Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

[Joejitsu]

So I ended up with a $100 gift card to Sam Ash. I decided today to use it. There were a couple things I had in mind that I wanted to pick up. I approached the guitar counter and this is how it went

Me - Hey, do you guys happen to have any gold humbucker ring covers?
Him - No, blah blah blah (explaining why).

Okay, so I figure this is acceptable because the gold rings are sometimes tough to track down...no prob.

Me - Okay, I also wanted to pick up a set of gold grover tuners.
Him - We only have the chrome ones.

...

uh... okay...

Me - Alright then, I need to get a generic 3 way les paul or SG style switch, anything you have.
Him - *looking behind him* We asked the inventory person to put it on the list a week ago, but we haven't gotten any.

...

uh...let me repeat that...I just wanted a standard 3 way switch and they didn't even have that. Un-freaken-believable. Now, the guy at the sales counter was very nice and I could tell that in some sort of way he knew how bad this store sucked but just couldn't say it. Afterall it's not his fault that place is like skid row.

So then empty handed I decided to look around at the axes a bit. I see a nice LTD SG/Valkyrie style guitar with EMG 81/85 set. Knowing my EMG set is on it's way (thanks forum member Al!) I picked it up and plugged it to tinker around a bit. Never fails with Ontario Sam Ash...the guitar was broken. I mean seriously, what in the hell kind of place just leaves a bunch of broken ass guitars out on the sales floor in that condition??

Needless to say I was VERY frustrated after this visit. Is there any way I can somehow magically turn my Sam Ash gift card into a guitar center gift card? What if I were to buy something like an SD pickup there and then show up at guitar center and tell them I wanted to return it to them for store credit? Any chance that would work?? *sigh*

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

I've said so before, and on this forum.

Every guitar in there is usually broken. They want to sell for full price anyway.

They have maybe, 3 name brand guitars at a time. The rest are Brownsvilles or Tursers :smack:

slade

 

[Mephis]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

Sam Ash always treated me well.

When I got my rickenbacker from them, they let me take home a floor model one until my fire-glo came in.

I don't know of alot of shops that would do that. They also gave me a nice sized discount.

Sorry your samash sucks.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

you don't know this store. it's in the middle of a mall, and it's the crappiest store in the world.

Too bad the only decent place to go around here is GC for just normal guitar stuff... There are small stores, but they're awful...

Slade

 

[Mephis]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

That's funny, because the GC here is criminal. I've never seen such stupidly marked up prices.

They sell normal production duncan pickups for $90-$120.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

Going head to head with GC has got to be difficult for them. The Sam Ash near me was fine until Guitar Center opened a killer new store 2 miles away.
GC Northridge, Ca > Sam Ash, Canoga Park.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

Can you use it online?

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

There has been talk for ages here in Canada that Guitar Center and Sam Ash type stores maybe coming to the Toronto area.... after hearing some of your guys complaints i hope they do not...

But when it comes to small hardware parts and stuff i'm finding almost every store i have ever walked into has to order the stuff in for me.... so i do it myself from on-line mail order places...

 

[Joejitsu]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

Can you use it online?

Oh I only wish! Apparently www.samash.com is a "separate entity" from the store and therefore you cannot use gift cards online. Likewise if you buy something online you cannot return it to a sam ash store. Isn't that a B**CH?!

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

I am familiar with that Sam Ash. The amount of generic gear is unrivaled only to a factory in China. The people are nice but I have seen broken gear hanging on the pegs (as well as at GC in Fontana).

the nicest guitar in the store is hidden in plain sight tucked up onto a 16 foot high wall near the basses...A Kevin Bond Jackson. The last time I was there was six months ago.

The Sam Ash in Ontario Mills mall is an "anchor store", which makes the crappy/generic selection in a generally affluent area even more disappointing.

 

[iekobrid]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

Going head to head with GC has got to be difficult for them. The Sam Ash near me was fine until Guitar Center opened a killer new store 2 miles away.

The route from Guitar Center Springfield NJ to Sam Ash Springfield NJ

I can't even zoom in on the map close enough to see points A and B at the same time. :smack:

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

(as well as at GC in Fontana).

Never knew there was a GC in Fontana. I've been going to the Ontario one.

By the way, your avatar once again rocks

Slade

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

Never knew there was a GC in Fontana. I've been going to the Ontario one.

By the way, your avatar once again rocks

Slade

Yes m'man! Just take the 15 FWY North three miles farther North of the Mills mall to the Foothill offramp, and turn right, into the Living Spaces/Claim Jumper/Sports Chalet mall. I do not know the official name of that mall, but the Living Spaces furniture store actually took over the Wal-Mart store by whatever mechanism. You will find the GC on the Sports Chalet end of things as you turn right, back toward the freeway you just exited the mall parking lot.

I'm sure mapquest can help here.

And yes, it kicks Ass on Sam Ass.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

Here's a story similar to GJ's....

The Sam Ash in Columbus used to be great. First time my dad took me there (early teens), I swear to god there were PRS guitars leaning up against the wall, for lack of space on the wall, because of all the killer guitars.

Once Guitar Center moved in (less than a mile away), Sam Ash turned into the stockpile of guitars with mile-high action, dead strings, and bullsh1t drying and crumbling off the fretboards. Last time I was there, one of the dumbass salesman let a kid with a studded belt play a brand new LP :smack:

 

[Dirt123]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

Going head to head with GC has got to be difficult for them. The Sam Ash near me was fine until Guitar Center opened a killer new store 2 miles away.
GC Northridge, Ca > Sam Ash, Canoga Park.

I liked that store when I lived out there. Ordered several pickups, & got a good deal on a Clapton strat for a buddy. Last time I visited tho, they do seemed to have gone downhill.

Much prefer the Jammin Jersey .

 

[theodie]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

The route from Guitar Center Springfield NJ to Sam Ash Springfield NJ

I can't even zoom in on the map close enough to see points A and B at the same time. :smack:

The GC and Sam Ash in Richmond VA are right next to each other! I mean it, you can spit a logie from one store and hit the other store (they are that close, seriously) The only thing that seperates the 2 stores is a service road to make deliverys to the back of each store. They both have OK gear and the advantage is you can get stuff for cost all day long by dealing back and fourth between both stores.

 

[fretburner]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

you don't know this store. it's in the middle of a mall, and it's the crappiest store in the world.

Too bad the only decent place to go around here is GC for just normal guitar stuff... There are small stores, but they're awful...

Slade

this is the one in Ontario Mills Mall right?

i got to check that store out, and true enough, not a lot of stuff. the one near huntington beach was better. i bought my ZW wah there and some other accessories

 

[fretburner]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

Here's a story similar to GJ's....

The Sam Ash in Columbus used to be great. First time my dad took me there (early teens), I swear to god there were PRS guitars leaning up against the wall, for lack of space on the wall, because of all the killer guitars.

Once Guitar Center moved in (less than a mile away), Sam Ash turned into the stockpile of guitars with mile-high action, dead strings, and bullsh1t drying and crumbling off the fretboards. Last time I was there, one of the dumbass salesman let a kid with a studded belt play a brand new LP :smack:

they have nice used gibson les pauls there. i bought a chorus pedal there. they have some "good" amps, but looks pretty beat up, and priced pretty high for their condition.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

this is the one in Ontario Mills Mall right?

i got to check that store out, and true enough, not a lot of stuff. the one near huntington beach was better. i bought my ZW wah there and some other accessories

funny, you're in the 'pines now, did you once live around here? My family was stationed at Clark when I was 3

Slade

 

[PoorMan]

Re: Sam Ash Ontario worst store in history of man

Called about a guitar there once...the guy never called me back.