Shopping but not buying?

I browse the local shops all the time for fresh, new, or interesting beers. If I leave without buying something (which is frequently the case), it isn't my fault. The shop should have had better beer on the shelf.

 

ive done this plenty of times, since on many occasions im looking for something specific. if the store doesnt have it, i dont feel obligated to spend money on things i dont necessarily want.

ive had store employees give me a weird look or whatever, but ive never had anyone make a big deal out of it. this sounds like the type of store i wouldnt miss too much.

 

The big bottle shop in town is right on my way home, so I stop almost every day just to see if there's anything new and exciting, probably only buy something half the time. If I'm on my bike and have my backpack on the security guard at the door will usually ask to look inside it if I didn't buy anything (big warehouse type store), but no one has ever acted weird that I didn't buy. His loss.

 

If you stop by a shop 4+ times a week how can you buy something every time? I do this just to see if anything good popped up so I don't miss it. I buy something maybe 50% of the time.

 

Totally out of line on his part.

I welcome any and all who walk through my doors.
Browse, purchase, ask a question, whatever.
Far be it for me to tell YOU how to spend your money........

 

never happened to me but if it did i would be like fuck em not gonna go back anyway

 

Just a random question, does anyone who is saying they just browse ask the management/owner if they can try and order something special for them? I am guilty of doing some browsing but have never made a special request for anything.

 

What was your response? I'm imagining what glorious confrontation could have occurred. He was totally out of line.

 

You should definitely out this place.

 

That guy is an absolute moron. If you've spent money there, and frequently do, and you just go in to check occasionally if there's anything and leave with nothing what is the problem? I've gone into my shop and left without anything. If he told me not to come back, I'd tell him off. He's missing out on future revenue with no downside. Walking out without anything doesn't hurt him. Why should you buy something you don't want? It's not like a store that only sells BMC. Someone walking in there obviously went in for one reason. Walking into a store with a lot of craft is a crapshoot. It's your damn money, he basically said "give me some of your money, I don't care if I don't have what you were looking for."

 

By the way, you can just call ahead for a massive order. Tell him you want a case of Dom or some crazy stuff. Pull the cash out your wallet. And give him a big <insert insult here>.

 

I've never left a liquor store empty-handed.

I also never go into a liquor store unless I plan on buying beer. If there's nothing new I want, there's always some Two-Hearted or West Coast IPA waiting for me. If I visit a store once and find their selection lackluster, I'll usually just walk out with a bomber of Rogue Hazelnut Brown or something and just never bother going back.

 

Just as a store reserves the right to refuse service and decides what it sells; I reserve the right to make a purchase or not. I don't feel guilty about it, I haven't misused their time, they're open regardless if I come in or not. It's seems extremely silly to me to lose a customer over something like this. But hey, at least it's one place you don't have to waste gas money driving too.

 

the only rationale I can think of is that maybe he thinks you work for a competitor and are in there to check prices.

probably, though, the guy just has no idea how to run a business ethically. I mean, it costs him absolutely nothing if you go into his shop and purchase nothing. It's not like you are wasting his money by going there.

 

Wow. This was not what I was expecting. I would be extremely surprised if this happened to me. Sometimes you get the "don't have anything that you want?" on the way out but nothing like what you describe. I probably would have laughed my ass off and just not go back and spread the word to most people I know. Review it on the web too. It's not your fault the store didn't have what you wanted in stock, I really don't see a problem with a customer looking around. I feel like the owner did the exact opposite of what his job calls for.

 

that is some seriously psychopathic behavior

 

Seems like a ridiculous move on the part of the store owner. Hopefully there are better stores in your area to earn your business.

 

yeah i find this comical on so many levels. if someone wants to send me away because i want to take a preview look, then that's fine with me. although i don't always purchase when i walk into a store, when i do, i usually drop north of $100. someone earlier used the guitar store analogy...and back in the day, i used to go to guitar stores all the time to check stuff out. when it came time to buy, only one store got my $5000, and you can bet it wasn't the store that looked at me as some punk who would never buy, it was the store that humored me while i saved.

not to mention that i've never met a store owner who will stand behind their product if you buy an IPA that was was expired. as fun as it seems to tell off a store owner like that, you'll make the most impact by talking with your dollars and you reviews. i'd out them and never return, perhaps with the exception of maybe going there just to see what happens if you return.

 

I have never been asked why I left a store without buying. If I was, though, I would think that is the perfect time to ask if they could get something for you or at least ask them to let you know when what you were looking for is back in stock...

 

I was recently approached by the owner of a large liquor store and he asked why I walked out without purchasing anything most of the time I enter the store. I told him although they have a large selection of craft for the most part I am looking for hard to find beer. I have known this guy for over 12 years and he asked if I had any interest in working for his company as the beer manager. I said thanks but no thanks I have a great job that I enjoy going to everyday, but I would be happy to assist you in what I would like you to order for me.