Retail price mark-ups

[The Black Tot]

In a very short time of very intense shopping I have learned that I can acquire great MSRP-priced bourbon at a rate far faster than I can consume it.

Have I overpaid once or twice? Sure, but those were rookie mistakes that I won't be repeating.

As far as gougers are concerned, I am reminded of my favorite Bukowksi quote:

"Let them have the stage, so long as I need not be in the audience"

tbt

[Restaurant man]

Allocations are getting smaller and smaller. Last year 3 cases of limited single barrel, this year 4 bottles. Price went up $9 from distributor, we moved price up $15 to $99.99. They sold in less than a day.

We could have put them at $149 in the case and they would have sold in a couple weeks.

People are paying crazy prices. It's not enthusiasts its the Johnny come latelys that will pay whatever to have what the latest news articles/magazines say is the best. In the 70s it was cocaine, 80s it was Bordeaux, 90s/2000s napa cult cabs, now it's bourbon and limited edition craft beers.

Not gonna read the rest of this thread. This guy nailed it to the wall. Post no more. Thread closed. Ox? Bar the doors and shutter the windows. ⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠⚠

[Restaurant man]

Get those people off those towers, we don't need any extra weight on em. Cover all the Equiptment.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

I think the limited edition craft beer craziness is bigger than bourbon. You might not have an equivalent of people paying 5k for a pappy 23 but the sheer number of people looking are far greater in number.

KBS, dogfish 120, bourbon county stout, 3 Floyd's, and Cantillon are the pappys of craft beer in our area.

And the craft beer people tend to be more astute with social media than the bourbon crazies. Our Facebook account gets bombarded with messages anytime a limited beer is released.

Social media interaction tends to be direct to a person in the know and more successful for the customer than the endless pappy phone calls.

Edited July 18, 2014 by P&MLiquorsEric

[tanstaafl2]

I think the limited edition craft beer craziness is bigger than bourbon. You might not have an equivalent of people paying 5k for a pappy 23 but the sheer number of people looking are far greater in number.

KBS, dogfish 120, bourbon county stout, 3 Floyd's, and Cantillon are the pappys of craft beer in our area.

Hey! I resemble that remark! :cool:

[P&MLiquorsEric]

I love craft beer including limited editions. Cantillon is the one that stands above the rest in terms of quality. You can't find a better or equal sour.

[EagleRiver]

I love craft beer including limited editions. Cantillon is the one that stands above the rest in terms of quality. You can't find a better or equal sour.

I will take Drie Fonteinen over it any time, and the last I saw your shelves were swimming with that, while I can't get a sniff of it IL, lol.

[tanstaafl2]

I will take Drie Fonteinen over it any time, and the last I saw your shelves were swimming with that, while I can't get a sniff of it IL, lol.

Have had them both side by side. Both good but I would take Cantillon every time if I could get it. But I can't of course, with or without a retail mark-up...

Drie Fonteinen is more available here in Atlanta but still not easy to find.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

I love Drie Fonteinen. It's something we stock because we can get it and keep it on shelves. The oude gueze, and kriek are excellent.

I guess it might be the forbidden fruit syndrome coming into play with Cantillon.

[jmj_203]

Fact: not every store pays the same price for every one of these products. Distributors compete with one another. Business owners are customers, too. Here, they are bound by licensing laws to buy only from those distributors.

So if you don't like the 'markup' why not ask the owner or manager WHY?

It never gets old, people find their fav bottle in a store at a price they don't agree with yet have no interest in understanding why; they just like to gripe about it, complain, or my personal favorite - call the f-ing distillery on them and 'report' them. Hilarious. Drop the entitlement bullshit and maybe you'll find yourself paying a lot less?

And where did he get that from? Is there a reason why shits *should* be given? He owes you what?

You know who REALLY doesn't give a shit? The government. You buy your booze, you pay your taxes, you follow their fake laws who protect the crooks, etc or you have no LQ store. This isn't selling sweet corn on the side of the street, its a gigantic racket which answers to a group of incompeten thugs who still enforce nonsense, arcain regulations left over after prohibition was repealed nearly 100 years ago.

So I've agreed with you in the past sir, but I think you kinda just told us what your job is...owning or managing a store that sells liquor (and feels comfortable gouging customers because of the whiskey hype). Lol. While the truth is most of what you said is true from a buyer and seller point (you don't like it take a hike) most consumers say eff you to an owner trying to fuck them by bumping prices overnight in response to a realization he could gouge for an extra 35% or whatever. Only someone who gouges would take your standpoint, I have to think anyone who is a customer of liquor stores would never take your standpoint that if we don't like getting bent the fuck over by greedy store owners we should take a hike. No thanks, asshole store owners like that can keep their double MSRP booze I'd rather drink $30 bottles all year round (and enjoy them just as much). And yeah, I live in a controlled state so I don't have to deal with asshole store owners, but the trade off is we get no special releases, so it doesn't matter either way here I guess.

Edited July 18, 2014 by jmj_203

[EagleRiver]

So I've agreed with you in the past sir, but I think you kinda just told us what your job is...owning or managing a store that sells liquor (and feels comfortable gouging customers because of the whiskey hype). Lol. While the truth is most of what you said is true from a buyer and seller point (you don't like it take a hike) most consumers say eff you to an owner trying to fuck them by bumping prices overnight in response to a realization he could gouge for an extra 35% or whatever. Only someone who gouges would take your standpoint, I have to think anyone who is a customer of liquor stores would never take your standpoint that if we don't like getting bent the fuck over by greedy store owners we should take a hike. No thanks, asshole store owners like that can keep their double MSRP booze I'd rather drink $30 bottles all year round (and enjoy them just as much). And yeah, I live in a controlled state so I don't have to deal with asshole store owners, but the trade off is we get no special releases, so it doesn't matter either way here I guess.

Before you start calling people Greedy, I would like to know how many times you were offered a raise and you turned it down?

[sutton]

When retail prices go up, I decide my own personal marginal utility to pay the higher price, go elsewhere, substitute or pass.

When a business owner sets his price, he decides how best to balance maximizing profit, turnover, and customer satisfaction.

I don't care what they charge - I'll make my own decision whether it is worth buying and whether they are worth my loyalty if I think I'm getting a raw deal. I don't desire any price regulation - just truth in labeling.

Lately, I've bought much less and have been working on the purchased stock. Any recent purchases have definitely moved down one to two shelves and I've been trying brands I've never had before.

For the wine drinkers - this time of year is a good time to buy - retailers are trying to clear inventory before the next vintage hits. So there are always deals to be had on something somewhere.

[gblick]

Get those people off those towers, we don't need any extra weight on em. Cover all the Equiptment.

No rain, no rain, no rain...

[thebwood]

I don't get angry about the gouging, so much as I find it to be incredibly short-sighted. When I see 2-3x gouging (very common in DC for limited editions), my general sentiment is "hah, well forget these guys." I buy more bourbon than I drink. Price gouging alienates me as a customer, so I permanently take my business elsewhere. Luckily, I have plenty of options. If a retailer wants to make a quick buck over a steady repeat customer, that is their prerogative.

Also, BootsOntheGround. You've recycled similar angry rants a number of times on this site. Your indignation concerning people's reaction to high bourbon prices really misses the mark. People have always complained about high prices for goods in short-supply. Its been going on for millenia now. No one wants to get bent over the table just so they can enjoy nice whiskey.

People get pissed about price gouging because short-supply does not make the whisey taste better. The brown water in the bottle is just the same, whether you're gouged, or you pay MSRP.

[Restaurant man]

No rain, no rain, no rain...

Bout time. I was getting worried about this group. Ty sir

I don't get angry about the gouging, so much as I find it to be incredibly short-sighted. When I see 2-3x gouging (very common in DC for limited editions), my general sentiment is "hah, well forget these guys." I buy more bourbon than I drink. Price gouging alienates me as a customer, so I permanently take my business elsewhere. Luckily, I have plenty of options. If a retailer wants to make a quick buck over a steady repeat customer, that is their prerogative.

Also, BootsOntheGround. You've recycled similar angry rants a number of times on this site. Your indignation concerning people's reaction to high bourbon prices really misses the mark. People have always complained about high prices for goods in short-supply. Its been going on for millenia now. No one wants to get bent over the table just so they can enjoy nice whiskey.

People get pissed about price gouging because short-supply does not make the whisey taste better. The brown water in the bottle is just the same, whether you're gouged, or you pay MSRP.

Like you I don't care for being viewed as sheep getting ready for a shear because I have an interest in something that happens to be popular right now.

[MyOldKyDram]

Drie Gueuze > Cantillon Gueuze, but w the exception of that and say Hommage, I'm taking the loons.

[EagleRiver]

I got in a few bottles of 2010 Lou Pepe Gueuze this week, that stuff is enamel stripping good! It might be my all time favorite, outside of some the Armand'4 stuff. But as far as regular sort of gueuze, its 3F all the way, although I probably drink more Hansens than anything just because its easier for me to get and very solid.