One Stop Shops - Wine Kiosks with people.
As I pointed out in the previous blog post the PLCB said that grocery stores were clamoring to get state stores inside their premises. That was August of 2003. Jump forward a little over a year and a half to May 2005 and the PLCB says that there have been 16 approvals for a store within a store or what they call a One Stop Shop. 16 seems like a great improvement over the "6 or 7" that the Chairman mentioned in 2003. At that rate one would expect there would be well over 100 by now.
Well, unless I miscounted there are 15 One Stop Shops listed by the PLCB a decrease of 1 over the last 9 years. So it appears that the clamoring has stopped once stores found out what it is like to have the PLCB crawling around inside them. Of course, ever being on top of things, President For Life DADA Wendell Young IV said just a few days ago "...we welcome the effort to open more stores inside of or next to grocery stores." Which must be code for next to grocery stores because it is obvious the grocery stores don't want them.
Maybe those 400 sqft stores in a store that Wendell endorsed as part of "modernization" will catch on and store total will skyrocket from the 600 now to 607 or 608 which would still only be 150 or so less then there used to be. Or maybe the legislature will get a clue and realize the PLCB does nothing even remotely as well as private industry (except maybe P.O. the consumer, they excel at that) and get out the booze business. Can we really trust them to do anything for the consumer given the 60 years of past history of doing everything possible to stay in the 1950's only moving forward at the threat of their existence?
Wendell needs more members so opening more 1 stops allows for more opportunity to organize grocery stores.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't seem to be working - does it?
ReplyDeleteOther then like there is some whining you probably need to get out, what does this have to do with this day in 2014. Y'all should be planning excuse speeches. This blog needs an exit strategy before it's dumped into the scap heap of FAIL.
ReplyDeleteWhat does this have to do with 2014? Well, I'll try to reduce your ignorance. Putting stores near or in grocery stores is not only an ongoing goal of the PLCB is is also in a number of "modernization" plans and is endorsed by President for Life DADA Young. Having no real change in the number placed means you are correct. After over 30 years of trying the entire program is a FAIL for the PLCB but since there are so many you might have missed it.
ReplyDeleteStore w/in stores, Sunday stores and all the other "modernization" garbage only comes up when privatization is discussed. Other than these moments in time Wendell could care less except when he could argue for more money in the contract. The board closed more Sunday stores because they lost money but they don't say that too often. Now they think if they open more store on Sunday privatization will go away. The only thing that will go away are overall profits. The PLCB will never be in a position to effectively run a business even with the new board member. It's just a government agency!
ReplyDeleteI don't think the board closed more Sunday stores, they are over the legal limit now but since they are a monopoly they don't have to care about what is legal or not.
ReplyDeleteThey have closed 150+ regular stores though over time and that was because they couldn't afford the customer convenience.
It is all just lipstick on the PLCB pig when you look at what the private sector can do.
They closed stores under Conti because they were losing money. Because so few stores are open on Sundays people really have not changes their shopping habits. If they opened all stores on Sunday then you would see profitability rise. For Wendell and the PLCB to talk about opening more but not all stores will do little. Privatization will address this issue. And yes it is only cheap lipstick on a very fat pig!
ReplyDeleteThey did close stores under Conti but they closed a lot more before he got there. There were over 750 stores in 1973 (756 I believe but it is not a verified source) and 637 when Joe took control. He dropped it down to a low of 596 before it came up to the current 603.
ReplyDeleteIt might have gone up more but nobody would pay him to make sure a state store was put near their store.
I just wanted to say that you have made many valid and very commendable statements. Not all PLCB employees are in the dark. It is a battle against the old regimen and the new. The old are determined to see things stay the same, blame everyone else and make damn sure that they collect that big pension in the end. The newer regimen, not all, but a few are trying to make people have a voice. Speak up, say what you want. I have listened, I have tried. For some, I don't think it comes down to hours open or being in a supermarket, but the right to buy what you want, not what the state says you can have. SLO's are only available through the vendors that were approved. I think if it is best for the state of Pa, and for the residents, then yes privatize, please do! The plcb needs to have consequences for where they fail. If you were private and were missing $20,000-70,000 dollars of merchandise, you would be determined to find it. The plcb looks at it as a minor loss in the big picture. Bad management, carelessness, and total disrespect with the mentality that as a state worker you are owed much more than a paycheck and pension, and insurance. You deserve to write off a couple bottles for an upcoming family gathering. You can "borrow" funds, as long as you put them back in a timely manner. Hey, lets smoke pot and come in a little intoxicated, no one checks, plus the union has your back. The unions supporters are those that you would never want to hire. I am comfortable without support of a union, with a retirement plan that is earned and will not drag Pa into a slump. I am comfortable being held accountable by Pa residents into doing what is best. If you only knew how bad it really was, how wasteful and how much the system is abused. When I first started I was told all the good the revenue from the plcb does. I would like to think it was true but so many lies are told, and so many mistakes are pushed aside. I would go to Delaware or NJ for Johnnie Walker Blue too. But hey, we have to keep those prices high to cover all the bottles that walk out the back door, instead of the front door. Ever really look at some of the employees? Some look, smell, and don't have a pot to piss in, but state that they love top shelf wine and spirits. Plcb stands upon being "responsible" but our wine/ spirit educator tells us we are salespeople. Confusion, smoke and mirrors. Best thing for everyone is to educate yourself, keep informed and question the discrepancies. Corbett was wrong about selling the lottery and the turnpike, but.... The plcb is an agency that is trying to police themselves, that never works. Make a vote that strikes power. A vote that says you want alcohol at any hour of the day or night, seems like that of an alcoholic. A vote that says I want competitive prices, product that I want, and jobs to go to workers is far more superior. There are some good in the system, remember that. Just those in power positions have a eye on the prize. That pension is a damning thing, and they truly believe each store belongs to them, not the people. Keep facts involved.
ReplyDeleteI think that last anon was Mike Turdzai.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any idea how stupid and childish you look (and make your 'cause' look) when you say stuff like "Turdzai"? Most of us outgrow that kind of humor in 5th grade. Grow up.
ReplyDeleteWell Thank you for that compliment. No, not him, even though I wish I was in a position to make a change that would be best for everyone. But I do have voice. There is one huge thing that separates most people. Those that only can think what they have been told to think, and those who LISTEN and then think for ourselves. This isn't a Democrat or Republican issue. This is" lets weigh the pros and cons and make the best decision". If the PLCB can't admit what they are doing wrong, and actually change, then "fold your cards" . When someone says you're dead, you're dead. If they want to stay afloat, then dismiss the union, get rid of the old regimen, 401 plans in place and start working on a respectable image. Done, I work with these lazy ass people all day at the plcb, they are institutionalized.
ReplyDeleteAre you able to respond to posts without an email address?
ReplyDeleteTo whom are you asking that question?
ReplyDelete