How to Properly Address Outrageous Overpricing

I still havent figured out how to quote someone yet, but all I wanted to say is if the goal is to share the beer wealth (or emergency bottled water), all they need to do is put a limit on items per person. No need to gouge while doing it.

If a store is gouging, I usually just find the nearest shop that has it, and go there. If its so limited that I cant find any... then I just pony up the cash or forget about it.

 

Where in SW PA?

 

Here's a question for everybody: why is it always "greedy price gouging shop owners are charging too much" and never "cheapskate crybaby shoppers aren't paying enough"?

 

No no please make the arguement! I was being completely sincere. If I'm wrong I would be really happy to know why.

 

I quit drinking ground beef six years ago.

 

One of the reasons I do so little business with the local store, prices are consistently a few buck a sixer over what they are in Tulsa & even cheaper still in Missouri

 

Don't buy from that store anymore and instead shop at a store with reasonable prices. Pretty simple really.

 

Hit the reply button in the bottom right corner of a specific post to quote.

A stores goal is not necessarily going to be to share the wealth. They are a business, they are more concerned with making money on the product that sell rather than being a goodwill ambassador to beer world. Beer is a luxury item, the customer always is a willing participant in the transaction. Emergency water is a necessity, and an appropriate time to use the word gouging, when stores start turning up the price on that I will get sufficiently upset, but overpriced beer does not warrant that.

 

I can't say for sure whether we are underpaying or not. My question is about why the discussion is so one-sided and it's an honest question.

 

Haha - I missed that one - amazing!

To answer the Op's question. Like many others have said, the way to address it is not to shop there. Like it or not.

I agree with those arguing for more realistic pricing in the realm of craft beer - the sooner the better.

And to those who've stated that if they owned a store everything would be reasonably priced (no doubt running in tandem with an absolutely "perfect" selection) blah blah etc - get back to reality. These people have a business to run.

If there is someone on here who runs an independent beer store, that is able to price the same or better vs all competition (including the larger chains), then please opine. Otherwise the armchair store owners are the same who "don't understand" why Founders doesn't make 10x more KBS to meet demand, or why RR has "selfishly" decided not to expand.

 

If you really feel that strongly about it ( IMO you should not) take a bottle to the register and after it gets rung up say "WTF? I'm not paying that for this bottle!" then leave.

 

If it's something rare or something that I really want I'll pay as long as it's in my budget.

I have told multiple cashiers that their prices were way off on certain stuff. They generally don't like that.

 

Because it's only worth what people are willing to pay for it.

 

I had the same thing happen to me in Cayucos, Ca. A guy was charging $75.00 for Firestone Walker XV: Paul's Liquor was the place. I was shocked and just said no, but as I got further away, I got really angry. So I posted here to vent, as well as FW. FW wasn't very helpful; they even encourage the price- not to thread jack, what I am trying to say is, I would notify the brewery and let people here know about their price jacking as to discourage and inform others about what's going on and where. Some people here will tell you to shut it and deal with it- to stop complaining; but this is a very strong principle- at least with me. Price gouging is bull shit, and retailers who do price gouge, need to be called on it.

 

that's the right answer to a lot of questions but it's not really applicable to this one lol. I'm saying why do we always hear one side if this issue and not the other? I agree that it's only worth what someone is willing to pay, but I find it hilarious what someone complains about the price but buys anyway.

 

A. This is not gouging. Many have told you that but you seem to like using the word.
B. You've been here long enough to know that this topic has come up many, many times. You're particular indignation is not so important that this 'etiquette' cannot be found by doing a search for the answers. Try the word 'gouging'.
C. Snark happens. This is the internet. There are some people that feel very strongly that 'shop somewhere else' is the right answer. You trying to tell them to go away just makes it a game.
D. Your math is cute.

 

Most people here are consumers and not store owners, being willing to pay the price for the beer usually determines whether or not someone's going to come here and bitch about it. I can't think of a good reason for this store to price something significantly higher than the other stores in the area other than the owner thinks that's what he can sell it for.

What I don't understand about these overpriced/underpriced discussions is how anyone can look at the amount of beer that shelf sits and the number of people that already have sticker shock over craft and seriously think that prices going up can be a good thing for the market.

 

I would have challenged the owner to a "kick in the junk" contest. Just make sure you get to kick first.