It's a last call for alcohol. Customers walking into Delhi Liquor, and other Ohio liquor stores, are being greeted by an unusual sight this week.
Displays are sporting "clearance" signs, as employees stack shelves of discount vodka, tequila, gin, rum, and more.
It's highly unusual in a state known for strict control of liquor prices, with markdowns virtually unheard of...until now.
Save as much as $30 per bottle
Jim Leisring was among the first buyers of the marked down bottles at the Delhi Township liquor store.
"I think it's a great deal," he said. "If there's something that I'd be interested in and I can get a good deal on it, I'm going to do that."
Store owner Richard Patel says you can save as much as $30 per bottle. "This is a really good savings right now with the discounted prices" he said.
What's on sale, what's not
If you've been hoping to find your favorite brand of straight Kentucky bourbon on sale, you'll probably be disappointed.
This is really just about clearing out flavored liquors that hadn't been selling that well across the state. Like unwanted holiday clothing, stores will be clearing them out in the coming days, making way for newer, more popular brands
More than 700 items have been marked for final clearance, according to Ohio's State Liquor Superintendent Jim Canepa.
"It's basic retail 101," he explained via Skype. "The things that are in demand stay and get put on the shelves, the things that are not in demand that don't sell get moved off the shelf for things that sell."
Later in the year, he said, more slow selling liquors will go on clearance.
The discounts even apply to top shelf name brands, such as Stolichnaya, Gordon's, and Kahlua.
So if you don't mind raspberry vodka or grapefruit rum, this is a rare chance to buy marked down liquor in Ohio, a state known for the strictest of price controls.
"You don't see a discount on liquor often," Leisring said, waiting in the checkout line. He's right, making this the rare opportunity to bargain shop for booze.
As always, drink responsibly, and don't waste your money.
___________________
“Don't Waste Your Money” is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. (“Scripps”).
"Like" John Matarese on Facebook
Follow John on Twitter (@JohnMatarese)
Sign up for John's free newsletterbyclicking here
For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com
Click here for more WCPO.com consumer reports
Contact John at jmatarese@wcpo.com
