The Bar Towel

Some beer store employees say I have an attitude problem.

I say fuck 'em!

The thing is, most bottles that were bought in the U.S. can be easily recognized by a competent TBS employee due to having the values listed from each State on the bottles. I myself am aware of U.S. beers that are sold at the LCBO, so when I see these returns being brought back, I don't have any issues with that. Take a look at Sam Adams bottles being sold in the LCBO.... I'm pretty sure they don't have the values in each state listed on the bottle. They must produce a different label for sale in Canada. Truthfully though, why would The Beer Store want to give money back on bottles bought stateside when no deposit was paid?

I thought the whole return policy was an enviromental thing:

http://www.bagitback.ca/bagitback/en/re ... /faq.shtml

Q: What is the Ontario Deposit Return Program?
A: As of February 5, 2007, a deposit has been applied to all wine, beer and spirit containers. These deposits will be refunded when you return the containers to The Beer Store (TBS). The Ontario Deposit Return Program enhances the Blue Box by increasing the number of wine, beer and spirit containers that are recycled (see “Key Facts” summary chart at bottom of page for more details.)

Q: What kind of impact is the Ontario Deposit Return Program going to make on the environment?
A: Returning your wine, beer and spirit containers will:

•reduce waste to landfills and in doing so, lower recycling costs to municipalities resulting in a win for the environment, for municipalities and for Ontarians
•help divert additional glass from landfills annually
•free up space in Blue Boxes, giving municipal governments the opportunity to expand recycling programs


I would like to see the numbers wrt deposit collected deposit returned and how many non-deposit bottles are collected.

I would hypothesis that:

( the deposits collected) > (the deposits returned) + (deposits paid in error) and

(the deposits collected) > (the deposits returned) + (deposits paid for every bottle including U.S.) if there were no restrictions.

Ukie wrote:I thought the whole return policy was an enviromental thing:

http://www.bagitback.ca/bagitback/en/re ... /faq.shtml

Q: What is the Ontario Deposit Return Program?
A: As of February 5, 2007, a deposit has been applied to all wine, beer and spirit containers. These deposits will be refunded when you return the containers to The Beer Store (TBS). The Ontario Deposit Return Program enhances the Blue Box by increasing the number of wine, beer and spirit containers that are recycled (see “Key Facts” summary chart at bottom of page for more details.)

Q: What kind of impact is the Ontario Deposit Return Program going to make on the environment?
A: Returning your wine, beer and spirit containers will:

•reduce waste to landfills and in doing so, lower recycling costs to municipalities resulting in a win for the environment, for municipalities and for Ontarians
•help divert additional glass from landfills annually
•free up space in Blue Boxes, giving municipal governments the opportunity to expand recycling programs


I would like to see the numbers wrt deposit collected deposit returned and how many non-deposit bottles are collected.

I would hypothesis that:

( the deposits collected) > (the deposits returned) + (deposits paid in error) and

(the deposits collected) > (the deposits returned) + (deposits paid for every bottle including U.S.) if there were no restrictions.

Well put, but social policy and TBS profits probably don't jive. This is what we get when we privatize social policy.

You want to legislate something, run it yourself (don't farm it to the foreign brewers). You want to run a business (aka LCBO), let the market do it.

my local beer store goes through my bottles with a fine tooth comb picking out the american purchased ones. i've had several different employees take my returns and it seems they've all been trained to look for non returnable bottles.

bufordsbest wrote: I've had several different employees take my returns and it seems they've all been trained to look for non returnable bottles.

Yes, like when the employee at my local store picked out the single Anchor Steam bottle from 400 or so returns because it is American (but ultimately sold at the LCBO). I laughed and just accepted the fact that I was getting $41 back minus 10 cents. Ended up using the money to pay for my Central City order.

My experience with Toronto stores is that things are much, much better under the current deposit program. Before, I'd have to regularly argue with Beer Store staff about obscure or new brands I'd purchased in other TBS stores in town. Now, it's as if the sheer volume of returns has caused them to give up. They routinely accept everything without question. Hell, they've even been accepting the customer's count of the empties!

Tapsucker wrote:Well put, but social policy and TBS profits probably don't jive. This is what we get when we privatize social policy.
.

But if TBS wakes up and realizes accepting all bottle retunrs makes TBS look good to appear 'planet freindly' they might just stop acting like big stupid meatballs & cooperate with the Provincial policy.

Talk about cheap marketing, not that they worry about competition but it still makes consumers like them.

TwoPint wrote:They routinely accept everything without question. Hell, they've even been accepting the customer's count of the empties!

They will love you for it, just offer them a little note with all the totals.

I just tell the guy what I've got - big bottles, small bottles and cans. If they get my change right within a few dimes, I don't bother to correct them. Best thing you can do is separate the ISB's from all the other bottles. They do appreciate that.

Belgian wrote: But if TBS wakes up and realizes accepting all bottle retunrs makes TBS look good to appear 'planet freindly' they might just stop acting like big stupid meatballs & cooperate with the Provincial policy.

Plus the Beer Store has to be making some kind of profit on this don't they? I mean if the only money that changes hands in a bottle return is me getting back my 10 cents, I can't see their being much motivation for TBS to take bottles back (especially for bottles the three owners can't use). So does anyone know if they make any kind of profit on the bottles they take back. Since if they do I am not sure why they would care as much which bottles they take.

Had a similar experience at Summerhill TBS today when taking back three flats of very mixed bottles. The guy at the cash was happy to accept them all, but the manager marched out of the back to inform us that some of my bottles were not returnable for deposit. Were they bought in the States perhaps, she asked. I asked her which ones she meant and the only ones she pulled out for inspection were Brewdog Punk IPA. After a bit of back and forth she finally accepted that I had purchased that at the 'BO in one of the seasonal releases, though she insisted it "wasn't on her list" and seemed to only be relenting because "it wasn't worth arguing over 30 cents". It was indeed only three bottles so not enough money to quibble over, but it's annoying all the same, feeling like you have to educate the person (a store manager, after all) who is supposed to be in charge of the recycling program and have a clue as to what she is doing.

midlife crisis wrote:Had a similar experience at Summerhill TBS today when taking back three flats of very mixed bottles. The guy at the cash was happy to accept them all, but the manager marched out of the back to inform us that some of my bottles were not returnable for deposit. Were they bought in the States perhaps, she asked. I asked her which ones she meant and the only ones she pulled out for inspection were Brewdog Punk IPA. After a bit of back and forth she finally accepted that I had purchased that at the 'BO in one of the seasonal releases, though she insisted it "wasn't on her list" and seemed to only be relenting because "it wasn't worth arguing over 30 cents". It was indeed only three bottles so not enough money to quibble over, but it's annoying all the same, feeling like you have to educate the person (a store manager, after all) who is supposed to be in charge of the recycling program and have a clue as to what she is doing.

Wow, big ups to the amazing integrity of service at TBS! The BD Punk IPA is even still listed on the lcbo website.

Never mind... I guess being 'self righteous' is the new 'informed.'

took about 4 cases of random bottles back today. they must be training employees to spot american bottles as the guy pulled out a victory ipa bottle and said since it was american he wasn't supposed to take it but would do it this time. fine with me i took the money and will just recycle the bottles next time. (the homeless guy who goes through the recycle bins can take them back)

Lecocq wrote:The thing is, most bottles that were bought in the U.S. can be easily recognized by a competent TBS employee due to having the values listed from each State on the bottles. I myself am aware of U.S. beers that are sold at the LCBO, so when I see these returns being brought back, I don't have any issues with that. Take a look at Sam Adams bottles being sold in the LCBO.... I'm pretty sure they don't have the values in each state listed on the bottle. They must produce a different label for sale in Canada. Truthfully though, why would The Beer Store want to give money back on bottles bought stateside when no deposit was paid?

The neck label on a LCBO SA Octoberfest has the state deposit values and is identical to a U.S. bought SA Black Lager.

I wonder what the deposit on a SA Utopia would be.

Lastly, my St. Ambroise Pumpkin and my DDC bottles got the scrutiny today but not the Muskoka Harvest or Garrisons.

Ukie wrote:I wonder what the deposit on a SA Utopia would be.

20 cents. Deposit is based on bottle size, not price.