Jacked up prices!

I've seen prices rise across the board for craft beer over the last few years. If we cumulatively want prices to come down, then we'd all have to take a stand. I doubt that will happen when it comes to a luxury item such as beer. I don't like the practice any more than you do. You're also going to get wildly varying opinions on what is too high and I don't think that is fair to every store. I realize that you are referring to stores that seem to be intentionally gouging and those definitely do exist. It's ultimately up to the individual to decide what price is higher than they are willing to pay and ultimately walk away.

 

You'll do more good to tell the store manager you think their prices are too high rather than post names here like an angry mob. Use your consumer dollars and feet to support the stores you like for the best result.

 

Most retailers that I know strive to keep pricing as low as possible. Stay away from those that you know to be gouging. If you do not trust a particular retailer, stay away.

 

$7 for a single 12oz bottle of Great Lakes christmas ale...far from a "whale" on any level. Blatant price gouging by shoprite liquors of Hoboken,NJ. That's all that comes to mind in my neck of the woods that stands out.

 

If you want to pay a fair price, then don't buy anything you deem unfair.

But keep in mind that other people may have different concepts of what qualifies as fair.

Personally, I don't think this kind of thread will make any noticeable difference because 1) different people have different levels of price sensitivity regardless of what is posted online, and 2) it can't possibly have enough reach to make any kind of appreciable impact on individual retailers' bottom lines, which is what ultimately matters.

 

Although I do not think that this thread will work the way you want it to, I applaud your efforts. I think too many people on here starts threads or complain about pricing only to say that they do not want to call out the liquor store or brewery in question.

 

The best course of action on BA is to provide a review for the place in question and support you argument there. Then others can reference them as well as the owners of the establishment. I don't disagree with the thread, but I feel that has greater weight when it comes to impact.

 

Wow, most I have ever payed for abyss is $25-30 and that was online. Which usually has slightly higher prices then stores.

I won't call a brewery out on to high of prices, its their product they can price it as they see fit. However I have encountered stores jacking up prices of stuff due to being the only store within 100 miles that has good craft beer. I will call them out in half a second. A $1-3 (maybe $4 if its rare) increase from the average is fine with me, but seeing bottles that are $12-14 priced at $18-24 in other stores just because they can pisses me off.

 

Pre-dating the Constitution exists the right of any person to ask whatever they may for a product or service in regards to cost. It's the American way for each individual to say yes or no in regards to that price. Although I don't necessarily agree with some 'values' that are placed on craft beer, I have two immediate choices - walk. or purchase. This can essentially be said of any product on the open market. The list would be staggering in regards to calling out those that appear to gouge, and would possibly include some very prominent names in craft beer because, as has been stated earlier, we all have different views on what we consider reasonable. Rarity plays it part, as does geography. I have been prepared on many occasions to pay more than I think a beer is worth, on trade, just b/c the alternative of actually travelling interstate to get what I want is exponentially higher. Just my 2c!

 

I've got 5 from last season, left by a holiday guest I could care less about. Love Great Lakes but Christmas Ale is their red headed step child for me.

 

Because the prices vary so much from region to region, and with the distribution footprint of the beer, and with what people are willing to pay for the beer, and because half an hour to an hour invested in comparison shopping in my immediate area will give me much more (and more reliable) information about prices I can expect to pay. (At the end of the day it doesn't really matter much what someone in Europe or Indiana or California can pay since I'm not going to go there just to get the best price. For me each beer price stands or falls on its own local competition.)

But good luck with your efforts.

 

I'm not much help here, we have three craft stores and two Total Wines in Greensboro and none price gouge, competition and the fact the independents are run by good guys.

 

Personally I think there are better ways to go about this than a thread on BA, but if you're really going to do it, it should happen at a regional forum level, so there's more chance of someone seeing some relevant answers.

Let's say this thread really does take off, and it gets to 25 pages and counting, the new/inexperienced BA who isn't so aware of pricing (the one you're trying to protect), is going to have to search page after page just to see if somewhere close to home is mentioned.

Also the last part about places that have good prices. Again that should probably be separate - will only further confuse things.

 

I won't contribute because it would help the retailer by giving a heads up on where to find a hard to find beer. Some BA's are happy to pay a "jacked up" price for a beer they want.

 

These beers represent such a small percentage of bottle shop offerings and such a small part of the craft beer experience that I feel such effort is wasted energy.

With more and more offereings out there and more places selling good beer, I have seen
more competition for the MAJORITY of what is out there.

 

Sounds like a pretty good guest to me, maybe you should give them another chance...

 

Wouldn't it just be easier to write a place review that essentially notes prices are outrageous? Some store managers read BA reviews and would react to that more than a thread that won't last more than a week.