Yeah, consumer protection is such a drag. We should really just let corporations self-police their actions; I’m sure they won’t take advantage of anyone.
What some people do is just terrible. I remember reading somewhere that vintners were trying to make their Austrian wines drinkable by mixing in antifreeze.
I still remember when I was 8 years old and my friends cat drank up the coolant when his dad was draining the cars system. It died horribly. So even today I’m hyper about all those strange garage chemicals.
[quoteYeah, consumer protection is such a drag. We should really just let corporations self-police their actions; I’m sure they won’t take advantage of anyone.][/quote]
At least WTSO delivered the wine people paid for. If you ever had a problem with them they take care of it. I sent an email once and said nothing wrong with the wine but I did not like the wine. I was willing to ship it back but they just refunded six bottles. There are many other wine shops doing far worse things than WTSO.
I am a WTSO customer and I’m not partaking in the class action suit . Just doesn’t seem right/fair .
At least WTSO delivered the wine people paid for. If you ever had a problem with them they take care of it. I sent an email once and said nothing wrong with the wine but I did not like the wine. I was willing to ship it back but they just refunded six bottles. There are many other wine shops doing far worse things than WTSO.[/quote]
That’s a fair point. Look at what that miserable wretch John Fox, and the clawback mischief related to him that is still going on today.
At least WTSO delivered the wine people paid for. If you ever had a problem with them they take care of it. I sent an email once and said nothing wrong with the wine but I did not like the wine. I was willing to ship it back but they just refunded six bottles. There are many other wine shops doing far worse things than WTSO.[/quote]
I totally agree that WTSO has excellent customer service, and their “harm” here seems relatively minor. I was just commenting upon the prior “tort reform” comments more generally.
In terms of the wine world, we tend to view WTSO’s business practices through a more educated lens. Taking that into consideration, it’s not very difficult to see why any neophyte who’s gained enough knowledge to become dangerous might have serious issues with WTSO.
[quoteIn terms of the wine world, we tend to view WTSO’s business practices through a more educated lens. Taking that into consideration, it’s not very difficult to see why any neophyte who’s gained enough knowledge to become dangerous might have serious issues with WTSO.][/quote]
So are you saying that anyone who buys from WTSO is clueless? I bought many cases of the Clarendon Hills Syrahs for $30 a piece with free shipping. Doesn’t sound like a clueless purchase. The Grenache wines were closer to $20 a piece.
The Resalte is another amazing buy for under $50.
4/22/2012 rated 95 points: Spanish Wine Tasting (LAN, Muga, Resalte, Mas Doix…) (Becky’s House): One of the great wines under $50 in my lifetime. Always shows well. Two hour decant and that is all it needs. Funk, spice, cherry, oak, vanilla and spices. Long finish and complex. Wish I had more but drink them while they are good. At the end of the night the wine fell apart in the glass so I would recommend drink now. (3079 views)
Bodegas Olarra Anares Rioja Reserva 2006 $12.99
Wild Duck Creek Estate Springflat Shiraz 2009 $29.99
Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards Chardonnay 2010 $25.99
And many inexpensive Champagnes.
I don’t think he saying that anyone who buys from WTSO is clueless, just that many consumers are not nearly as educated as those on this board, and might take those retail pricing markers a lot more literally.
I don’t think they got into trouble over their imported wine pricing. It was all the made up house brands from domestic bulk producers that caused the mischief.
At least with Costco, if they’re selling you the house blend, they’ll tell you up front. We go through a couple 1.75’s of their Kirkland spiced rum during the holidays as its always a good addition to eggnog, or colicky babies/uncles bottles
This.
Should add that I purchase from WTSO a few times per year and wouldn’t be happy to see them go.
Just got my postcard also, many many boxes from WTSO so maybe some cash back. Never believed the price discounts but for me no local store (20 mile drive) and being upstate NY the tax savings on four was good enough to buy. Did go along with the JN bu** s**t but after trying some of his "95 Pt " stuff I stopped buying. Soon found out there scam. Wonder how long till my “credits” arrive. rob
Jonathan Newman of course was a scam. So many scams out in the wine world in general. In the twin cities we have many including our local paper writer that promoted the crap knows as cycles gladiator.
I don’t perceive WTSO as a scam at all. Here’s some wine and here’s the price . Buy it or not.
[quoteOh no! One of the attorneys is a neighbor and we went to college together:( I guess I can walk over and hand him my reply.][/quote]
Ted let him know the post card he sent me is making for a great coaster from my mixed drink.
In the last 5 years I have placed over 100 orders with WTSO. Obviously, i must have been a satisfied customer to buy from them that regularly. But when they lost the ability to ship to TX, my usage decreased significantly. There have only been a few times where I didn’t think the wine I received was worth the price I paid. Cellar Tracker and Wine Searcher have been tremendously helpful in my selection process. WTSO used to have really great deals on Spanish wines, but not so many great QPR’s any more. And I completely ignore Jonathan Nemwan’s ratings. Apparently he never had one that was rated below 90. Also, their customer service has been exceptional. They have been completely understanding whenever I had an issue with shipping or quality. But lately they seem to have fewer offerings that appeal to me, so my usage now is negligible.
And I completely ignore Jonathan Nemwan’s ratings. Apparently he never had one that was rated below 90. Also, their customer service has been exceptional. They have been completely understanding whenever I had an issue with shipping or quality. But lately they seem to have fewer offerings that appeal to me, so my usage now is negligible.
He has been replaced by James Sucklings over the top ratings. 93 to 100 points only for James.
I’m unclear as to how having good customer service can absolve them of all other sins - can you please elaborate? For the record I’ve also experienced great customer service with WTSO, and have also noticed their “Comparable Price” or even “Best Web” prices can occasionally seem to be pulled from thin air.
I don’t pay any attention to any suggested retail or current web pricing posted by anyone. I really believe that what wtso got busted for you could bust almost every other purveyor of wine for. If I’m interested in a wine from any online source I do my homework and make a determination if it’s a fair price for me. Pretty much how I buy any other product in fact.
As far as the wtso exclusive wines that are either Jonathan Newman products (I’ve never bought any) or wines made by established wineries but are cuvées/labels made only for wtso (I have bought some) I suppose that skews the argument some. In fact isn’t that the wines that actually got them in trouble in the first place, or ended up getting them in trouble? Maybe that was mentioned here or I caught that somewhere else. But the whole suggested retail game in general I think needs to be taken with a grain of salt and I don’t really see much sinning going on here.
I agree that they didn’t do anything much different than most wine retailers. And when was the last time you bought anything at “list price”? I don’t think I will take the time to fill out paperwork for the settlement.
I completely ignore anything but two questions:
Is it a wine I think I will enjoy? (Producer, vintage, region, Cellar Tracker)
Is it sold at a reasonable price compared to where I can find it elsewhere? (Wine Searcher, common sense)
If can’t satisfy myself on those two questions, I simply pass. There are so many retail outlets, that you can just not buy from the ones you don’t like, and still not miss anything.