Clueless shop employees

So I found this funky little shop selling a dusty selection of whiskies along with an eclectic offering of Norwegian candies and gifts and stuff. Weird. This is where I scored a bottle of Springbank 10 100 Proof, which I’ve posted about elsewhere. They also had an old bottle of Longmorn that I barely got a look at, and I’ve been thinking about it since. Was it the 15 that everyone misses? I call and reach a very uncertain-sounding older lady.

Me: Blah blah blah, can I ask about a bottle of scotch that I saw there recently? It’s called Longmorn. I’d like to know the age on the label, please. And the price. Thanks.

Her: Ummm, OK. I’ll check.

Her: We only have Bowmore. 12 and 15. Which one do you want?

Me: Uhh…

Our conversation wound down from there. I thanked her for her time and let her off the hook for answering any more questions that were clearly out of her wheelhouse. I just love that she seemed to think something else with a vaguely similar name was a good substitute.

Two very similar stories.

In Dec. 2013 I went on an epic whisky adventure in Calgary. I ended up visiting almost every liquor store in NW Calgary and some big ones in other parts of the city. I found a number of rare gems, dusty bottles long sold out elsewhere.

At one store, a small independently owned shop, we found 2 bottles of Springbank 12 YO Claret wood. This was released a few years ago as a one time bottling. I bought one and my brother in law later bought the other. The storekeeper said he'd be sure to get some more in soon. Of course that never happened as it is no longer available.

In August I used the Alberta website to locate some bottles of Macallan CS. The store had a number of bottles and I confirmed the price was $73 tax included. I sent my brother in law right away and he confirmed it was indeed the Mac CS. He bought 8 bottles (2 for me, 6 for a Connosr colleague who may remain anonymous). At the time it was selling elsewhere in Calgary for over $90, $123 in Edmonton, and £125 online.

A few days later I sent him back to rescue the last bottle, but it was gone. No problem, the store clerk said, we'll get a whole new bunch in next week.

Sadly, just as in the first story, he was mistaken.

@Nozinan, I didn't want to drag out my little anecdote, but my sweet old gal was similarly optimistic. "Well, Gertrude takes care of these things. maybe she'll get in more of that Longmore when she's back this spring."

Something I often overhear in shops is the salesperson telling an obvious neophyte that this was voted "best whisky in the World", rather than winning the "Best world Whisky" category, which excludes Scotland, Ireland, the US and Canada !

(in)

@olivier, that's an important difference!

Really, though, pretty much any reference to any award is meaningless. I remember hearing about some such award given to Lagavulin 16 when I first got my hands on some as a newbie and I remember telling the same garbage to people I shared a glass with. That's the kind of fake knowledge that newbies don't know how to handle.

It doesn't fly to go around correcting people, but these things stick on our craws, don't think? They stick in mine and I can remember them long after. For example, I also remember a shop guy telling a customer that "Redbreast is the only smoky Irish whiskey." I bit my tongue.

• I didn't have the heart to tell him it was a single expression, not the entire distillery ** Sydney airport has never stocked Japanese whisky

Further to this, Dan Murphy's near my place put signs under all their Yamazaki 12 yr & Distiller's Reserve proclaiming "Yamazaki whisky of the year" and they all sold out. Once again, distorting the truth that it is not Sherry Cask 2013

Unsure why but the page cropped my message.

the full version:

I was recently at Sydney airport when a customer asked "Do you have the whisky of the year Yamazaki", the shop clerk said "We are all sold out, but this tastes exactly the same" handing him a bottle of Lagavulin. I could see she was just pushing the sale, so I said "Actually, Lagavulin tastes nothing like Yamazaki". He proceeded to browse the Speyside whisky after that.

Further to this - Sydney has never stocked any Japanese whisky, so it can't be "sold out"

Taiwan has only recently shown any interest in bourbon and has next to nothing on the Canadian front. But I overheard a conversation a couple of weeks ago where a customer was asking the difference between Canadian and American whisky. Now my Chinese isn't perfect, but I clearly understood the clerk explain that Canadian whiskies are known for their "bold" profiles in contrast to the "smooth" American stuff. The customer then bought Crown Royal based on that advice.

Huh?

COPIED & PASTED FROM 'STEAL OF A DEAL'.....

Not sure if it's a 'steal' (well it could've been), but a good deal IMHO...

Picked up a bottle of the Balvenie 15 yr Sherry Cask for $84.99...This was recently added to the shelves not more than several days ago, and the old '15 yr Single Barrel' sticker was still in place.

I recall seeing this single malt run for $100 in some stores - so $85 I felt would be a good deal (and if it rang up at the cash register for a higher price - I would've pointed out that the shelf price listing clearly indicates $84.99).

The gal this morning at the register is a part time employee at the store, and knows little to nothing about the stores vast inventory...Long story short - the new Sherry Cask Balvenie didn't ring up - as in no pricing had been entered into the stores system...She looks at me, and asks 'do you know what the price is on this?'.....Now - for a split second I entertained the thought of giving a 'bogus' price (like $49.99), but since I consider myself to be a man of integrity, and honesty - I informed her that the price listed on the shelf was in fact $84.99...Without batting an eyelash she rang it up for that amount...Still a good deal nonetheless.

Oh - and to add.....

The woman at the register asked 'is this alcohol'?

Umm - yes ma'am - it is.

Went to a local LCBO to find an item that appeared on their inventory (a Highland Park I believe - it was a year ago or so). I had asked one of the employees if it was available, referring to it as a single malt "whisky". Hilarity ensues:

Him: No, no. Highland Park is not whisky. That's scotch.

Me: Uh, scotch is a kind of whisky.

Him: No, that's whisky over there (points to the rows of American and Canadian whisky). Scotch is different.

Me: Yes it's different, but it's still whisky. Distilled from grain, aged in oak...

Him: No, it's scotch.

Me: .........you might want to sign yourself up for some re-education....

I never did get that Highland Park....

@TheConscience Words of advice if I may?

Never argue with an idiot...They'll drag you down to their level, and then beat you with experience.

This is not exactly about a clueless shop employee but more about a snob employee. I really like to talk with my whisky advisor at SAQ because I have drank a few samples with him so He kind of knows my palate. So even for whisky that I have read a ton of review, I will ask for his opinion before buying. Yesterday, he wasn't there when I ask if anybody sample a whisky they have. I was talking about the amount of sugar in whiskies with different profile when I mentionned the Cutty Sark Prohibition which is new around here... Wow, he neglected my remark saying It is blend that way on purpose... implying to please the common crowd and then tried to get me interested in a scotch from the Cabinet where they hold not only the pricey ones but also the less available ones. I felt I loose credential with my remark and he left me short after that as if he was not interested to talk to me.

I am not saying that Prohibition is the best whisky of the world but what I will stand for is that it is as good as many whiskies twice is price. Neglecting a whisky because it's cheap makes him a clueless snob employee in my view. Maybe he simply don't like it, but a good advisor should be able to advise is customer base on his profile and you should start by listening to him.

My mother asked a shop assistant if he could recommend a whisky to buy me for Christmas. He went on to show her a few whiskies,then she purchased a bottle because it was a nicely shaped . Christmas day came and I received a phone call from my mother, asking me if I liked my whisky. I replied it's a lovely present but it's Armagnac.

@OIJas. @OlJas. I know you asked for no ill will here and I hope it doesn't come across that way.

@beduffboy I like shopping at Total Wine, mainly because of their low prices. What a don't like is their agenda of pushing high profit products on people. This Christmas I was talking to a guy in the bourbon isle, he asked me about a good Rye Whiskey as present for his Father in law, who enjoys Rye. I recommended the Templeton Rye for what he wanted to spend. The store manager overheard us and claimed that Darby Rye was hands down better. They have tons of this stuff on hand. I told him I had never tried of it and could we sample it? He asked to speak to me alone, I could tell he was upset, he asked that I let him sell spirits. I told him that this customer asked me for my opinion and that it's a present. Total Wine is in business to make as profit as they can, it's a good business model for them.

Here is a review I found on Darby Rye, I hope this guy didn't buy it. thezombieforum.com.

I listen and take advice from Whisky Connosr. Be careful when asking for advice from sales people, some are good some aren't. It's not completely their fault, some are clueless while others are under pressure to sell certain products.

Some fine, fine advice, @FMichael

@Benancio Sorry about the bad link, here it is. thezombieforum.com/viewtopic.php