Sam Ash Music Stores

This Sam Ash location is a joke. I was being helped by Rob who was arguing with the other employee Lily in front of me at the register. His attitude towards me and his coworker was very unprofessional. extremely poor customer service…

I visited this Samash store to make a purchase. My experience was a positive one. The sales guy knew his stuff. He was very well versed and was able to answer our many questions. He was also very friendly, which was appreciated, since customer service is usually poor in many places. Kudos to Sam Ash!

I came here tonight to purchase a ukulele and was treated to one of the most uncomfortable experiences of my life. The sales guy was a douche, beginning by criticizing me for my choice of ukulele trying to convince me to buy one for $ 100+ (i’m not dropping more than $ 50 for a beginner ukulele, it’s unnecessary). His major argument being that it doesn’t stay in tune as well (a minor issue for me, it can be re-​tuned), overall making me feel bad for how much I was there to spend (INCREDIBLY inappropriate, you do not know my financial situation) and then continuing to try to shame me for not getting a bag as the other client he was helping laughed. I’m sorry i’m not buying a $ 25 bag for something i’m not planning on playing anywhere other than in my room. It was a very awkward and uncomfortable experience and I couldn’t wait to finally get out of there. I’m guessing he was trying very hard to make commission but rather just completely lost a potential future customer. This store is about a 15 minute walk from my house but I will not be going back here in the future. I’d much rather take the trip down to Guitar Center in Manhattan.

I was there on Tuesday June 30 to find out about the different violins available for my daughter. The 2 girls behind the counter were so into their conversation with each other that they didn’t even notice me. Until they did. The one girl turns around, looks right at me and then gives me her back and continues her conversation. WTF why are there SO SO many employees there and NO ONE there that wants to work or is available to help me. I was willing to spend a minimum of $ 400 on the violin but because of the poor customer service I wouldn’t spend a penny there.
Get your act together or else you won’t be around much longer

They have a great staff who knows where to find anything you’re looking for, friendly and personable happy to answer all your trivial little questions. It’s one of the few music stores in the area and certainly recommended.

Not really sure how the services are here, but the instrument selection is extensive. There are many rooms dedicated to a respective instrument type, and you can try most of them out. I hung out here with my friends just browsing and only one person asked us if we needed help (not sure if that’s an overall good thing but it worked in my situation).

Do not bring your instrument here for a setup. The new tech that they brought in is a complete amateur. Joe was the last good tech in Queens and now they’ve replaced him with someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. I brought my bass in for a restring and a regular setup a few weeks ago. It took them almost two weeks to get back to me telling me to come pick it up. Upon receiving my instrument I noticed that the tech had put an unnecessary, poorly made, piece of plastic that he tried to pass for a «shim». This resulted in my instrument being nearly unplayable with the action super high off the fretboard. I called Sam Ash back to speak to the tech and asked why he did what he did to which he gave me a long list of reasons. It was bullshit to say the least. Also I forgot to mention that while making this modification, which I did not ask for or want to begin with, he damaged the finish on my bass and chipped away a piece of my bass at the neck pocket. Never will I trust these amateurs to work on my instrument again. I was expecting a professional result but was left very disappointed. As a loyal customer of Sam Ash for many years, I can say the overall quality of this particular location has gone down the drain.

Psh… Just dropped my review from a 2 to a 1
Anyone heard of Maschine?
Apparently this store hasn’t. They have one in the box, but nothing set up. This is arguably the most popular groove station/​midi controller out there today, so it would seem people might want to see what it’s capable of before dropping $ 600−1K on one…
Customer service is pretty morose. Agreed with other reviews. It doesn’t seem as if they really know about what they are selling and I usually feel like some sort of inconvenience, rather than the source of their commission.
Selection is ok. Not my ideal store, as Sam ash in manhattan is ridiculously loaded with stuff, but it’s close to home so…

I wrote my first song on a keyboard here. It was a chill spot. I would come again, I prefer guitar center to Sam Ash; however to write music I definitely prefer Sam Ash because it’s peaceful most of the time :)

Just left here feeling wholly unimpressed. It seems like every time I’m here they’re rearranging the store, leaving a chaotic scene of awkwardly placed amps and instruments. This time the entire boss pedal display (30 some stompboxes) was out of commission. This is just about the only time I’ve been to a guitar store and was looking forward to leave. I’d come back to get strings or picks but not much else.

I love Sam Ash Music Stores for the most part. But unfortunately this one went down hill, which is rather odd for the location that it is in. I wonder if the district manager knows about the quality of service and what is going on with their retail store in this community. It saddens me honestly, I used to love this store, at one time people where actually helpful and to some point knowledgeable. No it just seems like they have staff that well are just either tired or just do not care. They horse around and keep customers waiting, some times even ignore potential buyers. This is what leads to stores eventually closing their doors, customers will just go elsewhere. I think corporate HQ, if there is one needs to step in. It will not surprise me if they eventually close their doors. Sigh as much as I would hate see something like that happen, it is a reality with online shopping convenience and other merchants just happy to have customers business, I would think that management would feel the same, especially in today’s economy. Sorry guys but you guys suck at this location… «Thumbs down» your ruining a good name and what was once the place to go… :-(

dan the man will help you out of um, a pickle? came in here for some accessories for my dad for pop-​day and he was opening boxes, looking up prices and codes, cracking jokes, and juggling trumpets. just kidding on the last one :) but seriously, he made a task that i researched lots for but still had no idea about (which stresses me out), absolutely palatable and i am mega-​grateful. will make sure to direct all future questions for all instrument-​related needs! thanks dan!

It’s a wonder how places like sam ash stay open. Instruments can be purchased so much cheaper online. Customer service is absolute crap with their counter people ready to jump on you if you annoy them with your questions. Sam ash, Mcdonalds and burger king should all be buried, replaced and forgotten.

So many guitars were out of tune which is forgivable to a point but not when you see 5 sales guys standing doing nothing you know no one here cares about instruments. So many guitars had missing strings, broken pieces, cracks, etc its like they throw these things around. Actually a shipment came in while I was there and I literally watched the stock guy throwing new guitars in boxes on the floor. And then they tell you its the kids that damage the guitars, yeah right.
Every high end acoustic had strings that were so old and dirty I think I need a tetanus shot after playing.
I watched them «set up» a guitar which entailed changing the strings and nothing else. No pickup adjustment, string height adjustment, fret file, tuning bolt tightening, truss, etc some of which were desperately needed on the guitar
Two young kids were trying to buy their first guitar and even after giving the sales guy their budget he up sells them to guitars that were way above their need and price range. Every question and statement the guy answered was a complete lie about the guitars wood and so on. Every time the guy walked out to «check to see how many were left cause this model goes real fast» the kids and their families were asking me questions and telling me the guy is a moron. They told me they only bought the guitars because I helped them. This infuriated the sales guy for some reason I don’t know why. I thought I was helping him out.
I asked the sales guy if he could look at the used Larivee I was playing that had a buzz on a high fret. The guy pretended to not hear any buzz for like 5 minutes and then after every body in the room looked at him like hen was deaf he finally admitted he heard it. Absolutely useless.
Do not bring instruments here to sell. I witnessed one of the owners make an offer to two older women who found a 1950 Les Paul in their home. When the women left they high fived like frat boys over how much they can make on this possible one of a kind prototype Les Paul guitar. It was really disgusting to see what a greedy business this once amazing family business has become.
I have such fond memories of my father taking me to Manny’s and Sam Ash in Manhattan and watching him buy instruments from the Ash’s. I walked out of there feeling so disgusted.
These are all my opinions. Please feel free to visit and form your own opinion. It is still a decent place to try instruments before you buy them online and maybe to get strings but that is about it.
Parking stinks.
The only reason I give 1 star is because it has a toilet that is convenient when I am in the neighborhood.

5 stars for the instruments minus 4 stars for the staff.
I had to listen to salesman lie to 4 people in a row to make a sale. 3 of them only bought the instrument because they asked me questions whenever he walked out.
Think it’s just bad staff? Nope one of the Ash’s themselves sitting right there and couldn’t even bother to step in. Obviously a corporate problem. It’s ok though these stores are all going out of business thanks to online shopping.
Well this one may stay afloat if they keep offering poor old ladies $ 5000 when they walk in with $ 35 000 Les Pauls which I witnessed today. Beware when you sell instruments here.

I had a large order of 5 head microphones I needed to order for the school I work for. This store didn’t have any in stock, but the sales rep (his name was Everon) was willing to call the Manhattan store to confirm their inventory. We waited for almost 20 minutes as he was put on hold (I can only imagine the reviews the Manhattan store must have!), but the sales rep was very patient and willing to help me out. After they confirmed that they had only 3 of the 5 I’d need, he sold me comparable products from his store. But the only 2 he had in stock were in already-​opened boxes. He could have just ignored it, because I hadn’t even noticed. But he insisted on taking the mics out to test them. He made sure I was happy with the quality before putting them back in the box… with some fresh batteries he opened to test them.
Because they were opened, he offered me an immediate discount on the items. I guess looking back, he didn’t really go above and beyond, BUT he was patient, kind and funny. Made sure I was happy before I left. And that’s more than I expect from most retail places these days. Just a little kindness and patience goes a long way. He gave me his card and said to contact him if there was anything else I needed. I actually felt like I was a valued customer, which, let’s face it — almost NEVER happens in NYC!

What’s an awful store and terrible customer service! I was looking for keyboard and they don’t have any leaflets for products and also missing price tags. They are NOT knowledgeable to answer my questions either. They don’t know what they are selling. It was waste of time.
Later, I went to Guitar center in Manhattan and purchase a keyboard. I had wonderful customer service and also got additional discount from them. Don’t bother Sam Ash. I highly recommend Guitar center in Manhattan. They are super friendly and professional and most importantly, they have great selection of instruments at the store.

Sam Ash store on Queens Blvd. is the absolute worst retail experience imaginable! I’ve been in there quite a number of times and its truly amazing to see how the employees skulk about and hide from all the customers whenever one happens to come in. I’m convinced that this behavior is a sign of shame, and rightly so. Personally, i was met by salespeople sporting puffed-​up chests and glassy-​eyed stares when posing even the simplest of questions regarding their merchandise. The arrogance of response i was given never stood a chance of masking the ignorance it was meant to conceal. Some of the answers i have been given to queries by the staff there were so far off the mark of truth i can’t believe they weren’t just kidding. But its not in the least bit funny, no. Especially not after they have sold you a shiny new shrink-​wrapped keyboard that once you’ve opened at home you find is all samashed up inside and you try to return it… this is when the nightmare really begins! Allow me to spare you the horrific details of all my regrettable experiences with this store and simply beg of you to go anywhere but here, especially not for a sale. Visit a smaller retail venue or another chain… maybe someplace where they don’t drop delicate electronic merchandise on the floor before your very eyes. Maybe someplace where the staff aren’t so stoned they forget you’re on hold… over and over again. A place where they won’t be eyeballing you and acting put off and harassed before you even approach the counter. This is a place to inspire fear if you’ve been dumb enough to make a purchase and laughs if you just go to watch. This place is the McDonald’s of music equipment. Except they’re not wearing clown suits…
but i do smell cheeseburger.

Nice selection of everything and the customer service here is great. The dude that helped me was very friendly. You could definitely haggle with these guys if you’re purchasing something expensive. I purchased a Martin acoustic guitar and turntables. I got a great deal on the Martin but for the turntables, I’m still a little iffy about that purchase and it isn’t their fault. It was something I didn’t really need but I got it anyway.
There is no private lot, the street parking around here isn’t too bad for this part of Forest Hills. I wish they handed out more flyers for this place because I don’t know what new deals they got goin.

I went to buy myself an effect pedal. I called them up and after waiting three minutes on hold for someone to pick up the line, I was told that they have the pedal in stock but had only two left (I can’t verify if this was true or not).
I went inside Sam Ash and found the workers to be the worst when it came to timely service. I asked a woman in her late 30s about the pedal I wanted since it wasn’t on display. I thought it would be an in-​out type of thing like in the LIC Guitar Center – I was so wrong! The clerk called the stock people who had pedals on lock down in the basement but no one replied! She had me waiting for five minutes and apologized nervously because no one was responding to her and her workmates did nothing to alleviate the situation.
She did try to make some small talk about pedals while I waited but I wasn’t that interested since I was only interested in the fact that her coworkers were unhelpful or slow to pick up the phone.
A worker had finally come up and went back down to the basement to bring me my pedal after asking my clerk what she had called for. After waiting some three minutes for that (so total time spent to that point was 15mins), the guy comes back up and hands me the WRONG PEDAL! The pedal brand makes several effects but the packaging for each is very different so that wasn’t an excuse for his mistake. The store was rather empty for a Wednesday afternoon so that couldn’t be an excuse. I believed that the guy could handle getting a pedal from the stock room because he was over 40 years old in appearance.
He returns-​I kid you not-​15 minutes later and gives me a halfhearted apology but passive-​aggressively blames the female clerk for his mistake and goes back to the basement. He said that he had trouble because the pedals were in the back of the shelves and unlabeled. Yet, as he is telling me his excuses and blaming the clerk, he has the pungent smell of marijuana.
It took me 30 minutes to make a purchase on something I expected to spend at most 15 minutes on. Unfortunately there aren’t many good music instrument stores in Queens like there are in Manhattan or Brooklyn so I’m half stuck with this service. All that hassle for a $ 42 dollar pedal.