Helpful salesman or opinionated musician?

[Valvelust]

"Caveat Emptor"

That's what doing research is all about!

Otherwise one may get lead down a path of opinion or deception.....

Educate and form your own opinion!

Sounds like they are trying to push Mesa sales, and their business IS sales! I bet as a dealer there could be quota's they have to reach to maintain their agreement.

(Sorry for the long post)
Setting
A friend of mine is looking for a new amp. He gets a list of features and tones that he wants but hates talking to sales people because they always talk him into buying something he doesn't want. I.e he goes in for a les paul walks out with a 7 string schecter. I agree to call some places and help him get some ideas so he can go into a store and try a few to make his decision.

Some features and tones.
He likes darker sounding amps.
He doesn't need high gain but does want it to be available for a possible side project he's working on.
He likes amps that give enough control that you can dial in some extra bass and low mids and cut the highs.
If it is a higher wattage amp then he wants the room to put in a Divo in the future

The conversation
I called a very well known place which I will not mention because I think they are great and I'm hoping it was just this guy. The guy obviously loves Mesa. He pushes this from the beginning. When I tell him that its hard to tell because everyone always scoops the crap out of it he assures me that your supposed to. When I say that I don't like to scoop my amps he again assures me that if I get that amp then I should. When I even mention another amp he stops me in my tracks and swears that this is the amp I want. When I tell him that I don't like V30's in a cab he argues that I would with this amp. When I ask him if there is enough room to insert the Divo he says no but then explains to me that I would never want to change the type of tubes in the amp because Mesa makes sure that everything is there for a reason and if I change anything it would just make it worse. He never listened to what I want or why I want it and instead tried to recruit me into the Cult of Mesa.

Now I know that most musicians are opinionated, myself included as I tried to showcase various Orange amps, but sales people should be helpful and listen. I know that its hard to remove your own personal feelings, and in many cases you don't need to because it shows passion about what your doing and often ends in a sale, but sometimes you should. I don't usually talk to sales people in shops unless I'm trying to talk down a price. I know what I want because I've researched the crap out of it and just go buy it (or order it). Maybe they just need to up their Mesa sales so the line doesn't get pulled from the store or something.

Does anyone else experience this when they talk to these people or was this just a poor exchange?

[Wired]

Hey would you do me a favor and let me know which store this is, the employee's name, the store's open hours, the color of this guy's hair, and describe in less than 50 words his scent?

I want to go up there and beat the sh ---....um, "train" him on how to better serve the needs of his customers.

oh Alex. I'd hate to see what would happen if I guy was pushed nothing but Line 6

[Ronnie Robinson]

Hey would you do me a favor and let me know which store this is, the employee's name, the store's open hours, the color of this guy's hair, and describe in less than 50 words his scent?

I want to go up there and beat the sh ---....um, "train" him on how to better serve the needs of his customers.

oh Alex. I'd hate to see what would happen if I guy was pushed nothing but Line 6

Well if nothing else they would n't be open very long.

[Randy Bass]

Hey would you do me a favor and let me know which store this is, the employee's name, the store's open hours, the color of this guy's hair, and describe in less than 50 words his scent?...

If he loves Mesas that much, he's probably going to smell like Creed. Look for someone with hoop earrings, spikey hair, and a flavor saver.

[CarbonToe.]

He said something that pissed her off and she starts screaming at him about 6 inches from his face. He never changed his expression as he gets up and slowly walks into the kitchen. She maintains her 6 inch distance the whole time. He goes into the cupboard and pulls out a bowl and a can of soup. Places it in the microwave and waits for it to cook. She is still screaming mind you.

Sounds like he needs a new girlfriend along with the amp.

Serious lack of respect to treat someone like that even if he was in the wrong.

Hey would you do me a favor and let me know which store this is, the employee's name, the store's open hours, the color of this guy's hair, and describe in less than 50 words his scent?

I want to go up there and beat the sh ---....um, "train" him on how to better serve the needs of his customers.

If that's his attitude he won't be in the job long........unless you want a MESA.

I hear they play guitar for you whilst you see to a groupie behind the stack, as MESA have thought of everything!

[hitgar]

He said something that pissed her off and she starts screaming at him about 6 inches from his face. He never changed his expression as he gets up and slowly walks into the kitchen. She maintains her 6 inch distance the whole time. He goes into the cupboard and pulls out a bowl and a can of soup. Places it in the microwave and waits for it to cook. She is still screaming mind you.

Sounds like he needs a new girlfriend along with the amp.

Serious lack of respect to treat someone like that even if he was in the wrong.

That day was the last day I've seen her. On the bright side, he didn't seem like anything bad had happened the following week. I guess he was emotionless after all.

Hey would you do me a favor and let me know which store this is, the employee's name, the store's open hours, the color of this guy's hair, and describe in less than 50 words his scent?

I want to go up there and beat the sh ---....um, "train" him on how to better serve the needs of his customers.

I appreciate the support but he's probably about 4 foot 6, 98 lbs, and has a mullet. I got this.

But seriously, it doesn't bother me that he was the way he was, I just wasn't sure if this was a bad sales person or a typical sales person. I personally don't ask their opinions because I do my homework before I speak to them. But I figured since it wasn't me making the purchase I would ask the question to help my buddy. Won't make that mistake again.

[Borderline Productions]

The key to being a successful salesperson is to listen and to give the customer options (all of which include buying). If you don't listen, you won't find out what the customer wants. If you don't know what the customer wants, then you won't know what you have to offer them. If you don't have anything to offer them, point them in the right direction. Such good behavior will be remembered. If you are an arrogant dweeb, the customer will never come back.

[a.hun]

That's certainly how it works with this customer. If the sales person is BS'ing me I stop them pretty quickly. If they are actually helpful and listening to me I'll listen to them too, and tend to go back.

Fell out with one music shop manager here who was less than helpful with backup service on a Fender bass I'd bought there. Had bought a fair bit of other stuff there in the past too including my Rocker 30 combo. Needless to say because of his BS attitude the Fender was the last thing I was buying there. (Fender themselves backed me up nicely of course when I contacted them.) Told all that to the manager himself - in front of some of his staff. He'd earned that!


Andy.

[bassdrop]

Here's how to deal with a salesman like that. Ask the following questions:

Are you on commission? (Likely yes)
If the item you sell gets returned do you lose that commission? (Also, likely yes)
Then how would it benefit you if I buy this Mesa, don't like it, and return it?

If he answers that you won't return it because you'll like it too much, ask him how much commission he'll earn if you ask to deal with another salesperson.