Mionetto "Sergio"

[Thomas]

I can guarantee that here on the East Coast the wine business is corrupt--on the supply side and the political side. Suppliers play many, many price games, and those volume retailers with the big bucks get the real price of the wine, while those with less resources are forced to pay more.

There is something called "blind" price posting. It refers to discounts available and reported to the SLA but not listed in the general supplier price sheets, and available only to select retailers. That produces in me a lack of trust. So, a supplier who promises to lower the price "just for me" is generally full of you know what.

Roberto, I lived in Iran, a part of the world where you buy nothing without haggling first. I learned that no price is firm--I also learned that most prices are too high. And when I was in the Air Force I worked part time, selling men's clothing, in Wash. DC. I learned from that experience the real mark up on suits--whew!!!

From my long life, I have developed a simple but likely unattainable wish that suppliers price at what something is worth, and do not play games with me. I admit, my attitude drives people nuts, especially my wife; she hates to shop with me; when I see something on sale I immediately complain to the seller that I was being robbed at the original price...

As for the Mionetto, I make my evaluation based not only on its price, but on its value relative to other Prosecci of merit. And the producer could do the very same thing before pricing the wine. Also, if I don't need the thing in the store, why waste my breath and energy persuading suppliers to do what they should just do?