Is Founders 78% price hike for Reds Rye OUTRAGEOUS??

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by brewmsu, Sep 2, 2013.

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  1. brewmsu

    brewmsu Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2005 Michigan

    I just got back from NOT buying Founders Reds Rye. I had been anticipating the Sept. release of the new 4 packs (Not that I agree with selling this in 4 packs) and found it on the shelf in my local store. Unfortunately the price was $12 for the 4 pack, yes $12 for only 4 bottles. When Red's was last on the shelf in this area you could more often than not buy a 6 pack for $10. If my calculator is working properly this means Red's used to cost $0.14 cents an once and now it costs $0.25 cents an once. This is a 78% increase, SEVENTY EIGHT F**KING PERCENT!!!!!! There is no way this is justifiable.

    Of course I think the whole craft brewing industry has gone price crazy. The brewers used to sell themselves as just another beer lover who couldn't find good beer and so decided to make what they had a passion for and if they could sell it at a fair price and make a living that would be fantastic. Remember tag lines like “I drink what I can and I sell the rest”. Now apparently the industry has decided that they are a “Boutique” industry and need to price themselves accordingly, along with overpriced wine and cheese.


    But to return to my point, isn't a 78% price hike simply outrageous?
     
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  2. russpowell

    russpowell Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,256) May 24, 2005 Arkansas
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I won't be buying at that pricepoint to be sure
     
  3. yemenmocha

    yemenmocha Grand Pooh-Bah (4,092) Jun 18, 2002 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Society

    If the price is too high, then don't buy.


    Honestly I've thought craft beer prices have seemed artificially low for quite some time, especially for the more coveted stuff. How has it become a "boutique" industry now because I sure don't see that.
     
  4. ScottyG

    ScottyG Initiate (0) Jul 12, 2013 Michigan

    Good, more for me!!! LOL
     
  5. JMagee

    JMagee Initiate (0) Jan 2, 2013 New York

    While I agree that is a rather sizable price increase, do you have proof that:

    It's not a mark-up by the local store?

    It's not a mark-up by the local distributor?

    It's not a mark-up do to changes in state law/regulations?

    I appreciate the dissent, but am not 100% correct that it is founded...yet.
     
  6. VictorWisc

    VictorWisc Maven (1,355) Jan 2, 2013 Massachusetts

    Good chance it's the store cashing in, unless Founders changed the price per case. Check with the store to see if they changed the tag or simply reset the old one without accounting for change in format. This happens almost every time.Also check how much they charge per case.
    PS:
    It's 0% chance of state laws changing to the point that it affects the price anywhere that much or that it would affect one beer and not others. I'd place about a 25% chance of distributor jacking up the case price to match the other Founders 4-pack selections (FBS, Rubaeus, etc.), but even then it's not likely to be that high. Even if the store made a mistake and used old tags, it would not explain the change from $10 to $12, so there must be something else going on. I'd guess about a third of the increase is between Founders and distributor and two-thirds is on the store. But it's just speculation. No reason not to ask them what's going on--just walking away does not resolve the issue.
     
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  7. JuniperJesus

    JuniperJesus Zealot (741) Feb 26, 2011 Illinois

    You're way better off buying Two Brothers' Cane and Ebel. $10.99 for a six pack is about 60% less than Founders' weak ass rye.
     
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  8. JSaint

    JSaint Initiate (0) Aug 26, 2010 Wisconsin

    No way that it is a mark up or anything. Here in WI it is 12 and I know in IL it is 12 as well. Ridiculous that they are doing it but I still bought some because I love the beer.
     
  9. Stugotzo

    Stugotzo Initiate (0) Jun 13, 2012 Florida

    "If people won't buy it, who's going to stop them?"

    - Yogi Berra
     
  10. RaggaD

    RaggaD Initiate (0) Jun 29, 2013 Florida

    Is it expensive? Yes. But let's be serious, we have all had a hand in making the craft beer market what it is. It's well known that us beer lovers will pay the premium and so we end up with this pricing. The bottom line is if it's a good beer that I enjoy then I will pay the premium regardless if I think it's ridiculous. That being said, I wish prices would come down a bit because justifying spending a couple hundred a month on beer to my wife is getting increasingly difficult :wink:
     
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  11. Schwantz

    Schwantz Initiate (0) Dec 16, 2012 Florida

    10.99 ABC in Sunrise, FLA
    Very nice. Cheers
     
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  12. yemenmocha

    yemenmocha Grand Pooh-Bah (4,092) Jun 18, 2002 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah Society

  13. VictorWisc

    VictorWisc Maven (1,355) Jan 2, 2013 Massachusetts

    Please explain then why BBC is considering lowering their prices on most products...
     
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  14. SerialTicker

    SerialTicker Pooh-Bah (2,815) Jun 18, 2012 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    ...opinions. :rolling_eyes:
     
  15. mark14580

    mark14580 Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2011 New York

    Prett funny that they moved it to a seasonal because it was consistently out of date. With that higher price, I don't see that changing at all.
     
  16. Danny1217

    Danny1217 Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2011 Florida

    I'm laughing because I saw it for $15/4 pack at a store by me...
     
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  17. Stevedore

    Stevedore Grand Pooh-Bah (5,072) Nov 16, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Not going to even bother buying it. If it were cheaper then I would. But decreasing the # of bottles while increasing the price? Eff that.
     
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  18. Lerxst

    Lerxst Initiate (0) Jun 17, 2005 Florida

    With Founders arriving in my area just a couple weeks ago I had to try everything they shipped down. So, I bought some Red Rye at $12.99/4 pack.

    It's a good beer, but why pay that much when I can get Porter or Centennial or All Day for $10.99/6 pack?

    I'm glad I tried it, but doubt I'll buy more at that price. If it were $10.99/6 pack I wouldn't hesitate.
     
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  19. mychalg9

    mychalg9 Pooh-Bah (2,061) Apr 8, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I thought their reason for cutting it back to a seasonal beer was because it wasnt selling? What are they going to do now that it won't sell still?
     
  20. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,611) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Protect market share east of the Mississippi before SN and NB open their breweries in NC?
     
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