Whether Guitarcenter doesn't fit your budget, lacks features you need, or you simply want to explore options — here are 10 lifestyle & perks alternatives worth considering for your small business.
Quick Comparison
| Store | Rating | Coupons | Top Strengths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Guitarcenter
Current
|
3.4/5 | 6 | Customer Service (In-Store) 8/10 | View |
Bigfishgames
|
1.3/5 | 7 | View | |
Bando
|
3.1/5 | 6 | Product Selection 9/10 Customer Service 7/10 | View |
Livingsocial
|
1.1/5 | 5 | View | |
Gamefly
|
1.5/5 | 5 | View | |
Samash
|
2.7/5 | 5 | View | |
Ticketcity
|
3.1/5 | 5 | Customer Service 7/10 | View |
|
Philo
|
1.6/5 | 5 | View | |
Costumesupercenter
|
3.0/5 | 4 | View | |
Indiegala
|
3.6/5 | 4 | View | |
Kingsdominion
|
— | 4 | View |
Detailed Comparison
Bigfishgames
Bigfishgames faces significant criticism regarding account security, customer service, and game access issues. Customers report losing access to purchased games, encountering billing problems, and experiencing unhelpful or unresponsive customer support.
Weaknesses
- Accounts are frequently banned or deleted, resulting in the loss of purchased games.
- Customer service is unresponsive, unhelpful, and dismissive.
- Billing issues are common, including unauthorized charges and incorrect currency conversions.
Bando
Bando receives mixed reviews, with some customers praising their unique product selection and rewards program, while others report issues with unexpected charges. The legitimacy of Bando is questioned by some due to billing discrepancies.
Strengths
- Unique and curated product selection
- Supports small businesses and artists
- Fast shipping
Weaknesses
- Unexpected or incorrect charges
Livingsocial
Livingsocial, a deals and voucher marketplace, receives overwhelmingly negative feedback regarding customer service, order fulfillment, and refund policies. Customers frequently report issues with unfulfilled orders, difficulty contacting customer support, and being denied refunds even when merchants fail to honor vouchers.
Weaknesses
- Extremely difficult or impossible to contact customer service.
- Orders frequently not fulfilled or significantly delayed.
- Refunds are often denied, even when the merchant doesn't honor the voucher or provide the service.
Gamefly
Gamefly reviews reveal a service plagued by slow shipping, poor customer service, and billing issues, leading to widespread customer dissatisfaction. While the concept of renting games is appealing, the execution consistently falls short of expectations, resulting in a low SmallBizGenius rating.
Strengths
- Wide selection of games and movies
- Option to purchase used games at a discount
- Convenient rental service in theory
Weaknesses
- Extremely slow shipping and return times
- Poor and rude customer service
- Frequent billing errors and disputes
Samash
Sam Ash receives mixed reviews, with some customers praising their historical service and online refunds, while many others report issues with customer service, order fulfillment, and honoring store credit. The transition to an online-only presence appears to have introduced significant challenges in maintaining consistent service quality.
Strengths
- Fast refunds in some cases
- Potentially competitive pricing on specific items
Weaknesses
- Poor customer service and communication
- Order fulfillment issues (out of stock, delays)
- Difficulties with returns and refunds
Ticketcity
TicketCity is an online marketplace for event tickets, offering a wide selection of seats for concerts, sports, and theater. Customer experiences are mixed, with some praising helpful customer service and easy purchasing, while others report issues with ticket delivery, incorrect seating, and lack of refunds.
Strengths
- Helpful and knowledgeable customer service agents
- Easy to navigate website and ordering process
- Tickets delivered in a timely manner (in some cases)
Weaknesses
- Frequent issues with ticket delivery and accuracy
- Difficulty obtaining refunds or exchanges
- Poor customer service experiences in some cases
Philo
Philo reviews reveal a streaming service plagued by excessive advertisements and technical issues. While some appreciate the channel lineup and lower price point, many customers express frustration with constant interruptions and a perceived decline in value.
Strengths
- Lower price compared to other streaming services
- Good channel lineup for those not interested in sports or news
- Easy to use interface
Weaknesses
- Excessive and lengthy commercial breaks
- Frequent freezing and buffering issues
- Price increases without corresponding improvements in content or service
Costumesupercenter
Costumesupercenter receives mixed reviews, with customers praising the variety and occasional quality of costumes, but many report issues with shipping delays, poor customer service, and inaccurate product descriptions. While some customers have positive experiences, the prevalence of negative feedback suggests potential reliability issues.
Strengths
- Wide variety of costumes and accessories available
- Occasional fast shipping
- Some costumes are of good quality
Weaknesses
- Frequent shipping delays and inaccurate shipping timelines
- Poor customer service and lack of communication
- Inconsistent product quality
Indiegala
Indiegala is a digital marketplace offering discounted keys for independent video games, but customer experiences are mixed. While many users praise the site for its low prices and straightforward purchases, others report issues with customer service, website glitches, and key redemption.
Strengths
- Competitive prices and frequent discounts on indie games
- Straightforward purchase process and instant key delivery for many users
- Wide selection of indie games available
Weaknesses
- Frequent website errors and technical glitches during checkout
- Slow and unresponsive customer support, primarily through Discord
- Problems with redeeming keys, including invalid or already used keys