VIP membership & other deplorable practices...

I couldn't care less. If my shops had it, I would do it. A few of them have emailing which is nice, but if I want something bad enough I just buy a plane ticket. I prefer it from the source

*edit

 

You mean, you couldn't care less...

 

Correct

 

Barnes and Knobles has a fee membership also, but at least they offer discounts. I think fee memberships suck.

 

I just don't get how people can be opposed to this unless they are against every other paid membership system in the world. Guess it comes back to entitlement.

I am going to go to Sam's Club today and tell them I am no longer paying for membership and am still going to shop there since it is my right. We'll see how that goes.

 

You don't need a membership to buy beer and liquor at Costco or Sam's Club.

 

This particular bottle shop in question handles the situation as such:

- The shop receives a rare beer.
- They notify VIP members (would this even be discussed if they simply labeled it "beer club members"?) via email and facebook
- VIP members come in, on a first come, first serve basis, and can buy the daily limit (anywhere from a single bottle to six pack depending on the beer)
- VIP members can return the following day and get more if there is still some left.
- If it doesn't sell out within the first few days, the shop puts it out on the shelf for the general public

It's a pretty good system IMO. Plus, I will probably make my $28 (2nd year member) back on the 10% discount and free birthday meal alone. It also doesn't hurt that I live about a mile away, so the gas and time savings are also a huge relief for me. The next closest half-decent bottle shop is a Wegman's which is upwards of an hour and a half round trip. With no bottle limits and good pricing, I wouldn't expect to land anything even slightly rare from there anyway.

 

Is it safe to assume that many of the folks who object to this are the hoarders and truck chasers, or friends/trading partners with them, that the VIP membership is intended to unreward?

If not, what's the beef, chief? Lotta bogus arguments against this idea.

 

That depends on the state, it is not universal.

My point just was there are other paid memberships out there and this one is really no different.

 

That shits lame. Respect beer.

 

So basically, unless you're in the know, you're out. Only the VIP members get rare releases. God forbid one of the un-initiated gets to try something rare completely serendipitously.

It seems self-evident that a free market would allow for any poor schlub off the street to at least be able to see what's available, not promote a system where "members" scoop up special beers before "regular" people even hear about them.

An apt (though probably unpopular) analogy might be stub hub: buying blocks of tickets immediately and them selling them at a higher rate because you can't spend the time buying tickets right when they are released.

 

Actually, not 100% true - it depends on the state. I learned that when I gave someone in another state that advice and it didnt work out so well.

 

$35 to avoid driving all over the fucking place, not having to leave work early and saving plenty of time in the long-run?

Yeah, I'm in.

 

I would consider paying only if I knew what I were getting.For example, the Bruery does a good job of listing what you will get via Hoarders,Reserve,etc. Of course this shop probably does not know their allocations in advance. However, I would hate to know I was VIP and missed out on items because it was sold out to other VIPs first.

 

From the perspective of being in retail for years and years. Some of you deserve to suffer because you are goddamned annoying.

 

I don't think enough people responding to this thread have read this post. If this is accurate than the OP seriously whiffed on this situation. I only wish such a store operated near me.

 

From what I know of this place, Bottles of limited release are VIP and once it hits draft its open for everyone. Please correct me if I am wrong here...

 

Who wouldn't do this?

 

Isn't it mind-boggling that people not only prefer the latter, but are posting here and arguing that it is preferable to such a VIP system? The real kicker is that often they're spending more on automotive costs driving all over the place.

 

Everyone still responding to this thread with indignation, please actually read this post. Doesn't sound so "deplorable" anymore does it?