Four Firkins

REPORTED.

 

You may very well be right. But it's at least worth noting that BA =/= the general craft beer-buying public all the same.

 

It's not the best liquor store in the area. Sorry, just isn't. I'd hope if "Those people" think its the best store in the MSP area had a better than decent customer experience.

 

They offered a group hug on fb today while pandering for more handouts

 

Haha there's no need to apologize to me. I go to the place a few times a year. I'm just trying to offer a bit of perspective.

 

Huh? They sell liquor?

 

Oh man. My entire point loses all meaning because of this oversight.

/slinks away in shame

 

Excellent thread, folks.

 

They do have a couple of liquor options, actually. I've seen the New Holland Beer Barrel Bourbon there and similar beer related liquors.

 

BAM!

 

I assure you that there are a large number of people in the local area who would absolutely consider FF to be THE best beer store in the area. That group may or may not have significant overlap with the consensus opinion of the BA community, but their opinion is no less valid. I think your last sentence actually gets at the point: "Those people" really do have a great customer experience when they go to FF.

Clearly, customer experience at FF has varied amongst the more vocal contributors on this site, and I am in no way disputing that your experience there has been not great. It sounds like you have had some specific interactions with their employees that were not positive, which is something they should take seriously. It is their job to make every customer interaction a positive one (within reason), and sounds like they are not hitting the mark for some people.

I think they face an uphill battle sometimes with those of us who are already deeply immersed in the beer world, because many of us enter the typical beer store with a preconceived expectation of exactly what we are looking for and how much we expect to pay for it. That doesn't match the profile of a much larger group of people in our community that are relatively newer to the beer scene (i.e. not most of us), who: appreciate the fact that everyone at FF is truly knowledgeable and cares about beer, enjoy the ambiance and breweriana displays, aren't too concerned about whether they might have saved a couple bucks at the liquor store down the street.

Anyway, I am NOT trying to defend or comment on their fund-raising approach, and everyone will have to decide individually how strongly they feel about it. I truly have no idea whether this approach will prove to be a genius plan or come back to bite them in the end.

However, I think it is disingenuous to suggest that they are not currently one of the premier beer destinations in our area and an obvious place to send beer newbies who are just getting into the scene. I have sent many people their direction over the years, and every one of them has appreciated the suggestion.

 

France 44

 

Another point to consider is when should you expand as a store/franchise? I've seen several restaurants try to expand to a second locations and fail... having to close up shop. These places had the capital to expand. How does one suspect to sustain a second location if they have to crowd source the money to do so? I don't have my MBA, but that just sounds like bad business strategy?

I get trying to be the first to market... but Total Wine and others are not going to stay away just b/c FF opened a second location.

If they raise the money - more power to em... I ain't gonna donate, but others will.

 

If they raise enough money maybe, just maybe they will expand to Roch...eh probably not.

 

"A sucker is born every minute" -Four Firkins

 

Last point I'm going to make on the Travail v FF crowd funding efforts. Travail stayed in the community they bettered the current community that has supported them to no end. They have single handily made Robinsdale a better place to live. FF funding is mostly coming from supporters that live in the area and frequent the store. This funding will do the exact opposite of what Travail did. This will no benefit the current store in away way it will most likely make it worse. They're will be less full time staff at the old store. They are not doing this for their loyal customers and St Louis Park they are do this because they have made countless pour business decisions. They are doing it for the wrong reasons. Crowd funding is a great tool when used in the right way. Better your current community from funding that is in that community or people who believe in it.

 

I'm fine with what they're doing. Ya'll don't have to donate. If they do, they do. People just like to complain.

I won't be donating, and I'll still be buying much of my beer there. They've always been incredibly helpful with me, and describing beers to the last detail. The owner, Alvey especially.

 

This has to be the most ridiculous thing I've read in a while. They face an uphill battle due to informed consumers asking for a product priced at the going retail??!! When they know they can get it at any other shop for the "right" price. In today's beer world any newbie can get as much (if not more) information about beer from most decent stores out there. You don't have to be a beer "boutique" to be trendy, or turn people on to craft. From most new craft drinkers I see, that's quite the opposite. I see a lot of blue collar people, who I wouldn't expect, drinking craft and only craft. You may not defend their fund raising practice, but don't mind that they overcharge and gouge their everyday consumer just for the "experience"??? They offer nothing more than the store down the street other than a fancy ambience, rare releases (only if you pay for them!!) and higher prices!! And people want to fund this???