New vs. old collectors of Port

[Roy Hersh]

Those who have been collecting only 2-10 years don't remember the old days pre-WINESEARCHER.COM when finding value and buying Port was not as easy as it is today. Just think what it would be like to be a Port buyer before winesearcher which leveled the playing field. I remember buying Port before the internet was even a factor. Things have changed rather dramatically in the past decade ... moreso since the internet became such a huge factor in shaping buying decisions.

[Eric Menchen]

More than 95% of the Port I own was purchased in the last year. I can easily see that I would have paid 50% more for it without the internet.

[Roy Hersh]

Eric,

Wow, that is an impressive statistic. I bet there are not too many in the world who could rival that 95%, with Port wine ... in the last 12 months.

Good to see the internet kept some of your earnings in the bank!

[Glenn E.]

Without actually checking receipts I'd have to say that 95% of my Port purchases have occured in the last 2 years. So not quite as end-loaded as Eric's, but still very "new" to the game.

I only joined FTLOP in January of 2008, and I really hadn't done much collecting (if any) before that point.

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have purchased as much Port as I have if it hadn't been for the internet. Finding good deals all over the country makes it fun to collect, and without the internet I doubt that would be possible for me. I agree with Eric though - without the internet my Port would have probably cost 50% more than it did.

[Andy Velebil]

I don't even want to go there. My meager cellar has ballooned thanks to . But I'm not complaining, just wondering what my next purchase will be...well in a little bit, gotta save some $$ for the trip first.

[Moses Botbol]

Until maybe 5 years ago, I never bought a bottle of port other than local B&M's. My rerference for a deal was what I had paid before or saw down the street. Granted that I am lucky to have several B&M's with good selection and solid prices, but had no idea there were deals to be had online.

Doing anything pre internet seems like ancient times.

[Todd Pettinger]

The internet actually makes me cry when it comes to Port... I can't have anything shipped cross-border and picking and choosing the few bottles I can buy and store "at a friend's" becomes challenging because I can only bring 18 bottles back across the border in person - and typically at a horrendous import duty cost. My infrequent trips to the US also take me to many different places, some states I can have Port shipped to the hotels, some not. Makes it difficult to jump on some of the deals my friends South of the 49th parallel have privy to. Sad really. Maybe I just have to move, or better, make a semi-annual trip to Seattle... it's only 9 hrs drive away.

Todd

[Glenn E.]

or better, make a semi-annual trip to Seattle... it's only 9 hrs drive away.

I like that answer!

[Marc J.]

I remember the pre-winesearcher days and the limited selections that I had. I had about 15 local wine shops that I frequented and typically I hoped for the best in terms of selection & price. Now, I probably purchase more in a month than I used to purchase in a year....needless to say the wife isn't too happy about this turn of events!

Marc

[Andy Velebil]

I do remember pre-winesearcher times. Like Marc, my purchases of all wines have gone way up since WS came into being. It's just so easy to click and find stuff now.

[Todd Pettinger]

In a way, I still am "pre-winesearcher.com" days as it doesn't matter how much the internet says I can get it for or where I can get it from - the sad truth is that I can't get it from the internet and the local wine shops know thsi therefore they have no desire or need to remain competitive.

Port (good Port) is hard enough to come by in Canada with the five levels of profit-taking, taxes, duties, etc etc etc.
<sigh>

or better, make a semi-annual trip to Seattle... it's only 9 hrs drive away.

I like that answer!

Glenn... I'm coming your way!!!

Todd

[Luc Gauthier]

The internet makes a moderate Port drinker who is north of the 49th parallel cringe
I think I'll ask Fred to go to Boston and see what Moses is up to .
It's only a 6½ hour drive .

[Moses Botbol]

The internet makes a moderate Port drinker who is north of the 49th parallel cringe
I think I'll ask Fred to go to Boston and see what Moses is up to .
It's only a 6½ hour drive .

I feel for the Québécois and the rest of Canada. You need a banker's mint to have any kind of collection. Even the stuff I pass up on is the deal of the year up north. I hope to get up Monteal by year's end.

[Tom Archer]

Reading these posts, I realise just how isolated the Stateside consumers were from a competitive market, before the internet came along.

At least in the UK we had a modest raft of merchants catalogues (mostly London based) to compare, and check against the prices further afield.

For the more mundane wines, we have for many years had the benefit of highly competitive supermarkets, sometimes within walking distance of each other.

While the US has the enviable benefit of copious land, it does seem to mitigate against the efficient distribution of products that have a low market volume. If it can be sold by the truck load, the US does it really well, but when sending a dozen cases to destinations in twelve different states, then shipping costs can be oppressive..

Tom

[Todd Pettinger]

While the US has the enviable benefit of copious land, it does seem to mitigate against the efficient distribution of products that have a low market volume. If it can be sold by the truck load, the US does it really well, but when sending a dozen cases to destinations in twelve different states, then shipping costs can be oppressive..

Tom

This is a very good point. Very poignant observation Uncle Tom... it hits the nail on the head.

The journey across the ocean probably doesn't help this case either.

However, even in the US, there are deals to be had - that may even rival some of the prices that you would pay in teh UK with VAT added...
There seems to be "pockets" in the US... states where ripping off the consumers receives less focus than in other places. Canada is in-line with the states that enjoy taxing the snot out of anything vaguely considered to be in the realm of being a "luxury purchase."