Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Liquor Prices?
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
May 30, 2012 at 4:07 pm #603422
2 Much WhineParticipantScanning the Safeway ad it looks like there is a possibility that they (Safeway) might be taking a bit of a loss to get us in the door. It depends on how that tax plays out at the register but on the surface it appears prices will be lower than the state run liquor stores. Strictly looking at retail (without any taxes) Safeway has prices that appear to be cheaper. 1.75 liter bottles of R&R are on sale for $10.19 at Safeway and they are $15.23 this month at the liquor store. That’s a pretty significant savings. Now, whether one is a club card holder or should actually buy/drink R&R is a different question entirely but I see savings on Grey Goose and Tanqueray as well. We’ll just have to see how this plays out. I wonder what the prices at Costco will be.
May 30, 2012 at 4:18 pm #759486
KatherineLParticipantThe big chains can afford to lower their prices until they put the small businesses out of business. Then they can set any price they want.
May 30, 2012 at 5:15 pm #759487
2 Much WhineParticipantJust like the WSLCB did? Is that how QFC put the Beer Junction out of business? Oh wait, they didn’t.
May 30, 2012 at 5:47 pm #759488
BostonmanMemberOne of the great things about free market capitalism. The price of booze will be lower because the state jacked the prices up. They will just be more in line with other states now.
They can accept a lower margin because they know that selling liquir will increase the sales of other goods. When people go in to buy a bottle of run they will buy coke or some other product.
May 30, 2012 at 6:07 pm #759489
FullTiltParticipantActually the big stores can not sell liquor as a loss leader. (selling a product at a loss to get customers through the door.) same with restaurants and bars. Legally, they have to make a profit on it.
What the can do, is get it cheaper than anyone else by buying giant quantities.
May 30, 2012 at 6:58 pm #759490
JanSParticipantyet, you read this :
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018296171_liquor27.html
May 30, 2012 at 7:29 pm #759491
dbseaMemberI’d love it if prices dropped a bit but primarily I just didn’t think the state should be in this business. And I expect it’ll be years before this new market sorts itself out and reaches some kind of stability.
May 30, 2012 at 8:25 pm #759492
BostonmanMemberSo you post an article that talks about wholesalers raising some prices and 2 paragraphs later also talks about how prices will settle down and fall. It also mentions that companies are going around the two main wholesalers that are the trying to raise enough capital in the beginning to make the payment to the state due next year.
Not really sure what the benefit of posting the article is. Are you making the argument that the state should be the only ones selling liquor? Are you saying competition doesn’t drive down prices?
May 30, 2012 at 8:37 pm #759493
JanSParticipantactually, I was going to post some more articles, but a client arrived..dang…don’t you hate when work gets in the way of coming online? lol..
yesterday, they were making a big deal about how prices were going to go up, esp. in restaurants, etc., because it’s no longer “one stop shopping”. Bars keep a varied supply of things to keep customers satisfied, and now they’ll have to go shopping at different places to get what they need. I don’t know if that will have an impact or not…they could be blowing smoke, and just trying to scare people. I suppose we’ll see when the private stores start selling. I kinda like the idea of walking across the street to Safeway if I have a craving for rum and coke :)
May 30, 2012 at 8:55 pm #759494
WSratsinacageMemberI hope prices go down but why would a business charge less than what the market has been bearing / people have been paying?
.
I don’t care if the state is in it or not but people were saying one reason to get the state out is so that prices will go down. I hope this pans out.
May 30, 2012 at 9:35 pm #759495
BostonmanMemberThat does suck Jan. You should have just told your client something like hey, can you wait a minute. I need to put more information on the WSB because I know some jackass from Boston is going to make a post about an article I put up. LOL.
Ok, I was just curious what the reasoning was. I too hope it comes out with lower costs. I think there will be plenty of competition which normally would lower prices but if they get gouged by the two wholesalers in the state because they have to pay $150 million next year then that is a wild card and we don’t know what kind of impact it will have.
May 31, 2012 at 1:34 am #759496
JanSParticipantbostonman…do you miss Boston? They have package stores in MA, don’t they? My sister lived in the Berkshires, and I always liked going to the little package store in her teeny town…always had a great selection, and the guy knew a lot about wines..
May 31, 2012 at 3:00 am #759497
HunterGParticipantIt sounds like Safeway will be taking a loss if it is $10 bucks for a 750ml – what brand type was it?
I think consumers are going to be really surprised with what is going to be applied at the register. The state wants their cut and are applying a couple of hefty Taxes.
Just remember to thank Costco for your Liquor Prices.
May 31, 2012 at 3:08 am #759498
miwsParticipantHunterG, sounds like you’re saying that all the taxes will be applied at the register, just like all other taxable merchandise, as opposed to WSLCB’s practice of the shelf price being the total, taxed cost? (Though broken down on the shelf tag as I recall.)
I hadn’t even thought of that.
You and the others that work the registers have my condolences… ;-)
Mike
May 31, 2012 at 3:29 am #759499
trickycooljParticipantThere was a good comparison article in The News Tribune on Monday (http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/05/28/2160354/wash-opens-up-liquor-sales-prices.html) and they compared the current price of Bacardi 151 and another fairly mainstream purchase and while the advertised price was lower than the state store, the fine print said there was a 20% tax in addition to a flat liter fee on top of everything else. When it was all added up at the register, the price of those bottles were $10+ more than the state store price. I’m wondering how many voters saw “liquor in the grocery store” and in translating that to “just like in California” also assumed California style prices? WSLCB is going to get its cut somehow.
May 31, 2012 at 5:36 am #759500
HunterGParticipantThanks Mike, we are planning on putting up signage to explain the taxes and fees in I 1183 and what it does to the price.
Two factors are added into the bottom line shelf price and the $3.77 Liter Tax and 20% Sales tax are applied at the register.
So…for example the bottle of Chopin Vodka I like which is normally about $39 at the liquor store will most likely cost $60 at the register after taxes are applied.
May 31, 2012 at 7:05 am #759501
JanSParticipantwow…that’s a hefty price difference…I guess not all privatization is a good thing, huh….
May 31, 2012 at 5:11 pm #759502
dbseaMember“They have package stores in MA, don’t they? “
They do. Known to most as “the packey” and full of local kids with fake IDs.
I like the idea of being able to get everything at the grocery store. Will the hard stuff be available on Sundays?
May 31, 2012 at 6:39 pm #759503
beefParticipanthunterg – isn;t the $39 the shelf price at the liquor store. the wholesale price will be less than that and the mark up the store uses will be less than what the state had to recover. so while i imagine it will most likely go up, i don;t believe it will jump $20. the 20% and the liter tax only amount to an $11 increase.
As far as consumers go, i believe we have the 2 years to wait out to start seeing more benefit from this initiative. The $150 million the distributors have to make up goes away and the legislature can modify the rules with a simple majority after the 2 years have passed.
Regadless, I will enjoy the ability to get booze at the grocery store during my shopping trip from the hours of 6am-2am. :)
Oh yes, income tax please.
May 31, 2012 at 7:15 pm #759504
BostonmanMemberThey do Jan, as was noted above its “The Packey”. I never had a fake ID but you were always able to find someone to buy what you wanted so long as you slipped him $10 to buy a 12 pack.
On a different note I was back in Boston just last weekend for a few days. I should have taken some pictures but post big dig the surface streets are amazing. No more elevated highways and lots of green space. Its much nicer being able to walk around those areas now and not here constant horns beeping and smelling car emissions.
June 1, 2012 at 2:28 am #759505
JayDeeParticipantGetting close to June 1…local choices and guesses:
Safeway: middle of the road? Joseph Blows selection?
QFC: highbrow or middle? Especially the Junction location which is battered on all sides?
MM: need you ask?
Thriftway: mix of middle and selection?
TJs: thrift (but value) and some good?
Predictions?
June 1, 2012 at 2:49 am #759506
JoBParticipantJune 1, 2012 at 5:51 am #759507
TrickParticipantHunter is right.
The price posted is without tax.
Once you get to the counter, you’ll see it shoot right up.
This was contentious with the off premise stores because the consumer will feel a little mislead.
You’ll also see bars with a majority of one distributors products to capitalize on any savings they may recieve in doing so. Hopefully bars will keep the integrity and carry a healthy selection from all distributors like they do now.
In 2 years, there will be the ability to eliminate those added taxes through legislation. All depends on the revenue that is generated to the state.
June 1, 2012 at 6:37 am #759508
JanSParticipantanother story today on prices…get used to it…
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2012/05/31/liquor-sticker-shock-why-is-booze-so-expensive/
and…if anyone would know, Trick would…<waves at Trick :)>
June 1, 2012 at 6:58 am #759509
kootchmanMemberYep..the state…. then comes the second referendum… the state shall charge no more than the prevailing states sales tax. They are hooked on sin taxes. Imagine, telling Alki Lumber they had to pay a state 20% tax to any lumber mill they purchased from. It’s hard to circumvent the state when it penalizes consumer by setting mandatory “minimum” prices. Step one, we got em out of the business, step two, restrict their gouging… that’s the beauty of a referendum state.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.