Trader Joe's in Louisville

[Robin Garr]

It's Five Buck Chuck Now?

I know it isn't Two Buck Chuck anymore but I was thinking it was still at least Three or Four Buck Chuck...

It was never Two Buck Chuck anywhere but in California, where wine is a powerful lobby and laws are different. TJ's there can be wholesaler and retailer, cutting out one of the three traditional "tiers" of alcohol distribution. It chose to pass the savings along to the customer and sold Charles Shaw wines at its wholesale cost. That's not legal in the other 49 states, where the distributors get their "vig."

It's Five Buck Chuck Now?

I know it isn't Two Buck Chuck anymore but I was thinking it was still at least Three or Four Buck Chuck...

It was never Two Buck Chuck anywhere but in California, where wine is a powerful lobby and laws are different. TJ's there can be wholesaler and retailer, cutting out one of the three traditional "tiers" of alcohol distribution. It chose to pass the savings along to the customer and sold Charles Shaw wines at its wholesale cost. That's not legal in the other 49 states, where the distributors get their "vig."

"Vig"??? Nice little store youse got there. Too bad if anything happened to it.

[Robin Garr]

"Vig"??? Nice little store youse got there. Too bad if anything happened to it.

I wouldn't want to draw guilt by association, Jon, as it's been some 80 years ago now, but many of today's liquor distributors do trace their roots back to Non-Governmental Organizations that ran the business during Prohibition and went legit after Repeal.

Aldi sells a store brand wine for $3.99/bottle...I always wondered if it's the same thing with a different label, since the two stores are related.

"Vig"??? Nice little store youse got there. Too bad if anything happened to it.

I wouldn't want to draw guilt by association, Jon, as it's been some 80 years ago now, but many of today's liquor distributors do trace their roots back to Non-Governmental Organizations that ran the business during Prohibition and went legit after Repeal.

Naw, I would never draw an association like that. I just like anyone who uses vig or vigorish as effortlessly as say, Elmore Leonard.

[Robin Garr]

I just like anyone who uses vig or vigorish as effortlessly as say, Elmore Leonard.

A little literary device, nothing more ...

I just like anyone who uses vig or vigorish as effortlessly as say, Elmore Leonard.

A little literary device, nothing more ...

Ah, such modesty.

It's Five Buck Chuck Now?

I know it isn't Two Buck Chuck anymore but I was thinking it was still at least Three or Four Buck Chuck...

It was never Two Buck Chuck anywhere but in California, where wine is a powerful lobby and laws are different. TJ's there can be wholesaler and retailer, cutting out one of the three traditional "tiers" of alcohol distribution. It chose to pass the savings along to the customer and sold Charles Shaw wines at its wholesale cost. That's not legal in the other 49 states, where the distributors get their "vig."

Robin,
Are you sure? I swear I bought it for $2 in NJ 15 years ago. But, then again, I've lost a lot of brain cells since then...

See you tonight!
Deb

[Robin Garr]

Are you sure? I swear I bought it for $2 in NJ 15 years ago. But, then again, I've lost a lot of brain cells since then...

What I said is the conventional story, Deb. $2 in California, where TJ can be wholesaler and retailer; more in the other 49, where transportation and "vig" have to be taken into account.

But it's certainly not impossible, at least in states where below-cost retail is legal (not so for alcohol in Kentucky), that a TJs could put it up as a loss leader.

It's Five Buck Chuck Now?

I know it isn't Two Buck Chuck anymore but I was thinking it was still at least Three or Four Buck Chuck...

I'm just dumb, carry on without me.

They didn't have it in Nashville, so I never could buy it. I just believe in the rumors. It's why I've got that Bigfoot trap in my backyard.

Winking Owl wine is $2.69/bottle at the Aldi in New Albany.

It's Five Buck Chuck Now?

I know it isn't Two Buck Chuck anymore but I was thinking it was still at least Three or Four Buck Chuck...

It was never Two Buck Chuck anywhere but in California, where wine is a powerful lobby and laws are different. TJ's there can be wholesaler and retailer, cutting out one of the three traditional "tiers" of alcohol distribution. It chose to pass the savings along to the customer and sold Charles Shaw wines at its wholesale cost. That's not legal in the other 49 states, where the distributors get their "vig."

"Vig"??? Nice little store youse got there. Too bad if anything happened to it.

great! i see what you did there, lol