eBay and Beer Sales

It's quite simple - eBay was/is a market where buyers and sellers meet. Restricting or eliminating that market will only serve to make the core problem worse. In this instance, 'buyers' will go to even more extremes to get what they want. This will cause values to rise even higher, which will only incentivize more people to hoard. There is no stopping this train. Better to find a different solution to the core problem.

 

No, Rare wouldn't sell out at $175, but it probably would have sold out at $80. It's all about finding the median point, and Ebay only gets so high because there is no open or efficient market.

 

Let's face it, logistics suck! If the craft brewing community could come together and form an efficient, distribution network, that would allow the breweries to act as their own distributor, things could be a little better. Breweries could have a little more quality control over the handling of their beers. Let's face it, distributors are are just as bad as eBayers and trade *****s.

 

Hipster BA liked craft beer before it was cool

Anyways...
Besides the obvious legal issues involved, this is mostly an issue of morality in my opinion. And morality is VERY hard to enforce.

 

I think there are an awful lot of people who have been stockpiling a cellar as if it were a future beer value index fund who are not very happy right now.

I don't know if they'll turn to trading, start drinking their stashes, or holding out hope that Ebay stops caring in a year.

My guess is some combination of all the above, so yeah, we should start seeing a bit more influx in the trading community.

 

Nah, I'm good with just a growler for myself and my wife to split.

 

as beer knowledge becomes less the stuff of us "experts" and more commonplace, it's going to be very upsetting for people to realize that the vast majority of beer doesn't keep very well.

amusingly, every BMC drinker in the world probably could have told you that.

 

I would agree with your sentiment if the market for beer even remotely approached something that could be described as "free enterprise," but Ebay is a way for profiteers to exploit glaring market inefficiencies.

 

Though, according to them, once a beer is taken out of the fridge, IT MUST BE CONSUMED IMMEDIATELY!! Don't even think about re-chilling that can, dude!

Otherwise, I agree.

 

I eagerly await the day when shelves aren't cleared of BCBCS in the name of one's "cellar".

 

i don't know 100%, but i think the business plan of--at least--the bruery and goose island is to get beers like black tuesday and bourbon county stout consistently on shelves. also, pretty sure that for the first few years while they have this going and other breweries scramble to catch up, they're going to make a lot of money.

 

I hope beyond hope that you're right. It definitely does seem to be moving that direction, but I won't believe it until I see it. When it does happen though, I will probably give up trading, and may just LIF whatever remains of my "cellar".

 

Fucking seriously. The number of "whales" that are obviously over the hill is disturbing. The number of people cellaring beer that's going nowhere but downhill, and fast, is also disturbing.

 

I can't speak for The Bruery, or GI for that matter, but I think (and hope) their plan is just to keep enough Bourbon County on tap to make everyone happy, and still have a vintage bottle release once a year to keep it special.

 

This is the email I recieved today from an ebay seller I had previously purchased from:
"I will be picking up some more ________ tomorrow and wanted to check to see if you are interested in more. Unfortunately, ebay will no longer allow me to list them, so let me know if you do want more. Thank you."
The heavy duty sellers have a customer list and will keep selling.

 

That is exactly what I just did. I found that I dove way too deep into the "cellaring" of beer and lost sight of the awesomeness that is fresh and local. I think 2011 BCBS is a testament that it can be amazing fresh. If they manage to release this beer at a somewhat regular pace I'll just buy some every month or so and I'll be very content.

 

It will all blow over and beer will be sold as normal on Ebay. I have noticed that liquor and wine are still selling on Ebay just like always. I guess they can pick and choose and just focus on beer, but I doubt they will continue to expend the time to police it.

 

This. If you think the trade is unfair, don't do it. Find a trader that you can establish a relationship with and the rarer stuff will come.

I received CBS as an extra, and it was because I became engaged in a trading partnership in which we were just swapping easily obtainable locals.

 

Or...they will just move to Craigslist (http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/clt/3171928204.html)

 

Amen! Maybe less people will be buying up stock at stores to sell it, and let someone who just wants to try something fun and new get their hands on one bottle. Merely for the sake of expanding their horizons and enjoying their beer (what a concept!) for the fair price they payed for it at the store. It should be about the fluid in the bottle not the bottle count.