2015 Michigan BCBS & Black Friday Thread

That isn't too bad considering our area. I feel I did pretty good today, but it required some hustle. I was surprised by the lines this year too - they were a good three times longer than they were in previous years, and there was much less inventory available compared to last.

All of that is fine with me though, I chalk it up to signs of an increasingly popular and growing industry. But it also brings out some disappointment. I was bummed to find the small local shop I support at least once a week with my beer purchases over the last couple years tell me I wasn't a loyal enough customer to buy a single bottle while I was in the process of buying more beer (and that's their prerogative too, I just don't have any more business to give them). I was also bummed to get stuck in lines behind entire families with the sole purpose of helping the husband collect multiple allocations. Then bummed to finally find BCBS and then be asked to shell out $25 per bottle. It just makes me realize that I can avoid all the drama and not bother next year.

But the highlight of the day is actually the chance to chat with a bunch of cool guys in line about a common interest. I don't know any one else who does this obsessive crap, so it's always a major pleasure to chat with other like-minded individuals. And for that, I will probably do it all over again next year. And the beer is actually pretty damn good too.

 

I think the only reason I bought it was because of what they were asking (as I read about some of the bullshit pricing on the east side of the state.) What I was trying to get at more is that it's hard for me to justify (to either myself, or my Wife) spending that kind of money on a bottle of beer...

It was just too hard to say no when the guy handed me the box, even though I'd told myself I wasn't going to buy rare. The funny thing is, I asked if they had any BCBS (or variants), and I was told that they were sold out. As soon as I hear that, here comes this other employee with the box of rare, saying "but this may interest you..." As soon as it was in my hands, he was gone (yet I looked and instantly saw another few rares just sitting there). I guess I got pretty lucky, regardless of the buyers remorse I may currently have lol.

 

PineKnob deleted my post on their Instagram page then blocked me for saying "$30 is extreme gouging."

People need to call this kind of crap out more, and stop giving money to terrible shops like this.

 

^^^^^^
That's great. Pine knob is a rip off by all
Means!

 

There's a place in Rochester that tried that a few years ago with hopslam. They tried to tell me the brewery told them I couldn't purchase hopslam unless I bought a bottle of some wine that had bells name on it, some sort of collaboration wine. Enraged me too, don't shop at that place any longer.

 

Wine Castle in Livonia, on Farmington and Seven Mile was making people buy 2 six packs of a goose island product or one Lolita, priced at $22 for the right to buy 1 regular or barleywine...I looked at them, shook my head and walked out..

I had been going to this store for years and they have never did this..Got to hitch a ride on that gouge train I guess..

 

Yep, that's the place I was talking about. Not cool at all.

 

Nope..I just wrote them a message on facebook (private) that they lost a long time customer for this practice..

 

I got a bottle of regular at msrp via the Blue Front raffle and after reading everyone's stories I'm glad I didn't play the game any more than that yesterday.

 

Oh the hilarity of this thread and the people buying into AB-InBev's new marketing strategy for Bourbon County beers. This year's msrp is such an utter gouge over previous years, with Rare being the only non offender in the ridiculous price increase category (but it's utterly ridiculous it was ever $60 to begin with). I don't care how close these beers are to msrp this year a minimum 66% price increase over last year means their are better things to spend my money on (I'll take half a case of BBPT5, KBS, or BNS for the cost of 1 Rare please).

 

i havent bought anything at Pine Knob Wine since 2014 KBS. i used to shop there a lot and then KBS prices started to rise each year til they were up around $13. i began to complain and then finally told them i was going back anymore. i told them that i was paying $6 per bottle at Beer World and they said i should buy them there then, lol. ive emailed Founders about it but not sure if it helped. sounds like its time for me to email Goose Island if they are charging $30 per for BCBS. they notoriously have a lot of really old IPAs sitting on the shelf as well. shop at Beer World or Orion Keg rather than Pine Knob if you can help it.

 

I was at Blue Front yesterday, too, and got a barleywine for $12...plus got to sample regular, coffee, barleywine and the regal. Those guys put on a nice event and, even though you only had a chance at one bottle, it was a pretty good chance (I would say maybe 50/50) and also I ncluded a shot at 3 bottles of Rare (at $60). Well done, guys, and a nice way to cap off the day!

 

I got 2 regular, 2 coffee, and 1 rye at Wine Palace.....I'm a regular there and they take care of their regulars. They had a list and would not sell to anyone until their regulars were taken care of. Say what you will, but I appreciate the fact that the shop I frequent for all my beer takes enough care of their regulars to hold off until they are taken care.

There was a guy in there the same time as me that came from Rochester and was super ticked about the fact that I was being taken care of first before he could get a chance, but honestly as a business owner do you take care of someone who frequents your store every weekend or a guy who comes in once a year for a bottle of a rare beer??

 

I have no problem with a store taking care of regulars. What bothered me was them saying that you couldn't buy BC unless you also bought some other beer that you don't even really want. That's just a crummy thing to do IMO.

 

^I believe it's illegal for them to conditional sell. Saying you can only buy this if you buy this.

 

not if they offer it as a "set" though. Not sure if that's what they are doing though...

(not a lawyer)

 

You could create a separate thread here. I'm sure plenty would chime in on the specifics, judging on the feedback here and FB.

 

I was the guy in front of you. I was disappointed they only had one bottle of Cherry Rye and I decided to take my time ordering it. :-(
At least it was appreciated.

 

I was just sad I didn't hop in line right from the start and at least grab something for takeout (was eyeballing just a bottle of coffee to go). After that, it was all line and wasn't going to happen. Benefit of getting there early and didn't take advantage of it. Fully enjoyed the on tap offerings and the few people that were nice enough to share with me.

Same place same time next year? See ya there.