Wine shop snobs

[m brown]

the buzz about town lately has been the lower cost wines are VERY good. Why not take the best wine rather than the highest priced?

Here is a story of two sales people putting down a wealthy patron in a forgien language, she was fluent and they were fired on the spot.

I walked into Tiffanys wearing some tastful(faux)jewelry and a good attitude, I was treated like a queen, while others far better off got the cold shoulder. You cannot go into a store acting like you deserve something, just be kind and honest,treat people like people.

Two sides to every story. Maybe the wine shop saleman had only tasted the lower priced wines and didn't want to recommend something he wasn't sure of. Or the owner wanted to push the lower priced wines for the holidays.


[This message has been edited by m brown (edited November 26, 1999).]

After reading this story, ask yourself, "Could this happen in my restaurant?"

After a long day at culinary school, I decided to check out a recommended wine shop in hopes of finding something special for Thanksgiving. In order to get there before they closed, I threw on a baseball cap and my favorite bib overalls. Although I do have some fashion sense when going out on the town, I don't really see the point of getting all gussied up to run errands.

OK, I'm at the wine shop. I begin looking around and am approached by a sales associate. I let him know I'm looking for a red wine, we're having pepper-crusted Ahi, and interested in trying something I've never had before. He shows me his list of Pinot Noir. Ok, fine...but he strongly recommends the least expensive one and only that one. Since he has no sample bottles opened, I say to him (just for fun), "You know, I'm not a huge fan of Pinot Noir and we do have a nice bottle of Champagne at home. I'm not overly concerned with pairing the wine with dinner. Perhaps I'd just like to enjoy it with some specialty cheeses." This time he recommends a $10.00 bottle of Italian red table wine. When I ask him about a couple of higher priced wines, he offers to open the Italian wine "on the house" so that I may sample it. It's a good wine and I buy a bottle.

On the way home I started thinking about the way he brushed off my every effort to spend my money, and even talked down to me with his tone. Don't get me wrong, the wine was a great value and went beautifully with the Stilton...but if this happened to someone, say, wealthy and insecure at the same time, how would they react? How would you react?

When I was waiting tables in my younger days, I too judged a book by it's cover on more than one occasion. Although I tried not to let my attitude show through my actions, I'm sure that it did. Comments or similar stories?

i agree with m brown i tihnk that what you were wearing was not a topic that the salesman had on his mind i feel it was something that was on your mind. but then again people do tend to judge a book by the cover and i feel you should try to shop there again and find out if it happens again. if it continues find a new shop to go to. I am sure there are many in your area.