I have gone to Bryan's twice, ONCE this morning and ONCE when they first opened-many years ago.
THIS MORNING: I needed (3) 12ax7 amplifier tubes and I knew I was going to need another (3) next week. ""Bryan"" claimed to have 12 ax 7's and 12 AT 7's. Since I did not know the difference, nor did he, I looked the tubes up online-to try to find a review. When I was online I noticed that EVERYONE was selling the same Groove Tube, $8 cheaper. I told him that I was going to be in Portland the following day, where I could get them for less---would he match pricing? Not BEAT pricing. I just wanted him to MATCH pricing (a very common business practice). He said, ""You should just go to Portland then."" Well, OK. It will save me close to $50. I will buy them in Portland.
YEARS AGO: I needed a PA board and a few microphones. I had a budget of $1400 which was in my wallet when I walked in the store. When looking at one of the boards they had, I asked if they could take the plastic wrapping off, so I could see if I had the proper input cables at home, if I did not, I would have purchased those also. At that time I was told, ""You can't just come in here and expect us to let you touch everything."" Fine.
So that is it for me. I will continue to do business with other stores, stores out of town, and CONTINUE to tell my many musician friends, and parents with kids, to AVOID BRYAN'S HOUSE OF MUSIC AT ALL COSTS!
So, many years ago, Sweetwater got my $1400...and tomorrow Guitar Center will probably get around $200 (tubes, strings, etc).
Buy online! Wait until you're in a bigger city!
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