Poor business practices

All three points are great ones. Hopefully, retailers pay attention to these, for their own sakes.

Admittedly, #1 is a nice-to-do....rather than a must-do. But it does inspire repeat purchase.

But #2 & 3 are sure business killers

 

Number 3!!!!!!

 

I am ok with your #1 if its done fairly. I am not going to care one way or another. Still I hate the in the back thing and all that jazz because then if your NOT there, you then have to hope your employees will not pull any tricks. I say put them on display by the check out if your a small store. put a sign that says limit 1 whatever. When they are gone they are gone.
No reserves, no employes getting first cut etc. its just 1 of the reasons I STOPPED caring or buying into these so called one off beers scams. IMHO. so that is #2 the rip off.

3 is nice but the beer I buy is marked and I know the codes.

Its your store though. I never really lived where the places are so small they "know" everyone.

 

Interesting points. I would not have a problem buying out dated beer at a discount, as long it is labeled as such.

 

I've never seen a place where old beer is discounted. But I've certainly see places where old beer is sold w/o warning.

I only get burned once.

 

I would also not be offended by being offered discounted old beer. Most of the stores near me do not even recognize old beer unless they have a whole pallet of a seasonal from last year....

I would probably pass on the IPA's in this section but I would have no problem buying a lot of beers that are out of date.

 

When it comes to the rare stuff, it seems like the retailer is always in a no win situation.

I do find the OP's observations to be a good business model.

 

I don't have a problem with what retailers do. It's breweries. Just make more of the beer that everyone wants. If it pushes out less popular beers, then so be it. Rare/limited beer is, IMO, the worst and most frustrating part of this hobby.

 

@FoamInnovation sounds like he cares about his customers AS WELL as his business, which is a plus for all involved. I know that if I lived there, it seems like a shop I would make a favorite as well as a shop that will be there for years to come.

I, too, do not have a problem buying older beers at a discount as long as they are advertised as such. The exception of course would be IPA's, depending how old they are. I have bought several Belgian dark ales and stouts with a little time on them. Very drinkable. Thanks for the thread!

I thought I would ask this: do you get to know some of your regulars? Their likes, things they might be interested in? It's a big reason why I frequent my locals over a "big box" liquor store.

 

Unfortunately the rare stuff is often rare for a reason. There are passion projects and then there is the 45ibu pale ale that keeps the lights on.

 

If only passion were not rare. More passion, I say. But stuff I am really referring to is not one-time things, but stuff like Abyss and Dark Lord that comes out every year, but in limited quantities or areas.

 

In my state, at least, any store that already sells beer at the minimum markup has no option to sell their off-date beer at a discount, so we often have to simply pitch it

The first two points are big for the smaller specialty shops, which I think is your intended audience. At a big grocery store, it's often difficult to limit purchases since every cashier would need to be in the loop, but at least we don't mark up rare beers at all.

 

Yep. I will no longer shop at a liquor store a mile from my house. Besides Pipeworks, they really don't have any IPAs that aren't covered in dust. Last time I was there (probably 2-3 months ago), I saw some Bear Republic from August '13. They don't even distribute here anymore!

 

Not every brewery wants to make more beer that everyone wants. Check the folks at the Alchemist. They could make tons of Heady Topper and make tons more money if they wanted to, but they don't want to. In interviews you see that Jim Kimmich is more focused on creating a sustainable business that provides him with a degree of comfort in his life and his employees with a degree of comfort in their lives. Simply put, he doesn't seem to want to become huge. He wants to dig out a nice life for his family and provide a nice life for his employees at the same time. Honestly, I wish more people had his take on business.

 

I've bought outdated beer at several stores. Recently got some Chillwave and Lake Erie Monster. A while back I got a sixer of Harpoon Rye IPA and a 4 pack of Nosferatu. I must have an unsophisticated palate because they all tasted fine to me. They were marked down as well.

However, like moshea said, they should marked as such...and discounted as well, if laws allow.

 

The OP sounds like one of the good guy retailers but unfortunately there are many dbs around who aren't good guy retailers.

 

EVERYBODY knows that when a rare/limited beer becomes more readily available, it isn't as good.

 

Really? I didn't know that. So along with water, malt, yeast and hops they boil in some rareness? Once you take that out it's just not as tasty?

 

Meanwhile, The Alchemist is breaking ground on the new, bigger brewery any day now!

By growing he can continue to provide better living for family and MORE employees...so still noble in my mind.