Bad Brewery Trip

You've taken some flack on this thread--that's what the World Wide Web is for, I guess--but kudos for your restraint on not naming the brewery.

Also agree that in this case, if you want to salvage your relationship with the social media "friend", it's time to admit defeat and humbly take this one on the chin--right or wrong.

 

i'd see this in a few different ways:

because it's a business, it's only reasonable for a patron to ask (obviously nicely and jokingly) if you can purchase additional bottles. you all know that if they were to have an opportunity to purchase additional bottles of something limited, you all would jump on that (as would I).

this is probably a case of how your delivery was, what you cracked, and how many bottles they have left of this limited release. also, that guy definitely over-reacted to this. just a reminder, you're acting as a consumer to this business. you're not pressuring someone to give you additional bottles from their personal collection.

in the end, asking never hurts, just make sure that you're not overusing your privilege after that experience.

ps. i know a few breweries that act this way and have some employees that are over-reactive on such petty issues.

 

I personally wouldn't have a problem calling this brewery (& employee) out. Very unprofessional of them to act in such way. No matter how good their beer may be, if those business practices are acceptable in their operation, I wouldn't support them with a single additional cent.

 

So you paid for 2 bottles, then had a mini tour and popped a few bottles and enjoyed yourself with your friend and this employee you know via social media.
On your way out you wanted to try to get 2 more bottles even though there was a limit on bottles per person.
When you were denied and left, you were called out by this social media guy (who showed you a good time) for what the other bottle shop/merch clerk described as trying to skirt around the bottle limit.
Thus it left a bad taste about the brewery in your mouth.
So far correct?

So (A) the clerk that you asked about buying 2 extra bottles blew it out of proportions and made you seem like an asshat.Or (B) your disregard of the limit you knew was in place rubbed him the wrong way after going out of his way to make sure you had a good time even if you are just a face on a social media feed.

Now you claim you wish to vist said brewery again?
What was stopping you from a second visit the next day or leave for a few hours and then come back and get 2 more bottles?
Why ask for 2 more bottles and not just 1 extra bottle?

 

OP man, don't let all the criticism on here get you down man. I respect a lot of people in here that are giving you shit, some good dudes from my interactions with them and or observation of their contributions. But seriously, all these people pretending that a bottle limit is to be held to the same sanctity as using the Lord's name are ridiculous.

I'll say it without reservation, if I have the opportunity to get more than the allotted or limited amount, damn right I'm gonna try. This is America, people. One of my favorite sayings is: "It's better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission."

You can call me an asshole or whatever, so be it. In a different world, I'd wholeheartedly agree. But again, this is America. Much more heinous crimes have been committed that a lot of y'all wouldn't say a peep for or would probably defend.

OP, if you can snag two more bottles, send me some. haha.

End slightly buzzed rant.

 

Name the brewery.

 

@danielu Man, I'm sorry that happened and I'm really disappointed in BAs acting like you did something horrible. I have no idea how you went about asking if they would stretch the bottle rule, but if you did it politely (which I imagine that you did given your politeness in asking our opinion about the situation without fingering anybody) and moved on quickly while spending money at their business they were way out of line. I know if I really loved a beer and was in your situation that I would ask politely and respond with "Sorry, I didn't mean to push you. I just had to ask." with a good laugh if they said no or a happy dance and expressions of gratitude if they say yes.

If I had employees that treated any customer like this they would be fired. Their behavior was completely unprofessional. Were you out of line a bit? Sure, but when dealing with customers employees need to take these things in good humor even if it rubs them the wrong way. They work in customer service and it is their job to put on a good face for the brewery. If they want to talk about it behind the scenes like nearly everyone does that's fine. But you never, ever treat a customer poorly for something harmless.

I don't know if you should cave to queries about the brewery's name, but if you have contact with the owner I would tell them about my poor experience with the staff. They probably want to know about poor employee behavior. If he/she is going to be a jerk about you trying to bend a rule after a few drinks then I don't believe they deserve your business anyway. If they have any business sense you will get a response about why they impose a strict bottle limit and a thank you for informing them that their employees are inappropriately dealing with people trying to bend the rules.

 

Amen to that.

If your story aligns perfectly with reality, coming from someone who worked customer service for years, the fact is that you experienced some horrible, horrible customer service. It's only natural for a patron to want to purchase goods/services, and it's an employees express purpose to manage that process in a courteous, professional way. You may have disrespectfully, though unintentionally, crossed the line a bit by asking for more bottles in this case; regardless, the fact we're having this discussion at all signifies a total breakdown in customer relations. If I were that breweries owner/manager, I'd want to know about this situation in order to take corrective action immediately. As an employee, berating and alienating customers is never the right course of action, and reflects about as poorly as possible on that employees company.

 

First off, the person which messaged you after the trip over social media definitely overreacted. Sounds like he was disrespectful and no way to treat a customer. With that being said, from the story you told I can understand how he could be upset. It sounds like he went above and beyond what he would normally do for customers and he took it as an insult that you still wanted more even though you were obviously willing to pay. The fact that you asked another employee if you could purchase two more bottles may have also made it seem like you were trying to go behind the employee from social media in order to get more bottles. So while he was definitely in the wrong with the way he responded to you, I understand that he got upset because he went above and beyond and asking for more may have not been the right call. You may not have purposefully meant to be disrespectful but it obviously came off that way to the employee.

 

Invite him over for Thanksgiving and tell him to bring a couple of bottles of the 'good stuff...

 

Once again, who was sharing the rare beer- you or him? I was once at the receiving end of a similar situation where some idiot bartender completely over reacted to a question and in turn told the owner, who proceeded to chew us out in public without ever asking us our side (real men quietly find out both sides of a story before reacting). This was in a place where we always behaved respectfully, spent tons of money and had recommended the place to everyone possible. I've haven't set foot in that place in 15 years and they can still go F@@k themselves.
And limits depend on the situation. Sometimes it's been quiet, sometimes the product hasn't been moving as expected, sometimes a new and more desired product is coming out shortly, sometimes you are someones buddy or did a favor for the owner- it doesn't hurt to ask nicely- especially if you are a good customer and spend much money.
Plus the customer is always right. I recommend you never go back, or if you really want to go back- do so in disguise. Or if really desperate you have to apologize for doing nothing.

 

Sounds like the brewery employee over-reacted in calling out your request as a scam. In hearing your side it doesn't sound like you had bad intentions.

That said, I can understand why he may have over-reacted. Chances are you're not the first person to try to get a couple extra bottles beyond the limit. The brewery employees probably have a running tally of all the tactics that customers have used to attempt to get extra bottles. Perhaps he even got reprimanded in the past for making an exception to a limit.

Interesting experience. I learned something from this thread.

 

Brewery guy probably got in trouble and took it out on you. I can imagine a scenario where a manager would be pissed if he thought one of his employees was making promises or side deals that he hadn't approved. I'm not saying that's what happened, but it's a potential scenario. "Hey, are you telling people on Twitter that they can have 4 bottles?" Depends on how you asked for the extra bottles I suppose.

 

You tried to cheat the limit. Bad! You lose 10 Internet Points

The owner sounds like a real douchenozzle. If I'd come in and asked for 4 bottles would he have punched me? Would he have started whining like a little girl? I don't understand why he'd have contacted you after that. It's water under the bridge at that point. He loses 50 Internet Points.

 

I don't expect the bigger pour or the on the house 1 for 1 deal when I have a different bartender who I haven't gotten to know yet. And if see that people who I know who are on staff aren't around and having shift drinks, I know certain doors are just going to be closed and I shouldn't bother asking can I go there?
There was probably some "who does this guy think he is?" happening when you left because they probably were thinking you were trying to take advantage of something which you haven't earned yet.

 

Your last sentence may be true, but why follow up on it? I owned business and unless someone was really abusing an employee or caught stealing (a lot)- we let it drop.

 

Personally, I think you are right in that you never know until you ask, but you already got the "star" treatment. I can see why this guy was miffed, he already went out of his way to roll out a red carpet for you and your buds, and it sounds like you don't know him "that well," so it was a favor. Bottom line you had a good day going in the back and trying some rare stuff, I wish I could get that kind of treatment. I see it as a little greedy to go further and skirt their bottle limits. But! if the way you handled yourself in asking for 2 more bottles wasn't sheisty in any way then I don't see why the guy had to cuss you out via text message, if in the contacts shoes, I would have just told you to be a little more greatful next time and that there is no sway on our bottle limits.