Bad Music Store Experience Today (with Phil & Eddie)

by **BillB** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 12:57 pm

Mike,
You are complaining about this being a "pointless crap thread", but by my observation, you came in and threw a little fuel on the fire. Then, you continued to dump more fuel in your following posts. I really think you're one of the good guys here on the Chetboard, but your responses are helping to keep this "crap thread" alive. I'm a little tired of it as well after it's extended life, but I don't think Chet's estate is going to dump the Chetboard because of a few opinionated topics.

HeyMerle started with his very first Chetboard post on this thread making assumptions about Eddie and Phil, and he doesn't even know them. He does that, and he won't even post his name, not even a first name. I remember when the Chetboard was in it's old format, there was a conscious effort throughout the board to get folks to post a real name, at least in closing. They've asked him to do that, as we would do in the past. HeyMerle has basically thumbed his nose in regards to that request. The regulars on the Chetboard know Eddie and Phil, and many of us who attend CAAS know them personally. These are mature and very talented guitar players who are not going to damage guitars. When I first came to the Chetboard, I didn't start out by being critical of someone else. I had to earn the respect of others, and there were a few people that weren't sure that my name was really Bill Bailey. We exchanged a few messages, and folks found me to be who I said I was. Enough people have had a bad online communication experience, and it helps to know who you are talking to. To me, it's one of the things that sets the Chetboard apart from other forums.

I too, have worked in a music store as an assistant manager back in the '80s. We had low-end Carlos guitars, and we had high-end Martin guitars. And then there were all the ones in between, along with the Ibanez and Fender electrics. While I had to listen to "Stairway to Heaven" on a regular basis, I also dealt with the more experienced pickers like Phil and Eddie (though very few approached their skills). There are better and more tactful ways for someone who works in a guitar store, or any other retail businesses, to work with your customers. One can just remind someone to be careful with an instrument since it's harder to sell with scratches on it. You can also explain to them that a particular instrument is quite expensive and make sure to treat it with care. That can easily be done without being rude or seeming like a jerk. Now, it might be a little different with out-of-control disrespectful teenagers, but these two guys are grown men with families.

I was in a music store a few years ago. I think it was probably my second visit there to buy some picks and strings. I asked the guy if that was a Benedetto hanging behind the counter. He took it off the hanger and handed it to me and insisted that I plug it in and play it. That guy didn't know me from Adam, but he treated me with respect. And I treated that guitar with respect. A couple of years later, I found my Nashville Classic in that store. That's how a good music store business works. You treat your customers with respect, and they come back and do business with you. They'll also send you business, but if you don't treat them with respect...

I think I've said about as much as I can on this. I know Eddie and Phil personally, and I've seen bad business practices. It seems to me that they encountered someone who probably should not be in the business if he cannot treat his customers with more respect. We don't know who HeyMerle is, and he might be an okay person. But in my opinion, he started out on the wrong foot, especially since he began by being critical of longtime, clearly identified members of the Chetboard. This is my opinion, and I think it's probably a good one.

Yes, my name really is,

Bill Bailey

by **PhilHunt** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:27 pm

What color are your socks Bill?

by **Eddie Estes** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:37 pm

I have found that black socks help me play better :lol:

by **BillB** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:42 pm

Currently, I'm not wearing any socks, just flip-flops. But now that you mention it, my feet are a little cold.

Bill B.

by **Randy Finney** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 2:07 pm

These might help.

No trying them on unless you promise to buy them!

Randy

by **Eddie Estes** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 2:36 pm

THose would help a lot. I could play Lightening Rod wearing those!!!!

by **PhilHunt** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 3:00 pm

Eddie, if Mike and heymerle still had their music stores
you could have bought the socks from them.

Lord I apologize.........git-r-done

by **Tom Keller** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 5:28 pm

Could someone point out the passages where heymerle besmearched the good names of two of the most prominent and beloved members of the chetboard? He did offer the other side of the story, I don't see that necessarily as a bad thing. The fact he chooses to go with a nom de plume is in accord with forum rules yes? So what if you knew his name, gonna biff em goodun for speaking his mind?

My two cents

by **BillB** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 6:16 pm

Tom,
Nobody said he "besmearched" anyone's "good name". I only said that he made assumptions about them and basically their intentions during the "Bad Music Store Experience". If you have been reading closely, which I'm not sure you have, you would find that implication starting in the very first part of his very first ever post (on this thread and on this board). I personally see it as well in his most recent post on this thread. That, in my opinion, is not a very good way to introduce yourself to a forum that you've never posted on.

As far as the name, he can do whatever he wants. But I do think he might have gotten a little more respect by more clearly identifying himself, as most on this board do. I've already given my thoughts in my last post. So I'm not going to repeat myself. But if I didn't want my name known, I think I'd at least give a little expanation of why, even if brief or in private. I'd also probably try and smooth things over a little, but that's just me.

Now, I will say this. If you check (easy to do), you find that HeyMerle has not posted on any other threads other than this one. I find that a little odd, and I have a theory or two about that. Maybe he has nothing else to say, at least not as HeyMerle.

Anyway, I know who I'm talking to with you, Tom.
At least, I think I do.

Bill B.

by **Eddie Estes** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 7:11 pm

Thanks Tom but Phil and I are not the most prominent or beloved! At least in
my case. By the energy expanded in this thread by a few people here on my behalf I know that
they don't hold me in such regard. But hey I can live with that. :roll:

It is obvious some here take things WAYYYYY to seriously.

Tom I do think if you are going to rag someone it shows a little more character to man up
and do it under your own name but that is just me.

We were just kidding old Heymerle a little.
Anyway. I am a tiny speck in the world of guitardom and I know that.
But most of us have been here a while and the fact that a few here do like me
means more to me than the ones who don't.
Not speaking for Phil but he probably think the same.

Did I mention that Picker's Supply in Fredericksburg is a wonderful place to buy
a guitar? I think did.
And Broadway Sound is the greatest place to deal with. See I give credit where credit is due.

Bill I have some theories about that too.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MY PEEPS and to my nonPEEPS :lol: