Total Wine doesn't get it (yet another freshness rant)

The definition of "lobbying" does not fit all types of financial persuasion that are camped under the "lobbying" tent. The more money the more persuasive, always. I've seen this legal corruption that's built into our political debates up close. The hardest asses can get their socks charmed straight off

 

Fwiw, they’re the cheapest retailer around, not by a lot, but still the cheapest. The local mom and pop canning dates are about equal to TW, surprisingly. I’ve seen beers past dates at a Bestway, bought one, Jever. I’d think the problem here might also be the distributors, they’re the evil empire.

 

Especially when more than once at TW I've found in a chat that the person stocking shelves was actually a distributor's Rep. rather than a TW employee.

 

I guess I left that out- that kinda was my last time getting burned.

If in doubt, I'm out. 12pk of SNPA cans I can't see the date on - pass. Variety 12 pack of CCB/ Troegs/ etc, nope. Unmarked Evil Twin 16oz IPA cans $8 single with a code on the bottom but no 'canned on', such an easy pass (coulda done it, and didn't want to, and I used to like that brewery).

There's so much great beer, that you can trace the lifetime of, there's simply no reason to roll the dice on something that's potentially really old. I have absolutely zero qualms about not buying anything after looking at beer for a while, and I really don't go into TW because it's like looking for a needle in a haystack, finding fresh beer is.

 

Same at my store, numerous times I get into a chat with a person I assumed was TW person, and its a dist. Rep. They are at my store a lot now that I pay attention.

On a side note at my local grocery store I also got into a chat about beer with rep, he was actually cool as hell about new items, what was not selling, etc. One of the few times they were very open about things with me rather than I cannot talk or not with store.

 

Here as well, it’s easy to put older beers to market, I’d be willing to bet the distributors reps probably haven’t a clue on the beers age.

 

Yes. And I think they do the same thing the potato chip and bread sales reps do. Put the newer stuff to the back and put the older stuff in front.

 

I supposed that a race towards consolidation and monopolistic practices is a “competition” in a sense...

 

Well, wait - that's what they're supposed to do, as long as the "older" stuff is still in code. First In - First Out. Rotate stock, etc.

As long as you know to check the back sixpacks (bonus - furthest from the light, too) - what's the problem?

 

No problem for me.

But there are people who don't know that is happening on the shelves.

 

YES.

 

Absolutely!

Do you think the Wholesale Distributors who are 'coerced' to use their employees to provide the labor to stock beer at Total Wine & More are providing their freshest stock to Total Wine & More? Nope! They send their old stock there since there are no store employees checking deliveries and they 'reserve' their fresher beers for the other retailers who stock the beers that are delivered to them.

Cheers!

 

Then you must have issues all over the place because every corporate business utilizes lobbying efforts.

Must suck for you?

Cheers!

 

Meanwhile the customers continue to buy those beers, thereby rewarding the distributor meanwhile the store is none the wiser or is ignoring what is happening.

 

I have no insight into the sales data but I truly think things are changing here. Anecdotally I hear more and more folks stating they are purchasing their beers from their small, local breweries (i.e., neighborhood breweries).

Two things I can state as fact:

• Just a year or two ago there was more brewing capacity then demand for beer
• Over a thousand more breweries opened in 2018 and over a thousand more will open in 2019

Folks who think the status quo will serve them are sadly mistaken.

Cheers!

 

Agreed. Customers buy what they will/want. When they stop buying old beer off the shelves the distributors/retailers will notice.

 

What drives me crazy is the TW by me which has a sizable cooler section is filled mostly with beers that don’t need the cold storage. Only a small portion of hoppy beers are in the cold box. Yes, I get you need cold beers for immediate consumption but when new releases and or core brewery products that are stouts, Belgian or whatever shouldn’t be in the fridge when there is limited space. Especially when I find a fairly new release hoppy beer sitting on the warm shelf.