40 years of…….……nothing.

As you read this I want to remind you that A. Democrats have been in power 21 of the past 40 years and B. Shapp was a Democrat.

This story from 1973 illustrates that after 40 years the Union and PLCB have done almost nothing for the consumer. Let’s take the points one by one.

1.       The union proposed more stores, particularly self-service ones. Self-service stores like we have now were introduced in January of 1969 and 34 years later, or 30 years after this article was written, the last counter store finally closed. There were 750 stores in 1973 - we have 600 now. I would call that a double failure. (For those of you not old enough to remember, Pennsylvania had “Counter Stores” exclusively for the first 35 years after Repeal. You walked up to a front counter, marked a printed list of what you wanted or wrote down the code number, and gave it to the clerk, who then went into the back to get it for you. The last one closed in FY 2003-04.)

2.       Permit credit cards. While the union may have proposed this it was customers, particularly licensees that brought about this change in 1987 - 14 years later and at least 15 if not 20 years after other business of this size did. Certainly a failure at the time.

3.       Provide home delivery for large orders.  I would think that businesses would like delivery too since they place larger orders than most residents but notice how they weren’t mentioned.  A continuation of the PLCB “don’t rock the boat or we’ll screw you” policy still in effect today. In any case there is still no delivery. Another failure.

4.       Adjust markup on items.  You thought this was thought up recently didn’t you? 40 years later still nothing.  I’d call that a failure too.

5.       The union report claims that prices are no higher than in New Jersey.  Sound familiar? After 40 years the citizens still think New Jersey prices are better – mainly because it is true and the over $300 million in border bleed and the building of the outlet stores prove it.*

The fear-mongering hasn’t changed at all. Prices will go up if we raise taxes they say in the last paragraph.  Well DUH.  Don’t raise taxes, increase convenience and sales will go up and revenue will go up, border bleed will go down and everybody, especially the citizens, will be much happier that they don’t have to deal with the state store system. At least the union didn’t come up with “Privatization killed my daddy” in 1973 like they did this year although it was Wendell Young’s father in charge of the union back then.  Some things never change.

(*) For more information on outlet stores read this article

This quote is from the PLCB about the history of the PLCB. "June 3, 2003 - The PLCB opens its first PA Wine & Spirits outlet stores in Gettysburg (now closed), Hermitage and Franklin Mills. The stores, aimed at preventing customers from going out of state to buy alcohol, offer a large selection of products at discounted prices."  

Of course, this begs the question that if PA prices, selection, and service are better than surrounding states as the PLCB and Union claim…….why do we have to prevent people from going out of state?  The parenthetical information is mine.

Do you really want them in charge of "modernization" with a record like this?

Privatization IS modernization. Accept nothing less.

Worth posting: a word from an (Anonymous) LCB clerk

This comment and my response from the post just below was worth posting here on its own to get more attention. I've edited my response a little just to polish it. This...is directed at the PLCB employees. It's about how to keep your jobs, and take pride in them.

Anonymous said...
Another word to my fellow LCB employees:
You cannot, and should not, expect anyone to choose sides on the privatization debate based on our losing our jobs. On the positive side, the thing we CAN do is educate ourselves about the products we sell. Product knowledge is a skill that will serve both to break the stereotype of the potable-ignorant LCB clerk AND also to give us a strong leg-up if we end up having to apply for jobs in the private sector.


My response...
Bullseye. The service at the State Stores isn't being talked about in the high-level debate in Harrisburg, for the human and political reason that no legislator wants to be quoted criticizing people's performance, but it is definitely discussed among the people who actually have to use the system.

I've said all along that the service I've received at the register has almost always been satisfactory, and often quite friendly. But the service out on the floor is distinctly sub-par, with a very few notable exceptions. I've been given to understand that there's no real program in place to increase product knowledge, and it shows.

Your union reps may tell you what a horrible work environment Total Wine is, but fail to point out that while their employees complain about their treatment by management, they almost never fail to admit that the training they receive in wine and spirits is exemplary...and they often use it to go elsewhere.

If you get motivated about what you're selling, and get excited about helping the people who need help...that's the very best thing you can do to stop privatization. Much better than the chanting and shouting that the UFCW encourages, much better than the flimsy "control" statistics, much better than allying yourself with anti-alcohol groups (because that just emphasizes the innate and bizarre dichotomy of the whole control/sell dual nature of the agency).

If you want a "modernization" program that could actually save your jobs, look to Sweden's Systembolaget, their state monopoly wine and spirits retailer. I've heard nothing but praise for it from producers (I was on a press trip with the Swedish brand manager for Pernod Ricard, and she never stopped praising it) and from consumers; a fraternity brother of mine now lives in Stockholm -- he's very picky about wine -- and he raves about the service and selection at Systembolaget...and as a former Pennsylvanian pities me for the State Stores.

Real modernization would include linking product knowledge and sales performance to advancement, would include a wine specialist and a spirits specialist at each premium store. It would give the local store managers much more training, and much more control over what's sold at their stores. It would take the control of shelf facings away from the people in Harrisburg and give it to you, the people who are actually selling, and seeing what your customers buy, and what they're not finding.

I don't think that's likely to happen, but if it did? It would go a long way to shutting me up on this issue. It would also help if some of your co-workers would stop trying to tell me that private stores in other states aren't as good as the State Stores, because I go there, and that's simply not true. Doesn't help your case. Instead, do what you can to make your service, your store better. Just do what you can, where you are.

I don't go to New Jersey for the prices. I go for the selection, somewhat, especially on spirits, because the State Store is, for whatever reason, scared of whisky. But the main reason I avoid the State Stores is the service. I get much better, much more helpful service at the private stores in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and Delaware. Fact.

And let me add: I've already talked about how to change the State Stores and save them here. Add this stuff, and you've got a good formula for it. But...I still don't think it's going to happen. Because no one in the upper bureaucracy of the PLCB cares -- because their jobs aren't directly at risk -- and Wendell W. Young IV doesn't care, because up until now, shouting and chanting and yellow shirts and campaign donations have been all he's needed to just keep things the way they are. You're being encouraged to keep the status quo, but the status quo is what 60% of Pennsylvanians don't want (and remember: a large chunk of the 40% or so that says they're in favor of keeping the State Stores don't drink, and would really rather just have Prohibition). You can do better. You can do better on your own. Think about it.