- Location
- Brighton
ChatGPT as wine buyer?
Laithwaites Grim wine Box
- Thread starter Paul J a i n e s
- Start date
- Location
- Nottingham, UK
Is this the same firm that was Bordeaux Direct / the Sunday Times Wine Club? Like others above, they were a gateway for me as a way out of supermarket swill towards better wines. They really sold a dream - the marketing was stupendous, and I read each leaflet with gusto, which I can't imagine even doing now, but I did.
There seemed to be a fair few corked/oxidised bottle in most cases I received, but my general impression at the time (mid 1990s) was that the wines were pretty good, but not necessarily good value, especially as they were wines you couldn't see anywhere else.
There seemed to be a fair few corked/oxidised bottle in most cases I received, but my general impression at the time (mid 1990s) was that the wines were pretty good, but not necessarily good value, especially as they were wines you couldn't see anywhere else.
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- Location
- London
I feel like the model has moved from “fairly priced wines where laithwaites / naked / virgin etc takes all the usual retail margin and does price obfuscation to make it look better value than it is” to “buying the cheapest wine possible and selling it at scale”.
I also have a feeling that this has driven a lot of the popularity of Natural wine. If 1990s laithwaites was the gateway to TWS and BBR, today’s version probably puts people off wine, or sends them to an entirely different type of product.
Whilst I’m a natural wine sceptic - it almost invariably *is* an honestly made product with an authentic sense of place (even if that place is riven with all sorts of infection).
I also have a feeling that this has driven a lot of the popularity of Natural wine. If 1990s laithwaites was the gateway to TWS and BBR, today’s version probably puts people off wine, or sends them to an entirely different type of product.
Whilst I’m a natural wine sceptic - it almost invariably *is* an honestly made product with an authentic sense of place (even if that place is riven with all sorts of infection).
- Location
- Snorbens, Herts
Yes. And the STWC still operates.
- Location
- London, UK
As does the BA Wineflyer site. (another Laithwaites spin-off). Check out some of their prices. Holy moly.
- Location
- Yorkshire
No - a firm with limited resources who were very generous and were very pissed off with Laithwaites.
- Location
- Lancashire, UK
The volumes that these guys do at this time of year is staggering. My local DHL depot (which I am visiting daily at this point) handles a lot of Virgin Wine stuff and it's an entire articulated truck of pallets (so 20 odd pallets) every day.
- Location
- London
And, of course, Avery's.
- Location
- London
I have a physical store near me and they stock some lovely wine.
It's usually more expensive than elsewhere but cheaper than the Majestic con pricing.
It's their subscription wines that are pants.
It's usually more expensive than elsewhere but cheaper than the Majestic con pricing.
It's their subscription wines that are pants.
- Location
- Colchester
As it’s been said above their EP offers can be useful.
- Location
- London
Do their vouchers work for that?
- Location
- Colchester
No
Not on fine wine either.
Only ever had voucher for their latest mixed case of crap.
- Location
- Kuala Lumpur
I sent my Mum a box of Fortnum crackers for Christmas. Instead they delivered some chocolates. After 4 days of trying to speak to someone to resolve the issue they ended up saying keep the chocolates (on us) and we’ll send you the crackers but only in time for NYE. Overall a very unsatisfactory experience
- Location
- Cheshire
Which? recently reported on wine clubs. Unsurprisingly, TWS came out the clear winner.
On Laithwaites "One member noted the ‘blatant over-the-top descriptions’, while another told us ‘wines rarely matched description and value was lower than the average supermarket’." and and on STWC "One disappointed member said they were regularly promoting ‘overpriced wines’, some of which were ‘decidedly unimpressive’. "
On Laithwaites "One member noted the ‘blatant over-the-top descriptions’, while another told us ‘wines rarely matched description and value was lower than the average supermarket’." and and on STWC "One disappointed member said they were regularly promoting ‘overpriced wines’, some of which were ‘decidedly unimpressive’. "
I'm currently awaiting a F&M delivery (just for some chocolates) - total order a mere £24.
I kinda forgot I'd ordered them, and without prompting from my end:
They've apologised for the late delivery on Monday, and issued a £10 gift voucher.
Then apparently failed to send yesterday too, so have now issued another £10 gift voucher.
I'm deeply hoping they fail to deliver today, so I will end up having made £6 and get some free chocolates.
- Location
- Cenarth, Ceredigion
Perfect Cellar seem to do something of this sort each year (£189 for 24 diff wines, 100ml each - just checked the wines from this year on their website and they are pretty decent with a good variety).
- Location
- Banbury
Fortnums case doesn't look terrible to me - the names are known producers and are their main products with a Fortnums label.. The Haut Medoc is available under the Chateau name from The Wine Society for £20 a bottle, the Crozes is widely available from Independent Merchants for between £22 and £30 a bottle and the Verddichio is widely available in Independents for around £20... sure they have Fotnums labels on them - but the wines are the same and are decent. Nothing to see here.
- Location
- Banbury
See Above -
- Location
- London, Europe
Fair enough. I'll stand down on that one. But i'll double my venegance for Laithwaites.
I did however weaponize their wine last night by taking some to the neighbour s house. They always bring filth my my house so i doubled down. Now it would appear we are in a race to the bottom
I did however weaponize their wine last night by taking some to the neighbour s house. They always bring filth my my house so i doubled down. Now it would appear we are in a race to the bottom
Curses. It's in the post apparently. Still, I'm takiing that as a gain, since overall the cost equated to £4.
- Location
- Kuala Lumpur
Re F&M Crackers, I’ve had two vouchers (so far), a promise of delivery tomorrow, but also the promise (from another person) of a complete refund because they are out of stock.
So it’s possible I’ll end up with crackers, mis-delivered chocolates, 20 quid of vouchers and my money back ! Sadly I think it’s more likely I’ll have to console my Mum with some cracking Champagne instead, which would have been a far better idea in the first place
So it’s possible I’ll end up with crackers, mis-delivered chocolates, 20 quid of vouchers and my money back ! Sadly I think it’s more likely I’ll have to console my Mum with some cracking Champagne instead, which would have been a far better idea in the first place
- Location
- London
When I arrived in London in 1992, they used to offer nice fine wines (I remember buying Talbot 86 for not much money, especially as the £ had just sunk with black Wednesday and they probably had bought the stuff before).
Then, with fine wines prices rocketing... grew misfit between their fine wine portfolio and their customer base.
Ref the late 2010s, they indeed had nice Burgundy EP offers... but also put on sales some left overs at discounted prices including for instance some Clos Saint Denis (2010, 2012 and 2016) from Bertagna.