# Return to a liquor store because you can't stand the taste? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 23, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717 "2013-06-23T18:52:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/61 "2013-06-24T21:33:48Z")
> [@Alley\_Dweller](#): > > [Vinny’s Beverage Depot, Chicago](http://www.binnys.com/partyplanning): Binny’s. And I can confirm that they do accept liquor returns on unopened bottles for events, as our wedding was stocked courtesy of them. (I opted to keep all the undrunk liquor, though. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/62 "2013-06-24T22:38:10Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Binny’s. And I can confirm that they do accept liquor returns on unopened bottles for events, as our wedding was stocked courtesy of them. (I opted to keep all the undrunk liquor, though. 🙂 ) Events may well be a different story. I can envision a technicality where it isn’t actually sold until it’s opened. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/63 "2013-06-24T23:25:58Z")
Sometimes it’s not only allowed, but [encourged](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=678125) I went to the beer distributor a week ago, they didn’t have what I wanted so I was looking around to see what to get when the owner suggested I try something, go home & drink one, if you don’t like it bring the case back for an exchange; that he’d rather have a happy customer. They also have a “swap shelf” where you pay; open your case & swap a bottle for one of what someone else left previously. I know this isn’t allowed by PA law. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/64 "2013-06-25T01:22:41Z")
> [@ombre12](#): > > I tried mixing some of that coconut flavored vodka with a beer. > > Wasn’t half bad. Did make for a very strong beer with a somewhat malty flavor. But will definitely not go to waste. > > Problem solved. Will give the wife another $15 to buy something she likes in flavored vodkas. On the one hand, that sounds gross. On the other, I can’t stand beer so figure “eh, it can’t be worse.” Along the same lines, while I’m not surprised coconut-flavored vodka tastes bad, I’d think it would be a decent mixer. I’d probably try it with punch or coffee. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/65 "2013-06-25T01:45:19Z")
> [@ombre12](#): > > I would have talked her out of the “demanding” part. > > But I didn’t think it was doable in any way. > > From legal and other answers on this board I’m sure it isn’t really doable. > > I think I may grow to like coconut flavored vodka in my beer. if you get sick of it in your beer, try some of these recipies. > **[Coconut vodka drink recipes - Drinknation.com](https://www.drinknation.com/drinks/ingredient/vodka-coconut)** > > List of drink recipes that contain Coconut vodka. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/66 "2013-06-25T13:19:35Z")
Seriously? You’re taking back a 1.75 liter bottle that costs $15? Just pour that shit out- it’s the cheap stuff to begin with; that may be a big part of the reason nobody likes it. Reasonably non-awful liquor ought to be at about a minimum price point of $15 / 750 ml bottle- in the ballpark of Cruzan rum, New Amsterdam gin, etc… with “good” liquor starting somewhere around $20 and going up from there. Life’s too short to drink cheap booze! ---
**Author:** ![ombre12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d26b3c/32.png) [@ombre12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ombre12)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/67 "2013-06-25T13:23:58Z")
Well, it was on sale. I think list price was in the low $20’s. But that was probably why it was on sale anyway…no one could stand to drink it. ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/68 "2013-06-25T13:27:46Z")
Irish people don’t suffer from embarrassment? ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/69 "2013-06-25T13:51:25Z")
I’m Irish and I’m embarrassed for the OP’s wife. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/70 "2013-06-25T13:53:55Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Seriously? You’re taking back a 1.75 liter bottle that costs $15? Just pour that shit out- it’s the cheap stuff to begin with; that may be a big part of the reason nobody likes it. This. You people returning stuff just because you don’t like it are being high maintenance cheap drama queens. It’s costing all of us because of higher prices at the grocery store to make up for your buyers remorse. ---
**Author:** ![ombre12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d26b3c/32.png) [@ombre12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ombre12)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/71 "2013-06-25T14:30:31Z")
Well, I only did it one time for some expensive coffee that was undrinkable (for me) at a major supermarket. I was nice about it. Didn’t demand anything. They offered a refund…was probably store policy to keep happy customers coming back. And it worked. I do shop there often. I just figured it was a whole different thing at a liquor store…wanted to get some info from here before either my wife or I even attempted it. And I got good advice from you all. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/72 "2013-06-25T16:10:11Z")
If I were the liquor store owner, I would happily give your wife a refund and would be very cheerful about doing so. The reason is this. When you sell stuff to the public, you have to deal with a lot of jerks. If you sell computer motherboards, some idiot will hook the thing up completely wrong and fry it, then return it as defective. If you sell clothes, someone will wear your clothes to a party then return them with wine stains on them. If you sell consumable goods like food or drinks, someone will return it after it’s opened and can’t be sold again for stupid reasons like they just didn’t like it. You have to factor in the jerks into your profit margin. So, let’s say a particular jerk buys a bottle of your finest $15 piss juice and decides that they don’t like it. As a store manager you have two choices. You can just eat the $15, which is a very small part of your total daily sales, and make the customer happy (even though they are wrong), and hopefully the customer will come back and buy more stuff and the profit from that will eventually cover your $15 loss anyway. Or you can refuse the refund, in which case the jerk gets mad and doesn’t buy anything else, and you save yourself $15 but cost yourself all future profits from the jerk. Also, if you refuse the refund, you risk pissing off anyone else in earshot (who may not know the full story and only knows that you are being mean to an upset customer), and the jerk will tell all of her friends what an a-hole you are and that they should also never shop in your store. In the long term, which one is better for your store? Just give the jerk the refund. And be happy about it, so you don’t piss them off. Of course that doesn’t make it right to be a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/73 "2013-06-25T16:47:37Z")
The earlier advice about buying in smaller quantities when buying on an experimental basis seems pretty commonsensical. Just because consumers have a little bit of leverage in the transaction doesn’t mean that it’s right for them to exercise it frivolously. ---
**Author:** ![Sally\_Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/74 "2013-06-25T17:19:27Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > So, let’s say a particular jerk buys a bottle of your finest $15 piss juice and decides that they don’t like it. As a store manager you have two choices. You can just eat the $15, which is a very small part of your total daily sales, and make the customer happy (even though they are wrong), and hopefully the customer will come back and buy more stuff and the profit from that will eventually cover your $15 loss anyway. I get what you’re saying, but on the other hand, if you refund a purchase just because the customer didn’t care for it, you run the risk of them assuming that they can then buy and return with impunity from then on. “But you let me return an opened bottle of your finest piss juice last time!!!” People can be jerks. ---
**Author:** ![ombre12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d26b3c/32.png) [@ombre12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ombre12)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/75 "2013-06-25T17:50:17Z")
This thread has no end to it, does it? Maybe if I stop posting it will die a merciful death. But here is one more. One of the previous posters reminded me of when I used to work for Sears in appliance repair. Motto above door was satisfaction guaranteed or your money back, or something like that. The rationale behind it, as explained to us employees, was that you would get a few jerks who took advantage of the policy. But for every jerk there were 100’s of very decent people who would not even think of doing something like that. The jerk would brag to all his acquaintances about how he so cleverly ripped off Sears. All those acquaintances would retell the story to their acquaintances. And on and on. Sears figured it was the best word of mouth advertising in the world. Because of that one jerk the store got 100’s of new customers. Here is a personal story…will try not to get too longuish. …I worked mostly A/C and refrigeration. Once I had a service call on a refrigerator. Frosted up and not cooling. Problem turned out to be a burned out contact type defrost heater. Customer refused to pay, said the same thing happened a couple years ago. Checked his receipt and it was three years ago. Also it was the defrost timer that went bad that time…completely unrelated. I told him he’d have to pay or I wouldn’t fix it. (We had a large leeway in the field as to what we decided in cases like this…but we weren’t supposed to give away the store without approval) He said " I’m not paying for nothin’. I’m going to call the President of Sears collect right now and you’ll see" Well, I started working on the repair rather than sit there and do nothing. Figured there was no way he was going to get through to the CEO of Sears calling collect. After about 10 minutes he walks up to me and says “Someone wants to talk to you” Turns out he didn’t actually get the CEO, but he did get one of the Vice Presidents. He asked me who I was and I told him. He asked me how I was doing and I said “Fine sir” Actually I was in no way “fine”. Was quaking in my boots a little bit. He said "I have no idea what this is about and don’t want to know. Just give this asshole anything he wants " I said " Yes Sir". So I did the whole repair for free, with the customer the whole time standing over my shoulder with a self satisfied smirk on his face. He was certain in his own mind that I had gotten royally chewed out by a big shot from Sears. I wished I could have told him what the VP actually said, but as the saying goes…“i may be dumb but I ain’t stoopid” And an old fashioned contact style defrost heater is one the nastiest jobs there is in refrigeration. Takes a couple hours, including removing frost. You have to very carefully bend the evaporator out to very carefully pry the defrost heater out of its channels on the back side. You have to be super careful not to overwork the delicate cap tube connection and break it off==new refrigerator time usually. And at the end if the job your arms are covered with cuts from the very sharp evaporator fins. One of the longest 2 hours in my life. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/76 "2013-06-25T20:37:10Z")
> [@Sally\_Mander](#): > > I get what you’re saying, but on the other hand, if you refund a purchase just because the customer didn’t care for it, you run the risk of them assuming that they can then buy and return with impunity from then on. “But you let me return an opened bottle of your finest piss juice last time!!!” > People can be jerks. Yeah, but that’s sort of part and parcel with working retail. Truth is, you meet a lot of jerks because you meet a lot of people. In general, the percentage is the same as other walks of life. In business you allow for it - at the time, we had a worksheet category (“coupon2”) that was basically for writing off jerk-encounters. I don’t think it was ever more than $30 a month. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/77 "2013-06-26T01:40:32Z")
Surprisingly it looks like you can [return](http://www.finewineandgoodspirits.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HelpView?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10051) purchases in PA for up to 90 days and get a refund (after that it’s a gift card), even without a receipt. I guess the LCB is really despite to fight off privatization. Of course it doesn’t specify whether or not opened merchandise can be returned. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/78 "2013-06-26T21:17:23Z")
> [@ombre12](#): > > Her idea is to take it back to the liquor store and demand her money back. She has done this many times at grocery stores and it has always worked for her. The grocery stores just “ate it” I guess just to keep a customer happy. But we are talking about a lot less money than $15 for one item at a liquor store. > > I don’t think liquor stores act that way. I think she will just embarrass herself by even asking for a refund. The notion of returning a partially consumed bottle of any beverage just because I don’t like the taste, would never occur to me; similarly with any kind of packaged food item. Frankly I’d be embarrassed. On the other hand, if I’ve bought two or more bottles or packages, then of course I’ll get a refund or store credit for any unopened containers. (Owners of finicky cats will be intimately familiar with this procedure.) > [@](#): > > On a side note…Anyone know what could mix with a coconut flavored vodka that would make it palatable? Some tropical style mixed cocktail perhaps? One might be served in an actual coconut in a beach bar? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/79 "2013-06-26T21:24:51Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > On the other hand, if I’ve bought two or more bottles or packages, then of course I’ll get a refund or store credit for any unopened containers. (Owners of finicky cats will be intimately familiar with this procedure.) ETA: If the container or product are demonstrably defective or spoiled, then of course I’ll return it. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717/80 "2013-06-26T21:29:11Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > The notion of returning a partially consumed bottle of any beverage just because I don’t like the taste, would never occur to me; similarly with any kind of packaged food item. Frankly I’d be embarrassed. On the other hand, if I’ve bought two or more bottles or packages, then of course I’ll get a refund or store credit for any unopened containers. (Owners of finicky cats will be intimately familiar with this procedure.) That’s the way I’d treat the situation as well. It’s not the store’s fault or problem that I bought something that I ended up not liking, and they shouldn’t lose money because of my bad choice. I understand why the store would take it back anyway, but it seems like either extraordinary hubris or monumental assholery to expect them to take it back in that situation and get upset if they don’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/return-to-a-liquor-store-because-you-cant-stand-the-taste/661717.md?page=5)