Don't judge a book by its cover. And likewise don't buy a wine for the pretty label!
I walked into work this morning expecting to get a rush of vendors, process reclaim, place a cigarette order and be on my merry way. Oh no! Not 30 seconds after I walk in the door do I have an angry customer calling me a liar and accusing me of ruining his entire week.
He has had a running special order with the store of two cases of Gallo Family Cafe Chardonnay. This past Thursday his wife came to pick it up and we didn't have it. I talked to my wine representative the next day, mind you this is the same man that has been placing the special order since the beginning, the company changed the label, but the order was there. The merchandiser was unaware of the change, he had stocked the shelf full and put the rest in back stock. We packaged the wine back up and left a note explaining the change. I alerted the customer service manager.
Here he comes in today ready to roll heads. He claims the wine is not the same because it has sugar in it and his wine didn't have sugar in it. Thankfully I was able to hold my tongue and not ask, "So what do you think fermented fruit is?" Also, since wine bottles don't have nutritional value listings, I was unsure how he came to that conclusion. He stormed out of the store after I told him countless times I would double check, but was certain of the information I had given him.
I kept my promise to double check. Same UPC, same three flavor notes, different name and different label. I went as far as to check my invoice to assure the 6 digit order code paired with prior invoices. Low and behold, it did! As well the description said Cafe Chardonnay/Sweet Chardonnay. Obviously because some stores still have stock of the old label.
I went about my business and was just about to walk out the door, when he calls. A mere 4 hours after coming in this morning. I answered the phone and told him the information I had gathered. He accused me of lying and said I was stupid not to emphasize "Cafe" when I placed the order. Well, sir, guess what? I don't place the order at all. The same guy who has been placing the order FOR YOU for the past TWO YEARS does all the ordering...and guess what? He did order it, you just won't come and pick it up!! He also went on to say that other stores and the internet still have HIS wine, so I must not be comprehending what he is saying. I tried to keep my cool and explain that some warehouses and stores would absolutely have his wine on hand for a short time until all the supply changed to the new label and new name. He said he would happily take his business to one of those places. I told him he was welcome to, but would run into this same issue in a short period of time there as well.
He asked for the wine representative to call him on Thursday to place a CORRECT order. Good luck to ya, buddy!
Moral of the story, if you are a crotchety middle aged man without the wine, you don't need twelve 1.5L every fourteen days.
Lastly, I'm a jerk and went to go explore the web to assure that my position on the whole disaster was correct. Low and behold the new wine name with the old wine picture. Ta-da!
Happy Days to you, Mr. Crabby Pants!
PS Did you know there are more flavors of wine than just YOUR wine?
