Jacked up prices!

1. I find direct communication to be more effective. A retailer, brewery, bar, etc. will likely be more receptive to direct contact rather than an anonymous posts on a discussion forum.

2. If the beer is too pricey, I vote with my wallet. Unfortunately, this only works if everyone feels the same way. If the retailer is moving enough product at a particular price, it does not matter what threads you start or comments you make to a retailer, the store will be justified in their pricing and continue to sell at this price point until they start seeing products sit.

3. Prices will vary between distribution areas depending on a number of factors outside of the control of individual retailers. If you are after realistic comparisons, one should only compare prices within a specific distribution area.

 

how bout this one a store saving say a case of stone ris from 2012 and saying they aged it for us and charging a couple bucks more. I remember finding a couple of dusty bigfoots and hoping they would discount it for being old but happy they had it for the same price.

 

Realistically, a store holding on to stock is losing space it could use to store products that would move and paying taxes on products that are sitting, charging more for this type of product is reasonable. If the product was not worth aging, it would not sell and the retailer would learn their lesson.

 

Yeah this is a good point. Couple of times I've seen someone mention in a thread about seeing a beer for an extortionate price, and then someone responds with something like "just curious but where exactly did you see this?". I'm guessing they're not asking so that they can hold a rally outside the shop.

 

Calling out the store won't create change. Calling out the tools that over pay for these beers so they can be mocked until our throats' are soar, could create change.

 

I think most BAs know price gouging. It's the unknowlegable consumer who gets ripped off.

 

It's unknowledgable BAs who use the term price gouging, you can't gouge on beer. Plenty of knowledgeable consumers will pay well above MSRP if it is convenient enough for them. Look at how many threads you see started by seasoned BAs regarding the price they paid for certain beers, keyword in that sentence is paid.

 

That's true. I would pay 15/20 $ for a fresh can of Heady at least once. Ba's post even brag about how long they wait on line or how far that have driven to get beers that want. Paying extra to avoid a 2 hour drive is money well spent.

 

Thanks for the insult...cheers!

 

Remember the outrage last week over the $42 4-Pack of Heady at CJ's in Potsdam, NY? Well, that's my local store. Selection is hardly better than the local supermarket, and charges full-blown retail+ for outdated, picked-over beer.

 

People pay the prices. The store isn't the problem. If no one paid they wouldn't sell it for that price. We are the problem. No one starts threads about that. And if they did the people who pay the prices would just fight back with justifications meaning nothing changes. I've overpaid for convenience. I wish some craft cost more to price people out. There is no gouging. The shame is the the people that pay the jacked up prices for sub par goods in certain styles.

 

Just opinions, nothing more. Admittedly the last comment directed at @GetMeAnIPA could have been made in a more appropriate manner, the insult was not the intent, but the sentiment of my comments are commonly repeated on this site. There are a lot of assholes on this site, I may be one of them on occasion, but if you put that aside there may be some validity to our comments.

 

Is this like the thing where none of us buys gasoline on a certain day?

Or maybe like boycott fast food on a certain day?

 

I think many people would be surprised as to how much cases of certain beers cost to the distributors. I remember when my store started carrying Evil Twin, I saw the prices and was baffled, then I saw what the distributors price for the case was and I realized there wasn't any gouging, but that it was just a pricey beer. Source: work at a beer store.

Yes, I understand that this isn't the gouging the OP is referring to, but I thought I'd mention it regardless.

Also, I live in NY so I'm just used to ridiculous prices on beer. Many times I see people complaining of paying too high of a price on a certain beer and I'm just like: "Shit, that's a steal!"

 

I don't know of any places in my neck of the woods that jack up prices. All beer prices seem to be pretty standard wherever I shop. If a store here is "more expensive", that means they probably charge a dollar more per 6-pack or some other insignificant mark-up not worth fussing over. If I see a beer that I think is overpriced, it's usually over-priced everywhere.

 

In my experience and that of others I spoke to that is in the correct ballpark for bo and Luke, an excellent beer (worth it IMHO) from a decent but ridiculously expensive brewery - see all the dusty 16 dollar bombers of their ipas cluttering up shelves around the country. I vote with my wallet and won't buy anymore of those but I freely admit I would go back on that and cop another bo and luke if I came across one.

Agree with others who say griping on a beer nerd forum won't do much and that we have to vote with our wallets collectively. But, a special call out to ninth avenue vintners in NYC, a shit store for a number of reasons... Last year asked me to spend 100 for the right to purchase a bomber of BCBCS for 30 dollars, at least 10 dollars too over market. Eff those effity effers.

 

I just came across a bottle of Bo & Luke at Yankee Spirits in Attleboro for 29.99. I have also seen other Against The Grain beers throughout New England for 17.99 for their low ABV IPAs. I can't say that it's Yankee Spirits that's upping the price because I think that it might be the Shelton Brothers or whoever the hell is bringing Against the Grain into New England. Wish it was 10 bucks cheaper because I would've pulled the trigger on it.

 

This would probably be more useful as a regional thread...