   |  The Price of CorkOctober 10, 2007 at 12:11 am by john
In the last few months, a handful of customers have expressed confusion, dismay, sometimes outright anger about our corkage policy. What is our corkage policy? If you don't want a glass of wine from the 6-7 selections we're pouring on any given night, you can grab any bottle off our walls, and for the price of the bottle plus $10 corkage, it's yours to open in our bar and enjoy for the night. And every week on our Wine Cellar Wednesdays, there is no corkage fee at all. The idea of a hybrid wine store and wine bar in the same space is a relatively new idea in Los Angeles and it is entirely understandable thatit can cause confusion. So at the risk of sounding dry and boring, here's why we do it: A glass of wine at a bar or restaurant is drastically higher than what it costs you to buy a bottle of wine, bring it home, and pop it open in your living room. A bottle you might buy in our store for $20 has 4 full glasses of wine in it, costing you $5/glass if you brought it home. That exact same wine at a fine restaurant could be $10-$18 a glass. With our corkage policy, you're paying $7.50/glass to have that wine in our store. That little extra margin is what helps pay for your friendly neighborhood bartender, all those broken glasses, all the lovely plumbing issues that come with running a bar, and my stash of grape Big League Chew. We hope that helps clear up any questions/concerns. It's what we do to stay in business and continue to improve our selection and service. Leave a comment  violetnoir said:You know what, Jen and John? These people that get angry over your corkage fee need to get a grip! You are running a business, not a charity, and if they don't get it, for whatever reason, they need to get out. How dare they question your pricing!Hugs! October 11, 2007 11:42 AM Adam said:Thankfully, I am not one of the people who have gotten angry about the corkage fee, but I do feel I need to weigh in here and let it be know that as a customer, I totally disagree with what has been said. At least if you are paying those exorbitant prices you are paying for the atmosphere. I love the store, but it certainly isn't Providence or Sona. There has been a number of times when I would have considered opening a bottle of wine in the store, but I didn't because I feel the corkage fee is unfair. The store is already making a profit on the bottle. Not to mention, it encourages people to buy more wine than the tasting line-up as well as possibly reach out and try a wine they might not normally buy. I'd recommend bringing the fee more in line to something like $5.00 or possibly just a gratituity for the bartender. Otherwise, I'm more likely to buy my wine and take it to Casa Bianca where the fee is much less and I can enjoy a great pizza. So, I say lower the fee and keep your customers in the store! October 11, 2007 1:25 PM Kathleen V. Williams said:Your corkage fee always made sense to me. (Maybe because I used to wait tables and tend bar). Nonetheless, to have proprietors actually address customer's questions and confusions about pricing in such a forthright manner is refreshing. No doubt it is this integrity, honesty and your witting newsletter that keep your business going - oh, and they good wine and good prices, too!May your business thrive. Cheers! October 12, 2007 12:42 AM bryan cook said:makes total sense John! oh and by the way, i totally love grape big league chew as well. October 23, 2007 5:04 AM |
Thanks for breaking it down. That expains ALOT! I've been to New York with my wife and paid twice as much for the SAME drinks & wine but it's GREAT to see a business owner who isn't afraid to justify pricing in Layman's terms. We have a small business here in Eagle Rock, making signs & banners and find that most people think it's our price and if you don't like it...go away!Right down to the GRAPE Big League Chew you're as down to earth on paper as you are in person. Thanks again!
October 11, 2007 10:50 AM