THIS made me stoked. Store managers take note.

my local store owner did the same thing when the BCBS variants were released yesterday. bless their hearts, good looking out.

 

I would have probably lied and said "we haven't got any yet", then waited to see if the other guy just took off and left, or stayed and shopped. If he did stay and bought a decent selection of stuff, I would have told him something like "leave me your info and I'll let you know if we get any in", then set aside a bottle for him and called him about it the next day. Sure, it's not completely honest, but you get to test if he's just chasing whales or if he's actually interested in shopping at your store, then rewarding him if it's the latter case.

 

The issue isn't how the owner dealt with the guy, but the way the OP told the story. Lots of holes, no answers to any questions, just speculation. Then the "hoarder" that many people here thinks should never get served any beer at any store shows up and tells his side. OMG, the story is completely different now.

 

Working at a bar, I always try to treat my regulars with a little bit of extra respect. But, I will tell you, there is nothing worse than a regular who has an inflated sense of entitlement. " ID?? NAH I'm good." And then it's an eye rolling sighing fiesta, just take out your ID and show it to me and cut the bullshit.

sometimes, when a "regular" gets his back scratched too often, they become an asshole with a sense of entitlement, which in turn makes everyone around them miserable.

 

"You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need."

 

I'm fortunate enough to be in a town with several quality beer shops, staffed with good people, and I know most of the distributors in the area--that is helpful. I went about trying to find some Bourbon County Stout and found that my two 'regular' spots had taken two different approaches--one had put it out and released the hounds; the beer sold out by the end of the day. The other used a reservation system, and it had all been snapped up, so it was just sitting there in boxes. Since I work on the days that a lot of these hyped releases come along, I often miss out these days.

Nonetheless, I decided to drop the distributor a line and see if he had any insight on re-stocking or info on other places that he had delivered that would likely still have it. He rattled off a pair of places, and when I asked at one, I was told that they had some, were limiting it to one four-pack per customer, and seemed to want to leave them intact (I wasn't desperately in need of four--honestly, one or perhaps two would have been just fine). To cut to the chase, I took the four-pack and went on my way.

All I'm trying to say with this whole 'tl,dr speech' is that the guy that was checking from store to store was probably legit and not trying to stockpile on some crazy beers, but who knows. Likewise, being the 'regular' is legit, too, and the store-owners are free to deal with high-demand product as they see fit... at the end of the day, they just want to see it go out the door. The only unfortunate thing here is that someone had to 'lose' when all they were looking for was some beer, but I'm glad that you found your brews and that your local store-owner recognized your loyalty as a customer and hooked you up.

 

When I get a case of something rare in for my store, I put X number aside for myself, my regular customers who would want it, and I ask around among my coworkers if they want it (rarely any partake; maybe 1 or 2, if that). Rest go up for grabs. But you have to say please. And I'm a dick about saying please.

 

iv never heard of someone getting "stoked" over backwards business practices.

 

This was wrong to do on Terry's part. You have the product and you sell it. Dick move, the guy was just looking for some good craft beer. He deserved to get it for finding it. OP should not be condoning this by any means

 

IMO putting stuff in back is a great practice, because it makes rare things available to beer enthusiasts. But if someone asks specifically for it, that is enough to show that they appreciate what they are looking for, and you should make it available to them. The store I frequent, the manager hides some until some of his buddies can get whatever release it is, but if someone comes to the store asking if they got something in, he says yes.

 

Yeah, honestly I'd be pissed if a manager came at me like that. I work in retail at a grocery store with 6 major competitor stores in the area, and our number one thing is bringing in new customers from those competitor stores with our impeccable customer service. I understand wanting your "regular" customers to have a first crack at rare beers, but telling someone that it is for regulars would make me never go in that store again. Also, I would advise people against going to that store, which I have when I find a shitty one in my area, and that prevents further new "regular customers" from coming in. Building customer relations is key to a successful and long lasting business. If the manager has the mentality to keep rare stuff to his regulars he didn't need to tell that guy that. He could have simply said we just sold out, and potentially suggested other products for him to try. Then maybe that guy would have become a regular regardless of his drive. I don't know it just might be me. I hate feeling like my money doesn't matter because I'm not a local or whatever.

 

If you are a regular at a bottle shop, than you will be in "regularly" enough to pick up any bottles they get in that you want. Selectively serving certain customers is absolute bullshit. PURCHASE LIMITING beers is enough. I can't stand the practice of not making certain beers available to everyone. More often than not, I don't want to bullshit with a shop owner and lubricate them enough to sell me all of the beers available. screw that. I made the effort to drive your store, and that's enough.

 

Agreed in part. You can't make new regular customers if you don't make new customers happy. But you can tell the difference from hoarders/cold callers and people who you have seen on a weekly basis.

 

Same thing happened to me at Evolution here in Chicago yesterday. I literally watched the last Bolt Cutter on the shelf claimed before I walked up to it. Dave, one of the managers, dug one out of his personal stash for me. Dave rules.

 

idk, a sales a sale imo. I can kind of see what he's getting at, but it's not a great way of thinking if your trying to run a business. It's one thing if one individual is trying to buy your whole stock of something that a lot of other customers will be looking for. In that case I would just put a limit on how many one person could buy (with certain exceptions to regulars, of course). But not just... not sell it to them period, simply because they are not a local. That's a little messed up lol.

 

Weird. When I make reservations at a restaurant, either using a system like OpenTable or calling the restaurant directly, it has literally nothing to do with who I know. Maybe I'm eating at the wrong places? I don't go to dance clubs so can't speak to that; but if I was standing in line and somebody else was allowed to go ahead of me, I can tell you I would not patronize that establishment.

Somehow I've managed to get through the last 40-odd years without relying on many personal connections to acquire the goods and services I desire. This makes me think maybe you're just doing it wrong.

 

cool original story. assuming the story was framed exactly as told, devil's advocate of course, there is a flip side as always is the case. you can imagine what it could mean for your favorite store that pulls the same maneuver on an unbeknownst AB rep or person who has remote connections with local distribution - right?

truth is the only real problem with the story is the sales person rubbed it in the inquirers face when he should have just said (verbally): i just sold Chad the last bottle, while thinking (mentally): i don't recognize this guy to be a regular customer.

 

Makes me even happier that I live in CA

 

Ahh, one of the Eternal BA Debates... I fall on the side of the shop trying to do a balancing act. A regular is a person who comes in, well regularly. He/she is recognized and respected. The retailer wants to maintain this relationship, and as such can do it in any way they see fit. I have 2 regulars. One has been a newly developed relationship. I go in twice a week or so, am greeted with a smile and sometimes a recommendation.
Really goo d people. He will set aside some of the releases, maintains limits, etc... If there is a limited release, and a nonregular comes in-he sells to tht person. Some super-limited releases he does not hold for his regulars 'cause he has more regulars that said beer. It's a balancing act, and done well.

Oh, another important factor, don't act entitled. It makes you an asshole, straight up.

 

I read the first 10 posts or so, and couldn't go any further. This whole situation is complete BS, and I feel terrible for the guy who got shut down. Granted, I think he's crazy for spending a day driving around looking for it (I would never be in his situtaion in the first place), but to be told a store has stock but will not sell to him... that's rediculous. And for anyone who thinks they deserve to purchase ahead of this guy... well, that's rediculous too. What a joke...