wineismylife 
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts: 12487
 | | 06-05-2006 01:42 AM |
| Quote:
Yes we have already decided the policy is ok, but not what she said. If a homless person asks you money and you, instead of say: "Sorry it's not a good time.", saying " I'm better than you, get out of my way you smelly street rat."
Break down her sentance. "It's only for big dogs." implies "You are not a big dog." How does she know he's not a big dog and just moved to the area? How does she know hes not a billionair who gives 10 million dollars a year to starving kids in Africa? She didn't say "Only loyal customers", or "Only customers who have invested highly in our wine shop.", she said that he's not rich enough, or important enough to get KB.
The other part of her sentance: "Only they get any." implies "You dont get any." Too blunt and insulting.
As was said 10 times in this thread already, its not what she said, but how she said it. But people keep posting defending the policy, when thats not the issue. This lady should be fired.
Over the top, misspelled, gramatically incorrect and off target. Next? | | | Joe-----Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts: 11169
| | 06-05-2006 01:43 AM |
| If she hasn't been spending much money in the store, she is a small dog. If you want to be a big dog and get the special wines, you have to earn it. I get wines that aren't put out on display. I've earned that privilege by spending money in the store. Small dogs don't get it, but small dogs can become big dogs if they continue to patronize the store and spend enough to earn the promotion. You're excoriating a store employee for doing nothing wrong. You also have not heard her side of the story. In almost any dispute, the person telling the story tells it to their advantage. | | | |
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Winegeek
San Francisco
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1533
| | 06-05-2006 01:59 AM |
| Quote:
So nobody in this thread has any problem with what transpired in all of this including the practice of saving certain wines for the best customers ....
I take it you do have a problem. If it were your business, how would you handle the situation?
Richard | | | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts: 12487
| | 06-05-2006 02:19 AM |
| Quote:
Quote:
So nobody in this thread has any problem with what transpired in all of this including the practice of saving certain wines for the best customers ....
I take it you do have a problem. If it were your business, how would you handle the situation?
Richard
Richard, please clarify. Are you asking if I have a problem with the practice of holding back wine for preferred customers or how the manager handled the situation? | | | Joe-----Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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Dave Tong
Santa Clara, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1336
| | 06-05-2006 04:46 AM |
| It's impossible to judge the situation just from the words used.
Depending on how they were spoken the person could have meant "Don't bother me, you scruffy little oik" or "Really sorry about this, but it's the store policy". And it wouldn't have mattered if they'd said "The KB is all spoken for", because that could have been said the same ways.
At least this way you know that if you are in the $10-20K range they'll look after you, if not then they won't. | | http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog.
http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley
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BellaDonna
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1890
| | 06-05-2006 05:30 AM |
| Well the funny thing about the whole "big dog" thing is that I am a "big dog" at another store. I started out there (at the other store) asking for a bottle or two of Turley (something that is rare in Texas). They not only had some but gave it to me...I had never bought a bottle from them before. Before I knew it, this relationship blossomed and I'm buying 75-85% of my wine from them...making me a "big dog." Now would I be a "big dog" at this store if they had told me "No, you can't have any of this Turley since you don't spend 10-20K here"? Heck no. It was one small sale that got the ball rolling and it is the ongoing customer service that I receive from them that has made me a lifelong customer. | | | |
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Winegeek
San Francisco
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1533
| | 06-05-2006 02:43 PM |
| Quote:
Richard, please clarify. Are you asking if I have a problem with the practice of holding back wine for preferred customers or how the manager handled the situation?
I assume we can all agree that the manager handled the situation poorly - making a customer feel small and worthless is never a good idea - but as a retailer I'm curious how you would allocate the hard-to-get wines if you owned the store.
Richard | | | |
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Sacred Cow
Wine Thief
Posts: 2764
| | 06-05-2006 02:47 PM |
| FWIW, if I owned the store I would allocate to the big spenders too. The only question is the dollar amount of the cutoff.
I had a friend who asked Applejack about their Screagle allocation a few years back. The wine manager told him they get a case each year. Unless you spent at least $10K PER MONTH you were not even considered for a bottle.
And so it goes.
Mike | | | |
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Binski
South Bay
Grape Fermenter
Posts: 457
| | 06-05-2006 03:57 PM |
| It's not what you know, but who you know. Good customers are loyal. If you show up once every 6 months and you ask for some for high scoring wines that never hits the floor, you most likely are not going to get it. PERIOD! | | | "Why Keep Score if you are not going to play by the rules?" | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts: 12487
| | 06-05-2006 04:28 PM |
| Quote:
Quote:
Richard, please clarify. Are you asking if I have a problem with the practice of holding back wine for preferred customers or how the manager handled the situation?
I assume we can all agree that the manager handled the situation poorly - making a customer feel small and worthless is never a good idea - but as a retailer I'm curious how you would allocate the hard-to-get wines if you owned the store.
Richard
OK, gotcha. I'd definitely allocate if it was me. I'm like mbansek. The only question is the dollar cutoff. | | | Joe-----Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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Matt cody
Grape Truck Driver
Posts: 43
| | 06-05-2006 05:03 PM |
| Quote:
Over the top, misspelled, gramatically incorrect and off target. Next?
No actually I was on target, you were not. Read what he is upset about. You have missed the point in all of your posts. But I do congratulate you on your excellent grammar. Oh ya, you misspelled gramMatically while correcting my english... I do not think I was over the top, I was just defending someone who was being ganged up on. I take it you know this manager? It sounds like you are willing to defend her to the death. | | | |
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rjs3
NJ
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1124
| | 06-05-2006 05:07 PM |
| How about telling her that you'd spend more in her store if there was something else worth buying there. | | | |
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JimmyV
Central Connecticut
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5211
| | 06-05-2006 05:30 PM |
| Quote:
Read what he is upset about.
What did I miss? Who is the "he" in this sentence? | | | Beta testing a new signature. | |
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Elkiholic
New Hampshire
Grape Fermenter
Posts: 467
| | 06-05-2006 05:44 PM |
| Should be "s"he as in BellaDonna.. the original poster. | | Mike Coutu
Addicted to Wine | |
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Dr_Tannin
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2498
| | 06-05-2006 06:41 PM |
| Quote:
I assume we can all agree that the manager handled the situation poorly - making a customer feel small and worthless is never a good idea - but
This is very true.
The better retail side approach was/is to:
-not admit to having certain wines
-say they have been purchased already
-say they are not available and that's it
Inexperienced and/or egotistical businesspeople don't know when to shut up.
There may be a mild overreaction, but depending on my workday, I might have told the manager off as well, after listening to a comment like that.
Where does a manager come off talking like that? So I agree BD is not off base here.
If a wine is put out, it's fair game. OTOH, stores have the right to offer wines out of view eg back door etc as they wish, to whatever choice allocation, gifts,or whatever.
Store policy-OK; Manager's behavior as stated here-Not OK | | | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts: 12487
| | 06-06-2006 11:10 PM |
| Quote:
Quote:
Over the top, misspelled, gramatically incorrect and off target. Next?
No actually I was on target, you were not. Read what he is upset about. You have missed the point in all of your posts. But I do congratulate you on your excellent grammar. Oh ya, you misspelled gramMatically while correcting my english... I do not think I was over the top, I was just defending someone who was being ganged up on. I take it you know this manager? It sounds like you are willing to defend her to the death.
I do consider your reply over the top. That is my opinion. Period.
Yes, I do know "of" the manager (passing familiarity after shopping there over the years) and your presumptions of my position are completely wrong. Don't believe me? Ask the person that started this topic, Bella Donna, my thoughts on this manager and this particular store. SHE (not he) already knows my feelings about both as we've discussed it because yes, both Bella Donna and I know each other quite well and each have a great familiarity with this store and the manager in question. | | | Joe-----Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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tanglenet
Oakland, California
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3376
| | 06-06-2006 11:39 PM |
| To pick up on Davidn's response, the manager should have said, "I'd be happy to put you on our waiting list." | | | TN posted on Cellartracker"
I drink no more than a sponge." François Rabelais | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
VinoCellar.com Extraordinaire
Posts: 30914
| | 06-09-2006 02:05 AM |
| So the manager got out of bed that morning and the first thing that happened to her was that her dog bit her. While driving to work she ran out of gas. An hour after she was at work she was robbed at gunpoint. She was putting some bottles out for sale and she broke a nail. And she just had a call from the doctor telling her she was pregnant with triplets and five minutes later her husband called saying he wanted a divorce.
And in walks Bella Donna... | | | |
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BellaDonna
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1890
| | 06-09-2006 04:14 AM |
| I can't stop laughing... | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
VinoCellar.com Extraordinaire
Posts: 30914
| | 06-09-2006 07:14 AM |
| OK Quote:
So the manager got out of bed that morning and the first thing that happened to her was that her dog bit her. While driving to work she ran out of gas. An hour after she was at work she was robbed at gunpoint. She was putting some bottles out for sale and she broke a nail. And she just had a call from the doctor telling her she was pregnant with triplets and five minutes later her husband called saying he wanted a divorce.
And in walks BellaDonna laughing | | | |
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