3 Cellars KBS Auction

dont like it, but not gonna get all riled up about it either. was confused when i got the email tho, cause they usually do a drawing for releases like this.

 

This is not cool in my book at all.

 

KBS 2011? If it's any consolation I drank one a few weeks ago and it tasted like stale coffee. I'm not sure that's worth buying for retail price...

 

I found it a bit odd myself. It's a free market and they can do whatever they want with their beer. Not something I would do myself though if I were a store owner. People who frequent Three Cellars obviously have money to burn. Considering it's the highest priced craft retailer in the area. Auction price probably won't be that much higher than shelf price

 

'11 KBS available here at a shop for 25 bucks a bottle. More than happy to mule em for you. Do I agree with it? NO! Do they have the right to do so? Yes

 

True. But we all have a right as consumers to vote with our wallets and tell them to pound it. e-Bayer whores are one thing, but if you operate a retail outlet and survive by building good relationships with your customers this is completely ass-backwards. Raffle off the right to purchase product at retail price- cool. Operate a live e-Bay auction- NOT cool.

 

I've been waiting for this thread since first reading their email newsletter announcing this auction. As others have already mentioned, it is a free market and they can hold an auction if they want, but I would never even consider doing this if I was a store owner. It's very short sighted in my opinion. If my local bottle shop pulled this stunt, they would no longer receive my business.

 

Like I said, ass backwards. I disagree with the policy. BUT they have the right to do so.

 

Not sure why so many out there confuse "right" with "good business practices"...who cares what a stores' "rights" are- they have the right to keep all the rare beers for themselves or friends...they have the right to charge e-bay prices...they have the right to only be open every other Tuesday from 10:00-10:17am...all this has NOTHING to do with good business practice and wanting to attract and retain customers (ie. the reason for owning a business??).
This was a horrible idea by 3 Cellars and sets an even worse presidence for retail stores. Could you imagine the shit storm that would ensue if all Binney loactions decided to "auction" all their rare beers from this point forward?? BAD DEAL.

 

I thought that its their responsibility to sell the brewer's products to the public. Could there be no stink since the brewer got the money from the distributor and the distributor got their money from the store?

 

I would be interested in recommendations as to what Three Cellars should do, no matter what they do would be a no win situation, sell as soon as they receive it (now you are rewarding the people who are lucky enough to not work during the time of distribution), sell to only the selective regular customer, six no less (now this is unfair because who is the cut-off), do not offer to market but make available exclusively to their VIP members (now I have to pay for a membership to have access to the rare beers), etc. Unfortunately the craft beer world has expanded to the point that the demand is so out of whack from the supply that making everyone happy is impossible. Personally, I did not attend today, I already have a couple bottles and did not have the time to attend. But people were given plenty of warning, either save up the money to ensure you have the disposable income to cover the cost or miss out. Either way in all likelihood a majority of the people would have missed out when you consider 6 bottles available at this store with the number of people in southeast wisconsin/northern illinois willing to travel for this beer.

Personally I don't frequent Three Cellars as much as I would like because I have Timers much closer to me, but I am not offended at what was done today. Shawn (the owner) is a top notch person especially when it comes to craft beer and his enjoyment of craft beer. I have been in his store in Oak Creek on a Friday afternoon when the store was dead and we talked for almost an hour about beers. In the past four or five years I've been there a handful of times, but if I am in the area I try to stop because I like what he is trying to accomplish.

Again I am interested in the best method to sell 6 bottles of KBS in the Greater Milwaukee market???? I guess an auction with any amount over a minimum sales price is donated to a local non-profit (humane society, domestic violent shelter, etc.) would be nice but this still would not keep you from paying top dollar.

 

No confusion on my part. Is there on your's?
I'll say it again, I don't agree with the policy... BUT stores have the right to do what they please.

 

In Cleve area? Where??

 

This post is not about 1st admendment rights..it's about respectable business practices...also- I'm not so sure that Founders or any other brewery would be cool with retailers auctioning off their beers. I'm pretty sure they have the right to no longer sell product to anyone they see fit.