While we were in Tesco’s yesterday, I decided to have a quick peek at their whisky section, to see if they sold anything else1 then the standard Laphroaig 10 y.o. (Interestingly they didn’t, compare this to the Morrison’s in Manchester, that actually stocked both the 10 y.o. as well as the Laphroaig Quarter-cask).
To my absolute shock and horror, Tesco has taken to not only opening the the cardboard tubes (and I suspect in case of Laphroaig also removed the booklets that comes with the bottles (which can be redeemed and make you a Friend of Laphroaig)), they also jammed forcefully their security down the the carton tubes. However, I was sad to discover that this was the case with most whisky being sold there, top of tubes removed and the box jarred or damaged because the tag otherwise wouldn’t fit in …..
Now I know whisky is all about the tasting but appreciation is just not only in the taste. Visual appreciation in every aspect is just as important. I was rather shocked and annoyed to see Tesco obviously caring that little about the goods they sell that they wilfully damage boxes of unsold whisky.
And please don’t get me wrong, I do understand about Tesco needing to secure their goods so people don’t run out of the store with a bottle of five of good proper single malt (and then proceed to mix it with coke or something .. the cretins). But surely there is a way to secure the bottles *without* having to damage the cartons??
I think in the future I will find an other place to order my whisky from and as far Laphroaig go, I might just order it straight from their website. When I ordered the Glencairn whisky glass from their website, delivery was prompt and the box was very well packaged and secured.
A bit fail on Tesco’s part if you ask me.
the mind boggles ….
[1] – I have my mind pretty much set on my next bottle of Laphroaig either to be a Triple Wood or a Cask Strength.
edit: (05/12/2011) – follow up:
Having posted this also to twitter I have had the following reactions:
Laphroaigwhisky (John Campbell): “@michielvwessem @UKTesco Thanks for letting us know. I will pass this on to our sales team and see if anything can be done“
UKTesco Tesco Customer Care: “@michielvwessem Hi Michiel, we will let the management at the store know your feedback, sorry for any problems.“
a lot fail on their part. And it wasn’t just the Laphroaig, was it? all the gift/presentation boxes were equally mangled. it really really stinks.
Yep, most of them that I could see. Especially the round tubes where horridly damaged, some of the bigger square boxes seemed to be okay. Still there must be a better way for Tesco to secure they goods and not damage the boxes. Imagine you would want to give that to someone. Who would like giving or receiving for that matter, a damaged gift box .. Gives a bit of the “Fallen of the back end of a truck” feeling to it.
I’m not a great fan of Laphroaig, but I do sympathize with this. I’ve recently come across the security whereby buying a bottle in a busy supermarket no longer involves a quick dash from the car, up isle 14 to the booze, grabbing a bottle, and sprinting through the 10 items or less cashier armed with the correct change.
Instead, a lengthy delay while the admittedly rather young (probably underage) cashier has to summon up a “”supervisor”" who seems to take great delight in shuffling along at a speed that my great grandfather’s zimmerframe would be proud of.
“Super”market? No. Convenient? not really. Cheap? so-so.
As for altering the packaging… I’m certainly against this. I seldom buy spirits for myself, rather they are a convenient present at all times of the year, so finding that something is missing, or the whole packaging has been visibly tampered with is not really on in my book.
Good cheer to you when you do find your tipple!
Well I have from reliable sources that my Christmas present will be a bottle of Laphroaig purchased directly from the distillery itself. And yeah, damaging the packaging is a no-no. And I mostly wrote about Laphroaig as that was the bottle I was on the look out for.
However as noted, they weren’t the only packaging damaged. Laphroaig and any other whiskies stored in tubular packaging where among the worst damaged. There has been some replies over twitter, we can only hope it gets changed in time. :)