VIP membership & other deplorable practices...

That is dumb to have to pay $35 to BUY beer, it's a free country you can buy what ever beer you want to. If you want to stop case hoarders put bottle limits on things it's that simple...... The only way a VIP membership would be good is if they had VIP tastings or discounts every now and then.

 

VIP could simply involve being on the list that is the first to know of a limited release in stock. If it also means that non-VIP's can't buy the product at all then even better. All it has to do is make it reasonably more likely that VIP's will get the beer and this program is likely a success.

 

So the contingency plan doesn't NEED to exist is what you mean!

Also, I propose you go ahead and reintroduce those raffles. To streamline things, just have them check with me every time something good comes in. If you want to offer a deeper discount because I just simplified the whole thing, I will not object.

 

As I mentioned in my other post, it could just mean that only VIP's are notified of the product and can buy it - so there would be a lot less competition, a lot less craziness to acquire a bottle on that first day, etc. That's easily a better situation than what we currently have.

Could be an annual membership and the membership could go up, yes that sort of thing is possible. People will pay it. At some point many will prefer the obnoxious & annoying alternatives like standing in lines, driving all over town and often getting nothing, etc.

The current norm is so bad that any program like this is likely to be an easy success.

 

The owner should just say, come in more often if you want first shot at any new beers. If he runs out, isn't the VIP customer going to say, but I'm a VIP, what am I paying for? Whats next Platinum VIP, he'll hold a six for you, while plain VIPs just get an email?

 

I think this was making the rounds a few years back (http://cons.wonderhowto.com/how-to/...other-club-stores-without-membership-0142841/)

If I remember correctly the liquor requirements varies state to state. But it basicly says that they cant restrict medication and alcohol to members only.

 

In MI this's true.

 

"Oh yeah, we'll I ain't paying fifty cents for no Coke"..........

"Wellllll, then you ain't gettin no Coke"

 

Also, I think there is a difference if he has a beer club. You pay to join and they put beers aside for you. Its a slight difference, but better than just paying a fee to only give you the right to race other VIP holders to get there first.

 

What are you, some kind of fascist?

 

After some googling I saw this as well. Looks like it applies to 10 or 11 states, Pennsylvania not being one of them. If I had to guess, his VIP idea would probably be a loophole of some sort. The owner isnt restricting people from purchasing beer in the store via a membership, anyone can walk in and get their Bud Light, just like Cosco.

 

The VIPs should have a (I don't know, 1week) heads up on the limited releases. If they don'g sell out, then its fair game for the remainder of tge stock. Kind of how we do waivers in FFootball. Lol

 

just paid $120 to have access to 5 barrel aged beers at cigar city... not much different, except the 120 includes the beers in the price. So i'd definitely do the $35 just to have access. Seems like it would be worth it, as long as you'd have a decent chance of getting stuff as a VIP... if they have a ton of VIP's... then you end up still not getting anything.

 

Bruery has it's Society membership too.

 

Both the Bruery's and CCB's member programs included beer and merchandise. Also I dont think they would count as retailers, but I am ignorant of the liquor laws.

 

He's from Va so I'd sure like to know more. We already have mug clubs here where bars give you early access to limited beers, I suppose there are different laws about bottle shops but to me that wouldn't make any sense.

 

This is what I have a problem with in this post.

But seriously, I think it all depends on the spirit in which this guy is charging $35 extra for limited releases.

 

Yeah, for $35 per YEAR it doesn't seem that bad. It also cuts down on the frequent madhouse bottle releases. Hunahpu Day is madness, there are people everywhere waiting in long lines and you can't get everything you want because everyone is there all at once because it is a general admission event where many of the offerings are not at all guaranteed. You get a few guaranteed bottles of Hunahpu, but everything else is a gamble. Compare that to El Catador Club, and it makes sense to receive money up front so that the chaos becomes a bit more orderly. We paid good money in advance to guarantee us 5 limited bottle releases as well as first dibs on other rare stuff from Cigar City. What this means is that Cigar City only had to deal with madness and nonstop lines for one day instead of at least five days. The membership release takes much of the bottle release anxiety and consolidates it into one event. I only had to sweat it for a day, and the brewery employees only had to blister their feet for one day. Now each bottle release will be much calmer than Hunahpu Day and a significant number of people can relax and show up at the brewery when it is convenient for them because their bottles are either guaranteed (in the case of the 5 exclusive releases) or reserved (in the case of all other limited and seasonal releases.)

You can either pay a membership fee, or spend thousands of dollars as a regular customer to achieve the same status. I've done both, and sometimes a yearly fee is easier and cheaper.

 

Howdy,

I thought I'd chime in to mention that I love the bottleshop/deli the OP is referring to, and I gladly pay for the $35 VIP membership... I signed up a few months ago.

The VIP membership gets you 10% off all food and drinks at the store, a free meal on your birthday, and costs $7 less each year... so after 5 years, it's free.

VIP members receive an email notifying them when a limited release beer is in -- it's usually once or twice a month.

I signed up just before KBS came out this year -- and they offered me 3 KBS bottles when it was released -- one for this year, and a bottle from 2012 and 2011 that they had stored from previous years.

The owner and the staff have always been kind to me, well before I was a VIP, and are knowledgeable about the beer they offer.

It's a very small shop out in the middle of nowhere, run by a family. I'm quite happy to support them :-)
-Eric

 

If we are getting the full story on this store, this is the first thing that I thought, as well. But PA has some crazy laws, so who knows. But I would think that a membership that does nothing more than allow you access to certain alcoholic products would seem on the surface to most like violate some laws. But it seems like something so easily gotten around for such a low cost on behalf of the store (like including a glass), that I find it hard to believe that we are hearing it all. After-all, this is already a third hand story as it reads here.