Price gouging in TEXAS

Perhaps it's worth noting that bars that have super high prices on bottles, say >2x shelf price, will run into issues with beer languishing on racks.

Unfortunately not everyone understands the value in making a fast nickel over a slow dime. I suspect as more quality bottles start to hit in quantity that many places will find value in turning over stock quicker just to make room. Hopefully this will help drive down the costs at bars.

 

Come on man. Any bar basing their prices on rent/mortgage is weak as fuck. In my opinion if you're renting your bar you're fucked and not in this for the long haul.

Common Table and The Moth are regularly right on par with Strangeways and so is Goodfriend. I really dont feel we have this issue at craft places in Dallas and apparently we're very fortunate. There have been times where one or the other tries to make a big deal about getting a keg first and marks things up by a dollar a pour and whoopty doo. Places that routinely overcharged should be called out in one way or another. You know I'd do it, I don't drink in other areas so I just can't speak for other cities.

I'll be struck down for saying this, love you Strangeways, but if you want the cheapest priced beer in Dallas you go to Craft & Growler.

 

Disagree with these statements fully. 1, as a business owner you have to build your costs into what you're charging to fully determine what you should be charging to stay afloat, if not make a few bucks. 2, commercial real estate is often cheaper to rent than buy. And the additional capital expenditure needed for a business to purchase its operating site may not be feasible at first. After you've made it for a few years, you might be more able to purchase your site. This has nothing to do with long term dedication, but prudent business decision making.

 

We'll agree to disagree Boots. IMO when you go into a single bar you put it all on the line. When you're a chain such as Flying Saucer you can slowly rent places out and decide to buy when the time is right.

 

Fair enough. Presently, it's probably very difficult to get a loan to buy CRE for a business location as a brand new business unless you have significant financial backing through deep-pocketed guarantors, assuming that the owner doesn't have deep pockets of his/her own. Underwriters are extremely cautious right now and are, from what I see daily, unlikely to make a loan to a new business with no proven track record or pre-existing cash flow or substantial pledged assets vs. pledged receivables, which are never really guaranteeable.

 

That's because C&G has a sensible owner that isn't out to make his investment back as quick as possible. He understands the long haul and building a customer base. I LOVE going there for my growler fills and to buy a random bottle or two, and grab a pint.

I disagree with this. As the child of a business owner, yep, my mom has owned her own store for over 35 years now and seen many ups and downs; long story short, if you want loyal customers, don't piss them off with high prices just so you can make a few extra bucks. I know her business mortgage payments never played a role in her pricing, so no, you don't have to build that into the cost of the product. Sometimes, business owners do/will/have to take a loss, part of the game. Those who stick around understand this and minimize it.

Off soap box.

 

That's absolutely obscene. I paid--tops--$5.50 for a 5.5oz pour at Draught House. And I had many pours. Jesus.

 

I paid $21 for a Luchador en Fuego at Nobi. I can't see myself paying more than that at a bar unless, it's something I really wanted to try and couldn't get at a bottle shop.

 

Id say the most ive paid for a bottle at a bar was 25 for Black ops but that would be false as i split the cost with 2 other BA's but even still, 22.50 for the black ops in a store,25 at blackstar, not much markup there. (unless the store i got it as was gouging lol, but im pretty sure thats pretty close)

 

That is highway robbery. That was probably my most disappointing beer as of lately.

 

well, it wasnt recently(at the bar). I had this at BSCOOP 2 years ago and it was definitely worth the 25(split 3 ways lol) whereas i havent had the bottle i have in my fridge from this year. *(which i plan to share)

 

The bottle I had, 1 yo., had that champagne fizzy mouth feel and fell flat on flavor.

 

25$ for Black Ops at a bar seems really, really, really cheap. I guess they don't want it as much as I don't.

 

Yeah, that is cheap. I misunderstood. Isn't it around $22 at Spec's?

 

I don't buy beer there, and if they didn't get the Antique Collection, I wouldn't buy anything there.

 

Yes, I think that was the going rate

 

I try to avoid buying from them as well but sometimes, they are the only place that gets a certain beer in.

 

Write your representative.

 

Wow, that place is in the HOOD, went by bus, interesting to say the least..

 

I think you should expect that your mom's experience starting a business 35 years ago was a bit different than it would be starting one now, and that jsboots21's experiences might be more germane to the subject.

Kind of like how people who bought a house 35 years ago can't understand the colossal amount of bullshit that you shovel to buy one right now.