Twin Cities Bottle Hunt - 2016 Edition

last week in March most likely like other years

 

sometime after April 1st.

 

TW Roseville had 23 bottles of Tweak $13.99 as of 1:00pm. They also have Hi- Res, Todd 2/17, CWBB Barleywine, Cascade.

Cheers!

 

Because, that is the normal beer mark. Stores can't afford to continually be "the cheapest", without losing money. If you were ever in the industry, you'd understand.

 

No, it's not "normal". I hate to side with @lonewolfcry but G-Will & the store you promote, Shorewood Liquor, are regularly a buck or two over the average, not just the cheapest, stores. I don't have anything against either store or the pricing thereof, but both are last resorts for me if I can't find a beer anywhere else.

And in case you're curious I've looked at a lot of margins & balance sheets for liquor stores over the years.

 

"No Industry, No Care" - @craigerss02

 

If you are spending $20 on a beer, and care about $1...there's a problem (Hint: it isn't the store's pricing strategy).
Just being honest. I've been on both sides, and cannot fathom how somebody will pay $18 a beer vs. getting upset over said beer being $19...

I shop for beer all the time at other stores, and have never complained about $1. If they are gouging you, then I see a complaint as being understandable. Normal beer marks are basically the same everywhere.

 

I think it makes sense that people get a bit upset when one store sells an identical product at a price that is 5-6% higher(as in your $18-19 example) than another local store. If I always paid $1 more per item for everything that I bought, I'd end up paying hundreds of dollars more annually.

 

If you're buying a car for $25,000, and someone else charges $23,750, you don't see how that's a material difference?

It's the same price difference as $18 for a beer, v. $19 - ~5%.

 

So, a product at Wal-Mart and your local hardware store should be the same price? This will be my last post on the subject, but feel appropriate to the topic. This is how good stores go out of business. You can't always pay the same everytime. I know, however, that experience vs price goes a long way with alot of our customers. I'd rather have a loyal customer, than a price shopper anyday. If a loyal customer complains about price, we make it right to them.

 

Once again, it's people who know the business vs. shoppers. You can think of it whatever way you want to, just don't bash the little guy for trying to make it...while shopping at the big guy.

 

Seriously you need to get over your "industry insider" attitude. You're not winning any friends and you certainly won't draw any customers to your store with the attitude that their opinions don't matter because they're not "in the industry." Not exactly the best way to cater to potential customers.

 

I'm a regular at a couple small, "mom and pop" stores that provide great selection, great service, and are close to the lowest price regularly. In addition, one offers loyalty programs that gives me 10% off a purchase everytime I spend a hundred bucks.

Do I know how they do it? No, but it can be done

 

I think you are taking this a little out of context. I am not trying to be rude, just explaining that you don't need to hate on a store for trying to make ends meet. It's fine whereever you shop. I have just seen alot of "the usual bottle shop overpricing" thing and then mention the store. If you get a good deal somewhere, tell people. I don't feel hating on places and putting their store on blast is the right way to go about it either.

 

For the same product with the same cost to them? Yeah they should be. Total wine isn't getting that much of a discount on their booze. They can leverage some on large purchases, but on craft everyone is paying the same price. So if they can figure out how to survive on the margin they have, I see no reason why another store cannot.

I hate walmart for selling cheap crap and driving good businesses under by selling an inferior product cheaper, but f the product is the same, then there is no reason a store should consistently be proced higher unless they want to piss off customers. Ask Alvey at four firkens how he survives while his price is consistently higher......

 

The percentage might be the same but the dollar savings as a percent of your average income isn't. Of course, if you spend 25K on beer, than your savings are equivalent. I don't spend nearly that much but I pay the extra 5% for other things. I like convenience, I value my time, I like a familiar face, etc.

When gas prices were high, I put more value on distance. If I'm purchasing during rush hour traffic, I choose convenience.
I get where craigerss02 is coming from. I've been in stores where a customer walked out because the price was dollar more and acted all flustered like they were getting robbed. If you think it is worth your time and effort, then by all means drive around and price shop.

 

Four Firkins went out of business...

I guess you made my point.
http://www.twincities.com/2015/06/24/craft-beer-retailer-four-firkins-going-out-of-business/

 

for the east side/Wisco folks, Apricot Vista at Nova

 

I'm thinking maybe you missed mine. Four Firkens went out of business because they were charging more for a product than the competetion. Try to rationalize it all you want, but people still shop on price.

 

Mothman, I hate to throw this at you, but it would be nice if this was by month. On mobile, I hit this and January alone was 16 pages.