"A" for effort

[mrdutton]

Two experiences recently with different stores.........

All this centers around a recent family reunion in Northern Delaware:

In preparation for the reunion (my tasking being to provide the wine) I visited the local Total Wines and More store. This was on a Monday morning right after they'd opened. I spoke directly with the manager. I told him I wanted one case of Ca Del Solo Big House Red, one case of K-J Collage (Zin/Syrah) and one case of Cler Blanc (a crisp, dry, oak-free white from Sauvion et Fils). He check stock levels, said all were in stock. I told him I couldn't buy it this day, since I would be driving around all day long before I got home and I did not want to have the wine cooking in the trunk of my car. The manager said he would have the wine pulled off the shelf and set aside for me. I was pleased at this and said I'd be back on Thursday early evening to get the three cases.

Come early evening on Thursday and I get back to the store. The manager is not there, but that should not be a problem. I go in, tell the clerk who I am and that I've come for my wine. All I get is a blank stare. So I explain about the three cases of wine. So the clerk comes back to me and says that he's not holding anything for anyone, but he'll be glad to sell me the wine off the shelf. So up he comes with one case of the white, one case of the Kendall-Jackson and only eight bottles of the Bonny Doon. I said I wanted a case, he says he has no more in the store. I say then let me get something else to round out the case that costs about the same. He says sure, but he can't discount the other four bottles, not store policy. I became quite livid. Told him there are always exceptions for good customers. He said he would not discount the four filler bottles (Rosemount Diamond Label Shiraz). I raised my voice in protest, told him he was going to end up one customer short and a few other things. I think I embarressed him. Because he then offered to give me coupon discounts for the four bottles.

I left with three cases of wine, but I was still upset over the way I'd been treated especially since I'd been promised that the wine would be pulled from the shelves and held for me. I may not ever go back there.

Next experience..........

Up in Delaware, I find out that I forgot my waiter's friend - my Pulltap corkscrew. So I go to the local wine shop right across the state line into Maryland. This place has been here for years. I shop there just about everytime I visit my parents in Delaware. But they don't know me from Jack. I may be a regular customer there, but am so infrequent that I would never expect them to know me. I can't find any decent corkscrews, all they have are the cheap chrome jobs. So I ask if they might have anything better squirrelled away. The lady I spoke with asked me to wait and minute and she'd check. While waiting I wandered back to their tasting room and low and behold, laying on the bar is the exact thing I am looking for - a decent corksrew with a nicely serrated blade built right. When she comes back out to tell me they don't have any in the store, I picked the one up off the bar, showed it to her, and told her I'd buy this one from them if they were willing. She went back to ask the manager and then came out to tell me I could have it, no charge.

Now which store do you think I am going to be sending a thank-you note along with a new Pulltap (as soon as I get it).