A Whine about Wine Shops

guvna · December 2008

Let me start by saying that this is actually a rant by a typical male last minute holiday shopper for all typical male last minute holiday shoppers.

So, in typical fashion, this moring being the final morning before Christmas, I set out to bag a few items for my co-workers before going to work. I decided I'd get everyone some wine. I left my house just after 8am, and went to Gnarly Vines, Olivino, Thirst, and Green Grape. They were all closed. What gives? I thought that retailers were aggressively trying to generate sales? Arent we in a recession, credit crunch, financial meltdown, etc? Didnt it dawn on any of these wineshops that my kind are to be expected to be desperatley trying to get our acts together on the morning of Christmas eve, before work? Is 8am or 8:30am too early for the supposed high-service oriented wineshop folks to get to work in anticipation fo doing some much needed and easily anticipated business? It blows my mind.

Anyhow, I got my wine. I got it at 8:35 am too. In the neighborhood. I got it at the liquor store next to Crunch gym on Fulton. They were the only ones with sense enough (or cared enough?) to cater to the before work crowd on Christmas eve. A big shout out to Best Buy Wines & Spirits!

Rant over.

happy Holidays to all!

putnam-denizen · December 2008

Rant away. (But it does seem a bit much to expect those small wine stores to be open at 8 am - coffee shops aren't open at 8 am in this neighborhood [Outpost you know who you are!]). Much worse is Pennsylvania where liquor stores are state run and close early on Sunday even if it is Xmas eve or New Year's Eve.

funwithiago · December 2008

Meanwhile I rant because they close way too early(most at 9). Best Buy is also open til 11 or 12. I love them too!

candicissima · December 2008

Best Buy was a lifesaver yesterday when I needed wine to go to an XMas Eve party, but booo on every Fulton St wine shop today. They were all closed around 2:30/3 when I wanted to get some.

guvna · December 2008

Putnam-denizen wrote: Rant away. (But it does seem a bit much to expect those small wine stores to be open at 8 am - coffee shops aren't open at 8 am in this neighborhood [Outpost you know who you are!]). Much worse is Pennsylvania where liquor stores are state run and close early on Sunday even if it is Xmas eve or New Year's Eve.

My gripe was limited to x-mas eve morning when it was predictable that some of us would be looking to buy lots of wine for office mates. I had quite a bit of company at Best Buy, so I'm not wrong in suggesting that there was a market for selling wine at 8:30am at least. I just hope none of those wineshops complain that business is slow after passing up a good opportunity to fill their coffers.

I wont fault them for closing early because I guess they want to visit family for the holidays too. See, I do cut them some slack

caseopele · December 2008

As a wine store employee I can tell you that Christmas Eve was insane. We were open from 10-8 and that was enough for us. This time of year is madness, we all work crazy hours with maybe 15 minutes to eat something. We're all on our feet for hours running around like maniacs, the guys packing out hundreds of cases. Our boss couldn't pay us enough to open 1.5-2 hours earlier, we have to rest sometime.

Of course, we are fortunate enough to still be doing well in this economy. Good job security though.

lafontana · January 2009

I like people like you who can't seem to shop until the last minute then go on about how it's everyone else's fault. Get to the shops before xmas eve next year. See how smooth it all goes for you.

guvna · January 2009

lafontana wrote: I like people like you who can't seem to shop until the last minute then go on about how it's everyone else's fault. Get to the shops before xmas eve next year. See how smooth it all goes for you.

yeah, I know, last minute people suck, lol. I guess you're always early. I'm not wired that way. anyhow, my point was only that x-mas eve early shopping is predictable, thus an easy opportunity for retailers to capture more sales.

However, caseopele made it clear that they dont need the extra business they wouldve gotten by opening at 830am. I'm fine with that. They shouldnt do what they dont feel the need to do. I'm just happy that Best Buy had the early hours in my case.

caseopele · January 2009

Guvna, I didn't want to come off all snotty like we're doing so amazing that we don't want any extra business. Our boss knows that opening an hour or 90 minutes early on Christmas eve isn't really worth it for us. Almost the whole staff works the entire day (til 8pm), he has to consider the extra pay plus further overworking an already overworked staff. This was my 8th holiday season at the wine shop and it always takes a toll, hope I didn't sound too bitchy. While I'm very glad that we're lucky enough to be busy this season, I'm also very glad it's over. I need about 48 hours of sleep to recover from it!

guvna · January 2009

caseopele wrote: Guvna, I didn't want to come off all snotty like we're doing so amazing that we don't want any extra business. Our boss knows that opening an hour or 90 minutes early on Christmas eve isn't really worth it for us. Almost the whole staff works the entire day (til 8pm), he has to consider the extra pay plus further overworking an already overworked staff. This was my 8th holiday season at the wine shop and it always takes a toll, hope I didn't sound too bitchy. While I'm very glad that we're lucky enough to be busy this season, I'm also very glad it's over. I need about 48 hours of sleep to recover from it!

Not at all! I am learning that some industries are doing fine despite the slowdown, so I'm happy to hear that you have some job security. I dont know whether Best Buy has a sustainable business model, he had at least 4 employees there with him that morning. I hope he knows what he's doing. I was just happy he was open at 8:30am.

Rest up, and I hope you have a successful year in 2009!

caseopele · January 2009

Thanks, you too! Glad you were able to get wine for your coworkers. I'm not much of a drinker but the holidays make me want to!

A Whine about Wine Shops

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