Why are Rogue bombers such a rip off??

[NorCalAngler]

If their beer is priced too high, I would say apparently this city doesn't appreciate the beer. So, lets pull out of that city and sell it over here in the neighboring town because they can't get enough. We keep selling out in that town.

No need to lower the price.

The too much supply / have to lower the price idea relies on a massive surplus. This is not going to happen with a brewery if they are smart. I would bet they are close to capacity.

Production businesses must forecast ingredient purchases, equipment, and labor so there are some issues with your production to demand, especially with new styles within a portfolio and with increasing competition. Long-standing beers within a portfolio would be much easier to manage because production and demand have smoothed out over time. Rogue makes a great chocolate porter, which hasn't been rivaled by many in the craft brew scene... yet. What if Rogue is in the middle of a batch of chocolate porter to meet current demand and then an East coast brewery comes with a chocolate porter with a lot of fanfare and cheaper distribution at $1 less per 22oz and Rogue finds their porter sitting on shelves and orders drop? This isn't really a hypothetical because I bet it happens to every brewery out there. Point being, pricing is critical and it's not as simple as "let's stop distribution in this city and focus on this one instead." That involves more forecasting, revamping production numbers, inventory management, etc. It's very complicated and supply/demand is very much in play.

 

[Austinhomebrew]

Production businesses must forecast ingredient purchases, equipment, and labor so there are some issues with your production to demand, especially with new styles within a portfolio and with increasing competition. Long-standing beers within a portfolio would be much easier to manage because production and demand have smoothed out over time. Rogue makes a great chocolate porter, which hasn't been rivaled by many in the craft brew scene... yet. What if Rogue is in the middle of a batch of chocolate porter to meet current demand and then an East coast brewery comes with a chocolate porter with a lot of fanfare and cheaper distribution at $1 less per 22oz and Rogue finds their porter sitting on shelves and orders drop? This isn't really a hypothetical because I bet it happens to every brewery out there. Point being, pricing is critical and it's not as simple as "let's stop distribution in this city and focus on this one instead." That involves more forecasting, revamping production numbers, inventory management, etc. It's very complicated and supply/demand is very much in play.

I see your point but the people in this thread are saying that the customer is dictating the price. But in your example, another brewery is *trying* to dictate the price.

What will happen is the people that like Rogue Chocolate porter will try the new beer. They will judge it by Rogue as a standard. It will pass or fail. Most will go back to Rogue because since it costs more it is perceived to be of better quality.

They have the ability to match demand and make quick adjustments. It is not like it is a Slap Chop. Make a million of them in China. Saturation point hits at 750,000 and now they need to lower the price.

Forrest

 

[NorCalAngler]

Isn't another brewery always trying to dictate the price? I can't think of a single brew that stands alone without competition. The customer is a third party in this price dictation because the competitor only dictates the price if the consumer decides their beer offers more/the same for less. Even the crazy dead animal 40%+ ABV brews have a competitor vying for the biggest beer crown.

 

[humann_brewing]

By your smiley face , you are probably saying that I am stating the obvious. I thought it was obvious too.

Forrest

a little of both but still good to point out either way.

 

[Germelli1]

a little of both but still good to point out either way.

You have an amazingly huge sig haha

 

[olllllo]

I've always had the theory about Rogue that their demographic skews a bit older than some other crafts. Things that I used to think were a rip off in my 20's are a better deal in my 40's.

 

[EdWort]

I've always had the theory about Rogue that their demographic skews a bit older than some other crafts. Things that I used to think were a rip off in my 20's are a better deal in my 40's.

Yep, it's all about disposable income..

 

[lamarguy]

Things that I used to think were a rip off in my 20's are a better deal in my 40's.

Disagree - strip clubs are still a rip-off in my 30s.

 

[joel4482]

So I was in the beer store today perusing the beers and was looking at the Rogue bombers. I've never bought them as my local store sells them for $6.89ea so almost $3.50 a beer. Then I noticed the only 12oz'ers they sell are the Dead Guy Ale which is $11.50 per 6 pack or $1.90 a beer, the also have bombers of DGA for $6.89 each. Seems most brands are consistently priced from bombers to 6'ers but Rogue is not. Is it just my local stores ripping me off or does Rogue just think they're special in the bomber market?

The 22oz are a little more expensive because of the bottles. You'll notice that stone and rogue are a little more expensive because the bottles are painted, which cost significantly more than paper labels. 6'ers are paper labels at rogue which explains the inconsistency in price from 12-22oz. $6.89 still seems a little higher than average for a 22oz