“So what’s the point of me having a warranty?”, I asked Asurion why its plans were a good deal. I bought my Fender® instrument used. There was a public offering in 1997. Another former sales associate, Garrett Williams, said that when he switched from the English-speaking sales staff to the Spanish-speaking staff, “it never changed about trying to put Asurion on every single” purchase. currently the headphones are $150 and 5 star. Mention it on every call and plant the seed early!”, One former sales employee who worked at a call center in Indianapolis, Alan James, said in an interview that “people in management and supervisors are still telling agents that it’s O.K. Guitar Center has been offering these policies from Asurion for a while, but according to the New York Times article, there have been some problems with customers actually getting them serviced. Used musical instruments bought and sold daily so check back often. Sales associates at Guitar Center said customers had difficulty redeeming warranties on more expensive products. In 2014, an investment firm called Ares Capital Management took over a majority stake. If you have questions about the warranty of your specific product, please contact our Fender Consumer Relations Department and a representative will be happy to provide you with information. Its parent company, Guitar Center Holdings, operates more than 450 retail locations and has nearly 11,000 employees. We have the details listed below. Not 5 star as stated in reviews. Sign up for a weekly digest and cool music production news from Bobby Owsinski, Any purchases you make by going through our Amazon link below helps support this blog at no cost to you, A Big Shakeup At Gibson Could Be Coming Soon, 4 Good Reasons For Hanging Your Microphone Upside Down, Production Tax Relief From Congress, Apple Music Prices, And Super Hi-Fi CEO Zack Zalon On My Latest Podcast, New Music Gear Monday: Slate Digital Fresh Air Plugin, Deep Fake Vocals, Miles Copeland Part 2, And AI-Driven A&R On My Latest Podcast, New Music Gear Monday: Audified Klangfilm RZ062 EQ Plugin, New Music Gear Monday: AudioThing Wires Wire Recorder Plugin, New Music Gear Monday: RJ Studios MB3X Multi-Band Mastering Compressor Plugin, New Music Gear Monday: Leapwing RootOne Subharmonics Plugin, Terms and Conditions of use The company does not have a physical store in Puerto Rico. I did not receive a warranty card with my new instrument, could you send me one? If you believe you've received a defective product, contact our support team at (800) 222-4700 ext. Understanding How Guitar Center Buys Used Gear Links: All of the gear used in my videos is available on my Amazon Influencer page! Mr. James, who left Guitar Center a few days ago, said most of the company’s Spanish-speaking customers came from Puerto Rico. guitar center provides no automatic separate warranty and to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, guitar center expressly disclaims all warranties and conditions regarding any products sold to you, whether express, implied or statutory and including but not limited to all warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title and non-infringement of third party rights. Is it still under warranty? Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - … A decade later, Guitar Center merged with a company controlled by Bain Capital, the private equity giant, and became privately held again. Isolated Track: Keith Richards Guitar Solo On “Sympathy For The Devil”, Inexpensive Cyber Monday Recording Accessories For Every Studio Owner, 5 Tips On How To Address Negative Comments On Your Music, Thunderbolt 4, Former Police Manager Miles Copeland – Part 1, YouTube Ads, And On My Latest Podcast, Soundbeaming, Musician Robert Martin, And Gamers Avoid Royalties On My Latest Podcast, How To Record Drums Like The Beatles In 1963, Engineer John Cuniberti, Spotify’s New Discovery Mode Tool, And Drive-In Concert Audio On My Latest Podcast, Guitar Center Renovates Its Hollywood Flagship Store. ), Last year, a different supervisor wrote: “Just a reminder that this is the last week for the Asurion scratch card contest, as well as our current spiff program paying out up to 4%. He had previously bought a number of products from Guitar Center, although he had not needed to use a warranty before. He called it “purposeful miscommunication” by management. Guitar Center warranty policy? Your new in-store return policy is noted below. No, as long as it is done by an authorized Martin Service Center to ensure proper installation. Guitar Center doesn’t have a physical store in Puerto Rico and claims they were unaware of the problem. Guitar Center's brands include the Musician's Friend e-commerce site as well as Music & Arts, Woodwind Brasswind and AVDG. But it still carries junk ratings, and Moody’s described it as “very highly leveraged.”, The notion that any invalid warranties were being sold raises questions about the internal practices of both Guitar Center and Asurion. 6400, and speak with a Tech Support specialist. So my mic just stopped working for some reason unknown to man, and today i was going to record a new song -_____-would i be able to take the mic in and replace it/repair it. “The audio sometimes goes up, goes down,” he said. “If it’s above $200, the value of a product, they’re going to have a hard time with Asurion,” he said. “And I said, ‘What?’”. Guitar Center’s staff members were pushed to sell Asurion warranties through management pressure and a variety of contests, according to interviews and internal emails that I reviewed. Answer Save. Guitar Center accepts returns on used gear up to 45 days from the date of purchase, according to the store. We contacted Guitar Center corporate customer service and store locations in Arizona, California, Michigan, Texas, and Washington to find out more about the company’s employee discount policy. With warranties, you’re left wondering whether you’ll need them, then whether you’ll get paid if you do. United States and Canada: 1-800-943-6782. Is it still under warranty? He has authored 24 books on recording, music, the music business and social media. based in Atlanta, said he bought a sound mixer and an Asurion warranty for about $600 combined in 2016, but had a lot of trouble redeeming the warranty after his power adapter was damaged. There’s always some technicality that gets them out of it.”. Hector Villegas, another professional musician who lives in Puerto Rico, said he was sold at least 10 warranties through Guitar Center brands, and tried to redeem one after he had trouble with the sound quality of an amplifier. How was your experience when making a claim? Mr. James said that a broad range of customers, beyond those in Puerto Rico, frequently had trouble claiming warranties purchased for expensive products. Damage caused during the installation or resulting from the installation is not covered under your Limited Lifetime Warranty. Guitar Center offers industry leading professional coverage to help you protect your gear. Most orders ship free! I bought a guitar from Guitar Center about a year ago with a 2 year warranty. 2 … That said, all companies try hard to sell these warranties because it’s all profit, and in many cases may even be more than on the item you purchased. We are extremely proud of our reliability, and problems are quite rare. You can pay $1,600 for an Eric Clapton Stratocaster and jam to “Crossroads.” You can also buy flutes and violins, or rock out with a four-piece set of egg shakers for $8. With the purchase of your new covered product and this Plan, Guitar Center has extended its in-store return policy. Guitar Center is one of the largest retailers of musical instruments in the United States. Welcome to the Guitar Center Pro Coverage Overview Page! For more information: Write: ESP Guitars Warranty Service Center. The company said: “Service contracts provide consumers with the peace of mind of knowing they will not be hit with an unexpected cost if their consumer good breaks or malfunctions.”, Regarding the sales in Puerto Rico, Guitar Center said: “Regardless of the reasons why these plans were sold, we intend to make it right. You May Not Be Alone, Original Big Picture Music Production Blog. Upon receiving the defective product, we … Guitar Center has left the product with a 5 star review aggregate and raised the price $60 on $90 headphones. Is it still under warranty? Guitar Center — service, company policy I traded & got ripped off when I returned what I purchased after only having it over the weekend they said they sold my trade. Now I am out my trade & because I lost the discount of 10% for trading in you got my guitar for … But I received a tip about problems at Guitar Center after I wrote recently about the troubles at Gibson, the guitar maker that filed for bankruptcy protection in May. to sell there,” referring to Puerto Rico, adding: “The policy has been left intentionally unclear at every level.”. Yet other customers claim that they have trouble collecting on a warranty claim above $200. Check out the benefits, details, terms, and FAQs regarding insuring your instrument or gear. It started out in 1959 as an organ store, but jumped to guitars by the mid-1960s — because ivory ticklers like Keith Emerson and Ray Manzarek could only get you so far. The warranties are a product of Asurion, a company better known for insuring cellphones, and are offered on top of whatever warranties come from the instrument manufacturers. It also has an online catalog that comes with new products and services each month. When he tried to claim his warranty, he said, “They tell me, ‘Sorry, the warranty doesn’t cover Puerto Rico.’ And I said, ‘What?’”, Guitar Center said in a statement for this article that it had been “made aware of an issue with some third-party protection plans that were sold in Puerto Rico over the past 30 months.”, “We found that — despite our policies and systems in place — approximately 100 transactions including at least a protection plan have been made with Puerto Rican addresses.”. Now I'm trying to sell that guitar, but I was wondering if I can just return it for store credit because I have a warranty. “They suggested I buy it,” said Ramon Figueroa, a 69-year-old professional trombonist who lives in Puerto Rico. Have you purchased an extended warranty on an item from Guitar Center? Guitar Center said in a statement for this article that it had been “made aware of an issue with some third-party protection plans that were sold in Puerto Rico over the past 30 months.” He said he asked to get his money back after a friend of his, a saxophonist, tried to redeem his warranty and was told it was invalid. We will honor all of the Asurion protection plans that were inadvertently sold or provide these customers a refund for their purchased protection plan if they so choose.”, But the company has already lost some customers over the issue. 10913 Vanowen St., North Hollywood, CA 91605 Guitar Center contracts with NEW Customer Service to administer their warranties. Concerns about the company’s practices were raised in interviews with two former employees and several aggrieved customers, centering on third-party warranties that are being aggressively marketed to Guitar Center customers. Click to read more. I bought my Squier® instrument used. Save even more on guitars, basses, drums, pro audio and accessories. Having just come back from San Juan, I can tell you that the people on the island have it tough enough already and the last thing they need is to be taken advantage of yet again. Guitar Center is the world's largest musical instruments retailer. Defective components that qualify for coverage under this warranty will be repaired or replaced (at Guild’s discretion) without charge. Mr. Figueroa, the trombonist, said, “I’m not going to buy there again.”, Recounting ‘Horror Stories’ Over Guitar Center’s Warranties, “They tell me, ‘Sorry, the warranty doesn’t cover Puerto Rico,’” said one customer. Shop Guitars, Bass, Drums, Amps, DJ, Keyboards, Pro-Audio and more. Effective January 1, 2017 all Fender® and Squier® brand warranties are global. They are mediocre to good. You are directed to the mfr in year 1 so neither the store nor NEW takes a service hit. The CEG is 5 years from the date of purchase for all models. The same restrictions, limitations, and possible fees apply to new and used product returns, as detailed in Guitar Center’s Return Policy online. Please Note: For product service outside the U.S. and Canada, please contact either the Dealer from whom you purchased the product, or the Authorized Gretsch Distributor in your area for information and assistance. To receive warranty service, return the complete instrument to an Authorized Guild Service Center, with your sales receipt as proof of purchase, during the applicable warranty period. If non-warranty work is required or recommended by Epiphone, a quotation will be issued and must be approved by you before any non-warranty work is commenced. Let’s sell like crazy this week! They also said Guitar Center’s phone sales department has been selling the Asurion warranties to customers in Puerto Rico, even though the warranties are not valid there. Your proof of purchase or sales receipt must accompany all requests for warranty coverage, regardless of whether or not you have already registered your instrument with us. One claim outlined in the story was for an external power supply for an audio mixer that was qualified as an “accessory” and therefore not under warranty. How Do I Receive Warranty Service On My Fender Product? I bought my Fender® electronic product used. Guitar Center, which also operates a direct marketer of instruments called Musician’s Friend, has a tumultuous history. Guitar Center’s Used Gear Return Policy. Bobby Owsinski is a producer/engineer, author and coach. Tell us your story. The stores are not equipped as a service center to handle claims. All Mogami cable assemblies are made with the finest cable, connectors, and assembly practices in the industry. Guitar Center has itself struggled since a 2007 leveraged buyout by Bain Capital left it saddled with debt heading into the financial crisis. If your guitar needs any service or maintenance that is not covered under warranty, it should be taken to any qualified professional. Juan Balcazar, a D.J. “That’s where the horror stories begin. I purchased a defective product from a distributor, Guitar Center, who uses a manufacturer, Avid Technologies, Inc. Fender Authorized Service Centers. Last month, one supervisor emailed the staff: “Remember to offer the Service Plan on every call and properly qualify your customers so you can pitch the plan effectively.” (The bold lettering was in the original email. However, when I went there last week they told me that Monster has changed their policy and that they are no longer allowed to exchange the cables. Returns of the following products must be made within 10 days of shipment - Stringed instruments priced at $1999.00 or more.. Returns of the following products must be made within 3 days of receipt - Vintage instruments.. This warranty is extended to the original retail purchaser only and may not be transferred or assigned to subsequent owners. I rank it up there with conundrums like buying rental car insurance and ordering dessert. Warranty Information Lifetime Warranty. I used to bring up my faulty cables there all the time and they would replace them on the spot without any questions. Browse all Guitar Center locations in the United State to shop instruments, find music lessons, and more. We all know that without a power supply no piece of electronic gear is going to operate, but for a company that’s more used to insuring cell phones who doesn’t understand the business, it’s probably in line with their policies. Store Return Policy Information: Please note that the in-store return policy may vary by covered product. One of the biggest problems was that the company has been selling warranties to customers in Puerto Rico for the last 30 months, which on the surface doesn’t seem to be that big of a deal until you find that the warranties are not valid there. Mr. Figueroa has a credit card through one of Guitar Center’s brands, Woodwind & Brasswind, and said in an interview Tuesday evening that his account had still not been credited after several weeks. When it comes to musical instruments and audio gear, the manufacturer almost always offers some warranty, while the retailer might offer a third party policy for … Also, do I have to have my receipt, or can they look me up on their computers? if i broke the stand a couple months before? Whether to buy a warranty is, of course, a perennial question, and not just for musicians. We’ve all heard the pros and cons of extended warranties for everything from appliances to autos, and they’re certainly worthwhile for some and worthless for others. It blamed a “glitch in our computer system in 2017 that inadvertently allowed orders with Puerto Rican addresses to have protection plans processed,” as well as “a few employees acting outside of our longstanding policy.”. Guitar Center’s doubled in-store return policy for recording devices, studio Understand that the problems with collecting on warranty claims lies with Asurion, a company that’s more widely known for insuring consumer electronics, than Guitar Center. He was told the power adapter, which came with the mixer, was not covered. “The adapter is considered an accessory, but without the adapter, the mixer doesn’t work at all,” he said. The chain opened its … Email: [email protected]. Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s recently improved their outlooks on Guitar Center after a refinancing. The company said the transactions represented “a tiny fraction” of the warranties that it sells. Sweetwater set the standard in our industry by offering free shipping, free tech support, an award-winning website, and much more - making buying gear easier than ever. by it i mean just the mic itself. If customers do get paid, it can come after a lot of angry phone calls and weeks of delay. So I went up to Guitar Center last week to exchange some busted Monster cables. Guitar Center is a musical instrument retailer that carries guitars, amps and effect, live sound, recording, keyboard and many other products to cater to all types of musician's needs. Asurion said in its own statement that both it and Guitar Center “have systematic processes in place to block the online sale of protection plans when selling to customers in Puerto Rico.” It did not address phone sales or how invalid warranties were sold in Puerto Rico. Model dependent (5 year product warranty or lifetime) Most models also include a Connected Equipment Guarantee. PLEASE NOTE: ESP does not offer repair service of any kind other than warranty repair service. You should consider quotations obtained for non-warranty work immediately and advise the Authorized Epiphone Service Center or Epiphone … | Powered by WordPress, Trouble With A Guitar Center Extended Warranty? 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