Agreed. Allocation should be relatively unchanged if price is ‘normalized’
I don’t think you are being unreasonable.
For me, I feel like a small gesture from a winery goes a long way. Several of the wineries I regularly purchase from have done a great job in being graciously appreciative of the business I have done with them and referrals I have made.
I am surprised you were getting such a large discount, and understand how you feel having them stop. I think their biggest mistake was not taking the time to reach out to tell you that they cannot afford to continue, and how much they appreciated it yada yada… and then sent you a signed Mag or 3L.
Ross,
A couple of thoughts.
First, I wouldn’t name the winery.
Second, I think that you did a very nice and generous thing. You used your contacts and love of the wines to help a business grow and get on their feet. I think you have to ask yourself, “Did I do this for altruistic purposes or did I do it for my own gain?” The answer to that question will tell you whether or not you should be upset.
I think we all do favors for friends and family. Sometimes these favors are recognized and appreciated forever and sometimes they aren’t appreciated at all. Most of the time, the reaction is somewhere in between.
Mike…great question. I think I (and a good friend of mine) helped them for both altruistic and personal gain. I liked the idea of getting the wines at a discount, which allowed me to purchase larger quantities and I also liked the idea of helping good people with their business. I tend to support local small business rather than large corporations when possible (i.e. shop at the local hardware store and pay 15% more, rather than Home Depot, etc…) as matter of principle.
Good & BAD Karma always comes back !! ![[wow.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/7/7d450e9830889c8943b674446a21b7254cad657e.gif "wow"){kind=small}
A very reasonable answer. Three options then:
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Just drop the whole thing and walk away.
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Contact them and have a reasonable conversation expressing your disappointment and desire to maintain a “premium” allocation. While I think the discount is nice, I’m not sure that I think it’s reasonable to have it remain in place forever.
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Have a stronger conversation.
I think 1 or 2 are appropriate. Option 3 makes it more about the personal gain and less about the altruistic part. Whatever you do, I would absolutely, positively keep the name of the winery to yourself. Even though you’re disappointed, you don’t want to hurt these guys.
Whatever happens, I wouldn’t let it get to you. You did a good thing and karma has a way of paying you back eventually.
Cut 'em loose. They cut YOU loose.
I’m probably the wrong guy to put it in these terms, but businesses will ALWAYS do what’s in their best interest. Having an apparently high volume 30% discount customer on their books is obviously NOT in their best interest.
Ross, did you ever offer any of this wine in Commerce Corner or anywhere similar (public)?
No Mike…I have not
Another way to look at it: how much benefit did you derive from your years of discounted pricing, and was that reasonable ‘payback’ for the favors you did?
It sounds like you had a conversation with them about this already but one last talk with them before you walk might make you all feel better.
If not, Mike Cohen’s excellent posts said it all very well.
Truthfully, it seems like bad business to me. In the end, all business is relational and that’s especially true for wine. There’s almost always a wine with a higher score, lower price or equal quality. What ultimately matters is how a person is engaged with the wine, the vineyard, the owner or some other relational element.
If you’re relaying the story accurately Ross, I would be disappointed but unfortunately it’s not uncommon. If a customer really did carry me through and helped when I was in a time of need, I would ensure that they always understood my gratitude, particularly if I told them I would. Even if the special pricing was only for a case or two, I would do it. Having a better allocation has zero impact on their sales - I can’t possibly understand why someone would limit it.
I think I know who this producer/person is based on previous posts. If I’m right, I wouldn’t be surprised.
I don’t think Ross is being at all unreasonable (based on what he recounted, and not knowing the other side of the story). I don’t know about everyone else here, but when I give someone my word I believe it’s my obligation to keep it, regardless of whether I’m legally obligated to (the winery’s initial generous reciprocation is likely legally unenforceable, and I can’t imagine anyone would want to sue over it anyway). Why is it unreasonable to expect someone to live up to such an agreement? Maybe I’m just a bit old fashioned in that respect.
It sounds like Ross is ready to move on and just wanted to get this off his chest. Understandable.
Thanks Taylor. To be honest, I certainly did not “carry” them through, but I was there for them when they asked me to be and went above and beyond what most customers would do. They would have succeed with or without me as a customer and advocate because their wines are great and the big scores made them well known.
Exactly and thanks
Mike…Already tried number 2 and it was good and civil conversation with a follow up e-mail exchange. In their defense, they think they have been more than fair and that’s their prerogative.
I am echoing Alan’s question above. You bought a lot initially, and got a big allocation and a 30% discount which is almost unheard of for boutique wineries (if it was a mass producer I don’t think we’d be having this discussion). You bought that amount for 5-8 years, introduced friends, and got big allocations and good discounts. Is it that: (1) they’ve cut the allocation that upsets you, (2) cut out the premier pricing that upsets you, (3) treat you like any other valuable client that upsets you, or (4) all of the above.
I do think this should be brought to the attention of the proprietor and not just someone in their “club” or mailing room office though I assume you went that channel. It’s your dollar and you certainly have a right to go elsewhere. But, it’s their business and they can run it how they please as well. Their business model clearly has changed since you started with them.
While I certainly have never bought $10,000+/year from any one vendor, I have several wineries I buy multiple cases from that I was among their earliest list members. In some years I buy less than other years. I’ve never gotten less than stellar service though I’ve never expected an allocation better than anyone else.
Something we’ll never know is how many people besides the OP were promised the same type of special treatment. If they got a bunch of high scores & new pricing, they & their finance people likely looked at the new pricing levels & total $ being discounted & decided to discontinue any preferential treatment.
I agree with earlier posts which say that the winery in question should have contacted him & let him know that they couldn’t give him special treatment anymore along with a Mag or 3L as a “thank you”.
Mike’s point about special customers creating a secondary market is a valid one- the OP said he wasn’t reselling, but if others are, I don’t blame them for controlling allocations more tightly.
It is a sad story, but I do not think you are being unreasonable. We all like to feel special and for a while they made you feel special. It is a shame this has happened.
Whatever happened to a man’s word is his bond?
It seems like an example of mis-matched expectations and less than ideal communication.
Put another way… You thought you held equity, and they thought you held debt.
I wouldn’t take it too hard. Go find another producer. Explore the bigger wine world. With 10k per year at your disposal you could really drink well and find many other producers aroundd the globe to support.
It is not an end, but an opportunity at another beginning.
There is always…Pinot?
10k buys a lot of Pinot.
