Lawson's SOS CT Lookout Thread

Do we know to where? Even places that get it seem to be random. Wish someone was here from Star Distributors.

 

My locals are not giving their SOS allocation to anyone but the secret handshake and/or loyal customer crowd.

 

Oh god, more of this stuff huh. Wish they would just put most of it out there on the shelves then give a bottle limit. Enough with this idea that people need to create a facade that they are some super-shopper in order to get anything besides Sam Adams.

If you are devout enough to know the distribution date, then show up on that day and pick it up.

 

I disagree. I am a regular my local shop for the past 7 years, so why shouldn't they save me a 4 pack, as opposed to selling it to someone who walks in for the first time, asking for SOS?

 

I think in theory it makes sense. A couple of really good customers get the "first peek" into the good stuff. It increases store loyalty and may encourage others to do the same. It becomes excessive in practice, unfortunately, since not one bottle hits a shelf and even veteran customers get snubbed since everybody is clamoring for one beer. It might be more fair to do like a 50/50 or a 25% allocated / 75% public.

How long does it take to get on these lists? What if someone is a die hard craft beer guy but moves to another town/state? How would a person even know if their local packy gets anything good if there is never anything good on the shelf in the first place? I've been going to the same place at least once a week for 5/6 years (since I turned 21) and I still haven't been able to reap any benefits, except for those times a few years ago when the good stuff made it to the shelf.

 

Step 1: find a store with owners who are into craft beer
Step 2: talk beer with them, and buy something everytime you go in, even if they don't have exactly what you are looking for
Step 3: throw them a limited beer not available in the area (heady topper or treehouse cans work great)
Step 4: know when delivery day is and go visit them

I have a few stores that happily sell me sip, some will hold it for me or call/text me if i request them to, but i usually don't. I just wait till i know its around and walk in. I find the majority of stores put it in back or behind the counter, but most will sell it to you if you ask no matter who you are. Don't hate the player, hate the game

 

I have never encountered anything like this anywhere else. I can't think of one spot in Westchester county that does it. One would also think tha5 a good businessman would want to expand his customer base. The guy who has been coming for 7 years is going to continue to do so regardless.

 

Trust me, it's mostly hating "the game", not the players. Well, maybe some of the players.

 

Everything @Evmo31 said is correct. Talk the guy up. Hit him off with something rare and you are golden. People tend to help out nice, like minded people.

 

And with all that being said, has anyone heard of anything hitting Fairfield County?

 

I work in a store and this is about as spot on as it gets

 

Tommorow.

 

Start buying a bottle or two of wine every week in the $50-$150 per bottle range. Or get to know them and talk beer.

A good businessman takes care of his good customers. So What is a good customer? News flash for ya. In your area, and especially mine (Greenwich/Stamford) the store owner actually differentiates between from a guy in his mid 20s who buys five or so six packs a week and someone else who buys a few bottles of wine a week averaging 80 bucks a bottle.

Wine drinkers are crossing the rubicon for things like SOS. When is the last time you bought a bottle of Opus One? Or something better? Just sayin

 

Except it is the young guy buying 5-6 six packs a week that allows the store to get allotment from the distributor. I find it pretty funny that store owners do the exact same thing they complain about that distributors do.... If you don't buy a certain amount of stuff from us, you don't get the "good stuff".

 

Not a guy in his mid twenties btw. Would be nice though.

If you look, there are multiple stores in the Greenwich/Stamford area that have no lists or secret handshakes. I have actually never had any cans held for me in CT. Just walked in and picked then right out of the cooler. I do have that done occassinally on real limited release stuff in NY

How much does a store actually make on that $80 bottle? I have no idea. You are making many incorrect assumptions. I was not attempting to pick a fight, just stating my thoughts. There is a reason sales organizations pay a much higher commission on new business though.

 

And I think customer loyalty is kind of a joke. All stores have 95% the same stock as each other and they all have what we're looking for such as Sea Hag and the like. The only reason I go to one particular store is its proximity to my house. At least I think that's the case in the suburbs. I know our beautiful CT cites have plenty of small package stores that I would skip over regardless of proximity

 

Sooo be rich and get all the benefits? Hmm sounds just like the rest of life.

 

Given some of the rumors going around, this bit from the latest Lawson's blog seemed a bit relevant:

http://www.lawsonsfinest.com/our-beer/beer-deliveries-thru-the-end-of-june/

 

Not trying to start a fight either. I am pleased to hear that you are able to walk in and simply ask. The two I frequent are the exact opposite. Perhaps it is time for me to take a drive and visit a few more stores. I incorrectly assumed that all stores would be the same as the two I frequent.

 

Walked into total wine today in Manchester and was able to grab a 4 pack at 12.99. I'll certainly be back as everything was priced fairly.