r/beer • u/Snoo_64827 • 2d ago
Online Alcohol Delivery: Convenient or Not? Lets Discuss.
I'm curious about people's experiences with ordering alcohol online. Do you find it convenient? Are there any challenges or benefits you've encountered?
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u/Hotchi_Motchi 2d ago
I'll let you know when it becomes legal in my state. I would assume that it really interferes with impulse purchases or serendipitous discoveries at the liquor store.
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u/bdrwr 2d ago
Convenient, yes, but just like with ordering GrubHub, you have to pay for delivery plus tip on top of the actual goods. For that reason alone I almost never order delivery. If I can get it myself, I will. I'd only order alcohol online if there was a specific item I was having trouble finding in stores.
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u/Ok_Entertainer7945 1d ago
Only worth it if you can get some awesome stuff you can’t find at any local places. Also was great during Covid.
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u/ChemistryNo3075 1d ago
Only worth it to get things unavailable in your local market. And the cost makes that occasional splurge, not a regular purchase.
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u/pieman3141 2d ago
I do this for cider and some liquors, typically. The major in-province cider/liquor producers are about a day's drive away from me, so ordering online is easier. Craft cider isn't sold at very many stores near where I live, so that's another reason why ordering online is easier. Plus, I can pay the producers directly rather than pay a store. Not too much downsides aside from having to pay above a certain amount for "free shipping" to kick in.
Craft beer, on the other hand, is common and easy to get. There's no benefit to ordering online, and the downsides are that it's more expensive to order from a local store/brewery than it is to walk into a store and pick up a pack of beer.
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u/WinterWick 2d ago
If I'm getting groceries delivered through Walmart+ I'll add beer sometimes, but I've never had a service like Drizzly or whatever
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u/AL-KINDA 2d ago
i did it on a holiday once, it was like 4X the actual price on the shelf. i was upset
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u/ghostboo77 2d ago
I do it when I have parties and order $300+ worth of booze. The store is 15 minutes away and they offer the service online, directly from the store.
Saves like an hour of my time and it’s nice to be able to shop online. The store is also the cheapest around, so I don’t mind paying the delivery fee.
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u/Mead_Man_Detroit 2d ago
We can't here in Michigan, you have to be present to purchase. It sounds great, though.
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u/rareguMby 2d ago
Only order when you’re too far gone to drive and need some more brews for the night.
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u/SayVandalay 2d ago
In beginning of pandemic ordered from a distributor like 3 hrs away that long offered (but didn’t know until pandemic) beer by courier, it was delayed and overpriced but in a pinch was ok. They did do a good job packing the beer though After that saw few local breweries were delivering locally so just did that and thanks to local news found out about new ones. At one point a chain brewery was selling everything from toilet paper to canned tomato sauce early in pandemic for pick up, wild times. Also got more into Tavour. Gopuff is ok in a pinch but overpriced.
I think overall it’s a hassle , Tavour at least offers craft beer and special releases I can’t get otherwise but you pay a premium. In pandemic days Tavour still used a courier service that sucked but now use UPS and it’s an improvement but now I just use them for cellar beers I can’t get locally. I still support locals that deliver but I think others are overpriced for stuff you can get in your local distributor or supermarket. I sometimes use GoPuff but recently learned I can pick it up from them which kind of makes them redundant.
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u/MoreOfAGrower 2d ago
I order most of my beer for delivery now. Only inconvenient part is that I need to be home when it’s delivered, but it hasn’t really been a problem. And it saves me a lot of time not having to drive an hour or more to get beers I want. Plus I know what I’m getting when I order online. It sucks driving all the way to a brewery and their selection is weak at that moment. Plus I’m able to get Trillium delivered from 5 states away….
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u/chrisjoneschrisjones 2d ago
Never had an issue ordering through Total Wine. It’s usually free plus I add a tip. I also use RetailMeNot or Upromise when they have 8-15% cash back.
I occasionally get groceries delivered through Whole Foods and add beer as that one carries Weihenstephaner Hefe, Bitburger and Pilsner Urquell. Pricing is the same as going to pick it up and saves me a 10 miles trip, just add a tip for the driver here as well.
Overall, totally worth it in time saved and gas for a negligible additional cost.
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u/shotgundug13 2d ago
I've ordered several bottles of bourbon online and never had an issue. Shipping is usually a little more but it's worth it to make sure the bottle is packed properly. They all say an adult signature is required, but I've never had to sign for it, FedEx even gave my 10yo the package last time.
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u/im_with_the_cats 2d ago
I used DoorDash for a last minute Christmas present, and also when I just didn't want to drive all the way to the store. It works for what it is designed for, convenience.
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u/methheadhitman 2d ago
From time to time, I'll order from Other Half and a couple of bourbon groups. I don't mind paying the shipping to get stuff interesting/can't get where I live. Everything from them are packaged nicely and arrives within a week and a half.
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u/platinumpt 1d ago
I used to use it to buy Friday afternoon drinks for the work fridge, when it started off, it was organised and drivers all had sack trucks, commercial vehicles suitable for the loading zones, etc.
Now delivery is outsourced on a 'rideshare' type model, the drivers all hate parking in the city, don't have any idea what to do with a few boxes by themselves, and so call you to meet them on the street to 'help', and hand you like 3 cartons of beer and drive off.
Now I just go pick it up and drop it off on the weekend, less stress and effort.
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u/goodolarchie 1d ago
DTC from out of state breweries is great in the Oct-Mar months. People crave novelty and shipping has gotten reasonable on a couple 4 packs. The only thing that has made it prohibitive is the stupid three tier laws and interstate commerce clause restrictions (which don't exist as prevalently for cider and wine, mind you).
If you're talking about "I'm too lazy to drive to the store to buy a local 6 pack," beer runs are about the only thing that keep even a functioning alcoholic functional. If you lose that? God help you. Drinking alone and at home instead of going out is how people end up dying in their 30's and 40's of this great hobby.
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u/Roguewolfe 1d ago
If you're doing market research, which you obviously are, you really should be upfront and honest about it and who you are associated with.
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u/_HeyBob 1d ago
I've doordashed alcohol before. Wife and I were in the pool and realized we didn't buy enough rum for pool drinks. Looked at the up charge for the delivery and decided the up charge was better than a DUI, accident or killing someone. Was a good, expensive decision. Haven't had to do it again, but would if I was in a similar situation.
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u/malachiconstant11 2d ago
I don't think it's worth it. I have been at parties where they ordered it and after like 30 mins I walked to the store, got stuff, walked back and saved the party. The delivery showed up like 2 hours later and had a huge markup plus tip. So it's not great overall. I am assuming alcoholics with a DUI are the main ones keeping that business going.
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u/47D 2d ago
Usually these delivery services charge extra for Alcohol, plus the delivering fee and tip. It's really not worth it if trying to save money.