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Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | I was in the City this afternoon doing a bit of shopping so thought I'd wander into Allans Music, a large chain store music shop, and have a sticky beak.
I was in the acoustic section for about 20min and had picked up and had a strum on a few Matons, Taks and a couple of Martins.
One of the salesmen, an older guy finally came up and asked what I was looking for, I said I was just having a squiz.
He said try this and handed me a DX1 Martin, sells for $1800 here.
I don't know how they sell anything because it was way out of tune and the strings were dead, it sounded like crap.
Then he asked me what I had already and I said I owned several Ovations.
Then he lost me totally.
His next comment was "oh you are looking for something that sounds better"
With that I just about threw the Martin at him, said no thanks and walked out.
Smart ass.
AJ |
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Posts: 5576
Location: big island | you should have replied, "well...you don't have anything here that sounds better" |
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Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Nah, ya shoulda said "by the sound of these, YOU need to look for something that sounds better. I'll bet you haven't even TRIED a 'proper' Ovation."
Fact of life down here, I'm afraid Jim. No respect and uninformed bigotry. |
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Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | You should have just smashed the guy over the head with the Martin, kicked him in the nuts and torched his shop. |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | I think you hit ol Dweez's button...
BTW, what the... is a sticky beak and a squiz? |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | I think "sticky beak" and "squiz" are Aussie versions of our "Butchers Hook".
"Butchers Hook" is rhyming slang and means "look" so "I went in and had a look" becomes "I went in and had a butchers".
Hope that helps |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | You'd think... After you said the you owned SEVERAL Ovations, he might have had a clue.
(Amen Brudda, I saw da Light! Gimme dat Martin!) |
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Posts: 486
Location: North Carolina | Older or not, he's got a few things to learn about salesmanship. You've got to get the customer to like you, and you're not going to do that by deriding his previous choices. |
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Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | LOL
I thought I had it bad when I acquired my DX1 at a garage sale for $150 including the gig bag. I saw a bargain, but the wife saw a nuisance and she gave me quite a scolding on my way inside the home with it! hehehe
Almost two years later, I still have it and it's currently my beater guitar that I take to work, almost everyday. I once thought of selling, but I decided to hold on to it, since it is after all made in the U.S. These days, they're all made in Mexico... |
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June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Firstly, Aussie slang:
"Sticky beak" means to stick your nose in.
"Squiz" means to have a look.
I remember the first time I was in the States in 84 I said to a waitress something about "dragging the chain" she looked at me like I was from Mars.
(means going slow)Lol
"Older or not, he's got a few things to learn about salesmanship. You've got to get the customer to like you, and you're not going to do that by deriding his previous choices."
Very true and you don't recommend and hand a prospective customer an $1800 guitar that is so far out of tune it sounds like shite!!
Sounds like some of the GC tales I've heard.
AJ |
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Posts: 3411
Location: GA USA | How is Dr. Dave? Glad to see he landed a good job. |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Good one, Captain! But I must admit, I have had similar reactions when people say they have Estebans. However, they usually realize what a mistake they've made, especially when they pick up any of the guitars I have on the wall. And yes, they are all in tune. Fortunately, there is a pawn shop right down the street, so when they ask if they can trade theirs in on one of mine, they don't feel TOO bad when I say no. |
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Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | AJ, you did good. Its not worth a night in jail and you ain't goi'n to teach him a new trick just yet!
Q: What do you say to a salesman with two black eyes?
A: Nuthin, he didn't listen the first two times... |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | AJ, I've given up squizzing in Allans for anything other than accessories. A decent guitar in there would stand out like a shag on a rock. It's enough to make you go butchers hook the way that drongo went the raw prawn with you. You should have given him a gobful before you did the Harold Holt. Though, to be fair they have some dinki di deals on plectrums, little plastic bags full of 'em not exxy at all. |
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | :rolleyes: |
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Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | :D :D
Couldn't have put it better myself
AJ |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I don't even bother anymore.
If/when I ever go to GuitarCenter/SamAsh and the SalesDroogie gives me the obligatory (albeit insincere) ". . Can I Help You?? . ."
My usual responses are:
". . No. You Can't . ."
or:
". . YouGuys never could BEFORE . . ." |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | something like that usually works for me too |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I prefer to give the salesman the benefit of the doubt by responding with "Not likely." Four years ago, somebody surprised me. |
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October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Originally posted by The Artist (FKA Richard):
AJ, I've given up squizzing in Allans for anything other than accessories. A decent guitar in there would stand out like a shag on a rock. It's enough to make you go butchers hook the way that drongo went the raw prawn with you. You should have given him a gobful before you did the Harold Holt. Though, to be fair they have some dinki di deals on plectrums, little plastic bags full of 'em not exxy at all. Ah, What????? :D :confused: |
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Posts: 4833
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Oh, he just made that up.... ;)
Strine |
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September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | I have two different approaches now.
Guitar Center- I will grab a mid-level Martin or Taylor and wait for the salesman. My son-in-law or pastor (guitar players) are usually with me when I am in there. As I am strumming a bit, I wait for the salesman to just enter the door and say...."Man for this kind of money, I could get two Adamas that play and sound much better". At that point they either have an Adamas or they turn around and leave.
My local music store- "Yo Rick (guitar playing freak and store owner) before you bad mouth my newest plastic guitar, try this". Usually he does, and usually he ends with "sweeeetttt". He is a dealer for O/A, but doesn't carry any. He comment when I asked was "profit margin". Which for a small shop, I guess that is his choice. |
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Idiot Salesman