This year I have a goal to start a podcast. I have the ideas, I am getting guests lined up but I don't have all of the proper equipment or know-how. Being a crafter, you'd never think we need to know all this technical stuff – html coding, how to edit videos in Adobe Premiere Pro, and how to edit metdata and put watermarks on your photos. It is a challenge sometimes. I feel like I don't always know what I am doing and when it comes to buying equipment, I usually leave it to my IT professional husband to deal with the geeks at the local Fry's or Best Buy or to find me a deal on the proper equipment online.

people-who-buy-things-are-suckersSource: http://www.empowereddollar.com/start-a-conversation/how-to-ron-swanson-your-life/

But I didn't want to buy podcasting equipment online because if I have problems, it is a pain to return it. So we went to two Fry's and one Best Buy over the last 2 weeks and tried to find the equipment I needed, or at least some basic equipment to get me started. I figured if I really stick with it and it goes well, I can invest in more equipment, online, later.

tumblr_lx1btuzCOA1r9pgsuo1_500Source: http://elitedaily.com/envision/brands-honest-logos-slogans-look-like/

First of all, the people at these electronics stores make you feel like a moron. Which is nuts because when the words “podcasting”, “audio recorder”, and “non-USB micorphone” come out of my mouth, they look like a deer in the headlights. They have no flipping CLUE what I am talking about. They start showing me stupid stuff like USB microphones. Or like the guy at Fry's did on Saturday, because I must look illiterate, read all the specs off the side of the box to me. That was the last straw. I had HAD it and I was ready to just surrender and order online.

Guitar-Center-Logo

As we pulled back onto the freeway, Xaver decided to look at Guitar Center online to see if they had the audio recorder that was recommended in a seminar at NMX on podcasting. They DID! So he called the store and put it on reserve. We had the BEST experience at Guitar Center Rancho Cucamonga – wayyyyyyyy exceeding my expectations of a great experience!!! You know, I don't think Guitar Center when I think of techy equipment. But they knew their stuff. I'll let this review I posted on their Facebook Page tell you about my experience:

“A friend and I are trying to start a podcast this year. I went to Best Buy AND two different Fry's looking for podcasting equipment. Everyone at those stores had no CLUE what I was looking for.

My husband decided to check out Guitar Center online as we are pulling out of the last Fry's parking lot today and you had the equipment I was looking for. He called an your friendly staff offered to hold the item until we could get there. EVERYONE in the store was super helpful and nice. I can't remember the name of the guy who helped us check out at the Guitar Help Desk, he had long brown hair and was very helpful and professional. I decided to look at mics and staffer Talon was super helpful going over all the otions with me and was so understanding when I told him I didn't have the technical knowledge to know what I was looking for. He broke it down for me and gave me a few different options to choose from. As soon as I said it was for podcasting, he understood exactly what I needed!!

BIG BIG props to Guitar Center!!! I am going to recommend everyone to visit you for their podcasting audio needs AND I plan to go back when I am ready for some more advanced equipment!!!!!!! Thank you thank you THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

I hope they enjoy reading my comment. I meant every word of it. This is the kind of comment I want to see on every Facebook Page because this is the kind of experience we all should have when dealing with ANY retailer. I will go back there to buy more audio equipment and I will tell my friends, just like I am telling you here.

 

 

Author: Jennifer Priest

It started with jewelry, beading, sewing, home decor, painting, basket weaving, pottery, and cross-stitch. Marry that to an entrepreneurial spirit & at 9 years old a girl is selling her wares at craft fairs as far as her parents and grandparents would drive her. These days, Jennifer enjoys crafts of all genres from sewing to scrapbooking to jewelry with a little dabbling in the mixed media world. Her style is approachable and she wants everyone who sees her work to feel that they too can embrace creativity and make their home and life beautiful.

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