Heart breaking news

[PDM1968]

I just saw this thread and wanted to express my hopes and prayers to you and your family, HOT-BRIT. I truly wish everything works out in all respects, but in the end instruments are just things and not as precious to us as our children.

 

[dleuen]

If you buy anything that is used, business or individual, how can you really know its never been stolen? You can't, thieves are usually pretty good liars. I don't think GC is in the wrong at all.

I agree with this. The GC manager has probably heard it all from people trying to scam them. Best bet would be to get a hold of someone in corporate who has some time to research what has happened, including looking at this thread. Once convinced it is legit I believe they would do the right thing.

 

[HOT-BRIT]

Hey Brit,

GC corporate headquarter is located here in southern CA about 10-20 miles north of L.A.

5795 Lindero Canyon Road
Westlake Village, CA 91362
(818) 735-8800

I never called the GC corporate office before so what the heck I called to find out what departments they have. They don't have public relations office but they do have corporate customer service person that you could speak to. His name is Chris (ext. 2601).

He was asking me what this was about but I did not tell him anything except that this was regarding my friend's stolen guitar in one of their stores and he was very anxious to hear about it.

Maybe you could give him a call and tell him the situation and see what they could do for you, maybe buy back your guitar at least. If he can't help, maybe you could ask him to pass along the information to higher up people there.

BTW, my prayer goes out to you and your family.

spoke to Chris at the corporate office, explained the situation and he said he will see what they can do in this situation and he said he will get back to me soon

 

[dcooper]

get a lawyer, file police report. Unless your son has an pretty bad arrest record, he will get probation and the judge will order rehab as a condition of his probation. then the police will be able to get your guitars back.

Talk to a lawyer you may get your guitars and help your son at the same time.

 

[FLH]

exactly they have no legal obligation to return them to me,
if they wanted to let me buy them for the price they paid for them, then that would be purely an act of kindness and good faith

How would you feel if GC said they talked to the customer who bought the guitar, and the customer said they'd sell it back to you for what they paid for it, plus 15 percent?

Considering your number one has already been sold, a good customer of theirs is going to have a bad taste in their mouth when they don't get the guitar they bought. I don't think GC should have to do this to their customer, as well as forfeit their profit, just because you want to protect your son. It doesn't seem right that everybody gets hurt by this, just so your son don't have to pay for his actions.

Why should GC and their customer have to make an interest free loan to a drug addicted thief?

 

[odarellmc]

No they said if I pursue this, then they will press charges against my son

Time for some tough love, i know by experience you're not helping him by having him avoid the consequences. Plus being locked up my limit his access to drugs (to some degree), i know its your son, but as long as the drugs got a hold of him, he's a different person, he will not play (and has not)played by the same rules, get your guitars back, trust me the rest will work out, but its a road your son will have to travel,. if he tried this with anyone else he might not be so lucky to serve jail time, know what i mean???

 

[odarellmc]

Dude, **** that guy. I understand your situation, and do not say that lightly.

You are worried about putting him through the whole ordeal of getting arrested and prosecuted, possibly sending him to jail. You are worried about how this is going to feel to him, and what it's going to do to your family.

He on the other hand, did NOT give you the same consideration when he stole from you. He didn't just steal some change off your dresser, he stole thousands of dollars of your stuff, and sold it. That's just not something you're allowed to do. He treated you like you don't matter to him, and used you for his own selfish ends. I personally would have NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER turning anybody at all in for doing that to me, even my own mother.

What happens when he bleeds you dry and then gets caught stealing from someone who is not so forgiving? It could be a lot worse than a little jail time (that he completely deserves). C'mon, were it anybody else you would be foaming at the mouth for the least bit of revenge. Don't spare the rod here, or things will get worse.

Ditto, your son has to learn this hard lesson, do you really want someone else to teach it to him?

 

[funkybunch]

ummm yeah im sorry your son has a drug habbit and it sucks what he did but really this is a no brainer get the police involved and your son NEEDS to go to jail if your son stole my possesions and was caught i would not loose an ounce of sleep over him going to jail. Im not saying you shouldnt care what happens to your son but allowing him to not have consequences for his actions is not being very responsible on your part. and truth be told while in jail they have court ordered counseling to deal with addiction just saying it may be the best thing that ever happened to you son. take the steps to get your stuff back buddy if you dont your always going to have that hanging over his head. whats the worst that could happen if you do? anything worse than if you let him stay on this path? i dont think so

 

[HOT-BRIT]

loosing my guitars this way was hard as you can all imagine and I was very angry, I thought long and hard and got advice from legal professionals councilors and therapists before reaching my decision, at the end of the day my son's life and future is what is most important, he sank to a very low level but he now has a chance to except the help and carve out a brighter future, he is in a long term addiction rehab center and he will stay there for a long time,
I have all ready lost my guitars and I have come to terms with the loss, but my sons sickness is more important, there are many things that have lead him down this road of self destruction and self hatred not least was finding his grandma dead in the kitchen when she was babysitting him, he was six years old when this happened. Then the next year he was molested by his karate teacher he was seven years old when this happened, there are some other things that happened in his life also but these are major issues.
I love my son and always will, but I hate the things he has done, he has a chance now to turn his life around I hope he takes it and can over come his demons as this as much as I can do and it is the last time I can do it for him.

 

[BlackSG91]

Sorry to hear about all this, man that it something! The response here has been really great and everyone is really behind you. That makes all the difference. I hope you can get that '56 LP back because that is one sweet guitar. I'll keep my eye open if that guitar ever makes it's way up here. Even more, I hope your son can make it through his addiction. Of course this is not your son's true character and reading about what happened to him in the past is quite saddening and explains why he is in the situation he is in now. There is always hope and there is always a new day ahead. All the best to you brother & I'll keep following this thread to check out any progress.

 

[Leiste]

I've been praying for you and your son, well, it seems for weeks now. It's just so hard trying to find the right words.

Your son needs help. And you showing your love is such an important and also honorable thing. Be strong. Your son will appreciate your love&support eventually! All the best to you and your family mate!

 

[HOT-BRIT]

Sorry to hear about all this, man that it something! The response here has been really great and everyone is really behind you. That makes all the difference. I hope you can get that '56 LP back because that is one sweet guitar. I'll keep my eye open if that guitar ever makes it's way up here. Even more, I hope your son can make it through his addiction. Of course this is not your son's true character and reading about what happened to him in the past is quite saddening and explains why he is in the situation he is in now. There is always hope and there is always a new day ahead. All the best to you brother & I'll keep following this thread to check out any progress.

thank you for your words of encouragement
Its an outside chance that I might get back my 56 Custom and will take a special act of kindness and compassion from the Guitar center

 

[HOT-BRIT]

I'm sorry to read all of this again. Too bad GC couldn't understand and work to help you. It just shows they are really only concerned about money.

I am planning a short trip to Miami in January only to buy a Lester and because of that I may assure I won't never put a cent on any product from GC even if they happen to have the best deal of the century.

I really hope your son finds the right way.

Its an outside chance that I might be able to get back my 56 Custom and it will take a special act of kindness and compassion from the Guitar center, as they are under no legal obligation to let me buy the guitar back at there cost, I spoke yesterday to some one in the corporate office and they are checking to see if there is any thing they can do to help

 

[Thiago]

Guys I wanna make an appeal to Guitar Center and I encourage everyone here who is touched by this happening so maybe they can read this thread and make something good!

Please Guitar Center show this man and all of us an act of kindness and do the right thing, help him get his 56 Custom back. I know for sure you are aware how important this instrument for him, since you have passion for music as we do. It's not about the money. This kind of instrument is almost a member of the family! Please help him!
Also think how cool this would be for your business. I'm sure you would get many new customers and this would get you even more sales which would compensate for this instrument.

 

[horand]

It may be so that The Guitar Center is following the legal policy in this case. I do hope though, concerning that this is a very unusual case with a lot more into it than just money benefits and legal policys - that GC handle this situation with some heart and understanding. I guess that would even be a long term "investment" for their credability and reputation to many future guitarbuyers.

I hope everyone who has been following this thread thinks the same.

 

[jeff_farkas]

I totally agree..

Please Guitar Center show this man and all of us an act of kindness and do the right thing, help him get his 56 Custom back. I know for sure you are aware how important this instrument for him, since you have passion for music as we do. It's not about the money. This kind of instrument is almost a member of the family! Please help him!
Also think how cool this would be for your business. I'm sure you would get many new customers and this would get you even more sales which would compensate for this instrument.

Please make this happen GC.
Thanks Jeff

 

[J_Edgar]

Regardless of the legal position here it would be great if Guitar Centre would do the honest and moral thing by doing their upmost to assist HOT-BRIT in getting his '56 Custom back.

 

[Mindfrigg]

A perfect opportunity for GC to show they have a heart, appreciate musicians, and know what's right. They couldn't come up with a better public relations story if they tried.Plenty of evidence here to show the guitar was stolen. what more do they need?
good luck Brit!

 

[Paracelsian]

I totally agree..



Please make this happen GC.
Thanks Jeff

Agreed.
GC is the closest store to my house. But I will drive way farther, to a competitor, gladly.
Do the right thing GC.

 

[MurciellagoSV]

I couldn't agree more:

Guys I wanna make an appeal to Guitar Center and I encourage everyone here who is touched by this happening so maybe they can read this thread and make something good!

Please Guitar Center show this man and all of us an act of kindness and do the right thing, help him get his 56 Custom back. I know for sure you are aware how important this instrument for him, since you have passion for music as we do. It's not about the money. This kind of instrument is almost a member of the family! Please help him!
Also think how cool this would be for your business. I'm sure you would get many new customers and this would get you even more sales which would compensate for this instrument.

I can have the idea of what this guy is passing through. I hope Guitar Center understands his situation and do the right thing. Let's keep the faith, dude!