BCLDB out of touch

As someone that works in the industry, I can tell you first hand that the responses you presented in your article are the exception. The majority of public are confused and outraged by the shock of price differentiation betweens advertised price aka shelf price and actual cost, i.e. point of purchase. This highlights how out of touch the BCLDB is with retail. They did not consult industry or consumers with this change and are bucking the trend in government mandated regulations where the price advertised is the price paid: take the way airfares are advertised for example. If a crown corporation wants to play retailer, why are they making it harder for the consumer. 

As someone in the industry, I think it is fiscally irresponsible for these stores to be publicly funded and run on a margin that barely covers operating cost. Moreover, the BCLDB, is extending their operating hours and adding coolers, which only drives up the operating costs. At their current margins, the tax payer and potential consumer will assume their myopic and poorly planned business strategy. The overt realist in me sees their pricing structure as a way to raise margin while hiding behind a cheaper appearing shelf price. Businesses savvy but incredibly sleezeballish for a tax payer funded operation. Not to mention, they force the hand of private retail liquor establishments to follow suit. 

In the end, everyone loses: tax payer, consumer, BCLDB.

Nealo Brown