Getting crafty with the "Craft Pack"

couple things here.
1. $12.99 seems pretty high for a 4pk of said beer
2. This does seem like a mistake on the part of the store and the only thing that really should be done is mention it to the store manager.
3. He either fixes the mistake and thanks you or he tells you no mistake was made and you're free to buy it that way.

Honestly though, from a retailer here... this conversation seems a bit unnecessary. It is a retail store, we WANT YOU TO BUY ITEMS. There are a number of reasons i can think of that this is happening (both as a mistake or intentional), but if its on the shelf its for sale and we want you to buy it.... So clarify you're concern, if its a mistake i am sure they will be grateful, if not then i am sure they want you to buy it. Simple.

 

Honestly that is the store's fault if they don't police or monitor what goes in mix a six

 

Ithaca opened New York City for distribution and was in the midst of opening their new brewery and getting production on line to meet demand was tough. If you haven't been to the new place he did a fabulous job.

 

Interesting that you're from Virginia because I've done this exact same thing at Giant in Centreville with Sophie. I was super excited when I saw them in the mix a six section. I only got to do it twice though before they stopped showing up. I never filled a whole 6 though, because there never were 6, only 3 at a time, which led me to believe they put them there because one of the bottles from the 4-pack broke or something.

 

Yes, I was fully aware of that. Since the expansion is now complete (for quite some time now), I am able to readily obtain Flower Power (in both six-packs and cases).

When Flower Power was in short supply I would 'luck out' and find a six-pack from time to time.

What I did not appreciate was that when I inquired about a six-pack this particular visit it was suggested to me to purchase 2 bottles (at $4 a piece).

It seems that a number of BAs are of the opinion that it would be unethical for us to 'take advantage' of retailers. Retailers often 'take advantage' of consumers. There is a very, very, very old Latin saying of caveat emptor (let the buyer beware). I really do not know if there is an equivalent Latin saying for the seller.

My personal view is that the store is selling their products under formats that they define: you get to select the beers you want to place within a six-pack holder (pick a six). Unless they have specific policies constraining how you (the customer) selects the given beers you choose, then putting 6 of the same beers in a six-pack holder is perfectly acceptable. The store is establishing what and how they sell their products and as long as we customers accept and follow those policies then it is a mutually acceptable transaction. For folks, who on theiir own volition, choose to only place 1-2 particular beers into a pick a six that is their choice. Why those folks feel the need to intimate that others who make a different choice (e.g., buy 6 of the same beer) are "unethical" or some other similar word is a mystery to me.

I suppose I should mention that I personally do not buy beers in the mix-a-six format. It seems perfectly acceptable for a person who utilizes this format to purchase 6 of the same beer (as long as the store permits this). I personally would never suggest those folks are unethical (or some other similar word).

Cheers!

 

I never did it with a full 6, either (because there were never 6 singles available). I usually had a mixture of Sophies and Matildas in my packs and I think the most I ever had of one type was 5 (Sophies).

This was at a Giant in Ashburn...and I haven't seen them there for awhile.

 

Taking more than 3 of one beer regardless of price seems like a dick move just for starters. On top of that, a lot of people use the pick six rack to try beers they've never heard of. Maybe they had their first Blue Moon at a bar on Friday night and a friend of theirs said "hey, if you liked that try these. Such and such a place has a mix six maybe they'll have some of these and you can try one".

So when an entitled "beer advocate" goes to the store and sees 6 of a beer that he knows is more expensive if bought in a six pack you're taking these beers away from people who just want to try it. Or maybe someone knows they're expensive and can toss one in their mix six and feel good about it.

Just because you know you can game the system doesn't mean you should.

 

Better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. I bet you they have a pretty good idea of that loophole you mentioned, and will either say no (no big deal, just grab a few different beers), or say yes (good for you, they probably did it on purpose). If they say yes, run with it, but tell them what they did.