High Tech Electronics

I was walking around the strip when i stumbled upon this store. I saw a guitar strap I liked so I thought I’d pop in and see how much.
An older man came out and asked if I needed assistance and I asked the price of the strap. He said 19.99 and I said ok nevermind to which he responded right away with ‘ok I’ll give it to you for 10 bucks’. I agreed. Proceeded to the check out counter, paid then left. After I looked at the receipt I realized he charged me 20% sales tax! The whole time he was asking me if I was happy with the price and he sounded like he’s doing me a favor or something. The store was empty I should’ve taken it as a red flag. Beware of the man’s sneakiness. Bad business.

So, today I popped into this music store on my way home to get some guitar replacement strings. I buy them often, and know what I like and don’t like.
I notice they don’t have what i want, but hey, I’ll ask. I’m pretty desperate for my guitar strings, and I don’t have much time to pick some up. The owner comes out, and proceeds to tell me they don’t have what I want. Fine. I still need strings, so I’ll just get some here. He then proceeds to hit on me extensively. Like he asks if I’m «a good girl.» I tell him I’m a preschool teacher and I just need some strings. He keeps hitting on me. Worse. And worse. I keep repeating I’m married while trying to get out of there. I’m really really uncomfortable.
He’s doing belly dance shimmies and I’m smiling along waving him towards the register so I can leave. He reaches for my hand kisses it, and I’m still trying to get out of there because I am so disgusted.
Of course I’m using the girl mechanism. If I smile enough and get out he’ll leave me alone. I just basically shut down, because I was frankly having a triggering flashback to being assaulted. So pasting on an uncomfortable smile, I bought some strings for my uke and guitar.
Let me mention a few things I would have picked up on if I had not been so traumatized:
1. He never once let me see the price of the strings. The standard price for these strings are about $ 5 and $ 16.00, so I expected to pay at most 25 bucks because these strings even at jacked up prices are pretty inexpensive.
2. He very purposely tries to not give me a receipt.
3. I had to ask for it.
4. He pressed accept on the debit machine so I did not see the price.
5. He didn’t ring it up on his cash register so I NEVER SAW THE PRICE.
(For you folks at home this is completely illegal and can result in fines)
Thinking I bought regular guitar strings, not some made from adamanatium, I begin to walk home (after he tries to kiss my hand AGAIN), feeling super gross and disappointed in myself. I should have called him a creep and walked out. I stand up for everyone, why couldn’t I stand up for myself? Well, it’s because his smarmy attitude was triggering.
Well, I square my shoulders and decide I’m just going to return the strings. I’ll walk in, say my husband got me some and return them no big deal. maybe I’ll pick up a cheap-​o guitar for my pre-​school class. I look at the receipt and realize this douche just charged me 50 dollars for guitar strings. 5 – 0. Which explains why he held them, and why he didn’t want to give me a receipt.
I go in and make up a story about needing to return the guitar strings. I don’t want him to touch me again. I get there and ask to return them and after hitting on me some more he says there’s no refunds. I ask where it says that in the shop and he literally points to a sign at the very top of the store in a window where literally NO ONE will see. It is practically on the ceiling. I tell him he has to make that sign visible or else he is responsible for refunds. I then ask for a refund. He tells me he’ll give me a small guitar for my preschool class and a case for the same amount. I say that wasn’t fair what he did, and very wrong. He tries to pretend like he’s ctting me a deal and when he sees that I am being polite but firm, he walks away to talk to other customers.
NOPE. Not having it. I followed and the customers walk out as he tries to play dumb. At no point did I yell, or scream or raise my voice. I was as firm as I am with my class.
Then he leans over the counter and says, «If you don’t leave I’ll call the police.» I stood right there as that bastard called LAPD. Not wanting to die over guitar strings, I left.
Guess what? I’m filing a BBB report, putting a stop hold on those strings, AND contacting the weights and measures board.
Cause what he did was ILLEGAL. If I had been allowed to look at the price, I would have NEVER bought them.

My sister and I stopped in during the holidays after visiting the Magic shop next door. Trying to keep business local, we went inside, knowing we would pay a little more, but help local business. The older gentleman was overly flirtatious and boarderline offensive. We opt to buy some guitar picks, a guitar stand and a Beatles pick set. Some of the prices were a lot more than what you would find at a chain store, and certainly more than you would find online. He gave us «DEALS», and lowered the prices. But when he totaled the bill it was way higher than he «negotiated» with us. When calling this to his attention, he fumbled around with the calculator, and came up with a «New» price. It still seemed high, but he rambled on, total, taxes… I should have just walked out, but really wanted to be done with Christmas shopping. I wanted to pay with my credit card, but he insisted on using debit, even though they advertise taking credit cards. (of course he doesn’t want to pay the rates to them!.. But I get miles!) We left befuffled. And then after totaling up prices again in our head, realized he DID OVER CHARGE US!!! What a crook! I will never go back to this establishment again. He wants to say its normal to charge $ 3 for a single guitar pick! They’re a quarter everywhere else. Complete scammer. BEWARE!!!