Total Wine doesn't get it (yet another freshness rant)

This... Norfolk TW is set up this way. Look at all the old beer at eye level... and then look up.

 

I contacted Deschutes once aboot old beers of theirs on the shelf. They got back to me quick smart, had the beer removed, and offered to send me some free gear.

 

Sure there is... drink it last after 4 or 5 other beers! You'll (or, at least, I'll) never notice the difference!

 

I will only shop at TW as an absolute last resort for a beer I must have (IOW, very rarely), in part due to their track record of predatory marketing practices. Many members here disparage AB-InBev for similar practices, but happily shop at TW to save a few bucks on their "independent" craft.

Another reason to not shop there. The percentage is completely reversed at my local family-owned shop, and most of that is big beers in bombers.

 

Do you have some references (e.g., links) so I can read more here?

In this thread is the first time I have read/heard that TW utilized predatory marketing practices.

Cheers!

@RobH

 

LOL I was not sure how to read that also. I never saw them do anything like this or what would even dictate that term? I am curious to see. If the poster meant being a large business and their ability to dominate mom and pop stores that is sort of a cheap shot at TW.

 

Customers are part of it, for sure, but don't let retailers off the hook. I was forming an argument in my head, until I saw @rgordon made a real world example...

Why do beer retailers want to be in the warehousing business? Because if the beer is sitting on shelves not getting sold, that's just a fancy warehouse.

1. Retail floor space has a cost (i.e. lease, taxes, utilities, maintenance, etc.)
2. Removing and disposing unsold beer has a cost.
3. Losing reputation with customers has a cost.

These costs are avoided or reduced when the retailer buys the correct amount of product at the start and sells it all through the register, as advised by @rgordon. The economic incentives for a retailer to avoid incurring the costs above should be huge, in theory. Where did those incentives go astray? We are stressing about a problem (over-supply) that theoretically should never reach down the chain to the customers, or at least not be as apparent as it is. I keep hearing things about how there is a lot of pressure and incentives in the distribution chain for retailers to buy [and warehouse] more beer. I have to wonder if customers buy beer "like they should" what's stopping the retailers and wholesalers in the current system continuing to increase stock to a point that it once again hurts freshness and in turn consumers? Something in the system is broken. The economic incentives for businesses to be lean and efficient seem weak, to put it lightly. @beertunes I don't think that equation will be fixed when consumers "buy correctly" or whatever is inferred by pointing the finger at customers.

 

Here's one: https://www.bostonglobe.com/busines...regulations/lj09FZ4pg1oDEWJFqKuyZM/story.html

 

Some folks started to mention it but what I think TW doesn't get is that the vast majority of beer should be kept cold. When they have a ton of square footage and only a tiny minuscule fraction of it for refrigerated beer....it's infuriating.

I get it, refrigeration costs $$ but there are way smaller shops with more refrigerators.

 

As a retailer I probably shouldn't say this but....the average person who shops at a beer store is ignorant of a lot of aspects of beer, freshness being one of them. Until the overwhelming majority of beer consumers understand the importance of freshness, this will continue. Sure the brewers and distributors need to cut back on what is produced and ordered for distribution, and retailers need to step up and watch those date codes....but the overwhelming majority customers need to be aware of and demand fresh product and vote with their $$$ accordingly. Until then the three tiers will not have much motivation to fix the problem.

 

Costs a lot money to purchase and run those coolers. You get a huge selection but it’s warm.
For every purchase I’ve made at TW, I’ve made 4-5 at my local Mom and Pop store. They obviously don’t have the selection but somehow I never walk out empty handed and always with a smile.

 

Amen!!!!

And hopefully all of the parties in the supply chain will open their collective eyes and take substantive measures to fix this problem. Otherwise the ever expanding number of small, local breweries will be 'eating their lunch'.

Cheers!

 

Keep your eyes open in 2019 (and beyond). My guess is that more and more beer consumers will be purchasing fresh locally brewed beers from the ever expanding number of small, local breweries. By then it may be too late for the distributing breweries and their partner Wholesale Distributors?

Cheers!

 

Popping in to mention, again, the "allocation games" played by some breweries and wholesalers that emerges as a "if you aren't an ardent supporter of [insert brewery here], you cant get the Barrel-aged/specialty/rare release/hard to find/limited stuff that everyone will want." Unfortunately due to these "games" stores tend to over-purchase on regular perishable stock so that they can be in the running for whatever hype beer is coming down the pipes. For example, in my store I don't order any Goose Island at all because of very low consumer interest, which means that when the Bourbon County is released I wont be able to order any of it, all of which is fine. I just have to explain it to the customers that ask why i don't have it. This presents a problem because these companies are actively incentivizing over-buying of product which translates to old shelf turds that will sit for eons just so you can get your bottle of Prabajava, FO, etc. Irresponsibility all around.

 

Thank for for saying this, because I totally agree. Until people are educated enough not to get screwed people will continue to screw them, lol. Why would anyone change their behavior if they don't need to. If suckers want to be suckers then sell to them.

 

This....I mean even when I ask people to purchase beer for me (ex: family buying me a 6 pack for when I'm visiting them), I need to explicitly explain that they need to look at the date on the bottom of the can or side of a bottle before purchasing. They wouldn't even consider for a second if I hadn't told them to do it. They also think I'm crazy for making sure they do that!

 

Why big beer sucks. They play games and force folks to buy their swill in mass in order to get the prize product. I hate that practice and companies who pull it on others. My local guy who has been around for about 40 years is done with Goose and their BS. This last year they played games with him and he said no more, they can pound sand and go elsewhere. I told him cheers for that and I would always support his family business. Nice to see the little guy say screw you to the big boys when they try and strong arm.

 

The specific link you provided requires a subscription.

I was able to find a different link that I could read (see link below) and in that article:

“However last week a judge in the Suffolk Superior Court in Boston ruled in favour of Total Wine & More, The Boston Globe reported, allowing alcohol retailers to discount booze that they buy in bulk, effectively passing on the savings to their consumers.”

You must have a very different definition of “predatory practices” than I do? Nothing in the above are “predatory practices” IMO.

Cheers!

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2017/07/total-wines-wins-discount-pricing-case/

 

In regards to TW Madison, WI. Article points out lobbying money spent. Just another liquor store? Cites Boston Globe article, also. Predatory? They sure will do whatever it takes to get it their way.
https://madison.com/wsj/business/to...cle_907b9e44-1f68-5fb5-b7ad-6862d530b88b.html

 

Do you consider "lobbying" to be a "predatory practice"?

Cheers!