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Drinkstore prices

the beer revolu

I had never been in the famous Drinkstore until I found myself in the area today.

Now, I'm not going to complain about the prices they charge because I don't know what they charge for anything I picked up. No prices on the shelf or bottles.

I asked about this and was told that they don't put prices on beers and that I could ask. He then went on to say that if this was a problem for me that it wasn't the shop for me. I was then, rather patronisingly, told that there was a supermarket up the road.

I left empty handed.

Is it just me, or is this a crazy business model?
Would anyone else refuse to shop in a store that doesn't display prices?
Is this even legal?

My first trip to Drinkstore was a bit of a letdown.

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testaccount123

I dont think the range has declined. Its a small shop with the newer beers in the fridge, the rest is out the back. The fridge is the same size as its always been. It has a miles bigger range than the likes of Fresh.

It is, and always has been, geared at a local market - people who pop in a couple of times a week to see whats new. Everyone knows the two lads and just ask the price of things and whats been released. Its chaotic but thats part of its charm really.

I think the business has declined because they now have serious competition in the market, everywhere sells craft beer whereas they used to be one of the only real specialists on the Northside. The young guy working there doesnt help either.

Son0vagun

I love going into Drinkstore. Ken is an absolute gent, very knowledgable, always willing to help you, all you have to do is ask. He has just as many beers out the back as he does in the fridge. It's his business, to run as he pleases, it wouldn't be open if it wasn't successful.

the beer revolu

[quote="Son0vagun;103412831It's his business, to run as he pleases, it wouldn't be open if it wasn't successful.[/quote]

Eh, no. Not if it's a legal requirement to display prices (as I think it is).

Look, I've great time for idiosyncratic kranky retailers but the patronising way he spoke to me was not acceptable in my book.

Trond

McHugh's on the Malahide Road are miles ahead of everywhere else at the moment imo. Seriously well worth a visit.

Bus Boy

Have to say I find Ken to be a great bloke. I travel to get my stuff off them. I'm old school and just love the way the shop is all over the place, adds to my purchase. The lads get the good stuff too as they are well connected with suppliers and have a great reputation in that regard. I appreciate that people want to know the price of beer but with the turnover they have they probably are a little lazy. Anytime I've had to ask them about prices they've always obliged. But hey, it's a free world, if I felt they were being rude I'll just shop somewhere else. Won't stop me shopping there though, especially when the same stock is at least 50 cent more expensive in my local for no reason.

Trond

I will always love them for the time they sold Left Hand Milk Stout for €2 a bottle. Got 18 home on my bike :-)

donaghs

rubadub wrote: »

If you have to ask where do they get the prices from anyway? I guess its on a PC. Can they not just print the stock list & prices off on a bog standard printer. You go into some craft beer pubs and they have a very simple clipboard with A4 printouts on it, rather than a fancy flashy laminated menu that is obviously done by a printers. Or some "old" shops might have prices handwritten on tiny labels, rather than printed SEL labels. I never thought less of them.

Before " Carvills" Camden St closed, they used to print off new A4 sheets with prices when there were stock or price fluctuations. This wasn't ideal, but wasn't acceptable to me. The staff were also very friendly and keen to explain the issues with varied stock and multiple suppliers. I think Whelan's had similar A4 lists, it did the job.

RasTa

Drinkstore is usually the cheapest so you don't need to ask the price

rubadub

Bus Boy wrote: »

But hey, it's a free world,

there are laws, they are not free to do as they want. I am still unsure if what they are doing is illegal though.

RasTa wrote: »

Drinkstore is usually the cheapest so you don't need to ask the price

that is some strange logic. I find lidl to be usually the cheapest, I would not like to shop there and see no prices up, let alone not even be able to ask the price (i.e. seems you would not be too bothered if you could not even ask in drinkstore)

Bus Boy

In Lidl and Aldi you're not getting the fresh stuff. Hence why it's cheap. Knock yourself out there though rubadub, you gets what you pays for. It's like having a Sierra Nevada in Wetherspoon's, always a reason why it's cheap. Not having a go btw, but it's economics.

BaZmO*

Bus Boy wrote: »

In Lidl and Aldi you're not getting the fresh stuff. Hence why it's cheap. Knock yourself out there though rubadub, you gets what you pays for. It's like having a Sierra Nevada in Wetherspoon's, always a reason why it's cheap. Not having a go btw, but it's economics.

Eh, that's not true. Anyway, I think the point is that you would be going to Drinkstore to get a totally different range of beer that you'd get in Lidle & Aldi.

rubadub

Bus Boy wrote: »

In Lidl and Aldi you're not getting the fresh stuff. Hence why it's cheap. Knock yourself out there though rubadub, you gets what you pays for

I should have been clearer, I was talking about general grocery shopping, not beer, compared to tesco or dunnes I find lidl cheaper on a lot of stuff. I would be amazed if someone told me it did not bother them if a supermarket had no prices up, and that they would not be bothered if they could not even enquire about prices since "it's usually the cheapest"

Bus Boy

BaZmO* wrote: »

Eh, that's not true. Anyway, I think the point is that you would be going to Drinkstore to get a totally different range of beer that you'd get in Lidle & Aldi.

Sorry BaZmO you're correct. What I meant was the good stuff that Grand Cru and Four Corners etc distribute is fresh. Aldi and Lidl may get fresh stuff but it certainly won't be the brands from these lads.

Bus Boy

rubadub wrote: »

I should have been clearer, I was talking about general grocery shopping, not beer, compared to tesco or dunnes I find lidl cheaper on a lot of stuff. I would be amazed if someone told me it did not bother them if a supermarket had no prices up, and that they would not be bothered if they could not even enquire about prices since "it's usually the cheapest"

Apologies rubadub, I agree.

RasTa

But we are buying beer so your aldi comparison makes no sense

donaghs

RasTa wrote: »

But we are buying beer so your aldi comparison makes no sense

Aldi's O'Haras "O'Sheas" are mostly good. But in my nearest Aldi you can also get Bru, Bo Bristle, Foxes Rock, Brehon, Balbec IPA, Rascals, McGargles, Dungarven, etc.

Bus Boy

Having a little 21st Amendment Blah, Blah, Blah IPA... absolutely delicious. Cheeky 7.75%.

rubadub

RasTa wrote: »

But we are buying beer so your aldi comparison makes no sense

I am totally lost now, what is so special about beer that makes you not care if prices are displayed and not even able to ask what the price is?

RasTa wrote: »

Drinkstore is usually the cheapest so you don't need to ask the price

If it was wine would it make a difference? same brand of ketchup with similar BB dates? soft drinks? toothpaste?

Can you honestly see no sense in the comparison, if so please explicitly confirm that it is different for beer, it will make others know how seriously to take your posts.

Krusty_Clown

I was in Against The Grain the other night and they had KBS on draught. It's a wonderful, wonderful beer, but at ?11.50 for a 33cl serving I couldn't justify it, particularly, as I had already enjoyed a number of beers elsewhere, before arriving into ATG. Thankfully they had a full published price list, so I was able to arrive at an informed decision before approaching the counter. Otherwise, I might have ordered it and regretted it deeply after it was poured (though perhaps not!) - I'm not in the habit of running through pricing of beer with the barman before ordering - but perhaps others are different.

Publishing prices in a shop shouldn't be a big deal. It's not like there isn't a precedent. Lots of good off-licenses in Ireland publish pricing for their entire range of goods. Drinkstore probably don't have to - they may already have a solid customer base for whom it's not a big deal, but they certainly won't lose custom by including pricing, and by the tone of this thread, would stand to gain some. Like I said, I think they provide a great online service, so I'll continue to order from them through that means. I'd be surprised if they haven't noticed or been notified of this thread already, so there's not a lot of value in debating the point further. They can act on it or not as they see fit.

picachu

the beer revolu wrote: »

I had never been in the famous Drinkstore until I found myself in the area today.

Now, I'm not going to complain about the prices they charge because I don't know what they charge for anything I picked up. No prices on the shelf or bottles.

I asked about this and was told that they don't put prices on beers and that I could ask. He then went on to say that if this was a problem for me that it wasn't the shop for me. I was then, rather patronisingly, told that there was a supermarket up the road.

I left empty handed.

Is it just me, or is this a crazy business model?
Would anyone else refuse to shop in a store that doesn't display prices?
Is this even legal?

My first trip to Drinkstore was a bit of a letdown.

I've left here emptyhanded twice, i wouldnt go back in... Beer snobs

Tar.Aldarion

It's rather annoying all right, I have to stand there on my phone looking at their site.

AlanG

the beer revolu wrote: »

I had never been in the famous Drinkstore until I found myself in the area today.

Now, I'm not going to complain about the prices they charge because I don't know what they charge for anything I picked up. No prices on the shelf or bottles.

I asked about this and was told that they don't put prices on beers and that I could ask. He then went on to say that if this was a problem for me that it wasn't the shop for me. I was then, rather patronisingly, told that there was a supermarket up the road.

I left empty handed.

Is it just me, or is this a crazy business model?
Would anyone else refuse to shop in a store that doesn't display prices?
Is this even legal?

My first trip to Drinkstore was a bit of a letdown.

I have left there empty handed as a result of this policy - it just shows a bad attitude towards customers and a lack of respect for their money.

Lord Zimmerman

Just stumbled across this thread by chance. My local is Baggot Wines and I have to say these guys put Drink Store in the h'appeny place from reading above posts. No prices on any of their beer/ale/wines unless you take into account the odd scrawl on the fridges. They are consistently 50c more expensive then any off licence around town and the staff are borderline rude apart from the young bearded gent who knows his stuff. Must drop into Drink Store to see how they fare against Baggot Wines.

Albert_Camus

Lord Zimmerman wrote: »

Just stumbled across this thread by chance. My local is Baggot Wines and I have to say these guys put Drink Store in the h'appeny place from reading above posts. No prices on any of their beer/ale/wines unless you take into account the odd scrawl on the fridges. They are consistently 50c more expensive then any off licence around town and the staff are borderline rude apart from the young bearded gent who knows his stuff. Must drop into Drink Store to see how they fare against Baggot Wines.

That's my local too.

I find it great. Always has the new stuff. Wouldn't be to up on the prices so wouldn't noticed the 50c.

I find the price on the fridge door perfect, and the shelves always have a price tied around the first bottle.

On the rude thing, I often wonder do some of the staff dislike the whole beer thing and are more into their wine so no too interested in chatting about it (I could be miles off though) .

Theres more than one now though who always chats about the new beers I'm grabbing and will even mention ones coming in.

Overall I really like it.

snowblind

Website is back online & stock seems to be up to date and they have a touch screen in the shop as well where you can look up stuff.
Helps a lot since not all the product is always on the shelves. Looks like they've addressed this threads feedback pretty well

Beersmith

The easiest thing is to put up prices on the shelves. Half the time i go in there they are sitting on their holes watching sport.

Sebastian Dangerfield

There's something about craft beer that brings out the worst in some staff. I go in the Brew Dock a bit, and some of the responses to people ordering Guinness, Carlsberg etc have been so rude.

Worst was the barman staring at the customer wide-eyed for about 10 seconds, before replying "open your f*%^ing eyes man, will ya?".

My experience with Drinkstore was mixed. Some days the guy working there was friendly, some not so much. When shops only stocked Diageo products it was great. I ultimately stopped going there when supermarkets started stocking everything I used to buy at Drinkstore, so I'd generally pick it up when doing the shopping.

snowblind

Drinkstore and Redmonds in Ranelagh have the best staff IMO but I'm a giant nerd about beer which helps.

They have prices on the cans/bottles and on the website. If someone still can't figure it out, dunno what to say.

I would always rather support a local specialist shop than supermarket, and thankfully we have quite a few good ones that also get small batch stuff unavailable in supermarkets.

snowblind

Molloys has Vocation Smash & Grab, another more than decent NEIPA there. I don't think it was a NEIPA last time I had it about a year ago though?

rubadub

snowblind wrote: »

They have prices on the cans/bottles and on the website. If someone still can't figure it out, dunno what to say.

If they are finally complying with the law and have prices in the shop now on every single product then fine -so do they? Even if the answer is yes, If you can't figure out what people were complaining about then I dunno what to say...

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