As a newbie, I don’t have much experience with these sites. Frankly, none with Vinfolio, especially in light of their recent misfortune. What are the differences/advantages between using one over the other? I’m talking on the buy-side, I don’t have enough of anything to sell!!
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I think the only difference that matters is that winebid has never stole their customer’s money. You can’t say that about Vinfolio.
Vinfolio hasn’t stolen anyone’s money Berry - get your facts straight before opening your mouth.
Harrison - Winebid is an auction site whereas VF has been both that and a regular store that has wine they’ve bought from collectors. In the sense that they both act as a channel for you to buy wines that have been stored by others, they’re similar but with VF you can buy wine they have with none of the bidding or other auction trappings (or were able to in the past, I’ve not looked at them since the reorg) . With Wnibid you deal with that, but occasionally can get great deals on wine that peolpe just want to sell.
Note that in both cases when you’re talking about wine they’ve bought from others’ cellars they can’t know the conditions that the wine was stored in. It might be pristine, it might not be, so be aware of that and check their policies on returns, etc
.
Bzzzt, get your facts straight please. CT is not currently a partner with Vinfolio, and CT users have been unable to accept bids in the Marketplace since the beginning of February. I may well reestablish a new partnership with VF in the future.
Noted.
[quote=“Rick Gregory”]Vinfolio hasn’t stolen anyone’s money Berryquote]
bullshit
I am a huge fan of winebid and make a purchase almost every week. It is a great place to buy wines that cost less than they did on release because they have fallen off everyone’s radar screen. Take advantage of the Saved Searches feature to easily check for wines you are interested in every auction period.
Checking their return policy is extremely good advice. Most offerings will include the line “Removed from a temperature-controlled wine storage facility”. What you don’t know, of course, is how long the wine had actually been there. I have an old friend who stored his wine in his basement for years and after one particularly hot summer realized that some or all of the wine had been heat damaged. The first thing he did was to move everything into a wine storage facility. The second thing he did was to call an auction house to come pick up the wine.
Whether you buy wine at auction or from a wine shop (full disclosure: I’m a retailer) make sure they’re willing to take back defective bottles.
Ditto.
Now stop outbidding me Keith 
additionally, as is my understanding, if you as a CT user put a buy-it price, you’re obligated to sell it (per the terms of the arrangement). you’re confusing the no-price, blind bid situation.
Got any facts to back up that talk big man?
Interesting. I have had just that happen this past weekend. A “Buy-It” seller had reneged AFTER my confirmation.
I don’t know of any auction house that will do this. I generally use winebid to purchase bottles that, because of age or rarity, I’m not able to get from a retailer.
I have no experience with VF, but winebid has always treated me very well as a buyer. Not every bottle has been in good condition, but I take that as a given when buying older wines, and many bottles have been in great condition. I am careful about checking the bottle condition and never buying bottles with signs of seepage. As they have told me they do keep records of such things, I let them know when I get a wine that seems heat damaged so they can try not to buy from dishonest jerks.
Thats twice you have been rude to me. I’d apprecaiate if you kept the tone civil. If Im wrong I’ll admit it, but you don’t have to be rude.
Has vinfolio paid all the pre-dec 31st folk?
Yes for the Marketplace. However, I believe there are still fixed price auction customers who are waiting on payment.
That is really bad. Hopefully the new owners can turn things around and earn back some good-will but I think making good on their commitements is a nessisary first step. Until then I personally would not do buisness with them.
I don’t disagree. But have you read the press release and FAQ from them just yesterday with the announcement of their reformation? This is a highly relevant piece:
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“The financial troubles of Vinfolio, Inc. have created a most difficult situation for its employees, as well as certain customers and suppliers,” continued Moramarco. “We look forward to a return to Vinfolio’s mission in a stable and focused way. While the new company has not assumed, and is under no legal obligation to provide for, Vinfolio, Inc.'s historical liabilities, it is not our intention to profit from the misfortune of others. More specifically, VF Wine intends to operate the business prudently and is committed to attempting to resolve any legitimate claims of Vinfolio’s community of wine suppliers and customers before VF Wine’s investors take any profit distribution, fee, dividend or other return of capital on the investment we are making to rescue Vinfolio.”
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“The financial troubles of Vinfolio, Inc. have created a most difficult situation for its employees, as well as certain customers and suppliers,” continued Moramarco. “We look forward to a return to Vinfolio’s mission in a stable and focused way. While the new company has not assumed, and is under no legal obligation to provide for, Vinfolio, Inc.'s historical liabilities, it is not our intention to profit from the misfortune of others. More specifically, VF Wine intends to operate the business prudently and is committed to attempting to resolve any legitimate claims of Vinfolio’s community of wine suppliers and customers before VF Wine’s investors take any profit distribution, fee, dividend or other return of capital on the investment we are making to rescue Vinfolio.”
Thats really a good step in the right direction, but they need to pay people what is owed for them to regain their good will. Most wine buyers are savy and will forgive a speed bump if all is amde whole, but they won’t forget that “Vinfolio” didnt pay people money they were owed.
Where does Wine Commune fit in the spectrum of things?