ARE NOW TOLD THAT WE CAN'T DO THAT I ASSUME AND THAT OUR PRIVATE BUSINESS IS NO LONGER OUR PRIVATE BUSINESS. A GOOD MANAGER WOULD HAVE TOLD THE CUSTOMER THAT HE RESPECTS HIS DECISION AND THAT NO MATTER WHO HE DECIDES TO WORK ON HIS GUITARS, HE HOPES THAT HE GETS WHAT HE IS LOOKING FOR AND THAT HE APPRECIATES HIS BUSINESS ANYWAY, ESPECIALLY KNOWING MR YOUNG AND THE FACT THAT HE IS A REGULAR CUSTOMER. I USE TO WORK AT GUITAR CENTER AND THE CURRENT MANAGER AND DISTRICT MANAGER ARE THE MAIN REASONS I LEFT. THEY LIED TO ME AS AN EMPLOYEE AND DO NOT PUT CUSTOMERS FIRST. A GOOD MANAGER WOULD HAVE ALWAYS PUT THE CUSTOMERS BEST INTEREST FIRST KNOWING THAT IF HE TREATED THE CUSTOMER WELL, HE WOULD ALWAYS BE ABLE TO DEPEND ON HIS BUSINESS, MAYBE NOT FOR TECH WORK, BUT DEFINITELY FOR EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, CORPORATE HIGHER-UPS MAY HAVE TOLD HIM TO TREAT CUSTOMERS LIKE THAT, I DON'T KNOW BUT I DEFINITELY KNOW THAT TYLER STANSELL'S ATTITUDE AND DEMEANOR WAS VERY RUDE AND ABRASIVE AND VERY DISRESPECTFUL... NOTHING LIKE HOW A MANAGER SHOULD ACT AND RESPOND. I WOULD HOPE THAT GUITAR CENTER WOULD WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CUSTOMERS NO MATTER WHAT AND ALWAYS PUT THEM FIRST.
I BELIEVE THAT GUITAR CENTER SHOULD VERBALLY AND FORMALLY DISAPPROVE OF MR STANSELLS ACTIONS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE PRACTICES. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE CUSTOMER, MR YOUNG SHOULD GET AN APOLOGY AND GUARANTEED TO NEVER BE TREATED LIKE THAT AGAIN. AS FOR ME, I'VE BEEN TREATED WORSE BY BETTER PEOPLE SO I JUST BRUSH PEOPLE LIKE THAT OFF AND DON'T CARE ABOUT HIS OPINION ABOUT ANYTHING BECAUSE IF HE DID APOLOGIZE, I KNOW IT WOULDN'T BE REAL AND HE WOULD BE DOING IT JUST BECAUSE HE IS TOLD TO SO.
GUITAR CENTER HAS JUST BEEN GRANTED ANOTHER BANKRUPTCY CLAIM SO I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD WANT TO LOSE CUSTOMERS ON PURPOSE. THAT PARTICULAR GUITAR CENTER FIRED THE BEST MANAGER THEY EVER HAD LAST YEAR OVER SOME RIDICULOUS STUFF... DUMB... DUMB... DUMB.

ANYWAY, I WILL POST THIS LETTER ON AS MANY PLATFORMS AS I CAN IN HOPES THAT SOMEONE WITH SOME SENSE AND RESPONSIBILITY WILL ACTUALLY GIVE A DAMN AND DO THE RIGHT THING.

⅞I was in the #363 store on Saturday 11/18/23 returning an item when the manager was called by the salesperson to confirm the return. After the transaction was done the manager referred to me as "DOG," I do not know the manager. However, "DOG," is an unacceptable term that I do not use to address anyone, and I do not want anyone to use to address me as well.

I had bought a Universal Audio interface to ay and record guitar on my computer. After awhile this interface would be kicked out of the recording program and I contacted UA for help. They asked for me to run some kind of diagnostics that made my computer crash. Toom. ovwr a month to get them. yo resolve my issue and had to refund me after fighting with me. I was.in an email loop whrre I was able. to read the comment of the tech chief Dan Cohen in which he tried to convince his supervisor that I was talking badly about guitar center and UA. Weird the lies people will tell to save their reputation, over a 160$ product. Well, I got another interface and after awhile the problem starrd again and I called GTR Cntr for some help. This lady call me back, listens to my. story intently and asks what it is Gtr cntr can do to make evrything ok. I. dodnt know,. I have a fee. thousand in my computer for home recording and I didnt want to lose it. She recommended that I go to the Geek Squad to see wht. was wrong and if gtr cntr could help. So, I take it over, drop it off, and the Best Buy guy says its $150 to doagnose the. Issue. I tried to call her back for an ok in the cost, but she didnt answer or call me. Within the time. It took to fiill. Ojt papeework. She cas the next day and tells. Me that theres nothing she can do about my problem. I tell her I took it to best buy, at her request, and its. Gonna cost 150. She says well, at least. Its. Gonna get fixed. I told her it was her idea to have it checked oht and she says. That she would tell anyone to go there to have it checked.

She left me hanging with a 150$ bill that soaked up the refund of the interface like it was no big deal. I had. oreviously explained to ger that I had an army if microsoft emoyees in my co. puter to fix the issue, includeing a lev 2 engineer and they couldnt figure it out. So, after believing gtr cntr was. gojng to help me, I did as was advised, only to be dropped like a bad habit in my time of need. Its. too bad they. also run with sweetwater, musicians friend, and another group I dont remember who. Unfortunately, I got to the top at this point and have to waste. more time with these two faced individuals that have no follow through. Never again will I use any of these companies, nor will my musician friends after I explain the situation.

Every day I get emails from guitar center advertising current specials .

Wednesday May 3rd I attempted to purchase a few items that were

advertised at their advertised price . I was called an idiot at their local store where they wouldn't honor the advertised price. I have made several calls

and been told its a mistake. Yet 2 days later I'm still seeing these ads and still

guitar center will not honor these prices. These ads are there as I write this.

This is dishonest and illegal . These are the prices advertised and these are

the prices that I should be able to get these items at. I did not set these prices, they did.

Fender Player Telecaster Plus Top Maple Fingerboard Limited-Edition Electric Guitar Blue Burst

$160.00

Fender Player Precision Bass Maple Fingerboard Limited-Edition Ocean Turquoise

$175.00

Fender Player Series Telecaster Maple Fingerboard Limited-Edition Electric Guitar Surf Pearl

$150.00

On April 20 2023 brought in my Breedlove acoustic guitar to get adjustments made.was told neck was rippled and fret was lifting on 9th fret and my guitar was no longer sellable or playable.At that point I brought the guitar for a second opinion to Music go round in Natick ma .Jeff inspected my guitar and told me the truss rod allen head was broken clean off.He assured me frets and neck were perfect.Guitar center in Millbury broke my truss rod.I have done business for years at guitar center in Millbury and always have had good experiences until this happened.I feel sick to my stomach over this experience and would appreciate a call back as soon as possible from a higher up corporate manager.I have had no resolution with the Millbury store location. Thank you mu name is Timothy Guzzetti my phone number is [protected]

Several weeks ago, I purchased a looper using a $150 gift card I was given for my birthday. I decided to return the looper and purchase a new amplifier, the Boss ACS Pro. The new amp has a looper function built in. When I called to obtain the return authorization to send back the looper, I asked if I could get a check refund to help pay for the new amp. I was assured that I could, If not, I would have waited to order the new amp, and applied the credit to the purchase price. I returned the looper, and my credit card was credited for the amount over the gift card. Checking my Guitar Center account online, there is no indication that the $150 was ever credited back. Today, I called your support line. I was told that I had a $150 credit on the account. I asked for a check refund. The fellow tried to either issue a credit card credit or issue a refund check. Finally, he was told that neither one could be done. I have been a regular customer of Guitar Center for years. This is not a good customer policy. I request again that either you issue a refund either on my credit card on file, or send a check for the $150.

Thank you,

Gary Sennett

[protected]

[protected]@gmail.com

I signed up for guitar lessons after purchasing my first guitar from Guitar Center in Alpharetta, GA. I signed up to pay automatically for 4 lessons every month (IN ADVANCE). After less than a year, my instructor told me he was leaving Guitar Center and I would have to go with another instructor. His name is Turner Howell. At that time I did not want to start with a new instructor and I thought I could instruct myself until a later date for more formal instruction. Instead of asking for a refund (which I now regret) I decided to wait until I felt ready to go with a new instructor.

Days turned into months when I decided to start my formal instruction again with Guitar Center.

I called a few days ago and spoke with a young girl who said she was the store manager. She said store policy was to expire my payment after 90 days and therefore I lost my advanced payment. This is news to me. No one ever said this to me nor is it written in any paperwork I was given.

If I thought this to be true, I would have asked for my refund at the time my instructor left the Guitar Center.

Ordered this item thru their website. I have received it and unfortunately item looks used and has damage. I returned the item in Studio City since the customer service Stephanie told me that I have to return it so that she can get the new one from I think Illinois. But unfortunately, the item delivered was the same item I have returned to Guitar Center Studio City. So unreliable even the chat representative Jerald E and JeninaMari R. Beware of this company.

Guitar center doesn't like giving refunds even when they sell you a defected product. If they do finally decide to return your money back they make you pay for the full shipping cost which can be over 100.00. Imagine receiving a broken product and you have to lose 100.00. I have lost so much money from buying their relentless broken products and we are broke and tiered of it. I am so sad now and no longer want to live anymore. This was a birthday present and I nothing, I only lose money and receive broken products. Folks, please only buy from reputable companies with guarantied return polices like Amazon, or Ebay. Don't be like me and lose hundreds of dollars and your sanity buying broken, defected trash that will only drive you crazy and cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. PLEASE TAKE MY ADVICE!

Complaint, we received a defected product (Yamaha MX48 keyboard) instrument, The instruments puts out extremely low volume levels. We tried the PC monitors, and also directly plugging in the headphones, we have tried over and over and used many cables but the volume levels are abnormally low, as in very, whisper low. This makes the keyboard useless as a live performance instrument. Keep in mind that keyboards like this are supposed to be preamped and on top of that we ran it through the same amp that our other keyboard was using. The other keyboard sounds fine. Something is wrong with the circuit board's preamble, or something. We have tried many things to no avail.

Order gcw4260422764

Incomplete

Ordered Stratocaster online -Missing case

Sales person said case included when i called

Store manager could care less stating “ just return it”

Not a satisfactory response as this is a hard to find , discontinued color.

Posted issue on Yelp with neg review

Complaining to Guitar Center Customer Service

No alternative resolution provided

Still no response

I bought a Marshall DSL40CR from the website 9/10/22 to be shipped to my local store. I paid full price for what ended up being a used floor model with a bunch of dings in it. The customer service told me to bring it back down to the store and they will ship me a new one. So let me get this straight. You want me to lug a 60lbs amp back down to a store that ripped me off. Then have them order me a new amp. Why am I being punished? You are the ones that messed up. You fix it.

I purchased a new Gibson J-45 guitar. It came UPS and it will unplayable. A bad or no setup was done on the instrument. I sent it back the same way the next day. Then I put that money and some more toward a Martin HD-28. I had them put an LR Baggs pickup system in it for another The same thing happened. It was unplayable. It had open string buzz all over the fretboard and wouldn't tune up. They instructed me to take it to Guitar Center in Brea CA. They said they would fix it. I picked it up and took it home and it was still buzzing. Nothing was fixed except the bridge which the guy said he just took my old bridge and glued it in with acrylic. The bridge should never be glued in because you can't replace it in the future. It still has open string buzz. I called them back through Musician's friend (an affiliate) and said I would like to return it under their 45-day no-hassle return policy. They refused to take it back. I had only had it for 2 days. The guys that they have doing tech work are kids that get 15.00 an hour. A real tech gets 40.00 an hour and they don't know what they are doing. I feel cheated and would like to start a class action lawsuit and include others that have been treated unfairly. The guitar still doesn't meet the Martin guitar specs for a proper setup. I guess quality control is out the window. How disappointing.

On 7/27/2022 the manager at store #494 was deliberately making fun of a customers mental health issues,argued aloud,rude,and banned said customer that has spent alot of money with your company over 20 plus years. A life ban? Come on. This ego trip manager has to go. A complaint has already been sent(please exuse the couple typos as it was written hastily)and no response? I (we) will continue to boycott your stores and send more letters. If the manager is so concerned about someone saying "the Puerto Rican guy" then he should know something about peoples feelings and how to treat and speak to people. The manager asked if the customer needed mental health help jokingly and when the customer replied he was diagnosed with PTSD and bipolar the manager replied "I don't care". Come on man,you have to be better than that as a manager and shame on Guitar Center for letting that go. Or so it would appear as no one has replied. Thank you.

I went to go and purchase some studio equipment this march something new I'm trying out. I got all the equipment it was a great experience. I figured out that all the items they recommended I didn't need. So I went today [protected] to return the items. Mind you I was never told there was a 45 day return. I told them my situation. They said no way they'll take items back. only to buy them back for 20% of what they are worth. I work very hard for my money. and to sell back a $300 microphone to get back $118 never got to user that's not right! I'm hoping there is a way to return these items? I also want to say that I was only trying to return a few items. I also wanted to say the manger at that location I brought back the next day 1 of the speakers to exchange. Because it wasn't sealed the manger took the receipt and got the new speaker. he never returned the original receipt to me. He told me he fixed my receipt online with lifetime warranty on equipment & wires.

On 05/27/2022 I called Guitar Center to speak with the manager that was supposed to call me back due to a refund for a guitar service they could not perform correctly by their tech back on 05/14/2022 . This manager whose name is George Alvarez had a nasty attitude since the moment he picked up the phone almost like I was bothering him and careless to really lose his job. He was very unprofessional and so rude as he kept saying he needed me to go in person in order to get the refund back, I live 55 minutes without traffic and I was trying to find an alternative and save the trip to go there again, he said that there was nothing he can do, I asked to maybe speak someone that might be able to accommodate but he kept saying he is the manager and didn't care to provide any other solution, all of this with a nasty attitude. I did ask for a manager and he started to raise his voice, I told him that I was going to reach corporate then, he said that I can do whatever I want and then abruptly hung up on me.

First, I would like for the refund to process back for the amount of $97 plus the strings that I brought myself that it no longer can be of use as I have to take my guitar to another technician that knows how to service Floyd Rose Guitars, and second at least an acknowledgment from Guitar Center for the kind of behavior displayed by someone who is the face of the company running their store and provided this type of customer service, I feel that person should not work in the service industry or retailer anywhere. He was flat out careless, unprofessional and rude overall. I am so not going there nor am I going to refer any body to do so!

I'm going through the most stressful situation with Guitar Center I have ever experienced in an online purchase.

My order was cancelled today without my consent. My card was charged $591.90 on May 4th, and my order should arrive at the address on May 11th as one of your assistants told me (I have the chat transcription) ,so that my courier (already paid) could bring it to me in Peru this weekend.

Another GC assistant said he didn't know what happened and he only apologized for it. My bank said that the purchase has been successful, and because of the problem they'd take 7-30 days to discover where the money is, before resquesting it to be returned and do the transaction again. 

Guitar Center is not taking action on the matter, it is just waiting for my bank to solve where the money is. I cannot wait one month for the matter to be solved. The problem is between Guitar Center and its bank. Please, I need your help, I trusted in Guitar Center to receive my guitar and other items this week.

MY ORDER:

Order #:GCW3922757913

Order Total:$596.89

Shipping Method:Economy Ground

Recipients:Daniel Rivas

1 Sterling by Music Man John Petrucci JP70 7-String Electric Guitar Stealth Black Item #[protected] POS #: [protected]

3 Ernie Ball 2621 Nickel 7-String Slinky Electric Guitar Strings

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Promotion: Special In-Cart Discount ($8.09)

1 Road Runner Avenue Series Electric Guitar Gig Bag Brown

Item #[protected] POS #: [protected]

1 Dunlop Scotty Pick Holder Black

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1 Dunlop Tortex Standard Guitar Picks 1.14 mm 1 Dozen

Item #[protected] POS #: [protected]