When more and more craft beers come out in 4packs, the prices can get pretty high. Many people are unwilling to spend up to $16.00 for a 4pack of beer they have never tried. The know the name, the know the reputation of the brewery, but still the price is steep. We have started taken many of those craft beers and make them into singles. At first we had about a half a dozen singles, now we are up over 50 and growing. People like this and are willing to spend up to $4.00 for a bottle to see how good it is. This has help promote the sales of those 4packs. People taste the single, love it and then will buy the 4pack. At first we were going to put a "Make your own 4pack" of beers by selecting from those in different price categories. But the single route is a lot easier to administrate and people love it. For other store owners, have you tried this? and if so, what kind of results have you seen. For the consumer, do you like this approach?
I wish more stores would do this. There have been many times I've bought a 4pk/6pk of something and hated it. I have no problem paying a little more for a single. My wallet has been saved numerous times by this.
Just about every store in my area breaks 4pks and 6pks down to singles.. it's always been the norm here.. I couldn't see it any other way..
There's a fairly new-ish bottle shop that sells singles. Sunset Beer Co. in Los Angeles. I love it. I wish more of my other favorite bottle shops would follow suit.
Im pretty sure you can get 4 pack beers as singles where I go. I never really noticed if you could or couldnt but I know for sure I can Duvel singles and Ten Fidy singles and those are 4 pack beers.
At my place, I offer every single one of my beers as a singles. I have my prices set in tiers. The single price is the highest per bottle at around $4 a piece for crafts that patrons can drink in the store or carry out as a single. The second highest tier is the mix-n-match 6 pack price. These beers start at $2 for gross stuff and they go up from there. The third tier is a straight 6 pack price for all the same brews. I have never considered a 4 pack before because I want to sell 6 beers rather than 4.
Sometimes the consumers get a little miffed at having to buy 6 to get a price break but when they come to the register with 4 beers we tell them if they throw 2 more in, it will result in a substantial price break. They then see that they practically got 2 more beers for free and are thrilled!
This is the only way I will try a new beer from the bottle shop. I have little problem paying for a good 4 pack when the mood hits me if I know I like it, but there is no chance of me paying good money for a 4 pack of something I have never had. The bottle shops I frequent have made a considerable amount of money from me because of selling singles.
I really like buying singles, it's an inexpensive way to try new beers without committing too much. On the other hand, I've noticed some bottle shops sell singles as a method to get rid of old 4 and 6 packs. For saisons, stouts, and barleywines, that's not a bad thing. But I made the mistake of buying a year old IPA. Won't do that again !
