Regina Retail

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by Stormer

Urban Cellars is now (Dec.15) open on Quance near Leo's. This is a huge store - very nice. It is much better and larger than Superstore or Metro Liquor. Staff is friendly and helpful. They handed out free bags of ice!

For some reason they have little online presence. They do not show up on a Google maps liquor store search. They are listed as liquor wholesaler! They have no website.

With at least 4 liquor stores already in the SE, one would expect the SLGA store on Quance will be gone soon.

Why? For the most part, the government stores are cheaper (other than when independent stores do bigger sales on certain items). I find myself generally still going to LBs rather than private stores when I need to get something. It's the private stores that need to really turn a decent profit. The LB on quance just needs at least a razor thin profit to be viable.

[North_Regina_Boy]

Originally Posted by Nathan

Why? For the most part, the government stores are cheaper (other than when independent stores do bigger sales on certain items). I find myself generally still going to LBs rather than private stores when I need to get something. It's the private stores that need to really turn a decent profit. The LB on quance just needs at least a razor thin profit to be viable.

Agreed I got to LB more than Private. Mostly because the price I see is the price I pay. If private showed the price with taxes and deposit in it would be a lot closer in price most times. Private stores do have more selection though and better coolers. But that’s about it.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy

Agreed I got to LB more than Private. Mostly because the price I see is the price I pay. If private showed the price with taxes and deposit in it would be a lot closer in price most times. Private stores do have more selection though and better coolers. But that’s about it.

I'll agree with that too. I don't necessarily need a massive selection (usually beer is the major influencer on that, and I'm not a beer person). I also tend to plan ahead, so the advantage of larger coolers becomes somewhat moot. Specialty wines might be the other influence, but I don't know that the private stores have enough of those to really make a major impact.

[pappcam]

Originally Posted by North_Regina_Boy

Agreed I got to LB more than Private. Mostly because the price I see is the price I pay. If private showed the price with taxes and deposit in it would be a lot closer in price most times. Private stores do have more selection though and better coolers. But that’s about it.

I'll never understand why the LB's in Sask sell warm beer, at least as far as regular domestic brands go. I understand it's some bizarre holdover from the old days when only off-sales could sell cold beer but those days are long gone.

[StealthGirl]

The SLGA on Quance is the busiest of the govt stores in Regina. It isn't going anywhere. As for selling warm beer, the beer companies aren't paying for their stuff to be put in the cooler.

[UPP]

Originally Posted by Nathan

Why? For the most part, the government stores are cheaper (other than when independent stores do bigger sales on certain items). I find myself generally still going to LBs rather than private stores when I need to get something. It's the private stores that need to really turn a decent profit. The LB on quance just needs at least a razor thin profit to be viable.

I go to the Quance LB all the time. I like it better than any of the private stores. Although it is a hassle getting in and out of the parking lot.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

I'll break the mold. I don't go to the LB's out of principle. That and their physical stores suck.

[UPP]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

I'll break the mold. I don't go to the LB's out of principle. That and their physical stores suck.

Curious, what principle is that?

Public LB's: profit goes back to the Province, employees are paid a good living wage.

Private stores: profit goes to the private company, most of which are not located in Saskatchewan. Employees generally do not make much more than minimum.

Product is similar, prices are virtually the same.

I understand choosing convenience, price, selection, whatever, but principle.. doesn't make sense.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by UPP

Curious, what principle is that?

Public LB's: profit goes back to the Province, employees are paid a good living wage.

Private stores: profit goes to the private company, most of which are not located in Saskatchewan. Employees generally do not make much more than minimum.

Product is similar, prices are virtually the same.

I understand choosing convenience, price, selection, whatever, but principle.. doesn't make sense.

The principle is that the government should not be involved in the provision of basic goods and services that the private sector can provide.

There's no reason that alcohol should be retailed or wholesaled by the province. The insanely restrictive liquor laws are directly influenced by the SGLA being involved with direct to consumer sales and the SGEU's influence is also a terrible idea.

The prices are only similar because he province dictates the product price.

[UPP]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

The principle is that the government should not be involved in the provision of basic goods and services that the private sector can provide.

There's no reason that alcohol should be retailed or wholesaled by the province. The insanely restrictive liquor laws are directly influenced by the SGLA being involved with direct to consumer sales and the SGEU's influence is also a terrible idea.

The prices are only similar because he province dictates the product price.

The prices are nearly the same as Alberta where there's a private liquor store on every second corner.

It's a cash cow for the province, but if you prefer to see the profits go to the Weston family or Empire Company, then have at it.

Age restricted products, like alcohol, marijuana and gambling are usually regulated or 'influenced' by government. Even in Quebec, the SAQ is prominent. I personally don't have an issue with that.

[aberrant]

Why not nationalize all the Tim Hortons and Walmarts as well? Would be a huge boon for the province!

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

The SLGA on Quance is the busiest of the govt stores in Regina. It isn't going anywhere. As for selling warm beer, the beer companies aren't paying for their stuff to be put in the cooler.

Sure it was busy before there were 3, soon to be 4, private stores nearby. SLGA on Quance is toast.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by UPP

The prices are nearly the same as Alberta where there's a private liquor store on every second corner.

It's a cash cow for the province, but if you prefer to see the profits go to the Weston family or Empire Company, then have at it.

Age restricted products, like alcohol, marijuana and gambling are usually regulated or 'influenced' by government. Even in Quebec, the SAQ is prominent. I personally don't have an issue with that.

The government still makes the profits with its giant wholesale mark-ups and taxes. SLGA made little on actual retail operation.

[Nathan]

Originally Posted by aberrant

Why not nationalize all the Tim Hortons and Walmarts as well? Would be a huge boon for the province!

Why not privatize absolutely everything including prisons, healthcare, the military, the courts, government itself, etc? Why even bother with government at all? Who needs any form of regulation anyway?

[Festivus]

Originally Posted by Stormer

The government still makes the profits with its giant wholesale mark-ups and taxes. SLGA made little on actual retail operation.

I think of his argument was that they also pay living wages to their staff, as opposed to the minimum wage at private locations.

[Stormer]

Originally Posted by Festivus

I think of his argument was that they also pay living wages to their staff, as opposed to the minimum wage at private locations.

Not in the post I quoted. Also I do not believe these private stores pay minimum wage to most of their workers. They tend to be older and well-informed. Not that that is a valid argument anyway.

[aberrant]

Originally Posted by Nathan

Why not privatize absolutely everything including prisons, healthcare, the military, the courts, government itself, etc? Why even bother with government at all? Who needs any form of regulation anyway?

I am all for government regulation of controlled substances, and I repeatedly stand up and advocate for the SLGA's role as a regulator.

That is a lot different from retailing. Why not govt cigarette stores?

[UPP]

Originally Posted by aberrant

Why not nationalize all the Tim Hortons and Walmarts as well? Would be a huge boon for the province!

You bring up Tims and Walmart. My point is, if the price is the same between Walmart and a local company, I'd take the local one any day because the profit stays here.

If liquor retailers were local owners, I might think differently. With the alternative to government stores being big out of province companies, I'll still shop at the LB. I don't see government selling liquor as a big problem I guess. They pay good wages to employees and profits are substantial.

To each his own though.

[BrutallyDishonest2]

Originally Posted by UPP

If liquor retailers were local owners, I might think differently.

Well if that's your criteria there's lot of local ownership to go around. Urban Cellars is local. Metro has local partners. Most of the off-sales are local.

[UPP]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

Well if that's your criteria there's lot of local ownership to go around. Urban Cellars is local. Metro has local partners. Most of the off-sales are local.

I use off-sales when necessary and haven't been to Urban Cellars yet.

I've said my piece and am comfortable with my choices. You are to. Like I said, to each his own.