Calling bottle shops to ask for whales

You aren't polite because you refrain from being a complete dick either. Also, myriad of employees! That's just silly.

 

That's not true at all. Anyone that has worked a service job will tell you that you recognize an unusual amount of customers. Many people are not as friendly as they think they are either, or have as good of manners as they think they do. I would never tell a customer that I recognize them unless they are genuinely friendly or have good manners, they would just get required conversation from me over and over again.

 

Ive been to a liquor store in particular exactly 3 times and recognized an employee there the second visit. I am far from a regular.

 

well I doubt in a store the size of TW Jacksonville they know many that are not their friends. but you could be right.

 

That's not nearly as big of a problem as you think it is. For example, if we get 2 cases of Zombie Dust, we're not holding everyone back so some schmuck can grab 2 6-packs of it. There is a bottle limit for regulars as well, and most regulars would not end up getting any Zombie Dust. Blame the demand for the product because the liquor store is only at the mercy of the brewers and the distributers. If there was as much Zombie Dust as there is Bud Light, then we would also sell to non-regulars.

 

Ha, yeah I certainly understand and agree for the most part. I was only suggesting your first examples didn't have quite the same level of demand, therefore don't create the same frenzy. Without the schoolgirl dramatics over these bottle releases, there wouldn't be an issue. If people simply showed up to a bottle shop and bought whatever was there, instead of only hunting down the latest and greatest/rarest, the shops wouldn't have an issue. Regulars would get their fill and so would the guy/gal randomly walking in. It's just not reality due to the height of demand for the limited brews.

Your philosophy on how to handle the situation isn't one I'd argue, but I do think most shops try different methods to eventually come up with one that works best for them and yes most of their "loyal" customers(whether this be current regulars or future ones). It's is the same rationale behind breweries pulling back on their distribution to make sure the locals demand is met, since they are the reason for them being around in the first place.

 

I'm glad I don't own a bottle shop. No matter what you do, someone is going to get pissed off. Talk about a thankless job.

 

Both, or whomever shows up and asks for it first.

 

I've already tackled that in other posts I've made.

 

Most jobs are my man, just ask any custodial engineer.

 

Employees are not usually making any extra money for selling whales than for not selling them. Store owners usually don't have to deal with the hassles we're talking about.

 

A friend of mine asked me if I could check a couple local stores and bring him a bottle of BCBS Rye or Coffee to his bachelor party. I had seen a thread like this before and was almost ashamed to try calling, but it's for a friend, and it was for his bachelor party, so what was I going to do? As it turns out, 3 of the stores didn't know what I was talking about and the fourth seemed like he actually wanted to help me, but said he hadn't received his allocation from the distributor and didn't know when he would.

Afterwards I got to thinking about this situation. I would have called ahead to any other store, for any other product to make sure they had it. Threads like these make me thankful that I am happy with a fresh 12-pack of something off the shelf.

 

The reason an extroverted customer is indeed at an advantage over an introverted one is simply, and one you'll not understand because you are probably an introvert yourself (which is OK): Humans are for the most part social creatures and appreciate others who are. I'll say it again: personal relationships go a LONG way. By all means, if you've never once in your life benefited in some way or another because of a relationship you've had with someone, then by all means, throw the first stone! I don't chat up beer managers because I'm trying to gain an advantage over other BAs, I do it naturally and it leads to friendships in many cases. It's not a "tactic." I've never once asked to be put on an email list; it's always been offered to me. And if the retailer wants to take part in "favoritism" because he/she appreciates customer loyalty, then so be it. It doesn't make them a bad person. Many of these stores are small business,' and they rely heavily on good, repeat customers, not 'customers' who only show up on Black Friday. Trust me, if your local craft retailer sees you in the store enough, he/she will remember you come release time.

Remember the point of this thread..."people calling bottle shops for whales." I'm not certain how this conversation mutated into the current one, but the original point I made was that retailers are not obligated to tell every person who calls on the phone what products are in stock, especially rare releases. If you think they are then let's agree to disagree.

 

This is perfect.

 

Depends on the kind of beer store you manage.

1. You can't really, which is why any professional maintains a polite helpful demeanor on the phone, but most customers let alone callers on key truck days are ignorant as to how we get what we get. Its not a fault of theirs its simply something we as retailers must accept.

2. It is privileged information, like you said I have no idea who is calling could be another store, or a distributor, a truck chaser or just a curious loyal customer who wants to know. At the end of the day the answer doesn't result in more product for you or more business for us. Keep in mind a lot of these questions are rapid fire with no interest in polite discourse. It's simply in No ones best interest to divulge that information. And on the off chance we get a second drop later in the month now all the sudden I'm a liar because we got 3 more cases.

3. Experience yes I want everyone who walks in to my store and has the capability to spend money RIGHT NOW to feel: Comfortable, not overlooked or ignored, informed, and taken care of. The most important part of my job is getting people to walk out of the store with as much product (that I in my humble professional opinion think they will like based on what they tell me) as possible. Fielding a phone call in the middle of one of those interactions means I'm NOT spending time feeling out their taste, NOT listening to their likes and dislikes, and most importantly NOT selling them anything. Generating profit for my boss is #1 for me, and while phone customers are customers none the less excusing myself from an busy holiday sales floor to be interrogated by a significant number of people who wouldn't likely step foot on the same sales floor were it not for one product is not in my or my bosses best interest. I'm sorry.

4. It is annoying when I hand an allotment over to someone who weather than be thankful or just polite, would rather gripe in front of other customers. Again negatively impacting the in store "experience" for someone else. I handle the situation gracefully of coarse. But the fact that people do that after the managers sit down and decide how best to get a product to as many people as possible is rude, and unnecessary. Like I said I live in demographic that is already saturated with wealthy, entitled people compounding that with the entitlement some BA's have is not easy to deal with. You don't have to outright say you deserve something to imply the sentiment.

5. Again I can't tell, but I often see the same people on "special truck days" who will openly proclaim they have already hit 3 other stores. (well within their right to do so) but Ideally thats not who I want to sell that product to but I don't have a choice.

6. We have a lot of beer if beer is something you are truly interested in I don't understand whats stopping you from at least browsing. I work at what I, and a lot of people consider a landmark for beer in my tri-state. I try very hard to stock a lot interesting products that other people don't have. I still browse the booze section of most grocery stores, and competitors. Why not browse on the off chance you see something you were chasing trucks for last week? or just something new or interesting.

Apples I got, I got plenty of apples. Apples make my store money, Focusing an abundant amount of time and energy on each person shopping for ostrich eggs during the 4 hour long ostrich egg season does not. By all means come and enjoy an ostrich egg I'm more than happy to sell you one. BUT you may be missing out on some Emu eggs that just came in or a nice 4 pack of quail eggs. Just kinda ran with the grocery analogy you had going.

 

That is so true.

According to the most recent and repetitive threads we know that everyone hates:

- Lotteries.
- Not having lotteries.
- Waiting in line.
- Not having a release in which to stand in line.
- Calling.
- Being called.
- Increased prices due to demand.
- Not increasing prices to limit "hording".
- Having bottle limits.
- Not have bottle limits.
- People who "buy too many".
- Not being able to buy enough.

 

"urgh - this year's BCBCS was a clusterfuck - I had to hit up 8 different stores to build my case"

 

Some of the stores I go in, the turnover is pretty damn high. The only constant is their beer guy, I always ask for him when I have specific questions, which may come off as condescending. But when only one certain person is the only one with good answers, you just kind of roll with it...

 

yea but we humans are not boring in our diverse opinions. I solved the problem before it was one, but no caring about whales and other super rare beer. you know? I was at cigar city once and they offered me a ticket and I said I could care less.

 

I'm going to continue keeping to myself but will start wearing a purple boa when I go out to buy beer. When something special comes out and they are deciding how to hand it out, there is no doubt someone will say "well that guy in the purple boa is in here all the time".