Here in the south, where there are still dry counties, it is the guys with county line stores that gladly give kickbacks to help ensure the dry counties stay dry.

The current Chairman of the Board was selected because he’s good buddies with our Govenor (not sure what he actually knew about the business beforehand) even thought the previous Chairman was doing a good (good for government at least) job.

Yeah, those overpaid clerks are just sucking up tons of cash aren’t they dsmallwood?

I worked for a summer as a clerk (this was about 10 years ago) and their union wasn’t very powerful. In fact they had been working without a contract for about 2 years at that point. That may have changed since.

Based on what I saw, it would be much better to privitize them and dump the PLCB – it’s safe to say that the price would come down plus it would be much more convienient to be able to shop for liquor at Wal-Mart instead of the current system:
many stores for groceries, one store for wine/liquor, one store for beer by the keg/case or a different store for beer by the 6-pack.

What’s funny is that of all of the retail jobs I had, customers were politest at the liquor store…probably because they didn’t want to get cut off from their booze supply. I’m surprised that the PLCB thinks that it’s losing customers – where are they going to go? I wouldn’t be surprised if this marketing firm has good relations with the upper management of the PLCB.

#19 Nancy Lebovitz

Dave, you could try it, but the actual effect would be employees having to guess what you mean by “courteous”. Even if it’s very vivid in your mind, the concept doesn’t automatically transfer because they’ve read a word and a threat from you.

That’s true. I single memo wouldn’t suddenly make everyone warm and personable. But, I think the reminder that their employment is contingent on their behavior can work wonders.

In general, I think people know when they’re being courteous and employers know when their employees are trying to comply with the requirements of the job. On the other hand, I think some employers are saddled with so much red tape in the firing process that employees know they can’t fired for anything short of a crime (almost).

I’m a big proponent of the strategy of taking one or two problem people out in the parking lot and shooting them as an example for others. Figuratively speaking, of course.

But you are correct that it’s not fair to expect employees to read your mind and automatically know what to do to meet your expectations. You need to provide them with the details they need to comply.

I employ people, and I find that courtesy and clear explanations work rather well.

As for the PA state liquor store program, the first thing I noticed was that nothing was being spent on teaching the staff about what they’re selling.

What I want is a Trader Joe’s that sells wine– nice wines, low prices, I don’t have to know anything because they’re all decent.

What I get is state stores with a huge selection, but I can easily spend more than I do at TJ’s and get something really mediocre.

But everyone was friendly accept the part ranger who ticketed us for drinking on park property. Not underage drinking mind you, just on state property. My guess is the state makes more money from a quick ticket than an arrest, trial, and fine.

Ahh memories….

They are a little odd, though. Frequently grizzled and just a bit disheveled, bad teeth are common and their eyes have a bit of a distant look … as though they’ve been to the edge of their existence and stared into the boozy abyss once too often. I wonder if their homes are in a refrigerator box in a back alley or under an overpass somewhere. Seriously, the employees of a state store are a much more cynical cross-section of the population than any boutique that hires “pretty people” to interact with customers. More than once, I’ve thought that the people selling me my marsala do so as part of a state-sponsored rehabilitation program — dangling candy in front of sugar-addicted children — to tempt them into crossing a line so justification can be found to bury them forever in a dark dungeon for drunkards.

We only sell beer by the case because a six pack isn’t enough to forget the misery in this economy.

May I suggest a lottery ticket with that keg?

Would like one for the road?

Paper or plastic?

Bye bye, come again. We know you will because you have no choice.

Everyone wins!

If you ever want a lesson in the differences between privately run with competition and public ownership with no competition just walk six blocks from the private liquor store to the public liquor store. You go from bright, large selection and friendly to dreary, poor selection, and unfriendly.

I could’ve accomplished the same thing by having the employees watch clips of Apu on The Simpsons, and I would’ve charged a lot less than $173,000.

One difference is, of course, that the private enterprises don’t need to disclose the expense. Just saying.

Obligatory: I think state-owned liquor stores are a waste of time and money; totally unnecessary; and at best an anachronism. It’s just that, for this _particular_ criticism to work I’d have to be shown that the expense is greater than that of a comparable private industry.