Alcohol
Special Orders
While the Division maintains a diverse selection of listed liquor products, occasionally customers request products not currently listed in Iowa. Such requests are referred to as special orders. Special orders are non-listed products not stocked in the warehouse nor listed in the Division price book for order on demand. As the Division cannot store products that are unique and infrequently requested, they can be obtained on an individual basis through the special order program.
Special order requests are placed with Division’s online order entry or directly to the special order manager by phone, fax, or e-mail. Special order requests should be specific as to correct product name, brand, size and supplier if known.
When a product is not on file, it must be located via supplier contacts, reference lists or the internet for availability. If a U.S. supplier is found and a product is not available or a supplier cannot be found, the customer is informed the product is not available at that time. If additional information regarding availability is obtained at a later date, the Division will attempt to contact the customer to follow up on the request.
Specially ordered products can take on average six weeks for delivery into the Division warehouse. Delivery times vary as some suppliers ship more frequently or need less lead time to process special orders than others. When received by the Division, the product is scheduled for shipment to the customer on the next order delivery day. Returns are not accepted on special order products unless deemed appropriate by the Division.
Special orders may be placed for an individual consumer or for placement on store shelves. Special orders can provide a unique product for the store, introduce a new product into the market or expand a product line with various sizes. Special orders can create a demand for a product thus leading to a listing in the regular system. The program has been very successful and mutually rewarding for the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division and its customers.
