Slight dilemma

[FedoraDave]

My timing is just slightly off. I've got three batches going, all wedding-related. I'm anticipating bottling the Saison this weekend.

For all three batches, I'm going to need to buy bomber bottles. My daughter also wants to give each of the groomsmen one of those wooden six-pack holders with an attached bottle opener. All of these things are available at my LHBS, but here's my dilemma.

I have a Customer Loyalty card with my LHBS. Each time I make a purchase, they initial it, and when the card is full, I get a discount on my next purchase. This came in handy when I was collecting stuff for my keezer, and I'd love to get a discount on all those bottles and the six-pack holders. Well, I need some bombers for the Saison, so I don't mind eating that, and that would fill my card, so I'd get the discount the next time, and that would be when I'd buy all the rest of the bottles, and the carriers. But I'd have to make a special trip at some point during the week, or after working next Saturday (and keep in mind it's our busy season, and I worked 10.5 hours last Saturday).

I'm just going to have to suck it up and make the 45-minute (one-way) drive some evening after work.

::sigh::

The things I do for my little girl....

ETA: Do you think it would be a lousy thing for me to go there on Saturday (which I was planning on doing anyway), make a purchase, just to get the final initial on my card, then go grab a cup of coffee and a muffin and return in 20 minutes to buy the rest of the stuff I need and get my discount? Technically, they're two different purchases, and I'm kind of jobbing the system, but making that trip during the week is a real killer.

[RickBeer]

Poorly designed loyalty program based on visits, since the amount purchased can vary greatly. You could buy a packet of hops each time, or spend $85... Visit loyalty programs are best used where purchases or more similar in price, like an ice cream cone or parking at the airport.

Go back. Don't buy muffin or coffee, save that $5. Wait ten, then go back, you spend a lot there.

Or price them put online, make a big order, and ask them to price match.

My LHBS gives me $10 off every $200 spent, so that's 5% off.

[FedoraDave]

The fact that it's visit-based doesn't bother me all that much, since I usually go every other Saturday (my Saturday off) and buy enough stuff for two batches. I'm likely to spend at least 45 or fifty bucks every time I set foot in there. They also scale the discount for the purchase amount. If you spend less than $100, you get $10 off, and if it's more than $100, you get 20% off. They've even worked with me in the past to get my purchase up to just over $100 to give me a better discount, so I'll buy something like bottle caps or some Whirlfloc to bump it to $105. But I see your point; it just doesn't really affect me.

But yeah, that's what I'll do. It makes me look like a cheap, opportunistic bastard in a kind of comical way, but I have spent an awful lot of money there, and they're good guys; they'll just tease me a little bit, at the very worst. But a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do.

[D_Rabbit]

I would tell them your situation and see if they will just hook you up. If they won't than make the smaller purchase and go back later in the day or another day.

[Dawg LB Steve]

No Dave I would do exactly that, buy what will put you over the hump, go get breakfast or sit down and have a cup of coffee and go back, "oops I forgot about these things, good thing I didn't get to far down the road before I realized." Luckily my LHBS is per purchase, I have bought some stuff, sat at the bar with a couple pints BS'ing with the owner or one of his employees, which also go toward the dollar total, and remember something else I may have needed.

[BlackDuck]

I would tell them your situation and see if they will just hook you up.

I would do this too. Sounds like you have somewhat of a relationship with them and they have even helped you out before. I would be real surprised if they don't work with you and let you do it all in the same visit.

[RedBEERd]

My timing is just slightly off. I've got three batches going, all wedding-related. I'm anticipating bottling the Saison this weekend.

For all three batches, I'm going to need to buy bomber bottles. My daughter also wants to give each of the groomsmen one of those wooden six-pack holders with an attached bottle opener. All of these things are available at my LHBS, but here's my dilemma.

I have a Customer Loyalty card with my LHBS. Each time I make a purchase, they initial it, and when the card is full, I get a discount on my next purchase. This came in handy when I was collecting stuff for my keezer, and I'd love to get a discount on all those bottles and the six-pack holders. Well, I need some bombers for the Saison, so I don't mind eating that, and that would fill my card, so I'd get the discount the next time, and that would be when I'd buy all the rest of the bottles, and the carriers. But I'd have to make a special trip at some point during the week, or after working next Saturday (and keep in mind it's our busy season, and I worked 10.5 hours last Saturday).

I'm just going to have to suck it up and make the 45-minute (one-way) drive some evening after work.

::sigh::

The things I do for my little girl....

ETA: Do you think it would be a lousy thing for me to go there on Saturday (which I was planning on doing anyway), make a purchase, just to get the final initial on my card, then go grab a cup of coffee and a muffin and return in 20 minutes to buy the rest of the stuff I need and get my discount? Technically, they're two different purchases, and I'm kind of jobbing the system, but making that trip during the week is a real killer.

Dave, see your pm's

[FedoraDave]

I would tell them your situation and see if they will just hook you up.

I would do this too. Sounds like you have somewhat of a relationship with them and they have even helped you out before. I would be real surprised if they don't work with you and let you do it all in the same visit.

Yeah, I was going to try to get down there tonight, but I got home a little too late. I may see what their Friday hours are, and try to make it down there Friday, just to buy a case of the bomber bottles, and then go back on Saturday. And if I can't do that, I'll go down there Saturday and throw myself on their mercies. If the owner is there, I wouldn't doubt he'd work something out.

I prefer to be up front and honest in my dealings with people, as I believe what goes around comes around. One way or another, I'm going to get my discount on the big purchase.

[FedoraDave]

Okay, Friday they're open until 9:00. I can do this. A case of bottles Friday - more bottles and enough ingredients for three batches on Saturday.

Ka-ching!

[FedoraDave]

Dilemma solved. My meeting was changed to tomorrow morning, so I picked up a couple of services, as we were all asked to do, and got home a bit before 5:30. I changed quickly, and dashed down to the LHBS, getting there about 45 minutes before they close. I picked up a case of bomber bottles, which I need for bottling the saison on Saturday morning. I got my card initialed, and on Saturday, after bottling, I'll go down there again and buy the metric buttload of other stuff I need, and get my loyalty discount.

Success!

[D_Rabbit]

Things always have a way of working themselves out!

[BlackDuck]

Awesome. Glad it's all working out for you.


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[FedoraDave]

This all worked out quite nicely. This morning, I got another case of bomber bottles, a case of 12 oz. bottles, grains, hops, and yeast for my next three batches, and a new digital thermometer. Total came to just over $100, and I got a nice discount with my loyalty card.

The only bugaboo is that they don't have the wooden six-pack holders, and haven't heard from the guy who makes them. I'll have to follow up and see what the story is, because if my daughter has to order them online, she needs to know sooner rather than later.