The Wine Collector

1. Price competitiveness – Are mark-ups fair and consistent? Or do you feel the need to “price check” every purchase against alternative sources?
2. Selection – This encompasses both the number of items carried as well as the quality level and price points within a category. Does the retailer’s relationships enable unique wines to be offered not generally available elsewhere? Are mature wines from private collections available? What about a large and small format bottles?
3. Special orders – Can the retailer accommodate finding a “wish list” of your wines that they may not normally carry? Are there minimum quantities required?
4. Reviews and other data – Does the retailer share all available reviews, good or bad, from major critics to save you the time of researching them independently? Does the retailer author their own reviews? What about comparative retail or auction price data?
5. Staff wine knowledge – How deep is it? Can you easily access advice and recommendations? Do you have a single point of contact that is “your” person? Are recommendations tailored to your interests? Are there frequent tasting or other wine education opportunities (including foreign travel to wine regions or expositions) made available to staff?
6. Ease of ordering – How easy is it to buy? Is their wine inventory online updated in real-time? Is the stock status of the wine disclosed (i.e., in stock or pre-arrival)? Is the purchasing process streamlined and time efficient? Are orders confirmed promptly?
7. Customer service – Is it clear from the retailer’s site that service is a priority or is it an afterthought? Is there a dedicated customer service staff? Is it easy to figure out how to make contact with someone who can solve a service problem? Can you track the status of your orders online? What about online copies of purchase invoices? Is there a robust FAQ section of their web site?
8. Return and cancellation policies – Are there written, published policies governing returns and cancellations (plus all other aspects of conducting business with you)? Can you return a corked bottle or otherwise faulty bottle without a hassle? What about guarantees on receiving pre-arrival purchases?
9. Climate-controlled warehouse – Does the retailer store its inventory of wine in appropriate 55 degree and 60-70% humidity conditions? Can you keep your purchases there at no charge for a reasonable period? What if you need to store for an extended period? What about purchases made elsewhere? Are fees by the case?
10. Shipping – Does the retailer ship to other states? Internationally? Are tracking numbers automatically sent upon shipment? Are you notified about failed delivery attempts? Are shipments insured automatically or are there additional charges? How competitive are the shipping rates? Does the retailer have policies in place to ensure shipping only during appropriate weather conditions? Can the retailer assist in arranging freight forwarding services for large shipments (e.g., 40+ cases)?
11. Local Delivery –Does the retailer offer local delivery services in your area? Are the retailer’s delivery trucks temperature-controlled? Is there a minimum required to have a free delivery? What are the other terms?
12. Selling customer wine – Does the retailer assist customers in selling their wine? Will they buy properly cellared wine for cash or store credit?
13. Other wine collector services – Does the retailer provide other collector services you might need such as in-depth collection-building, on-site wine inventorying, and valuation reports?
14. Management and company stability – Are management backgrounds available on the site? Do they have appropriate business backgrounds? Is there a solid board of directors and/or advisors involved in the business? From press releases and news articles, does the company appear to be growing and financially sound?

If you have another criteria you feel are worth considering, please post a comment.