Total Wine

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by whiskey, Nov 4, 2012.

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  1. DonDirkA

    DonDirkA Initiate (0) Dec 14, 2011 Arizona

    Now, THAT is insane. I know that local shops don't get as big of a discount as TW, but that seems excessive. I have never seen anything at my local that is more than $1-2 than what TW is charging. TW can buy by the pallet to supply their dozen or so stores in the state, getting a discounted rate, while the locals can only buy a case or two, causing them to pay slightly more.

    My local only has one employee, the business owner. He works 10-7 Tue-Sat. His son used to work there too, but he's manager at a local beer bar now.
     
  2. evilc

    evilc Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2012 California

    Some SD shops love to add a "omg rare b33r" charge. A place here was selling Dissident for $28 per bottle. "this is rare b33r". BevMo doesn't price gouge, ever. They add their normal profit to whatever it is - "Rare beer" or not.
     
  3. MagillaGriller

    MagillaGriller Initiate (0) Aug 20, 2012

    End this thread
     
  4. 5thOhio

    5thOhio Initiate (0) May 13, 2007 South Carolina

    Well, actually, if you go back and look, you said TW was "corporate." When I pointed out that it was a family owned operation, just like a Mom & Pop, you said it was "corporate" because it had investors. When I pointed out that it is privately held and appears to have no investors, you then said it was corporate because it has to answer to a board.

    You still seem to make a lot of assumptions. "Doesn't give two shits and a fuck about craft beer." Based on what information do you make that statement? "they are making decisions based solely on a bottom line and not on what they think is best for the customers." Again, how do you know that their decisions are based on that?

    You appear to be one of the kind of people that doesn't like chain stores. OK, fine. That's your prerogative. But you are making a lot of unfounded accusations that simply aren't backed up by any real facts.

    Overall, TW considers itself primarily a wine retailer. The craft beer is a secondary operation. All you have to do to understand that is to compare the floor space for both types of beverage, or read the information on the website. As such, they're certainly not going to put the time & effort into beer like they do wine. That doesn't mean they're evil or don't care about craft beer customers.

    Personally, I don't go to stores to shoot the shit with the employees about craft beer or find out how knowledgeable they are, or how much they care about little me. That's what my beer drinking friends and websites like this are for. I go to TW for selection and price, which they do pretty well.
     
  5. Kenye

    Kenye Initiate (0) Jun 28, 2012 Oklahoma

    Just throwing out my two cents as I support both my local mom and pop, Total Wine, and as rarely as possible BevMo. My Mom and Pop shop is where I ENJOY going. When I walk in, they know me, they talk about new offerings or what they expect to get in. They know their shit, I can talk to them. That is worth paying just a little bit more to me, than shopping at the big boys.

    Just to give you an example. I was trying to pick up some more Deschutes Dissident and Black Butte XXIV the other day at BevMo. I had to stand there at customer service for 10 minutes to get helped. Then I had to spell out Dissident and Black Butte for the woman helping me. Then I had to tell her they were beers by Deschutes again. I had to spell Deschutes for her. She then poked away at her computer blindly to inform me they didn't have any, when (I assume her boss) came over and informed her they were under the counter and had a limit of "one per customer." That just illustrates the normal frustration of going to places like Total Wine or BevMo. Total Wine normally isn't as bad, but I've nearly as frustrating experiences there. Either train your employees, or hire people who actually give a shit about the product.

    My philosophy is go to Mom and pop first, buy whatever I can there. Go to Total Wine, buy what I can't get at Mom and Pop. If there is a bottle limit (rare beer), go to BevMo and buy what I can there. I would much rather support local economies, even though they can't quite compete with the price (they come close here thankfully.)
     
    DonDirkA and JBogan like this.
  6. JohnQ

    JohnQ Initiate (0) Jul 7, 2012 California

    Only been to the new TW in SAC a few times.Bevmo is closer to me but has some issues.I found that TW seemed
    a little cheaper.And they did have some beers I haden't seen at Bevmo.If I get out that way I will check them out again.

    In my experience I have been able to find some knowledgable (beer) sales people at Bevmo and 1 in particular at my local store over time has become more helpful in making suggestions WRT what I like.

    Don't rememeber this at TW so much.But to be fair the 1st trip was right after it opened.

    BTW,I bought some beer at Target the other night and they ID EVERYBODY,even scanning the ID in the register.A lady behind me was buying some kind of meds and they ID her too.And she had no ID so was starting to make a stink.Hope that guy didn't get fire.

    OMT It was Pyramid Thunderhead IPA.I'm a big fan of Pyramid but was a little disappointed.
     
  7. DonDirkA

    DonDirkA Initiate (0) Dec 14, 2011 Arizona

    Thats kind of my experience. BevMo's employees are even worse than TW (at least at the sutomer service desk). I called last night looking for Utopias. The lady at TW said "Yes we have it, its $200". End. Called BevMo (because an employee told me last week it'd be in and it'd be $160). The guy had no idea what it was. Put me on hold. 5 minutes later "Yes, we have two" "How much is it?" "Uhhh..." Hold. 5 minutes later. "$199.99... what is that right?" So at least the customer service desk people at TW are informed about rare beers. The regular stocking employees don't know a beer from their dick in their hand though.
     
  8. OneBeertoRTA

    OneBeertoRTA Initiate (0) Jan 2, 2010 California

    Damn, you just made me feel really old.
     
  9. OneBeertoRTA

    OneBeertoRTA Initiate (0) Jan 2, 2010 California

    Very true, although outside of a few beers Bevmo's typically don't get great special releases. Really odd considering places like Binny's in the midwest get all sorts of bad ass seasonals and limiteds.
     
  10. blivingston1985

    blivingston1985 Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2010 North Carolina

    The beer is waaaaay out of season so Total Wine & More marks everything down big-time. Petty awesome program. I've bought a case of beer that cost $14 a 6pk for like $17 before.
     
  11. blivingston1985

    blivingston1985 Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2010 North Carolina

    Walmart is a giant, publicly traded monster with documentaries about the big, bullying son of a bitch that it is. Total Wine & More is a privately held company started by two brothers over twenty years ago that just happens to be ahead of the curve. For real. That place is cutting edge on the retail alcohol front. Places have existed that have big selection and stuff, but they never had the same thing Total Wine & More has now. It's not flawless, but it's not what you think.
     
  12. yamar68

    yamar68 Initiate (0) Apr 1, 2011 Minnesota

    I think Shakira put it best when she said "hips don't lie."
     
  13. 5thOhio

    5thOhio Initiate (0) May 13, 2007 South Carolina

    What I been sayin'...
     
  14. mactrail

    mactrail Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,415) Mar 24, 2009 Washington
    Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    After buying a load of random beers at Total Wine in Tucson, I quit. Would you think local Arizona beers might be fresh? No, two spoiled Sonoran brews, one bacterial can from Grand Canyon. Several others just not fresh with hints of oxidation. Then the awful can from Maui. And if a brewery looks interesting, be wary. Like BevMo these guys have their pet swill plants, in the case of Total Wine it's Rock Art Brewery in Vermont. Stick to the coupons and the dependable big brewers that move the product if you're going to shop here.
     
  15. bkov33

    bkov33 Zealot (630) Dec 5, 2007 New Jersey

    i find their beer prices to be about average with other stores around here
     
  16. devlishdamsel

    devlishdamsel Initiate (0) Aug 1, 2009 Washington

    Good luck finding anything remotely rare at this place. It sells before it hits the shelf. As far as non rare stuff goes though, its pretty legit!
     
  17. beercanman

    beercanman Initiate (0) Dec 17, 2012 Ohio

    I second this.
     
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