eBay and Beer Sales

Nope. You can drink it. Give it to a friend. Funnel it. Barter it. Take a bath in it. Dump it over your head. Shoot at it with a pellet gun. Ration it. Save it for a special day. But you shouldn't give it to a 15 year child or sell it illegally on an online auction site. Nor should you drink it while you are driving.

 

But you condone trading, no? - In response to the legality comment.

 

Trading is not illegal.

 

But I think that the shipping across state lines that accompanies many trades is in violation a few laws.

 

Well that should push this one to over 1000 replies.

 

Exactly. It's the shipping part that is illegal. Trading baseball cards, stocks, christmas cookies, etc. A can of budweiser for a can of coors with a friend... isn't it all the same?

 

And here comes another 15 page rehash of the legality of shipping and trading....

 

Are you okay with Ann trading for $150-$200 worth of other beer though?
It's hard to be against one method of "trading", when you condone another method that demands the same "price". It strikes me as quite hypocritical.

 

Next time, we'll try to find 375ml bottles so that there will be better access to our small single barrel releases. We can understand how this might be perceived as hypocritical - but isn't that inflated "trade value" based upon eBay and a monetary assessment? We are a fan of the barter economy. Some barters are fair. Some aren't. But an individual doesn't need to enter into an unfair barter, right?

 

The good ole' "I believe that laws = ethics, but only when it helps my beliefs" game. Does that mean you wouldn't mind people selling your beer on ebay if it was legal?

Edit: On a side note, it seems insane to me that you'd rather have 100 people each buy one bottle, open them up, and dump them down the drain than have 100 people enjoy them after purchasing on ebay.

 

Couldn't you say the same thing about selling? I mean, no one needs to enter into an unfair market exchange of any kind, barter or otherwise. (And because I'm pretty sure you'll just say that it's illegal, it's not clear to me that my trading an Ann for a case of Pliny with someone from VT is any more legal than my buying it from them on eBay.)

For the record I largely agree with you and am largely glad beer is off eBay, I just felt that deserved reply.

(PS: Come back to SF I want more beer + cheese.)

 

No.

 

Haven't you read any of this thread? Most of this thread reads: "beliefs and right to taste a beer > law" =)
If online reselling was legal, then yes, of course. We might not like it, but it wouldn't matter because then there would be nothing we could do about it - it would be convention and normative. We are also trying to establish a connection that would allow us to direct ship beer to consumers or perhaps use a website like BeerJobber.Com that would allow more access to our beer through conventional and non-inflated measures. Any other questions/comments/concerns - we'll see you all here someday. Ultimately, we hate to see the value of our beer inflated. Or resold. Limiting the access to the already limited product. At the end of the day, it really truly is out of our hands. Ransom trading is no better or worse than eBay. You are exactly right. Difference being that one method was illegal and could be stopped.... Back to brewing.

 

Great post. It is the only statement with regards to ebay from any brewer than makes sense. (not being sarcastic for the record)

I'm going to make one last point that doesn't need to be replied to. I've never bought beer on ebay, but I always thought of it as a great resource for beer lovers. The reason being is that anyone could use it to obtain a bottle of what they want. There are plenty of white whales out there that you simply cannot trade for unless you yourself have a white whale. I will probably never own a bottle of beer that could have ever traded for Dave or M or whatever. However, if trying Dave or M would make my life complete, I could save up and buy one from ebay like anyone else without a white enough whale to trade. Thus, you can see why I am adamantly on the otherside of the ebay argument.

Keep up the great work. HF is one of my favorite breweries and I praise you guys everytime I get a chance.

 

The seller doesn't determine the price in an auction, the buyer does.

 

Sellers on ebay can set a buy it now price so there is still a choice on the seller's part to sell for a "reasonable" price. They can also sell through an ebay store at a fixed price with no open bidding.

 

And can set a reserve as well.

 

Reasonable. Unlike the "Buy it Now" price of $35 I just saw on there for *1* bottle of PtE.

But as the consumer, I can choose to ignore it, too, because I find the price unreasonable.

 

When you made this trade, did you feel it was fair? I can't decide if I like Rocky Mountain Spring Water or Beechwood Aging better....

 

It actually depends upon the day. My cousin Tom, who picks up our spent grain, usually brings us cans of Budweiser on a hot day. His father was Arthur - the namesake of our Saison - and we trade him a bottle of Arthur for some cans of Budweiser. As for Coors vs. Budweiser... it depends upon the package date, container type, etc. Typically, I'd choose the Beechwood over Rocky Mountain Water... what about you!?