What should I do?

[BCR Greg]

Guitar Center (I know, I know) has been after me to head up their east coast repair center. I just got an email confirming a phone call from yesterday with an offer that is really hard to turn down. It would mean a big change with what I do now, but the cash is significant when you have two kids with braces and college plans. I am leery of the whole Gibson/Fender warranty work issue, but getting paid HUGE bucks to fix guitars with a STAFF(!) to do the gruntwork is becoming very attractive.

Since the position is new, I may be able to use my building as the center, and refit it with a ton of cool machines at GC's expense!

More later.

BTW, I would STILL make any HFC member's guitar a priority.

[Mike_C]

Go with your heart and your talent. protect the family and take the offer. Good luck decisions like this are good dilemas.

Okay it's a good one for AFD if it's a joke.

[paults]

Its good to know you'll still do HFC mods & repairs. That Maestro I bought from Toby needs converted to a six-string, and I got a lefty Phantom that I want combined with a righty... Best wishes in your new endeavour, and Happy AFD!

[Guest galejt]

I think you would make a really good Contingency Engineer. We have openings in Afganistan and Iraq. Long hours, shitty pay, bad food, lots of exercise sprinting for the bunkers 10 times a day. What do you say?

Edited to add: Take it. You and your family's future is what's important. Will you still do custom orders?

Jimmie

[savethematches]

Jump on it man! If it sucks, you can always tell them to cram it.

[jwhitcomb3]

Assuming this isn't a big April Fool's joke...

Sounds like a great opportunity, Greg. You still get to work with guitars and deal with musicians but give up many of the risks and hassles of running a brick-and-mortar business.

Ten years ago I decided to leave my mucho fun job at MOTU (music software and hardware company) for the much better paying telecommunications industry. While I miss the work, I've been a better provider for my family. I've never regretted that decision.

-Jonathan

[bobbymack]

Follow your heart, not necessarily just the money. If it feels right and you are comfortable with the people, go for it.

Get a contract though. You would be risking what you have worked long and hard for, which deserves compensation AND security / peace of mind. And remember, they are coming after you, not vice versa, so get what you are worth.

Also, traditional wisdom dictates being careful when evaluating a "new" position which has not been in existence before...

Best of luck whichever way you go.

[pesocaster]

Take the bastards money! ...... These guys are running so many decent shops out of business.... if you can grab a chunk of their change while maintaining your store ... I say go for it .... have them PAY to keep you in business!!

[sw686blue]

Greg,

Family is always first. You know what, you would be the perfect person to get those POS Gibsons working properly.

Nick

[princeofdarkness56]

You get to do what you love and they will pay you well for it. Take it from someone who has been stuck in a lousy work environment, go for it. If it does not work out, quit. It will still look good on your resume.

[marcus2]

A few years ago to this day we heard about BCR closing.

April 1st always brings crazy news. In my town (Green Bay) a local radio station announced Brett Favre's retirement.

I just don't know what it is about this day.

[Kurt L]

Just remember, when you have one overwhelmingly big client, they often dictate how things will be. Or in GC's case, dick-tate.

I'd try taking SOME of their repair work and seeing how it went before jumping in the deep end. Don't give up your independence.

[DavidE]

Good one.

[Turdus]

Perhaps a joke, but could be legit. One of the local GC's uses a local small shop for used repairs. That shop is also a Gibson warranty center. I had a Gibson warranty item a few years ago and I was sent to that shop.

I was charged $65 (up front) just in case my claim was not covered by warranty. As it turned out, they stated that my "issue" was within Gibson tolerances, so I was out $65.

So Greg... if this is true... follow the example I just laid out, and make sure you charge up front, in case the issue ain't covered.

[phoenix]

Gee, braces, college? seems like a simple decision.

Have your staff dress like Esteban. If GC gets surly because of the hours spent perfecting silly walks, fax them Poe's ass shot.

[kurtsstuff]

I personally will have absolutley nothing to do with anything G.C. related..not that this would sway any decision on your part but...just me $0.02 worth

[eightyfour]

Isn't an expansion or build out of your current location going to have a direct impact on the air-brush tanning business you've been toying with for some time now?

Incidentally I don't know what the big deal is...take the money and live large, cause we all know you won't need to work on all that many Gibsons anyway.

[LittleC]

GC (and for that matter, several of the mom & pop shops around here) send your amp repairs to someone I know here on the Island, so something like this could be legit.

Greg, remember, you only go around once and when you are done, it is what you leave behind that matters to those once part of your life (be that money, memories, or a combination of both). Only you can weigh the trade-offs (pros and cons) and then decide what is best for you. Either way, be happy!!!

Disclaimer: This is only IMHO.

[silentman]

Sellout!

[KeyOfZ]

This has got to be an April Fools joke......

While I don't know that much about Gregs life, from what I have seen here at the HFC he has one of the best jobs anyone could ask for.

Not that you don't deserve the offer you described Greg but say it aint so!

[bobbymack]

Yeah, could be a 4/1 thing but it's not off the wall enough. A friend of mine's shop in Charlotte handles all repairs for the local GC...

Guess they'd only send the royally f*ed stuff to Lemoyne (I know I know, all the G*bsons...)

[unfun 75]

I'd hold out for a Sam Ash job so you can repair all the Carlo Robelli guitars.

[Buzzy Fretts]

Do both. Hire a bunch of workin stiffs and clear out the bats on the 2nd floor to make room. I hear Esteban is looking for a good service bench too.

[BCR Greg]

Allright, allright, allright. STOPP CALLING ME!!! LOL

April Fools! I figured this would get shot down in 5 minutes. There is no way in hell that I would work for a company that chews up people like that.

To anyone that feels that I took advantage of your kindness, I apologize. I wanted to do a good one since I didn't last year.

Back to our regularly scheduled mayhem......

[custom53]

Good thing I didn't make the trip to PA.....

Good luck in your decision. I know it is tough with more than yourself in the plans.

As you know, I've been there...