Cintioli's Music Ctr

Recommends

goosenberg

Joined 2 years ago

the best guitar shop in Philly for at least 40 years. Say what you will about the guys who he has hired over the years, but if you know what you want, you can't get a better deal than from Benny Cintioli. He's an incredible older man who will always sell high-quality products at a great price and give a guarantee that can't be beaten. He too is more than a little "rough around the edges" but he is someone that many of us has a special place in our hearts for supporting us when we didn't have much money and wanted to have good equipment for our groups as kids. There's no one like him and I tell every guitarist I meet not to buy a guitar in Philly before they go to Cintioli's.

I know I differ from the other reviewers here, but I've been dealing with Benny since the late 1960s and he's undoubtedly the best.

Doesn't Recommend

Johnatk

Joined 3 years ago

Never again.... So I take my cheap Squire Strat in to get set up and adjusted. When I go to pick it up 4 days later, I ask, "Is there anything wrong with the guitar that you would recommend changing?" To which the rude bastard who fixed my guitar replied, "Nothing, except that it's a Squire". I don't need someone to tell me my guitar is not a good guitar. I know that already.

A week or so later I stop in for some strings. After waiting for 15 minutes for someone to help me out (I asked immediately upon entering the store), one of the middle aged guys there asked me if I needed anything..."Yea, some strings - D'Addario's custom lights." To which he replied, "Are you kidding me?" To which I replied "What's wrong with that?" This received no reply as he proceeded to check me out in silence. He should have just asked me to leave instead of the passive aggressive b.s.

I've heard people have gotten great deals there... to me, I'd rather keep my integrity than buy anything there.

Doesn't Recommend

crackerjax123

Joined 4 years ago

use only when you need to. I really wouldn't suggest this place unless you really needed it.

Doesn't Recommend

spamdoofus

Joined 4 years ago

What's the price. The other review is 100 percent true. They are rude. They just ignore you. They seem to be having the best of times just chatting it up, but your not invited. Go to there web site and it's just pictures of them. They think they're rock stars or something. Try to buy strings and it'll take an hour. I go to any other local music shop and it's a minute or two. I saw an ad that they're opening a new store, but thay haven't added to their web site. Maybe they would have to remove a picture of themselves. The wonderful stock isn't worth the horrible customer service.

One more thing, every guitar has a tag with code. If you ask for a price, they stair at the tag, pause, say um about 5 times, and finally give you a price. Everytime I bought anything there (and I have bought more than 1 guitar there when I was a "kid"), I always feel I'm geting ripped off. Just put the price on it and be consistant. Again, go to other local guitar stores and prices are listed.

I stopped going there. I can't stand the neglect.

Doesn't Recommend

Eric71

Joined 4 years ago

Useful, but a collection of jerks. This place has such potential. They have a room chock full of guitars, basses, and amps, and a good selection of strings and other necessities when it comes to music. The exterior (or interior for that matter) isn't anything special, but who really cares about that stuff when their inventory is so great?

Unfortunately, they're also world-class jerks. The guy who checked me out when I bought some fretboard conditioner there was so short with me, I wasn't even sure he was going to bother with the transaction. I've been hung up on multiple times when I call with questions, and they act like they're doing me a favor when I go there or call them.

I should say, they are definitely not all like this. The guys who helped me out on the floor were definitely nice, and even the gruff ones who seemed like they were just trying to maximize their profit were pretty helpful. It's just that, interacting with their customer service, at least at the front desk, I feel like I'm being shooed away from the store.

I'm relegating this store to the only-in-the-case-of-emergency bucket.