becoming a regular at new stores

Sounds like my kinda problem solving method.

ISO: Delicious beer FT: Sword set (katana, wakazashi, and tanto).

Hahaha.

 

beat the guy at his own game

shop there as often as you buy beer, don't ask or say a word about anything special or limited, and see if you can't wait him out. i wouldn't spend any more money there than you might normally spend, but show the guy you *are* a regular -- or plan on being one.

i say that or the ninja outfit ...

 

Didn't Bugs Bunny do this with Yosemite Sam?

 

I find threads like these kind of odd, but interesting. The only types of business that I've seen this kind of loyalty and expectation of special treatment service were in beer stores and veterinary medicine. I used to work as a vet tech, and you would not believe the kind of entitlement that people held when it came to treating their pomeranian or show horse. *Everyone* was a "regular" simply because they had come in more than once or twice or because they had at one point paid a large bill. And they all expect special treatment. And as I said, "regulars" at beer stores are about the only ones that seem to assume this level of entitlement.

What makes a regular? The fact that you go in once a week? Twice a week? Cool, so do a bunch of other people. You buy expensive limited release beers? Go in next week, they're all gone, other people buy them too. You know the beer guy's name? It's pretty easy to figure out the Walmart cashier's name too...by looking at his nametag or by asking. I guess I'm just baffled by how people qualify regulars vs non-regulars. I'm sure there are some special treatment high dollar customers, but then there are a whole bunch of people who just happen to shop there a lot. I just consider a beer store another retail business. If the service is consistently crappy, I won't shop there anymore. If the prices aren't competitive, I won't shop there anymore. If the selection sucks, I won't shop there anymore. Or if it's the opposite, I'll shop there more frequently. But, as a consumer, I'll always be in the market for better service, price, and selcection. I'm there to buy beer, not enter a secret society.

 

Wiseguys is kinda cold to people in general, try
St. John Wine & Spirits in St. John Indiana, amazing selection and super friendly and it's not too much of a drive from Merrilville. Used to live in the region and that's one of my favorite places!

 

I have several stores I hit regularly. I treat them all different. Some are just a business transaction and that is fine. They may have bottle limits or first come first serve, whatever I'm fine with that. Some I can talk with. My favorite, which actually has the smallest selection is my favorite, first name basis, and I treated very well. I believe in taking care of repeat customers. Especially with the small fortunes I spend in these places. However I would have totally called that prick out for not selling ZD. I don't play nice with things like this. The owner would of been involved.

 

I usually don't ask about limited release stuff until I've been in a shop a few times and they recognize me. And even then I try to build a relationship before I ask. I have a few awesome beer shops in my area, but one in particular is my favorite and I like what they are trying to do to educate the locals about craft beer. My first trip in I bought some stuff including a bottle that the owner recommended. Next time in I just shot the breeze with him for a bit and learned about his likes and dislikes as far as beer goes. Next few times I just bought some good bottles, chatted some more. Then I brought him in a bottle of something he'd said he'd like to try and hadn't been able to get his hands on; and I didn't ask anything in return. Now guess what, he talks to me about upcoming special releases and lets me know what's in "the back room" when I come in. Did I have an ulterior motive for doing what I did? Not at all. I wanted to build a relationship with my local bottle shop and support what they're trying to do for the community. But were there positives of doing that, you bet. People who own bottle shops are people too and they like to be treated as such, not just as a tool to get sweet beer.

My bottle shop will be having their first bottle share soon and I'm going to bring some really good bottles, not because I want anything in return, but so I can be a part of a good community of people.

Also, if a shop won't sell you something rare/hard to get it may be because they aren't legally allowed to do so and they only sell to the people they know they can trust and not someone who just walked in for the first time and started asking about limited/rare stuff that they may or may not be legally allowed to sell. Just my 2 cents.

Cheers

EDIT: And by the way, my shop doesn't hold anything for me, nor would I expect them to. I just get a little heads up of what's coming and in what quantity. If I want to actually snag a bottle of something I have to wait for the tweet/newsletter and drive up there quickly like everyone else.

 

You sound quite bitter.

I said PEOPLE aren't a tool to get sweet beer. Bottle shops are run by people, many of which own the shops they run. If they get a limited release in, they're going to be able to sell it no matter what by the nature of it being limited. Why do they need to sell to you or give you the inside scoop just because you walked in one day and asked? It's not about "social clubs" it's about relationships. If you can't understand that, then I can't help you.

Cheers

 

A year ago, I asked for a limited release beer at a place that I have been buying beer for the past 10 years. This was the first time I made a special request. First, the guy gives me a BS story with a bunch of ifs and maybes. I say, "see what you can do, I'd appreciate it".

Then the guy tells me "the problem here is I don't know who you are. I have regulars who shop here 4-5 times a week. I have to take care of them first." He really said that.

I tell him that I've been buying beer at his store for the past 10 years and have spent in excess of $10,000 there. Is that not enough to be considered a regular? He paused for about 10 seconds and struggled to find some words. Then he says, "ummm...yeah, I'll see what I can do for you."

Well, he didn't get me the beer and claimed he never received any. I still shop there, but I give him the evil eyes when I see him.

 

The trick is: kick someone's ass the first day, or become someone's bitch. Then everything will be all right.

 

Man, there are so many people I could reply and respond to on this thread. I mean all this stuff applies to any store that is local and caters to a niche market (craft beer, comic book stores, and finally used movie/game store (the rarest)). Each store has their own pros/cons and their own selection issues. I mean I move around between 5 stores, but with only 2 being my main due to location (one has a great cheap mix/six selection, while the other is overpriced in most things, but has one of the best selections in the state). I am not really into calling for stuff, unless the place is out of the way or if it is for a new release, since stuff seems to take forever to get to MD (i.e. Stone Dayman and OG Oak). Then, I have my growler place, which is out of the way but the people their are great and the guy always gives me the heads up on stuff he knows I am looking for (i.e. vintage Stone Verticals). I have only been their 3 times and I ran into the guy at another beer store, which was great. I mean these guys are always on the lookout for stuff they don't get, because of their size, but again being an owner they can get various stuff for themselves. However, the guy or the company has never responded to any of my e-mails. I mean I don't have the money to be a true regular, but I get a mix six about once a week or two, and I know no one at my go to place, but I go in once a week to the expensive place and the workers recognize me, but I don't know any names. I just ask questions about new styles and breweries. I'll let you know once I become a regular anywhere.

 

Around my neck of the woods, I am accustomed to indifferent treatment in almost any kind of store. When beer shopping, if I poke around long enough, somebody will ask if I need help. At which point I spring my trap, pounce, and say Arrrghhhh...show me the whalezbrah... Not really, I usually say thank you, just rummaging. Low expectations. It would be rare for me to walk into a store with something specific in mind or seek out advice on what I might like. Then again, I am no Ishmael. I have yet to experience "I am looking for..." and a "well, you can't have it because..." moment. I've gotten the "we don't carry it" or "we're out" or "never heard of it", but not a "you aren't privileged enough" to buy something.

I really don't understand the nudge-nudge, wink-wink what's in the back thing. Seems to me that just feeds elitism and entitlement. Have bottle limits or a system to regulate specials or whatever as long as the rules are made clear to everyone. Doesn't mean the rules have to be "fair", just known to all. Seems to me if a product comes in the door, the mission is to put it on the shelf and sell it. If the store decides something only goes to "regulars" or certain customers, don't even give me an inkling that it is there. Honestly, if it were first come first served, I would be perfectly content with that. I miss out, I'd probably just buy something else. Just not down with the whole scene that is pssstt...hey buddy...here's some good stuff behind the curtain.

There's a whole bunch of angles to this whole "issue", and I reckon there's plenty of assholes on both sides of the counter. No matter how things are handled there's going to be unhappiness somewhere. I would, however, prefer the disengaged indifference I experience around here versus downright rude treatment. Maybe I would love to frequent a place where everybody knows my name <gag me> and I get the red carpet, but most of the time I am content to be left to my own devices.

 

Which one were you?

 

I can honestly say that every person that walks into my store, semi-regular or just complete random stranger, and asks "what kind of rare beer do you have in the back, I want that!" will always get absolute diddly squat from me. In my defense, I don't hide beer in the back at all, But you just don't come into a shop and say "Give me your best!" without looking around.

 

i think who ever told you only regulars can purchase ZD needs to get off his high horse, did you introduce yourself upon trying to purchase it or did you just strike up conversation as soon as you walked in? maybe he is always expecting new comers to kiss his ass, guy sounds like a dick honestly.

 

Not sure slander/libel is the way to go

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/slander