Trader Joe's

[Joe Kimball]

So I went by just about an hour ago and saw no Chuck at all on the shelves. Apparently it's not in Oklahoma for the present time, and the clerk wasn't sure why. Anyone know?

[jedicurt]

So I went by just about an hour ago and saw no Chuck at all on the shelves. Apparently it's not in Oklahoma for the present time, and the clerk wasn't sure why. Anyone know?

maybe just not in stock right now for whatever reason? i could have sworn it was there last time i was there at the end of october

[Pete]

I don't know about this particular case but TJ's is famous for constantly running out of things, especially this time of year.

[Johnb911]

If you're into Chuck at TJ's, check out any of the wine selection at Aldi.

[Rover]

maybe just not in stock right now for whatever reason? i could have sworn it was there last time i was there at the end of october

Bought some there a week or so ago

[Joe Kimball]

If you're into Chuck at TJ's, check out any of the wine selection at Aldi.

I saw that; it looks legit!

I got y'all about the running out of things, too. Still new to TJs.

[Ward]

Is the current version Charles Shaw? I saw that in stock at an amazing price, maybe they sold all.

[Dustin]

I thought 2 buck chuck couldn't be sold here because of some new distribution law that was passed when we voted to modernize? I don't know details...

[Rover]

I thought 2 buck chuck couldn't be sold here because of some new distribution law that was passed when we voted to modernize? I don't know details...

It’s now $2.99 and sold here.

[roci28]

I got some about a month ago. They must just be sold out being the holidays.

[Joe Kimball]

It's a mystery. I have a couple bottles ready to go, at least (Shiraz '15 and Red Blend '16), but I need to get after them before long; i understand that Chuck just doesn't cellar well!

I really ought to have been diligent and sought a manager, but I was in the midst of errands. It's the weirdest thing; I saw the bottles in there a couple weeks ago, a bunch of them! And now they're gone, their space replaced with box wine and another brand at 3.99.

[Bullbear]

I know with Aldi they haven't gotten everything in they will carry. they have a 2.99 Malbec I wanna try that was tagged when they set up but hasn't been stocked.

[Johnb911]

My wife and I have been working our way through the 'higher end' Aldi wine (basically, the $6-$9 bottles) and while I do not have the most discerning of palates when it comes to wine, we haven't been disappointed.

[stile99]

The warehouse that serves the metro Aldi stores has serious issues. Often something that was advertised as a weekly special isn't stocked until a week or two later. I thought it might just be the Yukon location, but actually the reason I was happy it was built is this was an on-going issue at the 23rd and MacArthur location, and I've seen the same with the new one in Mayfair, and 59th and May. The manager of the Yukon store gave me the number to customer service, which swore up and down they show the item in stock at the store. When I responded I'm right here at the store and the manager said nobody there has seen it, customer service put me on hold and then hung up on me. It's not a matter of selling out before I get there, and multiple stores have given me the "we never saw it" story, so something is breaking down somewhere between the warehouse and the stores, but customer service doesn't seem to care.

Of course, I could always call the store before I head out there, to see if it is in stock...but Aldi doesn't publish the store numbers.

[Bullbear]

The warehouse that serves the metro Aldi stores has serious issues. Often something that was advertised as a weekly special isn't stocked until a week or two later. I thought it might just be the Yukon location, but actually the reason I was happy it was built is this was an on-going issue at the 23rd and MacArthur location, and I've seen the same with the new one in Mayfair, and 59th and May. The manager of the Yukon store gave me the number to customer service, which swore up and down they show the item in stock at the store. When I responded I'm right here at the store and the manager said nobody there has seen it, customer service put me on hold and then hung up on me. It's not a matter of selling out before I get there, and multiple stores have given me the "we never saw it" story, so something is breaking down somewhere between the warehouse and the stores, but customer service doesn't seem to care.

Of course, I could always call the store before I head out there, to see if it is in stock...but Aldi doesn't publish the store numbers.

Yah they don't publish numbers or operate that way at all. they are bare bones and don't waste much time with phone calls and inquiries. I have always kind of took it as "what is here is here" I guess I have never had that level of frustration because I don't look at their online ad and plan by that. I tend to go to Aldi at least once a week and outside of my normal list I just kind of look at what is new in the seasonal stuff. I enjoy the rotating stock of season items.

[Pete]

Was in on Sunday and noticed they had the Charles Shaw wine (2-buck chuck) back in full stock.

It actually goes for $2.99 now.

[stile99]

Yeah, it's like the Subway 'footlong'. It's just a marketing term, not an actual description.

[MikeLucky]

Well, I stopped by last night to get a case of 2 buck and not only could I not find cases, but couldn't even locate bottles on the shelf. So, I asked for assistance and it happened to be the manager. I asked if they were out and he said, "actually it's a bit darker than that..." Then he explained that the new law actually had a provision in it that requires any proprietary brands to be provided for other local sellers to sell as well. So if TJs wants to sell 2 Buck they must also provide it to any other retailer that wants to sell it, and those other retailers can sell it at any price they want. Her said that they've been in touch with legislators already about possibly getting it changed, but we all know how that'll go...

[Pete]

They had it just a week ago when I was in there. Strange.

[stile99]

I'd really like to see the relevant section that requires store brands to be offered to others. If that was in there and the people who didn't want the law passed didn't use it in their arsenal, that was an insane missed opportunity. I'd also like more information about said requirement. Does it set the price it is made available to others? A store/proprietary brand wouldn't really have a 'wholesale' price, would it?

I think there's something else going on, considering I've seen it there too. I've also seen them out of something quite a lot, and I think it's pretty general knowledge that some things, if you're not there at the very moment they're stocking the shelves you're not getting it, just like Pete said upthread.

[derp]

That must not apply to beer. Their "Simple Time" Lager and Pilsner are $2.99 and taste about as good ast the $8.99 to $10.99 six packs.

[Jersey Boss]

Best time to go to TJ for product availability is when the first open in the a.m.

[Teo9969]

Well, I stopped by last night to get a case of 2 buck and not only could I not find cases, but couldn't even locate bottles on the shelf. So, I asked for assistance and it happened to be the manager. I asked if they were out and he said, "actually it's a bit darker than that..." Then he explained that the new law actually had a provision in it that requires any proprietary brands to be provided for other local sellers to sell as well. So if TJs wants to sell 2 Buck they must also provide it to any other retailer that wants to sell it, and those other retailers can sell it at any price they want. Her said that they've been in touch with legislators already about possibly getting it changed, but we all know how that'll go...

Without knowing all of the backend taxation - If there is a wholesaler involved, there will be lost profits with the middle man, but you can still gain a lot of marketshare which is worth something. I don't think it would be hard for them to sell it
to the wholesaler for $15.00/bottle, buy it back for $15.15/bottle and sell it on their own shelves at $3.99.

Of course, though I cannot remember at present I think it also may be illegal to sell at under wholesale pricing.

It's surely all very complicated.

[Pete]

After decades of going and loving TJ's, tonight I had my first bad experience.

Was in there about 6:30 this Thursday night and their entire frozen foods case was way, way picked over.

In fact, 3 of the 5 or so things I was looking to buy were completely gone, and I could see a bunch of others were gone too and most the remainder were sold way down.

I mentioned it to two employees and both just said, "Yeah, we are pretty empty today". They said they typically get new items every night but how the heck can you be out of so many things on an early evening in the middle of the week? No way did they have some sort of crazy daytime rush. They weren't even especially busy when I was there.

It could be as simple as having only 2 stores in the entire state and thus having a hard time getting timely resupplies.

I would see this happen in California stores with one or two items, but those stores would get at least 5x the business and I have never seen anything like I saw tonight.

If it happens to me again, I'll have to think twice before making a special trip over there.

[Quicker]

Well, I stopped by last night to get a case of 2 buck and not only could I not find cases, but couldn't even locate bottles on the shelf. So, I asked for assistance and it happened to be the manager. I asked if they were out and he said, "actually it's a bit darker than that..." Then he explained that the new law actually had a provision in it that requires any proprietary brands to be provided for other local sellers to sell as well. So if TJs wants to sell 2 Buck they must also provide it to any other retailer that wants to sell it, and those other retailers can sell it at any price they want. Her said that they've been in touch with legislators already about possibly getting it changed, but we all know how that'll go...

The new laws have nothing to do with it... It’s always been this way. Wines can only be bought from licensed Oklahoma wholesales and they can’t discriminate or pick and choose who they sale it to. It’s also the same price per case no matter who buys it. It’s a very good law especially now that wine is available in grocery stores. It makes all retailers compete on price. Walmart is now the largest wine retailer in the state by far and if it wasn’t for this law, they could use their buying power to force exclusive agreements on all the top selling wines and set the price wherever they wanted.