General LCBO Debate & Discussion Thread

ChrisK · Post by **ChrisK** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 4:17 pm

I just sent them a complaint. This was kind of a needless change to functionality in the name of aesthetics. I wonder if they intend to re-brand the brick and mortar operation as well.

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 4:27 pm

The change was probably partly done to bring demand on their servers down. On the other hand, the new site seems slower to me, so who really knows.

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 4:30 pm

Oh well, I'm sure it only cost several hundred thousand dollars, which could have otherwise gone into the tax coffers of Ontario.

Cadbury102 · Post by **Cadbury102** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 4:33 pm

ChrisK wrote:I just sent them a complaint. This was kind of a needless change to functionality in the name of aesthetics. I wonder if they intend to re-brand the brick and mortar operation as well.

I sent them a complaint too, but just about the fact that we can no longer see an exhaustive list of stores and availabilities with the new search function.

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 4:37 pm

midlife crisis wrote:Oh well, I'm sure it only cost several hundred thousand dollars, which could have otherwise gone into the tax coffers of Ontario.

That's a pretty low estimate, in my opinion. I'd wager this cost them more than a mil.

ChrisK · Post by **ChrisK** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 4:38 pm

It looks like this may have broken drinkvine. Nothing is showing stock, I cannot search any stores. Is anyone else experiencing the same problems?

groulxsome · Post by **groulxsome** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 4:39 pm

The new browse by style feature is somewhat useful, but the lack of an option to see which stores stock it without giving a location is bothersome. I used to like seeing all the stores within Toronto that carried a specific product.

Then again, now a-days I only use the LCBO website to update drinkvine, which has had a browse by style feature forever, lets you see stock either in all stores (everywhere) or the ones you live near by, and to keep track of and watch products. And I know for a fact that didn't cost hundreds or thousands of taxpayers dollars. Don't really see the point of the LCBO website...

El Pinguino · Post by **El Pinguino** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 4:51 pm

This searching issue is stupid.
I know a lot of us here will drive around town / out of town for certain beers.

Sending a complaint as well.

Alternatively on my next beer run I may call up their customer service and get them to do the searching for me.

"I want A,B and C beers....and X,Y,Z beers too. I am starting at this LCBO" which location is closest for beer A?" ok, and after I go there, where is the closest location for beer B? Excellent...and from there where do I go for beer C?....."

A few dozen of those kind of calls could help get it changed

Number8 · Post by **Number8** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 6:12 pm

Nice job LCBO.

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Ukie · Post by **Ukie** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 7:15 pm

Messed up!

Search for Pyramid Outburst or #365692, returns (0) matches!

Fortunately Drinkvine still shows the correct info.

I wonder how much other product is missing?

sprague11 · Post by **sprague11** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 7:45 pm

wow, the search function is brutally slow.

*edit* by postal code it's pretty brutal. Quicker by location but still far less user-friendly than the old site.

Ralphus · Post by **Ralphus** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 9:40 pm

Well, I always knew that one day the LCBO would update their website and it would cause drinkvine to puke. I actually expected it come a long time ago.

I'll need to do some development and figure out what they've done and what's now possible. I can't get their new site to show me ANY product inventories currently. Wonderful!

I'll send out an email to all the users letting them know that things are not working properly for the time being. Hang in there.

S. St. Jeb · Post by **S. St. Jeb** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 9:56 pm

GregClow wrote:
ercousin wrote:
midlife crisis wrote:Yes, they've taken something that actually provided useful information, and ruined it. God bless the LCBO!

What is ruined about it? I can still search by brewery, beer, and product number just fine.

But it looks like you can no longer get a full list of all stores that have a particular product in stock.

Not get a full listing?! I haven't even been able to get a single store come up! Every attempt I've made says "No stores were located using your criteria."

And I'm trying searching for common things and/or things I searched for in the last few days with success. It also appears they have changed some of the product numbers. And I've been typing in text that used to give me results but now doesn't.

WTF!! Brutal.

groulxsome wrote:The new browse by style feature is somewhat useful, but the lack of an option to see which stores stock it without giving a location is bothersome. I used to like seeing all the stores within Toronto that carried a specific product.

El Pinguino wrote:This searching issue is stupid.
I know a lot of us here will drive around town / out of town for certain beers.

This has killed the most useful feature of the site for me. If there is a beer I'd like to try, but it's not available in Burlington, I have used the site countless times to see where it is in stock. I can then plan stops if I'm travelling anywhere. I can't count the number of times I have done this.

I'm furious. Time to go write my complaint.

S. St. Jeb · Post by **S. St. Jeb** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 10:31 pm

ercousin wrote:What is ruined about it? I can still search by brewery, beer, and product number just fine.

I searched for Grand River and got 19 pages of results! I only looked at the first two and only saw one Grand River beer. Also saw Beau's Beaver River, Lake of Bays River Walker Summer Ale, and lots and lots of wine.

I searched for Side Launch Wheat - got a few beers, but not this one.

I searched for 384750. This is (was?) the number for Railway City Witty Traveller. I successfully searched it a day or two ago. Tonight? No results.

And as I explained in another post, if I was to get a successful result, I want to see a list of all the stores that have....like we used to.

For me, all of this is what is ruined about it.

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Wed Jun 25, 2014 10:44 pm

I tried putting Grand River in quotes: "Grand River". I was hopeful that this would produce an "and" search rather than the "or" search you seem to be getting with your 19 pages of results. But in this case, I get exactly one result: Grand River Dog Stalker. No Plowmans? No Galt Knife? Tailgate? Did they test this application at all?