Re: [Harp-L] Interesting Guitar Center policies

[philharpn@xxxxxxx]

I kept waiting -- and this is such a fascinating  topic -- without success for the common sense response to this issue. (I could have missed it; but I go on.)


The bellows testers don't really prove very much. If you test a harp across the 10 holes in the chord position you might get a noise over the span. If you test the individual notes, you might get a squeak out of each hole. None of will help the potential buyer determine whether he has a potentially playable instrument. It takes a competent player and a chromatic tuner to tell whether "it plays right."


Basically those bellows just  blow dust  that's been collecting in the story for the past 20 years into a "new" harmonica. In street terms, it's mostly a waste of time and doesn't test what it is supposed to test.


Which is why it pays in the long run to buy a name brand that allows you to send defective harps to the service center. Failing that, put them in a box and bring them to the next SPAH. I'm sure some techs in the vendor area can solve just about any issue.* 


This whole conversation should give a blank check to harmonica production. Mass produced harmonicas are bound to include a few duds (defects) whether they are machine produced (untouched by human hands) or even handmade or customized.


*Of course, with the exception of pilot error. Newbies frequently can't handle Draw 2 or Draw 3 and think they have a defective harp when in fact they have a defective player. 
Hope this helps,
Phil





-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Harp Explorer <harpexplorer1@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Harp L Harp L <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mon, Aug 25, 2014 7:46 am
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Interesting Guitar Center policies


First of all those employees were in error. Which is not uncommon these days. 
The tester is there specifically to test . That's why It's called a tester. I 
think if you
contacted the home office, you would get an apology. 
I had written to someone off list that it reminded me of the time I tried to buy 
a Latte and pay with a $2.oo bill. And the clerk AND manager had never seen one, 

and thought it was fake, refused to take it, and even went so far as to call 
security. After the 'very old' guard said it was real, I walked away..never to 
return. 

smo-joe

On Aug 25, 2014, at 2:14 AM, Harp Explorer wrote:

> Harp, I'm glad that you had no problem... but remember, I asked if I could
> check it after purchase just to be sure, and was told by both the employee
> and the manager, in no uncertain terms, that there were no returns on
> harmonicas, even if defective.
> 
> It would have been one thing if an exchange was possible for a defective
> harp after buying it, but they were very clear and specific that they would
> not do a return or exchange on a harmonica because it is designed to go
> into the mouth, even if they witnessed it being checked in front of them
> and never going into the mouth.
> 
> I just thought a heads up was in order, because if one of their stores can
> talk about corporate policy and their refusal to ensure that merchandise
> isn't defective even before it goes in the mouth, then it might affect
> someone other than me down the road. It's definitely something worth
> checking, if you don't have huge amounts of extra income just falling out
> of your pockets.
> 
> On the plus side, I went to my regular store, and they thought Guitar
> Center's Catch 22 situation is just one more way my neighborhood store
> stays in business. They did teasingly chastise me for having gone to GC,
> though.
> 
> 
> On Sun, Aug 24, 2014 at 9:00 AM, Bob Harty <bharty@xxxxxx> wrote:
> 
>> Very strange folks. If it all happens in their plain view and it never
>> enters your mouth if it's bad it seems like their just in the business of
>> pushing products, not concerned about having satisfied customers!
>> 
>> Sent from my iPad
>> 
>>> On Aug 23, 2014, at 6:26 PM, Harp Explorer <harpexplorer1@xxxxxxxxx>
>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I normally get my harmonicas at a local shop. I've had times where there
>>> was an occasional problem, so I always use the tester just to check.
>>> 
>>> I found out today that Guitar Center, or at least the one I was near
>> today,
>>> won't let you use the tester on the harmonicas.
>>> 
>>> Well, then, can I buy it, and then use the harmonica tester immediately
>>> after to be sure it's at 100%?
>>> 
>>> No, we don't allow returns or exchanges on harmonicas, in case you put it
>>> in your mouth.
>>> 
>>> But, I explained, i just want to be sure before I walk out. You'll even
>> see
>>> that I don't put it in my mouth, only use the tester I can see there
>> behind
>>> the counter.
>>> 
>>> Sorry, all harmonica purchases are as is and final.
>>> 
>>> The manager had the same view, but neither of them could explain why they
>>> even have the tester there if not for testing a harmonica.
>>> 
>>> I left without buying anything, and I'll swing by my local shop another
>>> time and do the usual.
>>> 
>>> Anyone else ever face that "pig in a poke" policy when buying harmonicas?
>>