For The Love Of Port

As of the other day, winesearcher.com programmers have disabled proversion users from searching terms like "Madeira" with no vintage indicated. This has always been an important tool for me in searching both their retail and auction database for new Madeiras available. Their claim as to why they changed it is that the generic search that populates all listed Madeira takes too large a toll on their server, and, by disabling this generic search function , it will optimize (load faster) specific wine+vintage searches.

Super bummer for those of us who have always relied on this search function to see all available inventories world wide.

I agree.

It is not letting me search for "madeira" or "terrantez madeira" with vintage "1977" either. I get:

"Your search for 1977 "terrantez madeira" in USA is non-specific."

It looks as though I have to use a term such as "cossart gordons terrantez madeira portugal" (actual example) in order to get a response.

It was giving me an option a couple days ago to view products in USA that include search term, one of the small links below. I'll have to check if it's still there. That's how I've done some big trawling for deals before as well.


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I have been desperately trying to talk them into reversing this change in code. I would encourage anyone/everyone to contact them and as the same.

Perhaps it would be a worthwhile argument to point out a pro subscription probably covers the added toll on the servers and would be a worthwhile perk to offer/add?


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I'll certainly chip in my comments to them as well


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Good point Bradley.

So that explains it. I just ran into this yesterday and was confused as to why 1850 Madeira was not specific enough.

I complained to them before when some searches didn't work. I will complain about this too. I don't regularly search just for "madeira," but I do for "colheita."

They call it progress!

Although I have no idea if their claim about the speed of their site/search loads is hampered, if so, then I can't say I blame them. But I am overly sensitive to this issue right now.

Just checked to make sure it's still there, if you want to still make your broad search, choose the link below that says: "Search items for sale in USA containing the word(s) 'port'
(This search may be slow)"

I used the generic term "port"


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I just did my usual search for "Port" and "1964" and was told it was non-specific, but the link that Brad mentioned was there and provided the same old functionality. It looks like they're just trying to encourage people to be more specific by adding a layer of obfuscation before the more demanding searches.

Unfortunate.

I use http://1000corks.com regularly, very quick, comprehensive results, better user interface than wine-searcher IMO.

Wow, that is great. Thank you Daniel!

Winesearcher definitely needs some competition!

Roy

Daniel Fraley wrote:I use http://1000corks.com regularly, very quick, comprehensive results, better user interface than wine-searcher IMO.

I don't know... their user interface takes up far too much space in the listings. I don't need fluff text about the wine or the store's address/phone number in the initial listing because odds are that I'm just browsing for store name and price to see what's available.

But more importantly, the first search I did returned (as the first hit) a Port that isn't available at the store in question, even after going to that store's website and searching there directly. It's in their listing, but it's sold out. Winesearcher screens those out of the listing so that you aren't given false hope.

I'd love to see some competition for winesearcher, but 1000corks isn't going to do it for me.

For the last couple weeks, the search behavior on Wine Searcher Pro has been back to the original. I enter "madeira" withouut a vintage, and Wine Searcher displays all madeira vintages and non-vintage.

Hi Glenn...

I started 1000 Corks and just stumbled upon this thread.

I can probably add a feature for a more compact view. If I developed it would you be willing to beta test it for us?

As for the store that had the sold out listing, I'm sorry about that. We're constantly improving, and I'll make sure the person in charge of QA focuses on this. I'm definitely aware that this happens, but with hundreds of stores, it can be difficult to stay on top of. Can you tell me what search it was?

Thank you to everyone for both the kind words, and the suggestions for improvement.

Thanks
Sam

Glenn E. wrote:

Daniel Fraley wrote:I use http://1000corks.com regularly, very quick, comprehensive results, better user interface than wine-searcher IMO.

I don't know... their user interface takes up far too much space in the listings. I don't need fluff text about the wine or the store's address/phone number in the initial listing because odds are that I'm just browsing for store name and price to see what's available.

But more importantly, the first search I did returned (as the first hit) a Port that isn't available at the store in question, even after going to that store's website and searching there directly. It's in their listing, but it's sold out. Winesearcher screens those out of the listing so that you aren't given false hope.

I'd love to see some competition for winesearcher, but 1000corks isn't going to do it for me.

Sam O. wrote:Hi Glenn...

I started 1000 Corks and just stumbled upon this thread.

I can probably add a feature for a more compact view. If I developed it would you be willing to beta test it for us?

As for the store that had the sold out listing, I'm sorry about that. We're constantly improving, and I'll make sure the person in charge of QA focuses on this. I'm definitely aware that this happens, but with hundreds of stores, it can be difficult to stay on top of. Can you tell me what search it was?

Thank you to everyone for both the kind words, and the suggestions for improvement.

Thanks
Sam

Glenn E. wrote:

Daniel Fraley wrote:I use http://1000corks.com regularly, very quick, comprehensive results, better user interface than wine-searcher IMO.

I don't know... their user interface takes up far too much space in the listings. I don't need fluff text about the wine or the store's address/phone number in the initial listing because odds are that I'm just browsing for store name and price to see what's available.

But more importantly, the first search I did returned (as the first hit) a Port that isn't available at the store in question, even after going to that store's website and searching there directly. It's in their listing, but it's sold out. Winesearcher screens those out of the listing so that you aren't given false hope.

I'd love to see some competition for winesearcher, but 1000corks isn't going to do it for me.

Hi Sam,

I'd be happy to beta test for you. I suspect that most of the people here would love to help out!

As for the "missing" Port, it's still there. Search for 1964 Port and the first hit is a Graham's Malvedos at Premier Cru in Emeryville, CA. If you click on the link you're taken to their website where it says that it is sold out. A search for "Graham Malvedos 1964" on winesearcher returns no hits in the US, which is as I expect as that's a very hard to find Port.

2003 Léoville-Barton
1000corks - $225 at Cultwine, no other US listings
wine-searcher - $125 at Grand Vin Wine Merchants, $127 at FineWineCollector.com, $135 at EWR (have bought from them before), $135 at Belmont Wine Exchange, and about 14 more hits under $225; and this is with the free version, as I let my subscription lapse in July.