Am I crazy? New rule on boxes at Roger Wilco

Discussion in 'New England' started by NeroFiddled, Aug 7, 2019.

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  1. NeroFiddled

    NeroFiddled Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,276) Jul 8, 2002 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I stopped at Roger Wilco in Pennsuaken, NJ yesterday and bought almost a hundred dollars worth of beer. I had 13 items, most of which were large bottles, which explains the cost. When I asked for a box (can you picture a bunch of large bottles put into plastic bags?) I was told that boxes are reserved for large orders only. I did get a box, thankfully, but when I jokingly said to the cashier "Almost a hundred dollars, doesn't that seem like a large order?" another employee came over to the counter and spat out "That is not a large order." Am I crazy? What I find crazy is that a liquor store that doesn't have enough boxes to go around. How is that possible? Well, it's done, but I'll tell you, I'm not going to buy any large bottles from them anymore, and I'm certainly not going to buy a case of wine from them if it's all going to go into plastic bags. WTF?
     
    #1 NeroFiddled, Aug 7, 2019
  2. Xerlic

    Xerlic Maven (1,398) Aug 26, 2016 New York
    Trader

    That sounds really weird especially the comment about your order. I've never been to a bottle shop where they aren't overflowing with boxes and are happy to give them away.
     
    #2 Xerlic, Aug 7, 2019
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  3. frozyn

    frozyn Maven (1,435) May 16, 2015 New York
    Trader

    My pops has always said the best sources of free boxes for when you're moving is usually the closest liquor store you can find.
     
    #3 frozyn, Aug 7, 2019
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  4. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It's weird on a lot of different levels.

    Liquor stores have to pay for bags, whereas wine and liquor boxes are free. Also, boxes that aren't given away to customers have to be broken down and carted off to the trash or recycling bin, which of course is another expense.

    When I worked at a wine and liquor store many moons ago, we were encouraged to use boxes as much as possible to pack up orders. Size of the order didn't matter. Sometimes we might run low on boxes and so would offer a customer a bag instead, but otherwise, the preferred method of purchase conveyance was via a box.

    We still used plenty of bags to pack up orders (as many customers didn't want a box), but in the 3 years I worked at a wine store in Memphis Tennessee, I can't recall one occasion where we ever turned down a customer's request for a box (even if we had to go in the back to empty a wine or liquor box to fulfil the request). So yes... your story is very, very odd.
     
    #4 John_M, Aug 7, 2019
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  5. NeroFiddled

    NeroFiddled Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,276) Jul 8, 2002 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I got a call this afternoon from the store manager and the owner. They apologized and told me that it is not store policy that boxes are reserved for large orders only. I appreciated that, and told them so. The owner offered me a bottle of wine, or something else, which I totally ignored. I still wonder, however, how three different employees all told me that it was store policy while the manager and owner told me it was not. That remains a question.
     
    #5 NeroFiddled, Aug 7, 2019
  6. anfield86

    anfield86 Pooh-Bah (2,606) Nov 21, 2006 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    What a weird situation. Roger Wilco has been my #1 local store for the past 3 years now (I moved to the area). I drive by it on my way home from work everyday so I'm in there quite a lot. I've never experienced anything like this in all of the times I've been there. I've had them try to give me a box for 2 four packs and a crowler so if anything, they are too quick to give me a box, sometimes I'd say "I'll just take a bag, please".

    For what it's worth, I've noticed that since they remolded the store recently they have brought in a few new hires. They also have these new Roger Wilco branded boxes, which they "make" for you upon request or like you said if the order is big enough. They still have the old boxes (used cases) but perhaps there was some confusion ion regards to the new RW themed boxes. I really don't know. Weird.

    Also how did they know how to call you? Is there someone from the store perusing the BA forums? And if that is the case, Keenan, is that you buddy? I really hope you guys can fulfill my Tipopils request!:grin:
     
    #6 anfield86, Aug 9, 2019
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  7. NeroFiddled

    NeroFiddled Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,276) Jul 8, 2002 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks for your comments @tzieser. They knew to call me because I left my phone number in the e-mail I sent to the store manager, Michelle I think it is. Brian, who was the manager at the time, and the first that said "boxes are only for larger orders" gave me her e-mail after I called him when I got home. He was very nice, and he remembered me very clearly. The event occurred on a late Friday afternoon, and she and the owner called me together on Monday morning to explain that it is "not policy" to reserve boxes only for large orders. I was impressed by that but I was also a bit stupefied, maybe astounded is a better word, that three employees had told me that it was "store policy". So, WTF on that?

    In the end it's resolved.

    My guess is that Michelle didn't want boxes stacked up behind the registers as it doesn't look quite as nice and neat as it could given that they've done the remodel, and that she gave the order (all of the boxes are stores in a small closet by the exit), but then back-pedaled and claimed that she had never said that - but I'm just guessing. None of that matters, the owner assured me that any customer can get any packaging for their order that they want. That's enough for me.
     
    #7 NeroFiddled, Aug 11, 2019
  8. paulys55

    paulys55 Initiate (0) Aug 2, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Owners and managers usually know that making the customer happy is good for business. Other employees may or may not.
     
    #8 paulys55, Aug 11, 2019
  9. NeroFiddled

    NeroFiddled Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,276) Jul 8, 2002 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Very good point @paulys55 but it still remains that three employees told me that it was store policy to only give boxes to customers with large orders. The very first person who spoke up to say that was the store manager at the time.
     
    #9 NeroFiddled, Aug 11, 2019
  10. paulys55

    paulys55 Initiate (0) Aug 2, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Like I said, "usually". Your case seems to be one of two things:

    1. The employees honestly thought that was the policy (because there was a lack of communication or they were just inexperienced or they thought you wanted the house branded boxes).

    or

    2. It actually was the policy and when you called them on it and they realized that it would hurt their bottom line, they back pedaled and sent you the email reply.
     
    #10 paulys55, Aug 11, 2019
  11. jonphisher

    jonphisher Grand Pooh-Bah (3,850) Aug 9, 2015 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Joe canals marlton ordered tipo a while back. Though I think it is gone now. And if it’s not then whatever is left is like a year old. If I see new stuff I’ll shoot you a message.

    Closet to home but also the beer guy loves lagers too so they usually have some good stuff. Though I haven’t been in a while. I hope he’s still there.
     
    #11 jonphisher, Aug 11, 2019
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  12. Streaky

    Streaky Zealot (701) Mar 26, 2013 New Jersey

    Killer crowler station and the ability to just grab any rando beer you want off of a 4-pack in the cold box and buy it as a single is why Roger Wilco will forever reign supreme.
     
    #12 Streaky, Aug 12, 2019
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  13. gardenstatepkwy

    gardenstatepkwy Zealot (541) Jun 1, 2014 New Jersey

    I go to this store weekly and haven’t run into this yet. My usual total is between $40-60 of mixed 4 packs and a bottle of wine or two. Usually if it’s more than 2 four packs I’m offered a box and if I have an awkward arrangement of cans, wine bottles and Crowlers I’m offered a box. Sometimes they bag it up but I’ve never been denied a random case box before. I also got the new Wilco branded box on my last visit a couple weeks ago. I plan to stop there this week and will report back.
     
    #13 gardenstatepkwy, Aug 12, 2019
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  14. gardenstatepkwy

    gardenstatepkwy Zealot (541) Jun 1, 2014 New Jersey

    Stopped by last night and grabbed 12 beers ( 3 x mixed 4 packs) and a bottle of wine totaling $62. The woman ringing me up built one of those new Roger Wilco branded boxes without me asking. Not sure if it was the quantity of items, type of items, or just depends on the mood of your cashier.
     
    #14 gardenstatepkwy, Aug 15, 2019
  15. eagles1976

    eagles1976 Initiate (0) Jul 9, 2019 New Jersey

    Love this place for selection but what is up with that mess in the cooler? A little organization would go a long way here. Thought it would improve with the renovation but if anything, it's gotten worse. Everything just piled on top of everything else in no particular order.
     
    #15 eagles1976, Aug 19, 2019
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  16. jonphisher

    jonphisher Grand Pooh-Bah (3,850) Aug 9, 2015 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    To be fair to Wilco, could they do better maybe. But...the grab what you want from any four pack or six pack doesn't help the cause and I'm sure very much contributes to this.
     
    #16 jonphisher, Aug 19, 2019
  17. anfield86

    anfield86 Pooh-Bah (2,606) Nov 21, 2006 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    They go through and organize that disaster once a week or so. On the weekends it’s much too hectic with all the Philly folks rushing over the bridge in the way to the shore, destroying any order that there once was. If you stop in mid-week it’s usually much more organized.

    Also, to be honest I kinda like picking through all of the various beers and to see what I can find. It’s kinda fun.
     
    #17 anfield86, Aug 20, 2019
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  18. eagles1976

    eagles1976 Initiate (0) Jul 9, 2019 New Jersey

    Good points by both. I was there Friday after work so that would explain the mess. And I agree it's fun for a little while. But my fun turned to frustration pretty quickly. Good problem to have I guess. The variety can't be beat in the area.
     
    #18 eagles1976, Aug 20, 2019
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