Stealing brewery glassware

[nanobrew1]

They could sell them for $10-$15 easily.

I am sure they could, but it all depends on how much theft they are willing to accept. Whether they charge just $1 there will still be theft, but the cheaper the glasses the less theft they would get, especially if they clearly have a sign saying the glasses are for sale.

 

[Lutter]

POLICE DEPT: "THANK YOU FOR CALLING THE CHARLTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. HOW MAY I HELP YOU?"

LAUREN: "I'D LIKE TO REPORT A THEFT!"

PD: "CAR? STEREO? YOUR XBOX?"

LAUREN: "1 GLASS, VALUED AT $1.46. I GOT A REPORT FROM ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS THAT mods WAS TRYING TO PAWN IT ON BEERADVOCATE.COM FOR 'BLABAER"

PD: "A BEAR?"

LAUREN: "NO IT'S A BOTTLE OF BEER"

PD: "THEY STOLE A GLASS FROM YOU AND ARE TRADING IT FOR A SINGLE BOTTLE OF BEER?"

LAUREN: "YES, NOW ARREST THEM."

PD: "DO YOU HAVE PROOF THAT IT WAS STOLEN? VIDEO? PICTURE? SERIAL NUMBER?"

LAUREN: "WELL NO BUT..."

PD: "MAAM WE'RE GONNA PUT OUR BEST GUYS ON THIS CASE!" *CLICK*

...

I'm not saying people are right in this, but there were precautions that could've been taken rather than making a big fuss about it. Live. Learn. Pivot.

 

[GuzzleMcBrew]

you mean to ****** tell me it's "Cosmic Evan" and not "Cos Mice Van"?

You just won 1 internet. Holy cow, that was a doozie. Still laughing.

 

[Gene1]

Upon further thought and discussion, here's what it comes down to for me: If you observe an undesirable result repeated over and over again by the humans participating in any given process, you don't blame the humans - you blame the process.

The onsite process here is set up to reinforce both temptation and rationale for glass theft, and has zero controls whatsoever. This undesirable behavior was repeated nearly three hundred times over two weeks, which points to a systemic issue. It seems a bit unfair to place blame squarely on the customers who participated in that process and walked away with their glasses. If any of these customers attempted to read between the lines and discern whether pocketing the glass was implicitly tolerated (a 'wink, wink' situation), they would have had many reasons to think so.

Now, if you have even the most basic, loose controls in place (e.g. a sign that says 'please return all glassware'), or really anything that would indicate to a reasonable person that you don't want them walking out with their glasses, then at that point you can call glassware thieves 'bad people' with some confidence.

 

[tehzachatak]

What business is it of anyone how the bar got the glass? They own it, not you. It's theirs to do with as they please. If someone gives you a birthday gift, is it okay for me to steal it from you because you got it for free?

Valid!

 

[nanobrew1]

Upon further thought and discussion, here's what it comes down to for me: If you observe an undesirable result repeated over and over again by the humans participating in any given process, you don't blame the humans - you blame the process.

The onsite process here is set up to reinforce both temptation and rationale for glass theft, and has zero controls whatsoever. This undesirable behavior was repeated nearly three hundred times over two weeks, which points to a systemic issue. It seems a bit unfair to place blame squarely on the customers who participated in that process and walked away with their glasses. If any of these customers attempted to read between the lines and discern whether pocketing the glass was implicitly tolerated (a 'wink, wink' situation), they would have had many reasons to think so.

Now, if you have even the most basic, loose controls in place (e.g. a sign that says 'please return all glassware'), or really anything that would indicate to a reasonable person that you don't want them walking out with their glasses, then at that point you can call glassware thieves 'bad people' with some confidence.

While I agree that Tired Hands holds a good amount of blame due to setting up a perfect scenario to enforce theft and not taking actions to stop it, I don't agree with essentially not blaming the thieves. Would a sign help? Maybe for some % of theft. But honestly, people should know better, IMO a reasonable person should know this ahead of time. Maybe I was raised differently, but taking something that isn't yours without permission is not right. Hell, I even ask if it is okay to grab some swag (sticker, bottle openers, etc. ) at booths.

 

[digitalnate]

I knew glassware would get stolen. The obvious - and well known solution - is to use plain glassware.

I want to be able to offer an experience representative of our brand and ethos when you visit the Tree House. Part of that is drinking out of a branded glass. I made that decision a long time ago. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, but I resolved to try it for starting out.

I know branded glassware is stolen at a much higher rate industry wide. This doesn't make it right, or acceptable, in any capacity.

So far roughly one in ten people receiving a pour have stolen their glass. This is what legitimately shocked me, and compelled me to bring it up.

"Deter theft" was the wrong way to put it. "Identify theft" would have been better. If you possess a small logo, etched glass outside of the brewery, there are two explanations: You took it because you thought you paid for it (there is no indication you did - and twenty signs scattered about the taproom to indicate that you didn't), or, (much more likely) you knowingly and willingly stole it.

Since asking for help we have been notified of at least one person selling a dozen or so of said stolen glasses in our lower parking lot. With any luck, bringing it up will help us identify and thwart more of this type of behavior, and allow us to continue serving our beer in branded glassware. If not, we've wasted very little energy and life goes on.

Stealing is wrong, regardless of value or context.

Unless:

 

[JulianB1]

I knew glassware would get stolen. The obvious - and well known solution - is to use plain glassware.

I want to be able to offer an experience representative of our brand and ethos when you visit the Tree House. Part of that is drinking out of a branded glass. I made that decision a long time ago. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, but I resolved to try it for starting out.

I know branded glassware is stolen at a much higher rate industry wide. This doesn't make it right, or acceptable, in any capacity.

So far roughly one in ten people receiving a pour have stolen their glass. This is what legitimately shocked me, and compelled me to bring it up.

"Deter theft" was the wrong way to put it. "Identify theft" would have been better. If you possess a small logo, etched glass outside of the brewery, there are two explanations: You took it because you thought you paid for it (there is no indication you did - and twenty signs scattered about the taproom to indicate that you didn't), or, (much more likely) you knowingly and willingly stole it.

Since asking for help we have been notified of at least one person selling a dozen or so of said stolen glasses in our lower parking lot. With any luck, bringing it up will help us identify and thwart more of this type of behavior, and allow us to continue serving our beer in branded glassware. If not, we've wasted very little energy and life goes on.

Stealing is wrong, regardless of value or context.

Unless:

Just re-watched that the other night, great popcorn flick.

As for the rest of your post, I agree with basically everything you said, but I do have one question: What's your rationale for not selling that particular glass? As I mentioned earlier, if it's for sale you recoup costs (and then some) and I think the rate of theft goes way, way down, possibly to almost nothing.

 

[Flunky]

Any time I'm feeling bad about my life I'll at least be able to say "hey, I've never stolen glasses from a brewery's taproom and then flipped them from a trunk in the same brewery's parking lot like bootleg rap tapes, so I've got that going for me."

 

[jivex5k1]

Any time I'm feeling bad about my life I'll at least be able to say "hey, I've never stolen glasses from a brewery's taproom and then flipped them from a trunk in the same brewery's parking lot like bootleg rap tapes, so I've got that going for me."

I guess he had a different idea when he was telling people to meet him in the treehouse parking lot.

 

[OakedCanuck]

I knew glassware would get stolen. The obvious - and well known solution - is to use plain glassware.

I want to be able to offer an experience representative of our brand and ethos when you visit the Tree House. Part of that is drinking out of a branded glass. I made that decision a long time ago. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, but I resolved to try it for starting out.

I know branded glassware is stolen at a much higher rate industry wide. This doesn't make it right, or acceptable, in any capacity.

So far roughly one in ten people receiving a pour have stolen their glass. This is what legitimately shocked me, and compelled me to bring it up.

"Deter theft" was the wrong way to put it. "Identify theft" would have been better. If you possess a small logo, etched glass outside of the brewery, there are two explanations: You took it because you thought you paid for it (there is no indication you did - and twenty signs scattered about the taproom to indicate that you didn't), or, (much more likely) you knowingly and willingly stole it.

Since asking for help we have been notified of at least one person selling a dozen or so of said stolen glasses in our lower parking lot. With any luck, bringing it up will help us identify and thwart more of this type of behavior, and allow us to continue serving our beer in branded glassware. If not, we've wasted very little energy and life goes on.

Stealing is wrong, regardless of value or context.

Unless:

The question is if it's really worth the hassle/costs to have a tiny logo on a glass to enhance the customers "experience" while visiting the brewery.

Through my research, 94.1% (with STDEV of 4.79) of brewery customers don't believe a small logo on a glass makes the beer taste better nor enhance their 'experience'.

 

[Josh2]

It's almost like its a well thought out publicity stunt after a half-assed thought out business decision.

 

[Jnorton00]

POLICE DEPT: "THANK YOU FOR CALLING THE CHARLTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. HOW MAY I HELP YOU?"

LAUREN: "I'D LIKE TO REPORT A THEFT!"

PD: "CAR? STEREO? YOUR XBOX?"

LAUREN: "1 GLASS, VALUED AT $1.46. I GOT A REPORT FROM ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS THAT mods WAS TRYING TO PAWN IT ON BEERADVOCATE.COM FOR 'BLABAER"

PD: "A BEAR?"

LAUREN: "NO IT'S A BOTTLE OF BEER"

PD: "THEY STOLE A GLASS FROM YOU AND ARE TRADING IT FOR A SINGLE BOTTLE OF BEER?"

LAUREN: "YES, NOW ARREST THEM."

PD: "DO YOU HAVE PROOF THAT IT WAS STOLEN? VIDEO? PICTURE? SERIAL NUMBER?"

LAUREN: "WELL NO BUT..."

PD: "MAAM WE'RE GONNA PUT OUR BEST GUYS ON THIS CASE!" *CLICK*

...

I'm not saying people are right in this, but there were precautions that could've been taken rather than making a big fuss about it. Live. Learn. Pivot.

I wouldn't call a single facebook post a "big fuss".

 

[Previously]

94.1% (with STDEV of 4.79) of brewery customers don't believe a small logo on a glass makes the beer taste better nor enhance their 'experience'.

Yeah, maybe in Canada. Things are a little different here in America, sir.

The solution is simple. Make the patrons bring their own glassware to the tasting room from home. Boom. Problem solved.

Next question.

 

[tbub18]

The question is if it's really worth the hassle/costs to have a tiny logo on a glass to enhance the customers "experience" while visiting the brewery.

Through my research, 94.1% (with STDEV of 4.79) of brewery customers don't believe a small logo on a glass makes the beer taste better nor enhance their 'experience'.

 

[RyanG1]

Next question.

What will it take to get the San Diego Padres into the playoffs after a 12 year hiatus?

 

[Previously]

What will it take to get the San Diego Padres into the playoffs after a 12 year hiatus?

More wins.

Next!

 

[regularjohn]

The most obvious solution is to tell people that they're free to steal whatever they like. In exchange you hurl them into a pit and make them fight the rancor. Breweries keep rancors on site right?

 

[GuzzleMcBrew]

The question is if it's really worth the hassle/costs to have a tiny logo on a glass to enhance the customers "experience" while visiting the brewery.
Through my research, 94.1% (with STDEV of 4.79) of brewery customers don't believe a small logo on a glass makes the beer taste better nor enhance their 'experience'.

I think the "why" and the level of hassle/cost are kind of summed up in the quoted post.

I want to be able to offer an experience representative of our brand and ethos when you visit the Tree House. Part of that is drinking out of a branded glass. I made that decision a long time ago. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, but I resolved to try it for starting out.

With any luck, bringing it up will help us identify and thwart more of this type of behavior, and allow us to continue serving our beer in branded glassware. If not, we've wasted very little energy and life goes on.

Why is everyone so hung up on this? Are people that incensed that they had to read a facebook post, or that a brewery had the audacity to complain about something happening on their grounds which they don't like?

They don't want people stealing from them. Seems fair enough. This whole position of 'they should have known this would happen' - I mean, they did, they just tried to make it work.

 

[Josh2]

What will it take to get the San Diego Padres into the playoffs after a 12 year hiatus?

Oh oh oh! A new stadium?


Oh wait...

 

[Thevicster]

Any time I'm feeling bad about my life I'll at least be able to say "hey, I've never stolen glasses from a brewery's taproom and then flipped them from a trunk in the same brewery's parking lot like steaks, so I've got that going for me."

Ftfy

 

[Os]

seriously... at the end of it all... a business wants to find out who is stealing from them... that's it. Doesn't seem unreasonable.

and I get the natural reaction of thinking of avoiding the issue... and I particularly like the idea of holding an open tab/card/ID until the glass is returned, but it may not be feasible for some logistic reason...

but it's their business and they wanted to do it a certain way... ethos and aesthetics... ambiance and experience... sure, you may say it makes no difference to you but some people appreciate it....

how the main issue is being overlooked is funny to me... stealing is wrong... it's a bad trend and it's not excusable... if you want to blame prices, then should you be buying beer that you feel is overpriced?

 

[Previously]

Real talk: A percentage of people are going to steal anything that is not bolted down. That percentage goes up after adding alcohol. That percentage goes up even higher if the things that are not bolted down are in any way desirable. This doesn't make the stealing acceptable or appropriate, but it certainly should not be unexpected. Some good options have been discussed: selling the glassware for profit on-site, charging a deposit for glassware, etc.

But making a facebook or Instagram post on the Internet complaining about customer behavior is almost never the answer. No matter the intention of the post, even if it comes from a good place looking for honest feedback and solutions, it will almost certainly do more harm than good from a public relations perspective.

Edit: please don't read between the lines. Stealing is wrong. I've never nor have I ever considered stealing anything from a brewery.

 

[WhalezB4Rarez]

If they started selling those exact same glasses, starting next week, I wonder how steeply the rate of theft would drop.

Forest & Main at one time sold 20oz Dimpled mugs at the brewery that they also would serve beer in. I bought one. A few months later I went back and they stopped serving beer in the 20oz dimpled mugs because a lot of them walked.

 

[BadJustin]

seriously... at the end of it all... a business wants to find out who is stealing from them... that's it. Doesn't seem unreasonable.

and I get the natural reaction of thinking of avoiding the issue... and I particularly like the idea of holding an open tab/card/ID until the glass is returned, but it may not be feasible for some logistic reason...

but it's their business and they wanted to do it a certain way... ethos and aesthetics... ambiance and experience... sure, you may say it makes no difference to you but some people appreciate it....

how the main issue is being overlooked is funny to me... stealing is wrong... it's a bad trend and it's not excusable... if you want to blame prices, then should you be buying beer that you feel is overpriced?

I agree stealing is wrong but playing devils advocate here for a moment, there is no way they don't know the hype around glassware so to make a glass that is in house only, given the clientele, you'd be a fool to think they won't get lifted. Hell, it's almost taunting people with it. idk

 

[Os]

Real talk: A percentage of people are going to steal anything that is not bolted down. That percentage goes up after adding alcohol. That percentage goes up even higher if the things that are not bolted down are in any way desirable. This doesn't make the stealing acceptable or appropriate, but it certainly should not be unexpected. Some good options have been discussed: selling the glassware for profit on-site, charging a deposit for glassware, etc.

But making a facebook or Instagram post on the Internet complaining about customer behavior is almost never the answer. No matter the intention or the moral fabric of the post, even if it comes from a good place looking for honest feedback and solutions, it will almost certainly do more harm than good.

I don't see any issue on asking the customers that "love" your brewery to report thefts

 

[WhalezB4Rarez]

Real talk: A percentage of people are going to steal anything that is not bolted down. That percentage goes up after adding alcohol. That percentage goes up even higher if the things that are not bolted down are in any way desirable. This doesn't make the stealing acceptable or appropriate, but it certainly should not be unexpected. Some good options have been discussed: selling the glassware for profit on-site, charging a deposit for glassware, etc.

But making a facebook or Instagram post on the Internet complaining about customer behavior is almost never the answer. No matter the intention or the moral fabric of the post, even if it comes from a good place looking for honest feedback and solutions, it will almost certainly do more harm than good.

I can vouch for that. at the first Sierra Nevada Beer Camp in Philly I took an extra 5oz tulip on my way out. My drunken justification was it was the end of the fest and there were plenty there. In sober-sight they probably would just box those up and take them to the next fest or sell them on their website....

 

[Previously]

I don't see any issue on asking the customers that "love" your brewery to report thefts

I have no issue with it either.

 

[Os]

I agree stealing is wrong but playing devils advocate here for a moment, there is no way they don't know the hype around glassware so to make a glass that is in house only, given the clientele, you'd be a fool to think they won't get lifted. Hell, it's almost taunting people with it. idk

again, they knew... and they still want to try and make it work by eliminating the culprits... I don't see what's so wrong about that

 

[regularjohn]

Breweries should have enough security cameras to see everything that's going on throughout the day. Just hire someone who is proficient in Where's Waldo? instead it will be spot the sloppy neckbeard making any sudden moves. Shouldn't be too hard right?