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Question of Ethics during the Hop "Crisis"

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Bobby_M said:
If you're going to quote me literally using quotation marks, at least copy and paste the actual statement instead of paraphrasing it and getting it wrong.

Sorry if offended anyone.

I'm sorry if I misquoted you, there are several people discussing this very, very hot thread and i couldn't pull the quotes i wanted to address from multiple posts on multiple pages.

Again, its the typing over the internet as opposed to talking in person, i meant those to be air-quote-esq, not a direct quote. Sorry once again.
 
I'd email you all a round, but I think my computer wouldn't like it and I can't figure out where the beer goes...
 
NoClueBrewMaster said:
I'd email you all a round, but I think my computer wouldn't like it and I can't figure out where the beer goes...

word. anyway...:mug:

thanks for a lively debate, and I hope nobody took offense to what I said. I really didn't mean any disrespect, I just don't usually dress up what I have to say.

I guess, at the end of the day, the market will ferret out and destroy any business practices that the consumer won't accept. I personally can see the merits of both sides of the debate with regards to whether it's a smart or a dumb business practice, but I really don't think that it matters whether he's a ****** or not. Either his plan will work or it won't...and if it doesn't, then you win. :)
 
NoClueBrewMaster said:
Making people buy online (not even his stores website, but on ebay) where all of his products aren't available for sale is not.

As I said earlier, it appears you can order as much as you want on his website, and choose "store pickup" as your shipping option. Unless there's something that kicks in after the payment page (I didn't go that far with my "test" order of 10 lbs of hops ;) ), there's no restriction.

If you walk into his store with a confirmed online order for 10 lbs of hops, and he refuses to fill it, then you have an ethics issue.
 
Evan! said:
word. anyway...:mug:

thanks for a lively debate, and I hope nobody took offense to what I said. I really didn't mean any disrespect, I just don't usually dress up what I have to say.

I guess, at the end of the day, the market will ferret out and destroy any business practices that the consumer won't accept. I personally can see the merits of both sides of the debate with regards to whether it's a smart or a dumb business practice, but I really don't think that it matters whether he's a ****** or not. Either his plan will work or it won't...and if it doesn't, then you win. :)

well said, my feelings exactly.
:mug:
 
NoClueBrewMaster said:
I'd email you all a round, but I think my computer wouldn't like it and I can't figure out where the beer goes...


Last time I tried I broke my DVD burnner....:D
 
NoClueBrewMaster said:
I'd email you all a round, but I think my computer wouldn't like it and I can't figure out where the beer goes...

What exactly would you email us with?
 
Well, I guess this debate is dead....

On to global warming!!!!! Oh wait, its closed...:D

So about my beer.....:drunk:
 
Evan! said:
...[NoClueBrewMaster] explicitly accused this business of gouging. You said, "he is definitely price gouging." That's quite an accusation, and one that I felt needed to be corrected....I had a problem with your claim that you've taken classes on economics and understand them, since I found your definition of price gouging to be way off the mark.

The term "Price Gouging" can be used colloquially to simply describe the act of setting a price that one feels is too high. That's how I used the phrase in my reply.

Sometimes, the prudent thing to do is to request further clarification before accusing an individual of ignorance or insulting his/her education.
 
Bobby_M said:
Why not just buy from him on Ebay and ask for a local pickup?

We have a winner.

Did you try this route yet? Even if you don't want to buy from him out of spite it would be nice to see if he would allow for a pickup. My guess is no because a lot of ebay sellers pad the shipping for extra profit.
 
Evan! said:
word. anyway...:mug:

I guess, at the end of the day, the market will ferret out and destroy any business practices that the consumer won't accept. I personally can see the merits of both sides of the debate with regards to whether it's a smart or a dumb business practice, but I really don't think that it matters whether he's a ****** or not. Either his plan will work or it won't...and if it doesn't, then you win. :)


Isn't part of the market forces though letting other consumers know when a store is being "****** like". I have no problem saying that Strange Brew in Marlboro MA (The store everyone is talking about) is a pretty awful homebrew store. I have only been once, it is about an hour from Boston, but I am never going back.

In fact I have probably been to almost every homebrew store in the state of Massachusetts, and not a single one of them is great. The ones that have good selection charge an arm and a leg, and the ones that are inexpensive have stale ingredients or don't have certain specialty items you need.
 
Donasay said:
Isn't part of the market forces though letting other consumers know when a store is being "****** like".

Actually, that is a very good point. Many business owners have no idea how customers are being treated or how business is being conducted because they are insulated by a couple layers of employees.

A tactful letter first pointing out what loyal customer you have been, followed by a factual description of the problem, followed by a reasonable description of your disappointment, followed by a request to fix it if they want to continue to enjoy your business and loyalty will more often than not result in getting things done to your satisfaction.

A letter stating that their business is full of DB's and that you won't buy there again will the tossed.

Make it professional, to the point, and them them a chance to keep your business.

If that does not work, then send them the DB letter for principle sake. :D
 
Hi Everybody…

I have a keg I got from a local liquor store for a party I threw last year…I paid the deposit and everything…and…well…they haven’t called me about the keg…and uh…

Do you think it’s okay if I get a sawzall and a drill and try to um......uhhhh....? ? ? ?

...wait a minute...

Sorry, wrong thread… ;)
 
Denny's Evil Concoctions said:
I still like my idea of paying bored college students to protest. lol But uhm.. post youtube vids please. :D

I knew you had a little anarchist in you. :cross:
 
Here's what you need to do.

Go to the store and try to buy what you want. Tell them you want to pay the e-bay prices in cash.

If they refuse, pull out your blackberry or other portable internet device, go to his auction, and buy it that way. Make sure to pay online with a credit card and select in store pickup.

Then, look back to the guy and say you'd like to pick up your e-bay merchandise.

After you get the stuff, point out to him that between e-bay fees and credit card charges, he LOST money on the sale- just because he wanted to be a weenie.
 
BierMuncher said:
Hi Everybody…

I have a keg I got from a local liquor store for a party I threw last year…I paid the deposit and everything…and…well…they haven’t called me about the keg…and uh…

Do you think it’s okay if I get a sawzall and a drill and try to um......uhhhh....? ? ? ?

...wait a minute...

Sorry, wrong thread… ;)
the same ethical situation as being completely honest on your tax return and expecting others to be.... that and trusting altruism in others and gob'ment/big business... ;)
 
Free market economy. Dont buy from him, tell other people not to buy from him, problem solved.
 
Docapi said:
Here's what you need to do.

Go to the store and try to buy what you want. Tell them you want to pay the e-bay prices in cash.

If they refuse, pull out your blackberry or other portable internet device, go to his auction, and buy it that way. Make sure to pay online with a credit card and select in store pickup.

Then, look back to the guy and say you'd like to pick up your e-bay merchandise.

After you get the stuff, point out to him that between e-bay fees and credit card charges, he LOST money on the sale- just because he wanted to be a weenie.


Right on!!! That's pretty much what I was going to suggest. I didn't think about the in-store use of the blackberry though! That's a real nice touch.....
 
NoClueBrewMaster said:
The funny thing is, when you go to this guys store, he won't sell you hops without buying a recipe kit.

My only interest in the thread is this bit.

My most recent experience at the LHBS was a gauntlet over 2 oz of pelletized hops. I only wanted 2oz, had a basket full of LME and specialty malts and other stuff, and had to run the "what are you going to do with the hops?" gauntlet. It went on and on. I finally said "if you won't sell me the 2oz of Galena I will substitute with another variety in my fridge I am using for another batch." It just wasn't worth the struggle anymore. He finally allowed me to buy the hops and then went on and on about how careful he's gotta be. Either sell or don't sell. I don't care. Just don't make me fight for it.
 
fratermus said:
My only interest in the thread is this bit.

"what are you going to do with the hops?"

I would have said, I'm going to have them with breakfast, then I would have stuck this on his head.

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I think they're concerned about people reselling them, which IMHO makes little sense. It's not like he's worried about you smoking them or, as Ed said, having them for breakfast, they just don't want you selling them. Why? Ostensibly it's to avoid "too much" competition in the market or something like that...like why ticketmaster doesn't like you to resell their tickets, etc. It's stupid, but some people are just effin paranoid and they think that you're gonna buy out their hops then sell them for half the price across the street---something that makes NO sense considering you'd be losing money on the deal. But whatever. People are fuggin idiots.
 
TexLaw said:
Good gravy on a chicken-fried steak! Is this thing still going on? ;)

And, Ed, I think I will put some hops in my oatmeal tomorrow morning.


TL

Ah, we moved on from our debate, talking about someone else now.
 
I just checked my LHBS website. They have a limit of 1lb per customer per day. And new customers can get up to $10 free shipping.

Now all I have to do is go into the store and find out if its the same policy.
 
Only a pound? I get hassled when I wanted 4 ounces for an IIPA, even after I told the guy that it was an IIPA
 

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