Thoughts on what happend to me today ?

After the treatment you got, if may be worthwhile to try this other store. It may or may not work out, if it does you may be happier, if it doesn't you know that you'll have to get on the list next year.

I did not find out about the beer in question until three days after it got to Total Wine, went there was told there was a 1 bottle limit and purchased it. Not that I was looking for it, but it was nice. Didn't particularly care for it though. There is a Total Wine in Wilmington, Delaware and I am sure they got their allotment, this might be another option for you.

Also you may want to look at this thread:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/bourbon-county-thread-nj-pa-ny.344247/

 

I'd find a new beer store, pretty simple.

 

My 2 cents: find a new shop or start homebrewing!

 

Plan A... Plan B... and Plan C when it comes to beer chasing. Use your resources, not just one resource. I completely understand your frustration but it's a novice mistake and you'll change your ways afterward. The liquor store can only do so much. They have many great customers. Everyone knows it releases the day of Black Friday, I'm sure there were some other stores that received it on time and you should of been line, like the rest of us, avoiding this situation of later arrived cases.

 

This would bother me even more. They knew they were short and instead of letting people know when they contacted them they were willing to waste peoples time in hope they will buy other stuff. I would not trust them again.

 

If that was the only shop around I would give them a cold shoulder every time I go in there.

 

I remember when I used to buy a crap load of records every week from a record store I was a known regular at. In spite of my being on first name basis with all of the staff, and the owner too. I really would only buy them from one person because he was the one who took care of me.
You have to ask the right people consistently, and stick with them. i.e. if the manager knows you. That's your in. No one else cares.

 

Shipping is not a viable option in PA. Many online shops don't ship here and the way the laws are written he'd be breaking the law if he could get it from out of state.

 

Surveying your situation and some of the suggestions here I'd go for the cleaning the slate approach recommended earlier. Arrange a meeting with the manager for a one on one chat about the confusion, not knowing about the list, not being on the list, etc. and your feelings of having been treated poorly. Then be sure that you have his email and/or his phone so that you can contact them in advance about being put on "the list" for certain special releases, etc. I'm betting the two of you can reach an amicable and agreeable solution.

Edit: BTW, Avoid pointing fingers, casting blame, etc. and just chalk it all up to miscommunication if you want to continue to be able to use that store. Which do you want more, to get beer or to score debate points.

 

I'd find a new store as well if that's an option. That's a major burn, a regular that was denied to be on a list for a special release is not worth of my business.

 

The manager knew he was clearly interested in Bcbs, why not just mention the freaking list he was compiling. Especially with 3 or 4 inquiries. I get he's busy. Bcbs is probably a pain in the ass for him, but just mention the damn list and there's no problem.

 

There are worse. :-)

 

Poor service at that level is an absolute No from me. Wouldn't return.

Sadly since your options are so limited, I might have to suck it up some times, but my visits would certainly be less often.

 

Time to start thinking about mail order.

 

Bad communication is probably all this is.

So my favorite shop, I tried 2 years to get BCBS and no luck, I was always too late in the season to ask for it. This year, I got on the list in early September and was #5 person signed up, so I was pretty much guaranteed 1 bottle if they don't screw me over some how. On Black Friday, I got a call around 9:30am from a store employee that they saved me a bottle and I could pick it up anytime over the weekend. I was in the store by 2pm on Friday and got my bottle. If they would have not called, I probably would have been done with that store, but now they are back to my #1 favorite option for craft beer. I'd stick with that shop of yours as you don't have better options and its probably just poor communication by the staff and not mean/evil/rude stuff going on there. Always assume good in people.

 

Anyone else notice this might be one of the few places left in the country with only one craft bottle shop serving a 25-50 mile radius? I smell business opportunity! Start your own shop and you can set your own bottle limits, choose the stock, and have other people start BA threads about what a jerk you are for not getting them ____!

Joking aside, I agree with the folks who say have a conversation with the manager and see how they treat you moving forward. 25 miles each way is a lot of driving for beer and if you're a regular and not in any way treated like one, that's a real bummer. If there is any place closer that has any kind of decent beer selection I also like the idea of going there and asking them for a few simple things. It certainly can't hurt. Good luck!

 

I am huge on loyalty in both directions. If a store operator (anything, not just beer) is good to me in the initial phase of our relationship, I will go out of my way to support that business. However, if that cord of trust and good will is cut, I can and will walk away. I'd be going elsewhere if possible, but as you drive 25 miles to reach this place, I'm guessing that your options are somewhat limited. Either way, I would definitely have a talk with the manager about your level of disappointment over how this issue was handled.