Dear Guitar Center Team,…read more
I wanted to take a moment to thank Guitar Center for something that has meant a great deal to me: helping open the door to a wonderful world of music.
I was already a Guitar Center customer, having purchased some equipment and begun the journey of learning to play. Like many beginners, I was struggling along, trying to figure things out, and sometimes feeling as though I was in this all by myself.
Then one day, something happened that changed the way I felt about your store.
I was offered a free guitar. There was just one catch: I had to buy a set of strings. Naturally, I was skeptical. I remember thinking, "Okay, what's the catch? How is this deal going to screw me over?"
But I agreed, purchased the strings, and sure enough, Guitar Center handed me a Rogue dreadnought acoustic guitar. No gimmicks, no surprises, just a guitar.
I still have that guitar today. It's an inexpensive instrument, but I wouldn't part with it. What makes that guitar special isn't its monetary value. It's the goodwill attached to it. At a time when I was trying to find my way in music and feeling pretty much on my own, somebody at Guitar Center made me feel encouraged and appreciated.
That meant something to me then, and it still does today.
What your store probably didn't realize was that this simple gesture would have a lasting impact.
Over the past two years, I have made 17 purchases at Guitar Center, totaling $19,061.63. Those purchases have included guitars, keyboards, speakers, and an assortment of other musical equipment that has brought me countless hours of enjoyment.
I'm sharing those numbers not to boast about how much I've spent, but to illustrate something I believe every business should understand: goodwill creates loyalty, and loyalty creates lasting relationships.
You didn't have to give me that guitar. You certainly didn't have to make a beginning musician feel like someone was in his corner. But you did, and I've never forgotten it.
Today, I own some beautiful and considerably more expensive instruments. Yet that Rogue guitar still has a special place among them. It may be one of the least expensive guitars I own, but its sentimental value is something money simply cannot buy.
When it comes to music, Guitar Center is my store. You've earned my loyalty, and I intend to remain a loyal customer for years to come.
Thank you for helping me discover not just the joy of music, but the pleasure of knowing I wasn't entirely alone on that journey.
Sincerely,
Mike Hardy
A Very Satisfied Guitar Center Customer