The Bar Towel

My best experiences at LCBO stores are when the CSR has some passion for the products. At the King & Spadina store, last week, a CSR went out of his way to check on the arrival of some Rogue products. We went on to chat about chipotle as an addition to beer. He volunteered to try it and let me know his thoughts.

An enjoyable chat, at the end of a work-day, with someone who cares.

Maybe Steelback can comment on this. In any LCBO with a decent size Vintages section, there is usually a wine specialist in the shop. These folks are very knowledgeable, go to the staff tastings, can recommend wines to match food, etc. Always fun to talk with them and get help when needed. So if craft/micro beer is such a fast-growing segment of LCBO business, we should have the beer equivalent of a win specialist. Perhaps this person can have 3-4 stores in their "territory", and can guide customers in the same way that the Vintages person does. There are so many things a staffer with this designation could do.

Steelback and others do a lot on on their own initiative. Perhaps the LCBO should create a "beermaster" position?

Had sent an email to my local LCBO a couple of nights ago ordering one of the current offerings being discussed on this board. Hadn't heard back, so I gave them a call a few minutes ago.

A new store is being built and they are expecting to move at the end of the month. Had a pleasant conversation where it was explained to me that they've been having Internet connection problems, they might not be able to bring in special orders right now due to the impending move, etc.

It sounded genuine, not excuse-making, and I've successfully ordered from this store before.

I'm giving it a thumbs up.

zane9 wrote:My best experiences at LCBO stores are when the CSR has some passion for the products. At the King & Spadina store, last week, a CSR went out of his way to check on the arrival of some Rogue products. We went on to chat about chipotle as an addition to beer. He volunteered to try it and let me know his thoughts.

Yeah the guy at my most frequented store in Uptown Waterloo is good for this. He just needs occasional promting in regards to ordering a new product he may not be aware of. Often I get the impression things are sort of out his control as to whether or not he'll actually get something he ordered.

Maybe Steelback can comment on this. In any LCBO with a decent size Vintages section, there is usually a wine specialist in the shop. These folks are very knowledgeable, go to the staff tastings, can recommend wines to match food, etc. Always fun to talk with them and get help when needed. So if craft/micro beer is such a fast-growing segment of LCBO business, we should have the beer equivalent of a win specialist. Perhaps this person can have 3-4 stores in their "territory", and can guide customers in the same way that the Vintages person does. There are so many things a staffer with this designation could do.

Nah. See, wine experts are just better people than beer geeks, and desereve their own representative because wine is of course the superior drink in every way possible.

Sadly, I actually encounter too many people with this general belief, which is based on absolutely nothing other than what they have been led to believe their whole lives regarding something they know nothing of.

SteelbackGuy wrote: even if they had the best service experience of their lives at an LCBO, would never acknowledge it... because that is who they are. There are people like that in every crowd.

Yes this is so true, AND it's on page 11 of the handbook 'Why the LCBO is still here, and Crispy Creme Donuts is not.'

JesseM wrote:Nah. See, wine experts are just better people than beer geeks, and desereve their own representative because wine is of course the superior drink in every way possible.

Sadly, I actually encounter too many people with this general belief, which is based on absolutely nothing other than what they have been led to believe their whole lives regarding something they know nothing of.

While wine IS the superior drink, I think you are unfairly demonizing us as some kind of stereoyped homogeneous collective.

Also, you are not fit to wash the sodden ankles of my riding-boots. And know nothing of!

JesseM wrote:Sadly, I actually encounter too many people with this general belief, which is based on absolutely nothing other than what they have been led to believe their whole lives regarding something they know nothing of.

We're talking about beverages, right?