Ok, I received this gift certificate from my brother-in-law for this boutique-type music store (you know, guitars, drums and stuff) for $20. So I went through every isle twice looking for a gig bag for my acoustic or something else that costs around $20. This place is ridiculously expensive to say the least. It becomes obvious that there is nothing in this place for $20 that I would want. $20 would go 3 times as far at Guitar Center. Instead of going up to the counter and seeing if they would just give me the cash, I leave and call them from home (I'm a non-confrontational kind of guy). I explained my situation to two different employees there and was told (in a very snotty tone) that not only would they not cash out the gift certificate, but they wouldn't give back any change (would have to be store credit). So, basically a donation was made to the music store "charity" in my name. Here's my question. Am I the asshole here or are they? If it's just me I can accept that, but I think it's wrong of them to force you to either buy their over-priced crap or just give them free cash by not buying anything. I can't regift it either because it's hand written with my name and everything. I don't know, what do guys think?

life is too short such things bother you..

let it go

Your just a cheap a$$ when it comes to spending money.

not for anything but ur brother in law must to be playing a joke on you if he knownly gave u $20 dollar gift in a store that everythig cost higher than $20 to me ,he was sending a message....maybe for you to buy new strings for ur acoustic quitar because it doesnt sound right that cost around $15 bucks....LOL... what a joke ...jules u r not @ fault maybe you need a new brother in law that is not so cheap giving gifts...



DUMMIETEK....dont think,react,execute...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DUMMIETEK,

quote:

Originally posted by Kyotech:
Your just a cheap a$$ when it comes to spending money.

Damn right! I must have rubbed off on me from my old boss...

quote:

Originally posted by DUMMIETEK:
not for anything but ur brother in law must to be playing a joke on you if he knownly gave u $20 dollar gift in a store that everythig cost higher than $20 to me ,he was sending a message....maybe for you to buy new strings for ur acoustic quitar because it doesnt sound right that cost around $15 bucks....LOL... what a joke ...jules u r not @ fault maybe you need a new brother in law that is not so cheap giving gifts...



DUMMIETEK....dont think,react,execute...

I think it's more likely that he's just lazy. This store is 3 or 4 blocks from his house, whereas Guitar Center is a 20 minute drive from his house.

Oh, yeah and I just replaced the strings on my acoustic with Elixers and I'm pretty sure he knows that.

quote:

Originally posted by Yak:
life is too short such things bother you..

let it go

Fortune cookie wisdom?

Really?

I'm cheap in a different way. I would in no way allow myself to walk out of that store without something of their's in my possession in exchange for that gift certificate. Even if I had to go and resell it later on ebay.

I say buy something cheap(like a Barney song book) that your brother in law will never be able to use, wait until it's time for his gift and then give it to him, maybe he'll get the hint.

I vote for Robscopyr idea.

funny

Can you use the gift card to buy another gift card?
If so, wouldn't that make a wonderful gift for your brother in law?

The whole gift card/gift certificate thing in some ways really irritates me.

It's great when it's your nephew's birthday and you know if you give him cash he'll just blow it on weed. At least with the gift certificate maybe he'll get something nice (or at least some good munchies to chow down on).

Then there's the rest of the world.

I really think that gift certificates or cards purchased for a cash amount should be worth the cash - one way or another. Sure, require a purchase of some sort - but what's left should be required by law to be cash.

Then there's the total baloney of 'Expiration'. You pay real cash for the things, then if somebody loses it in their dresser drawer until next Christmas, they can't even use it to buy someone else a gift. The store just made 100% profit!

A while back a customer of mine that owns a restaurant needed some significant work done to his copier. I offered to trade it out. He gave me gift certificates and we used them to take clients and coworkers out. The kicker was that he put expiration dates on them - we had to use them up within 3 months. While we managed to do so, I didn't put an expiration date on his parts for his copier!

Here's some stuff for an acoustic guitar player.

Picks, good ones are now around .95, buy 18 of them and you'll never need a pick for the rest of your life.

FingerEease, spray it on the neck and strings, I used to carry two bottles to every gig I played, it not only makes playing easier, it preserves, cleans, the neck and strings, making strings last longer.

Strap, if you ever play standing up - nuf said there.

Electronic tuner + 9v battery. Cheap o electronic tuners around 15 bucks.

Polish - Martin guitar polish in a small spray bottle, I've had the same bottle for 10yrs now I think it's still half full.

Judas Priest Hell bent for Leather Song/Tab Book, if that music store does not have this book you don't need to be there.

Kapo - Have one don't use it though, but you never know.

Slide glass or metal - Playing with a slide is so fun, and awesome.

Strings - Dean Markley's strings would last me around three gigs. They don't last forever, even if you don't play much they still need changing every few years.

Down payment on an electric guitar for someone for a X-mas present.

quote:

Originally posted by Airborne:
Here's some stuff for an acoustic guitar player.

Picks, good ones are now around .95, buy 18 of them and you'll never need a pick for the rest of your life.

FingerEease, spray it on the neck and strings, I used to carry two bottles to every gig I played, it not only makes playing easier, it preserves, cleans, the neck and strings, making strings last longer.

Strap, if you ever play standing up - nuf said there.

Electronic tuner + 9v battery. Cheap o electronic tuners around 15 bucks.

Polish - Martin guitar polish in a small spray bottle, I've had the same bottle for 10yrs now I think it's still half full.

Judas Priest Hell bent for Leather Song/Tab Book, if that music store does not have this book you don't need to be there.

Kapo - Have one don't use it though, but you never know.

Slide glass or metal - Playing with a slide is so fun, and awesome.

Strings - Dean Markley's strings would last me around three gigs. They don't last forever, even if you don't play much they still need changing every few years.

Down payment on an electric guitar for someone for a X-mas present.

I already have most of that stuff already except for the capo (would never use), guitar polish (furniture polish is just as good) and the Judas Priest songbook (would have to kick my own ass, no offense). I even have this little 9V powered amp/fuzz box that's built into a pack of Camels. I wouldn't waste money on any songbook, since you can google just about any song and find the chords/tab/lyrics pretty easily. I'll probably just end up getting another set of Elixers. I just put a set on my acoustic recently and I like the way they sound.

hey...jules...can we get ZERO the hero by black Sabbatt, on line... maybe i want to give that a try...or send a copy to ur brother in law...LOL...



DUMMIETEK...have is the name of the game, but i still prefer "jimi hen" in woodstock....

quote:

Originally posted by DUMMIETEK:
hey...jules...can we get ZERO the hero by black Sabbatt, on line... maybe i want to give that a try...or send a copy to ur brother in law...LOL...



DUMMIETEK...have is the name of the game, but i still prefer "jimi hen" in woodstock....

Here you go, Zero the Hero . It's just that easy.

hey now...thanks jules...just got cured...what a band black sabbatt was...



DUMMIETEK...AC/DC WAS NOT BAD @ ALL...I REALLY ENJOY THAT TIME OF MY LIFE!...

Dummie , I loved Born Again, played the cassette until it wore out.

The Judas Priest thing was a joke, if someone gave me a gift certificate for anything, anywhere I'd be a little more appreciative, but that's just how I roll. I'd buy some strings and throw them in the case and forget about it until I broke one or they couldn't be tuned correctly.

FWIW, you can find many, many songs tabbed now on line, but to keep the record straight a lot of the songs you find the tabs or chords are incorrect as they are tabbed out by people who don't really know how to play, or tab it how "they believe" it to be played. This is a product of getting "free stuff". And there are some that you can't find, you have to buy.

I've been playing since high school and have been in many, many bands making money as a lead guitar player and have been the route with finding tabs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEphpb8RSNU

Some Fairies Wear Boots, I posted for a kid years ago.

Hey Jules, I was stationed out at Mare Island back in the early 80's and was just back out there last summer for a reunion. The trip back reminded me why I enjoyed myself up in that part of California, I had a great time but was sad to see the shipyard in the state it was in, lots of history there.

Air... i know for sure u can play ..i saw a link you downloaded in the past & it was impressive...the link that jules gave me was on the point because i have a carbon copy of the original, a good friend that was a band boy for black sabbatt in the 80' scout that 1 for me...so i got cured again...


DUMMIETEK...i guess some free stuff is not so bad after all...keep playing buddy make sure is loud...i'll check that link...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DUMMIETEK,

Air that link is no joke...i enjoy ur jimi hen replay...great job! buddy ...i got the chills...need beer a.s.a.p & shot jack on the side...got my sun glasses on dude...LOL...some "SANTANA" magic wont hurt...



DUMMIETEK...reporting from: you tube live!you go Air...