The pandemic has not been kind to retail. Today I visited the semi-local Guitar Center and Sam Ash stores. In both cases, the inventory was laughably bad. I feel bad for the sales dudes. Actually, no I don’t. Because at Sam Ash, I stood at the counter for ten minutes holding picks and a set of guitar strings. While I was standing there, two different sales guys came behind the counter, ignored me standing there, and walked away.
So I came home and ordered the picks and strings from Amazon.
I should have gone to Replay Music in Tampa, a great indie music store. Next time, I will.
Meanwhile, YouTube is full of videos promoting the overpriced Epiphone Les Paul Special with the famous dude from Green Day’s signature on it. Never was a fan of Green Day, but I was too old when they came out. No hate here. I’d wanted to play the overpriced Epiphone slab wood for myself, but naturally no one had it. They’ll get it six months from now.
You could blame the pandemic, but actually, it’s almost always this way. When the Fender Bassbreaker came out, it took literally six months before we had them in the Tampa area stores. The entire industry has always been inept. But now is when they can least afford it. I don’t see a bright future for Guitar Center and Sam Ash. Some of their sales dudes are better than others for sure. But I still think it’s a shame. I remember when Guitar Center used to be great. I remember getting great deals at Sam Ash.
Once the pandemic is over, and the supply chain gets back to normal. there will be more items in the stores… but they’ll still get stuff months after it’s been released. Meanwhile, Sweetwater and Amazon are taking a ton of their business away from them.
Oh well. There’s always Replay Music. But not everyone has a Replay Music.
