Southern Tier IPA / Dog Fish Head - where art thou?

[Illuminatus]

I picked up an Anchor Steam sitting by itself, but the cashier wouldn't let me buy it, even though I said I didn't pull it out of a 6-pack..

That was wrong of the individual who 'served' you. By policy the Bureau cannot force a customer to buy multiple units of anything they sell (because it would force people to buy more than they wanted to drink & then make the LC responsible for the drunken rampaging consequences, I would only imagine.)

Doesn't matter whether or not the staff 'like' when we break apart a six-pack. They have no authority.

Steelbackguy as a LC person can you corroborate here? Is there a web-page we can print off & hold in the face of a particularly unhelpful employee? I'm a bit tired of the 'everybody wanna be a cop' thing we can get at some stores.

Hang on - we can break six-packs?

[Belgian]

Just to quickly explain the ST beers that are now available in establishments were ordered through private and consignment ordering.

You guys are a class act - thank you for not letting BT'ers feel slighted in preference to bars. In fact the bars often have to compete with us for LCBO floor stock if it comes through the stores, AFAICT.

[SteelbackGuy]

I picked up an Anchor Steam sitting by itself, but the cashier wouldn't let me buy it, even though I said I didn't pull it out of a 6-pack..

That was wrong of the individual who 'served' you. By policy the Bureau cannot force a customer to buy multiple units of anything they sell (because it would force people to buy more than they wanted to drink & then make the LC responsible for the drunken rampaging consequences, I would only imagine.)

Doesn't matter whether or not the staff 'like' when we break apart a six-pack. They have no authority.

Steelbackguy as a LC person can you corroborate here? Is there a web-page we can print off & hold in the face of a particularly unhelpful employee? I'm a bit tired of the 'everybody wanna be a cop' thing we can get at some stores.

Hang on - we can break six-packs?

Yes, I can shed some light here.

The cashier who "wouldn't allow" you to buy that bottle of Anchor Steam should be reprimanded. There's no way we can make you buy a six pack of anything. In fact in the summer time, our customers are encouraged to break apart cooler 4 packs and "Mix n' match". Heck, there is even board issued sinage for it. So I don't see the difference for beer.

We usually encourage our customers that if they are going to take singles from six packs, that they do so from six packs with open concept packaging. (Anchor steam, Corona, MGD, Heinekin, Mill STreet) just to name a few. This way, it is a visible pack that has been broken apart.

WE ask this because on occasion, someone will grab a six pack that has a closed packaging (Trois Pistoles for example). SOmetimes the cardboard flap is loose, but they dont bother to check in the pack. WHen they get home, one of the Trois Pistoles has been replaced with something else. So we ask customers not to open the already closed six packs for this reason.

One other thing that needs to be considered is inventory. It is usually not a huge deal when talking something we have in mass quantity like corona. In that case, a missing six pack of Corona wouldnt be missed. But if a customer checks our inventory and it shows we have 2 six packs of trois pistoles, then thats what we should have. It is aggrivating for the customer, if when they arrive, we have one six pack, and the other one has been opened for a single, and is now in singles in a singles bin, with maybe only one or two bottles floating around.

A second reason we ask people not to break up six packs is ordering purposes.

Our loads are generated by computer, based on sales. So, a store that carries TP might only have one case (4 six packs) at a time, and the computer will automatically order it again once the 4 have sold. If someone decided to break up the final six pack to buy one or two bottles, the reminder would end up in the singles bin. The SKU on the six pack would never be scanned, and computer would still think there was one six pack, and would therefore, not order anymore, which will delay it returning to store shelves.

These are just examples of course.

Like I said, we can't stop you from doing it, and the policy is help yourself to what you want to buy. That said, it does on occasion bugger up the inventory pretty badly, which can cause staff to become irritated I guess.

[lagerale]

Just to quickly explain the ST beers that are now available in establishments were ordered through private and consignment ordering.

Got it (finally), the point that is, not the beer I had assumed they were getting beer from the same shipment most people are itching to get at from the LCBO. I hope the order(s) were huge, 'cause they are going to fly off the shelves....

[Illuminatus]

Yes, I can shed some light here.

The cashier who "wouldn't allow" you to buy that bottle of Anchor Steam should be reprimanded. There's no way we can make you buy a six pack of anything. In fact in the summer time, our customers are encouraged to break apart cooler 4 packs and "Mix n' match". Heck, there is even board issued sinage for it. So I don't see the difference for beer.

We usually encourage our customers that if they are going to take singles from six packs, that they do so from six packs with open concept packaging. (Anchor steam, Corona, MGD, Heinekin, Mill STreet) just to name a few. This way, it is a visible pack that has been broken apart.

WE ask this because on occasion, someone will grab a six pack that has a closed packaging (Trois Pistoles for example). SOmetimes the cardboard flap is loose, but they dont bother to check in the pack. WHen they get home, one of the Trois Pistoles has been replaced with something else. So we ask customers not to open the already closed six packs for this reason.

One other thing that needs to be considered is inventory. It is usually not a huge deal when talking something we have in mass quantity like corona. In that case, a missing six pack of Corona wouldnt be missed. But if a customer checks our inventory and it shows we have 2 six packs of trois pistoles, then thats what we should have. It is aggrivating for the customer, if when they arrive, we have one six pack, and the other one has been opened for a single, and is now in singles in a singles bin, with maybe only one or two bottles floating around.

A second reason we ask people not to break up six packs is ordering purposes.

Our loads are generated by computer, based on sales. So, a store that carries TP might only have one case (4 six packs) at a time, and the computer will automatically order it again once the 4 have sold. If someone decided to break up the final six pack to buy one or two bottles, the reminder would end up in the singles bin. The SKU on the six pack would never be scanned, and computer would still think there was one six pack, and would therefore, not order anymore, which will delay it returning to store shelves.

These are just examples of course.

Like I said, we can't stop you from doing it, and the policy is help yourself to what you want to buy. That said, it does on occasion bugger up the inventory pretty badly, which can cause staff to become irritated I guess.

Great explanation. Thanks mate.

[Belgian]

Like I said, we can't stop you from doing it, and the policy is help yourself to what you want to buy. That said, it does on occasion bugger up the inventory pretty badly, which can cause staff to become irritated I guess.

Thanks. Yes, I assume inventory is a fact of life in business, though.

Perhaps the inventory procedure should be in line with with LCBO policy of allowing people to buy singles if they want? This likely means they should inventory singles as well as sixes. Otherwise, what the heck are the LCBO thinking?

I am absolutely certain that putting out singles on display as standard store procedure would get people to buy singles all the time. The Bureau should try it.

Appreciate the feedback.

[bujubanton]

Okay, this may be a dumb question, but is one of the reasons the Southern Tier is being delayed, is because its container is not a "closed" six pack box? And customers might be able to grab one out at a time...or see the bottle indvidually before leaving the store?
Is that seriously a problem?
Did I make a wrong turn at Burlington and end up in North Korea?

[Belgian]

Okay, this may be a dumb question, but is one of the reasons the Southern Tier is being delayed, is because its container is not a "closed" six pack box? And customers might be able to grab one out at a time...or see the bottle indvidually before leaving the store?
Is that seriously a problem?
Did I make a wrong turn at Burlington and end up in North Korea?

Isn't Mill Street an open-topped six pack?

There are more than a dozen open topped bottled six packs on the LCBO shelves. Why this one merits extra attention I have no idea. Perhaps Rolland & Russell have a clearer explanation.

Since it's 6.5%, they must be trying to determine if they'll require the "Strong Beer" sticker to go on the six pack or on each individual bottle in the six pack just in case people grab one and manage to get out of the store with just a single.

I hope they don't re-label each bottle because it is so expensive for the suppliers/importers to be handed the bill for this inane cost. You would think by time of ordering the LC would have already known the infinite & baffling complexities of the Southern Tier packaging. Who was in charge of knowing this?

[crawler]

Uh, R&R (Southern Tier's distributor) already explained that the reason for the delay was because the larger shipping containers that the six-packs were shipped in didn't have a bar code for the stores to scan when they're received (presumably for inventory purposes), and they should now be showing up in the stores any day now.

Nothing to do with the six-packs themselves.

[Bobbyok]

Uh, R&R (Southern Tier's distributor) already explained that the reason for the delay was because the larger shipping containers that the six-packs were shipped in didn't have a bar code for the stores to scan when they're received (presumably for inventory purposes), and they should now be showing up in the stores any day now.

Nothing to do with the six-packs themselves.

Yeah, my comment about the open six packs was just conjecture. R&R has a little more authority on that subject. Though I wouldn't put it past any government Liquor Corp to require the stickers in the situation I described.

And in response to Belgian's last post, I'm pretty sure esprit has said that it is indeed the agent's responsibility to slap those "strong beer" stickers on if they arrive in Ontario without the proper language.

[JesseM]

I am absolutely certain that putting out singles on display as standard store procedure would get people to buy singles all the time. The Bureau should try it.

Appreciate the feedback.

There's a couple stores in Waterloo that already do this. They have these little displays with any assortment of things on any given day, all from broken 6-packs, or 4-packs (coolers). Then they have the little bin full of singles with the sign encouraging you to "mix n' match". It's pretty cool actually, there's usually something available I'd like to try but not have to buy a sixer of, or feel like an inconvenient jerk for breaking up a sixer. The only problem is that 9 times out of 10 the cashier STILL has issues with the single. They don't really mind the fact alone that it's a single, they usually just struggle with scanning it, and then I guess depending on their mood they can get a little annoyed, having to either punch in 2$ for a domestic bottle, or look it up in the price guide. It's never really that big an issue though.

[SteelbackGuy]

I am absolutely certain that putting out singles on display as standard store procedure would get people to buy singles all the time. The Bureau should try it.

Appreciate the feedback.

There's a couple stores in Waterloo that already do this. They have these little displays with any assortment of things on any given day, all from broken 6-packs, or 4-packs (coolers). Then they have the little bin full of singles with the sign encouraging you to "mix n' match". It's pretty cool actually, there's usually something available I'd like to try but not have to buy a sixer of, or feel like an inconvenient jerk for breaking up a sixer. The only problem is that 9 times out of 10 the cashier STILL has issues with the single. They don't really mind the fact alone that it's a single, they usually just struggle with scanning it, and then I guess depending on their mood they can get a little annoyed, having to either punch in 2$ for a domestic bottle, or look it up in the price guide. It's never really that big an issue though.

This is part of the issue Jesse.

A lot of the singles don't scan.
This used to leave us to type in a generic domestic beer # whixch generated it at $2.00. This was practice, and it came in handy for me when last year, the wearehouse accidentally shipped my store a few cases of the Delerium Tremens that had been delisted and taken off shelves a couple years prior. Since DT was out of the system, I was able to buy up the DT for $2.00 each, since we weren't allowed to send them back to the warehouse. I still have lots here and I find they are holding up well....but I digress.........

Now we have to find in the book an override code for each beer, but scanning the bottles doesnt work, so we have to go into the book which is time consuming, and aggrivating for others waiting in line. We are no longer allowed to use the generic domestic code.....which is pissing me off because a little while ago, a customer returned to my store a couple bottle of Storm King imperial stout from 4 years previous, along with a lot of other delisted beer, and my manager cant find a way to sell them to me, cause he wants go go by the book. They have my name on them, and I WILL get them, but talk about a pain in the ass.

[The_Jester]

I guess I'm lucky.
At my local (Peterborough Lansdowne W) I've never had any problems with this. With anything, really. There have been times when a single hasn't registered, or when it has registered as a sixer, but I've never been made to feel that this is my problem in any way. I've been told that it's okay to take singles from open sixers, and I don't have a problem with not taking them from a closed six pack. (Imagine going into Loblaws and just buying the first four slices from a loaf of bread, or two eggs from a carton.)

[Belgian]

I don't have a problem with not taking them from a closed six pack. (Imagine going into Loblaws and just buying the first four slices from a loaf of bread, or two eggs from a carton.)

You mean I can't do that just to make some French Toast?

(FT is really good with a little grated mandarin peel in the batter.)

[bujubanton]

I have heard pretty much every ridiculous excuse in the book as to why Southern Tier is not on the shelves yet...
last time I checked, they had bar codes in the U.S.
this is mickey mouse on the part of LCBO...
Ontario is a backwater when it comes to beer selection.

Can someone explain why we can't get the Phillips Amnesiac double IPA in Ontario? I guess because B.C. beer would corrupt us?