I have only lived in the DMV area for a few years and I have always been a guitar center customer. Honestly it is hit or miss at most of the GC stores. I have never really had an aweful experience and in most cases they are great. I went to the store in Rockville, MD cuz I heard it was one of the bigger stores on the east coast. From the outside it kinda looked like an old high school building and when I walked in I could tell it was an old store. Don't get me wrong it was clean, but you could tell the carpet was pretty old and the paint was like the 80's vomited on the walls. Putting that all aside I was warmly welcomed by one of the managers when I came in (I think his name was Tim) I told him I was looking for a new guitar and he said he was more of a drummer but he would get me with the right guy. So, he brought me to the guitar section and introduced me to a guy named Gene who spent a lot of time with me. I had always wanted a Paul Reed Smith but never had the money for it. Gene found me a really great used PRS and it was the guitar I have always dreamed of. It was a great deal also!!! Rockville is almost two hours from where I live but I will make the drive to go shop there again.