Virginia ABC is changing its allocation process.

[Harry in WashDC]

Just got this email from VaABC.

 

Limited Availability Product Distribution Changes Begin Today

Beginning August 6, 2024, Virginia ABC will begin a new distribution method for limited availability products.

 

Virginia ABC collaborates with distilleries and suppliers to maximize the quantity of allocated spirits sent to Virginia for our customers. However, demand for these products often exceeds supply. To provide all customers with the greatest opportunity to purchase these highly sought-after products, bottles will be put on the shelf for sale on a store-by-store basis. These sales will occur at random locations, dates and times.

 

Additionally, to make these products available to as many customers as possible, Virginia ABC is restricting purchases to one bottle per customer per day from all the limited availability products offered in any location. These products are only available for in-store pruchase and are not available for order through Virginia ABC’s special-order process.

 

Virginia ABC will no longer send email and text message notifications regarding limited availability products previously distibuted via the random drop method. Announcements regarding lottery, barrel event products and other limited availability products will continue.

 

For more information about Virginia ABC’s limited availability product distribution process,
see the limited availability FAQs.

[LW25]

So allocated bottles will randomly be put on the shelf as they come in, without any notice beforehand via text or email.  Is there anything to stop the store workers from hiding it behind the counter and saving it for their friends/favored customers? 

[Harry in WashDC]

3 hours ago, LW25 said:

So allocated bottles will randomly be put on the shelf as they come in, without any notice beforehand via text or email.  Is there anything to stop the store workers from hiding it behind the counter and saving it for their friends/favored customers? 

HAHAHAHA!!!  EVERYbody out there is honest, RIGHT??

 

OTOH, I did have an experience at a rural VaABC store I pass by every few weeks.  I asked about some mid-shelfer advertised via email but which did not appear in its shelf slot.  The clerk (whom I hadn't seen before) told me in front of a couple other customers that, hint-hint, if I came back in a half hour or so, something could be arranged.  That clerk was GONE two weeks later when I inquired of the new clerk where the old clerk was.  New clerk would not look me in the face after I asked why he'd left.

[fishnbowljoe]

Back in the day…..…

 

”Well, according to our inventory we have two in stock, but there’s none on the shelf or in back. Must have fallen off the truck.” Yeah, right.

[PaulO]

I guess it comes down to random location, date, and time - how they manage that.  I think the most honest way is a store put stuff out as soon as it arrives.  Hiding it in back for any length of time - why, who are they holding it for.  I'm ok with one per day per customer.  Even then, you know there are serious taters, will send all their family and friends one at a time.

Honestly, so glad to experience Bourbon Zen here.  I'm happy with: WT 101, Old Fo 100, bonded brands, ...  Not missing anything.  

Edited August 7, 2024 by PaulO

[fishnbowljoe]

At our local Binny’s “scouts” come in and see if anything “good” is out. If they see anything, they get on their phones and the parade begins. The worst is from a local auto group that has a couple of different dealerships. One salesman will come in on his break or lunch. If he sees anything, he puts the word out. Pretty soon, here they come.

[Harry in WashDC]

On 8/7/2024 at 11:07 AM, fishnbowljoe said:

At our local Binny’s “scouts” come in and see if anything “good” is out. If they see anything, they get on their phones and the parade begins. The worst is from a local auto group that has a couple of different dealerships. One salesman will come in on his break or lunch. If he sees anything, he puts the word out. Pretty soon, here they come.

Taters are everywhere.  Good news for me is: I can afford to be a bigger jerk than the tater in front of me.  Was looking for a used convertible Chrysler LeBaron many years ago when a mildly scummy new/used Chrysler dealer near me got a pile of Florida rental cars in October for resale.  All set to buy one for cash when the sales guy, in front of his manager, made a REALLY blatant racist comment about why I should buy the car.  Looked at the manager and told him the remark made me change my mind. Bought one at a competitor several weeks later.

 

Oh, yeah - I also passed on the Va ABC clerk’s offer to return.

[PaulO]

On 8/7/2024 at 11:07 AM, fishnbowljoe said:

At our local Binny’s “scouts” come in and see if anything “good” is out. If they see anything, they get on their phones and the parade begins. The worst is from a local auto group that has a couple of different dealerships. One salesman will come in on his break or lunch. If he sees anything, he puts the word out. Pretty soon, here they come.

I wouldn't feel bad about this if it were simply a bunch of fellow enthusiast that all happened to work at the same employer.

But, knowing what I know about Chicagoland - smells like a racket.  Boss tells his workers they must do this, bring the bottles back to him.  Who knows what he does: flips them, uses to bribe people, simply likes to hoard hard to find bottles.  

[aquavite]

Just out of curiosity, what would you say is the "scarcity" of something like an ECBP  "C" batch (eg. C924)?  I know it's allocated but is it so scarce as to fall within these rules/policies or might there be a more liberal distribution for them?  I guess what I'm trying to ask is, how much work am I going to have to do to get one?

 

[PaulO]

23 hours ago, aquavite said:

Just out of curiosity, what would you say is the "scarcity" of something like an ECBP  "C" batch (eg. C924)?  I know it's allocated but is it so scarce as to fall within these rules/policies or might there be a more liberal distribution for them?  I guess what I'm trying to ask is, how much work am I going to have to do to get one?

 

This is how it goes in my state.  ECBP used to just get put on the shelf and it sat there until someone bought it.  At some point, stores started to hide them in back, away from the view of the general public.  It's worth the trouble of chatting up the manager if you show up when they're not busy and you are already buying some other items.  Sometimes that will get you one.  Other times, a store may save a bunch of the less common desirable stuff for lottery.  Your name or number gets drawn - you are offered to pick something to buy.  ECBP seems to be one of the standard lottery items.

Keep in mind, Heaven Hill is a large operation.  They are still making ECBP, releasing several batches a year.

[b1gcountry]

23 hours ago, aquavite said:

Just out of curiosity, what would you say is the "scarcity" of something like an ECBP  "C" batch (eg. C924)?  I know it's allocated but is it so scarce as to fall within these rules/policies or might there be a more liberal distribution for them?  I guess what I'm trying to ask is, how much work am I going to have to do to get one?

 

Around here, I can tell you 3-4 stores that always have some in stock for $80 or so. The A124 sort of sat around, and it's easy to find. The stores didn't buy as much b524 because of it. 

[Bourserker]

As a VA resident I'm genuinely interested to see how this works out.  The drop system they have been using for the last few years is irritating at best, and what they chose to make "allocated" is just asinine.  BT...WTKS.. Michter's Unblended...these are allocated...come on.  I think a lot of the allocated stuff was put on that list just to dilute the drops.

 

Anyway, I think this will be interesting, and I'm hoping that once things settle down maybe things like BT, ER and some other base products from othe distillers can become shelf stable like they once were many years ago.  Who knows though, maybe it's just wishful thinking and all the taters from the far reaches of the earth will descend upon VA...lol!

 

Anyway, I'm gonna be a spectator for entertainment purposes for most of this, and if I happen upon something good that'll just be an extra perk.  Oh yeah, and I'm like 0 - 73 in the lottery just for the record.  Yeah trying to get good whiskey in this state blows...ha ha.