ThePortForum.com

In case you've missed it, possibly worth highlighting Seckford's new delivery policy, where their default position is to not deliver wines in their original cases (OWC or OCC). If you want the original packaging you have to ask for it, but they'll still open the case and transfer the bottles into their own boxes for shipping.

Potentially has some implications for the value and integrity of wines.

For example, a banded seal case of DRC has a higher value than one that has been opened.

The original packaging is yours and you've paid for it. For some wines the packaging could be quite valuable.

Are Seckford even allowed to do this? If you're storing wine with them it's your property & I'd suggest they should not be opening cases unless you give them permission to.

Discuss...

That's a strange policy change. It's not even cost effective, they're wasting man hours opening cases and transferring bottles to their own cases. Very strange.

nac wrote: ↑10:00 Wed 20 Nov 2024 In case you've missed it, possibly worth highlighting Seckford's new delivery policy, where their default position is to not deliver wines in their original cases (OWC or OCC). If you want the original packaging you have to ask for it, but they'll still open the case and transfer the bottles into their own boxes for shipping.

...

Are Seckford even allowed to do this? If you're storing wine with them it's your property & I'd suggest they should not be opening cases unless you give them permission to.

Discuss...

Seckford can choose what services they wish to provide; if the only delivery option they choose to offer is as your describe, then I would expect that asking for delivery under those terms would implicitly provide permission for them to pack and send your wines as they have described.

I am surprised that this would be the only option they offer, but perhaps it has become harder to find reliable delivery providers for small (non-pallet) quantities at reasonable prices, and the repack to standard courier-safe packaging may then be cost-effective and lower risk. Organising a courier yourself to collect the intact case would be another option (at your own risk, instead of Seckford's).

MigSU wrote:That's a strange policy change. It's not even cost effective, they're wasting man hours opening cases and transferring bottles to their own cases. Very strange.

It would infer that they’ve had a more than insignificant issues with bottles breaking in transit in OWC’s. Switching to a safer shipping container is probably a smart idea.

I know that’s been the case here in the states where getting bottles shipped in OWC has become almost impossible. Everything is repacked and if you want the box you have to pay to get it sent separately.

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑13:36 Wed 20 Nov 2024

MigSU wrote:That's a strange policy change. It's not even cost effective, they're wasting man hours opening cases and transferring bottles to their own cases. Very strange.

It would infer that they’ve had a more than insignificant issues with bottles breaking in transit in OWC’s. Switching to a safer shipping container is probably a smart idea.

I know that’s been the case here in the states where getting bottles shipped in OWC has become almost impossible. Everything is repacked and if you want the box you have to pay to get it sent separately.

You're probably right. Still annoying, and with the potential to wipe a lot of value off your goods, as nac said.

The other option of course is to take a trip up to Seckfords and collect yourself

My understanding was that this only applied to home deliveries (i.e. does not apply to delivery to other professional storage locations like LCB).

Wouldn't it make more sense for Seckford to give an "opt in" if someone wanted their purchases shipped in the original container and include a flat freight surcharge fee based on the number of bottles? They could also either charge an insurance fee (if they don't already), or tell the buyer they assume all risks on shipment if in the original box.