[lpplayer]

I agree with changing the factory strings, and stringing them up properly. Another thing I do when I put strings on is stretch the hell out of them. Tune to pitch, pull on them off the fretboard a bit, push down on them behind the nut and bridge, retune to pitch...repeat until the stretching makes no or little difference. I have had several Epiphones with the Grovers and still own two, and have never had tuning issues, knock on wood.