On Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 3:24:33 AM UTC-10, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> dsi1 wrote:
> >Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> >>dsi1
> >>dsi1 wrote:
> >>
> >>> Charging for samples is a mickey mouse way of doing business. It implies
> >>> that your customers are scumbags and are not to be trusted.
> >>
> >> The reason most charge now is many on the tasters are not customers,
> >> just scumbags looking for a freebie.
> >>
> >> Most places had some sort of a deal that when you buy, you get a
> >> discount, rebate, or other compensation against what you paid. One
> >> winery in particular that I've been to a couple of times charges a
> >> modest fee for five different tastings. I've seen many people do the
> >> tasting and walk out not spending a penny otherwise.
> >>
> >> There is one vineyard I frequent that has a "Cellar Club" you can sign
> >> up for once you buy something. You get tasting for two people on every
> >> visit and you get a 15% discount every time you buy a case
> >>
> >All things being equal, I'm partial to businesses that don't consider me
> >to be a scumbag. Is this the wrong attitude?
>
> dsi1, you're altering the terminology - your terminology is incorrect,
> they are not wine samplings, they are wine tastings... check the
> Subject line... I've never seen wine "samplings" advertised. I
> believe samples should be free with no strings otherwise they're not
> samples. When the bakery places a tray of broken cookies on the
> counter labeled "Samples" they hope people buy but if not business
> goes on as broken cookies otherwise go into the trash, or made into
> crumbs for decorating a cake. Wine "Tastings" do not imply free, wine
> tastings are held with the explicit intent of introducing and selling
> wines, they are not samples. If you attend wine tastings, pay a fee
> or not, and don't buy then you are indeed a scumbag. Winerys learned
> that charging a fee keeps the riff raff/scumbags away making for a
> more enjoyable less crowded experience for those who buy... and those
> who buy typically recoup the modest entry fee with the first case they
> buy at discount... the fee is meant to encourage purchasing. I can't
> imagine normal people who actually have a life wasting a day sipping
> dribs of wine just because it's free when they don't intend to buy...
> the scumbags would do themselves and everyone else a favor staying
> home guzzling their favorite $3/liter box wine.

Actually, my terminology is always 100 percent correct. I'm not talking about special events put on by the winery or groups of damned tourists bussed in. I'm talking about a guy dropping in that's interested in getting info on a product. The reality is if you're going to sell some products, especially new ones, it has to be made real in the buyer's mind and not remain just words bouncing around. My guess is that the is very true with wine - it's best to let the wine do the talking.