Wine World NJ

Have been there before and no longer will be going there. . . If you don't mind me asking what are the other shops? I go to Rutgers and I've been making the trip to joe canals for my beer lately!

 

I had a similar experience there....went in for barrel aged narwhal. Asked an employee for it and he told me they only had a few left and they were for employees. Then as I browsed the store another guy came in and asked for it and that same employee gave it to him. Pretty low thing to do if you ask me. There is another shop right across Rt. 18 from wine world, just recently got renovated. Also a buyrite in Milltown on Ryders Lane....they can be a bit pricey but at least they dont scheme on who they will sell limited stuff to. Cranbury buyrite on rt. 130 also is getting ready to reopen after renovations and they usually have a solid selection and a growler station

 

One place I am sure he is referring to is MarketPlace which is now Adelphia Wine Co. in the shopping center off of Arthur St. I don't like the practice of keeping stuff in the back for regulars either but it is pretty common practice in a lot of places.

 

Personally, I think it's a great idea. Why should someone who is a regular, valued customer of the shop get shut out of a limited release because of their work schedule, lack of desire to stalk delivery trucks, etc.? If a shop only gets a limited amount of something like that, I think it's great that they take care of the people who come to support them the rest of the year with their regular sales; the sales of which, by the way, provide the store the ability to even get the limited stuff in the first place.
As to them lying to people, I'd tell the manager to re-train their people to politely explain that the limited stuff has already been reserved. The lying part is total bush-league stuff, but the practice itself makes good business sense.

 

Hi I'm Dan, the beer manager at Wine World. Once I saw this I wanted to explain the way we handle the rare, allocated beers such as Maine Lunch.

First of all I apologize that you or your relative weren't able to get the beer you wanted. As you likely know, some of these beers are very hard to come by. We were able to get 12 bottles of Maine Lunch and it will likely be a while before we get more. Most of those 12 bottles went straight to the 'New Arrivals' shelf one at a time and were first come first serve. After I sent out the weekly email to let our customers know what new beers had arrived, a customer responded that he thought they'd sell out before he got there and wanted to know if I hold him a bottle.

We don't always hold bottles for people even at request. I honestly do try to be very fair in the hopes that as many people as possible get the beer they want. That's why when we get a limited beer like this I only put one on the shelf at a time. That being said sometimes we will hold a bottle for someone, especially if that person is a loyal customer. I personally don't consider it playing favorites as much as it is rewarding loyal customers who are frequent shoppers. I also don't consider it lying when I tell some one there is none left when there really is one bottle that is being held, as it is spoken for already.

In regards to our employees, we let the vast majority of beers see our shelves before we buy them. All of us have passed on numerous beers that we would like to have purchased. Although of course I do buy some of these beers myself, I often skip buying some of my favorites. I was going to buy a Lunch but let a regular customer buy it because the rest sold out so quickly.

Again I do apologize for the inconvenience and I do appreciate your business. I just want to reiterate that I do try to be as fair as possible but unfortunately every time we get a beer like this there are more people that want to buy the beer than there are beers to sell. That's the unfortunate truth of the matter.

 

@dan_wineworld kudos on the reply. We need more customer service like yours. I appreciate you responding to the issue.

 

Absolutely could not agree more. Why should someone who is a loyal, paying customer get shut out of a beer because someone else who may go to that store once a month (or every few months) just came in looking for limited releases? You aren't doing the business any help buy coming in and buying a single rare beer and then not showing up for another month or two when you hear they received another allotment of a limited beer. The customer who comes in once/twice/plus a week that spends his/her hard earned money on their beer should have all the rights to have a limited beer reserved for them.

 

I was in this exact store on Sunday as well. I dont shop here often ( i live in TR) but i was in the area that day.

I went in around 3 to get some beer for a party, not looking to get limited release stuff. I saw a rack up front with Boulevard Imperial Stout Coffee, BBQ, and the coffee ale they just released. As I am aware, this was pretty limited release stuff, and it was on the shelf. As far as MBC Lunch is concerned, I can see holding some limited releases for good customers, especially if it is called ahead and held for a name.

Honestly, if i walked into this store and bought a bottle of Lunch, and then a good customer walked in and missed out on it, I would not feel good as the retailer. You should reward the people who buy your craft beer at your location often, with at least a timely shot at getting limited releases. Especially because these are the customers that get your CE number high enough to be at the top of the list for limited release beers.

 

this happens all over, not just this store

 

This post is a little rough. Regulars should get some preferences, tell your relative to stop in more than once every three months while whale hunting.

Some shops I get preference in - some I dont. It is what it is. Just deal with it. Adelphia does this too, and why not? Whale hunters never spend a dollar in a place then expect to get all the limited release stuff - doesn't work that way. They probably got 12 bottles and have 50 guys in weekly that want it. And employees should have preference as well.

That is all. And have you ever been to this place - or just like trolling on spots you've never visited?

 

You seem to have an axe to grind with Wine World as you started a thread trying to convince people to boycott WW and then posted again about something you, yourself weren't even involved in. And 1st you say your relative witnessed another customer asking for it and then in another post you say "your relative" was the one that wanted it. And why keep mentioning "your relative" is a regular, when your whole point is that regulars shouldn't get any special treatment? And you live in North Carolina and are threatening to boycott a bottle shop in NJ? Pretty ridiculous!!!!! I shop at WW and it's a good store with a solid selection and they do a good job being fair with limited releases. And kudos to Dan for responding and offering a perfectly good explanation of their policy.

 

I am against favoring the regulars that the store likes and lying to other customers. What about the bigger stores that has rotating beer guys. The same guys don't always visit on the same shift as the beer guy that knows him. It is retail.

Imagine if the local shoprite gave the better quality cut of meats to the mother of 5 that visits every day and spends a ton, vs gives the single dude who buys for one the poor cuts since he visits once a week and doesn't spend much

 

Im will add my 2cents. I am a hunter in general doesn't have to be a whale. I dont go to one shop all the time, Especially since this hobby is not cheap. I am not going to spend more for a beer at one shop that I know I can get cheaper at another in hopes I get the chance for a special release beer. I have a shop 2 miles from me that still has Founders Dessenter on the shelf for $17.99 or something. If you were a reg. Shopper there Would you pick it up at that price point. If you said yes Your clearly an idiot or dont have a problem spending your money on over priced beer. That bottle is $9.99 and should not still be on shelves its from the summer.

So back on topic. I think it should be first come first serve. Every shop does what they want and is going to lie to you as well as others. Bottom line is start building relationships with the guys at your beer shops. They may help you out every once in a while. If you dont get the beers you want O well. Start a bottle share group or go to one to try new beers. Last but not least try trading.

Its just beer not the end of the world Keep on drinking

Also let me add - LUNCH is not that impressive grab a MO

 

If you look at my review, I had a very similar experience at this shop. Seems to be an epidemic there.

Simple solution? Don't give them any more of your money. There's too many above average shops in NJ to worry about one is doing. This practice of lying if you have certain things is getting pretty common from what I can tell too.

 

I think this practice has more to do with "who you know" than being a loyal customer. There are people who become friendly with the staff at the store, and the staff are more likely to do them a favor. Other customers might frequent the store more often and buy more beer, but if they don't develop a rapport with the staff, their just another face passing through and they probably won't receive any preferential treatment. It's just the way the world works. As our moms told us, "life ain't fair".

 

Playing favorites and rewarding frequent shoppers is the same thing written differently. And there's nothing wrong with that but the attempt to differentiate seems defensive.

It is lying when you tell a human "I don't have any left" only for said human to see you hand a bottle of what they asked about to another human. Why don't you say "all I have left of those are reserved, however, if you leave me your information and the person doesn't pick it up by "X" date I can contact you"? This way, your loyal customer gets a bottle, you're not lying about the bottle, and perhaps you gain a new loyal customer since they've witnessed you handle the bottle above board.