How often do you leave a store without buying anything?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by donno005, Dec 21, 2012.

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  1. donno005

    donno005 Initiate (0) Dec 2, 2012 Minnesota

    I've recently gotten more serious about my taste in beer and quickly realized that my regular store doesn't always have what i want. In venturing off the beaten path ive now realized that one store may be charging 2 or 3 dollars more for a bomber. Well, last night I walked into a new store, saw only one beer on my list and it was more expensive than somewhere else, when prodded by the cashier on my way out I offered a beer they didn't have and he suggested Killian's as a suitable replacement. He seemed particularly put off when I said, "No thanks."d left anyway. Is it really that rare for someone to leave a store without making a purchase?
     
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  2. gshak

    gshak Savant (1,186) Feb 20, 2011 Texas

    Yes.
     
  3. MCImes

    MCImes Initiate (0) Dec 31, 2010 Connecticut

    I do it all the time. I have my 3 or 4 usual stores that I know they have what I want. But I like stopping in crappy looking liquor stores because 90% of the time they have nothing worth a damn, but that 1 in 10 has some gems just sitting on the shelf.

    Ive found Founders imperial stout in june, BCBS in april, and some rare sours at random crappy liquor stores.

    when Im walking out I often get a "can I help you find anything"? and just tell them I was just checking out their selection of craft brews. Rarely do I get any attitude.
     
  4. udubdawg

    udubdawg Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2006 Kansas

    if I go looking for something specific, and they don't have it, sure. I have several times more beer than I can drink already in the house; no need to add more if they don't have what I'm looking for.

    cheers--
    --Michael
     
  5. CommanderOfAwesome

    CommanderOfAwesome Initiate (0) Aug 30, 2012 California

  6. Jschmelz

    Jschmelz Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2012 Indiana
    Trader

    There is a store that I used to go to a lot because they normally had a lot of different beers stocked which kept it interesting. There was one time when the store had everything I've seen before and I was just wasting some time during a lunch hour so I started to walk out empty handed. On my way out I got a bit of a hazing for not buying anything which surprised me a bit but I did have a 'guilt' feeling about not buying anyway.

    Craft beer is on the rise so it may be the case that one would go in a store, pick up some Old Style, and then be on their way whereas now we are searching for more of the special goods.
     
  7. Preluderl

    Preluderl Pooh-Bah (1,710) Sep 27, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I don't do it often enough.
     
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  8. kawilliams81

    kawilliams81 Pooh-Bah (1,893) Feb 27, 2009 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    I probably leave a liquor/beer store without buying anything almost half of the time. Most of these times I am looking for 1, maybe 2, particular beers and if they don't have it I don't buy anything.
     
  9. ezperkins2

    ezperkins2 Pundit (751) Jan 3, 2011 California
    Trader

    I always stop at random liquor stores when I am away from home hoping to find a random gem and more times than not I walk out without purchasing anything. I have been questioned or even hassled by the shop keeper many times. A few months ago I stopped into a store a few towns over to check out what they had and after realizing that his entire store was filled with macro and had nothing to offer I turned and headed to the door. He stopped me and asked if his beer was not good enough for me. Being caught completely off guard by his comment I replied “excuse me?” He repeated his statement and I kindly responded that I was looking for something particular and he did not have it. He then went into a 30 second rant about how rude it is for me to walk into his store and to not purchase anything. I turned and headed to the door and responded by telling him he should carry better quality beer and I have never returned to his store. Obviously this is an extreme example but a small price to pay for some of the gems I have found at dumpy liquor stores in random places.
     
  10. stupac2

    stupac2 Pooh-Bah (2,031) Feb 22, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah Society

    One of the nice things about having a kegerator is you don't need to buy beer for drinking during football games, on a random evening with dinner, etc. So I leave stores without beer all the time now.
     
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  11. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    If it is a mom and pop store I will buy at least one bottle of something before I leave. But a place like Total Wine? If they don't have what I want I'm out of there.
     
  12. MarcM

    MarcM Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2011 California

    Walked out of Bevmo the other night. Didn't want to buy a sixer and was just looking for a bomber for the evening. Would have bought the Port Mongo if it wasn't over 5 months old.
     
  13. bleakies

    bleakies Maven (1,319) Apr 11, 2011 Massachusetts

    I rarely leave a packy without having purchased something.

    I don't go to the packy for any other reason.
     
  14. JuniperJesus

    JuniperJesus Zealot (741) Feb 26, 2011 Illinois

    Half the time I leave without buying anything, but that doesn't mean I leave with nothing.
     
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  15. CMUbrew

    CMUbrew Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2012 Michigan

    I do it fairly often, although it is hard to leave completely empty-handed when your store puts so many good singles from Bell's and Short's on the shelves.
     
  16. michaeljstraub

    michaeljstraub Initiate (0) Oct 6, 2012 Georgia

    Depends on the store.

    I've got a cooking supply store near me that has a nice upscale wine selection and a few craft brews. I always buy something from there because I have a feeling they think my non-formal attire means I'm a shoplifter
     
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  17. kmello69

    kmello69 Initiate (0) Nov 27, 2011 Texas

    About 50% of the time. (and thank goodness, or I'd be broke). Sometimes I just like to browse
     
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  18. RobertColianni

    RobertColianni Pooh-Bah (1,705) Nov 4, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    The majority of the time I just go in to find things I'm thinking about. I leave empty handed almost all of the time. Whatever. I like drinking on tap.
    What the F' is a packy?
     
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  19. Wolfpack2005

    Wolfpack2005 Initiate (0) Oct 15, 2010 North Carolina

    Completely agree
     
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