Wondering if I should actually be unhappy. I frequent a club - bring my own wine - share tastes with the staff and pay corkage. Tonight I was charged for the corked 2000 Montebello and the backup 98 Beaucastel. Should I really pay two corkage fees for the one extra dirty glass and pulling a cork? Plus I gave up a decent pour… Before I complain (more) would appreciate some guidance.
Offering extra pours is a decision you make, no one forces that. Although it’s nice to get comped for it, expecting it is unacceptable. As far as paying corkage for off bottles, who knows. At least you didn’t get charged a wine storage fee.
Yeah it’s the paying for the off bottle that gets me - don’t mind regular corkage at all - they need to make money to stay open. It is being charged for a total loss that toasted me - I’ve never been charged a restocking fee for rejecting a corked bottle from the list anywhere. Hard to see how this is different.
Corked bottle shouldn’t be charged corkage.
Even if u weren’t a regular. I would have talked to manager to have it removed.
Agreed, you shouldn’t be charged corkage if the wine is flawed and your don’t drink it.
+1
I see no problem with charging corkage for both bottles.
hmm. isn’t corkage for wine service? if they opened it and it’s corked. .they aren’t really serving the wine are they? (i.e. decanting, refilling glass, general service etc)?
they don’t even need to wash the glasses (i guess other than the 1 that the taste pour was in?)
I don’t think they should have been charged since it didn’t require glasses and wasn’t consumed.
I feel the same as everyone else, corked shouldn’t be charged. I always tell the story, I went to Church and State in Downtown Los Angeles two-three years ago with a big group of us. They charged us corkage on a bottle we didn’t even open. o_O
To me, this isn’t an ethics questions, it’s a business decision.
Really, how much extra money can you make charging BYO customers to serve a defective bottle along with their ‘good’ bottle, compared to the inevitable bad will and possible loss of a good customer?
A regular who’s shared pours and paid corkage at all times? I know some might balk at this reasoning, but at some point the restaurant should add a little bit of goodwill for you bringing in some business. No corkage fee for your corked bottle!
I’ve never worked in restaurant management, and, obviously, when it comes to corkage, restaurants can do whatever they wish.
On the occasions when I’ve wanted to open a back-up bottle to replace an already opened but flawed bottle, I’ve always first asked the waiter if I would be charged an additional corkage for the replacement. I’ve never been charged for these.
I’ve never been charged corkage for a flawed bottle of wine. You did pipe up right away and say something before opening the back up wine I hope.