A Wine Blogger’s Hate Mail of the Week

Hate mailletter

Dear Tom Wark:

I recently googled 'Three Tier System' and noticed that your writings rose to the top of the list. It brought me to your blog titled 'The three tier system and consumer acces to wine'. Then I noticed your Manifesto for Change in Wine. I read it too.

I only have one question-Who the fuck do you think you are?

You probably don't realize that 100s of thouses of good Americans are employed by distributors. But al you care about is 'dismantling' the three tier system. Unlike you I know somethng about the three tier system. Without it you woudl be unable to buy your "artisan" wines and real people would be unable to buy their beer. But for some reason you hate the three tier system.

Were you assalted in some unfortunate way by a distributor when you were a young boy? You should get off your high horse and think about writing stupid wine reviews like other bloggers. It's safer.

Sent Anonymously Via GMail
All Spelling in Context

Dear Anonymous:

Thank you for writing, however always know you are free to either comment directly on this blog or to include your name in correspondence with me.

With that said, let me answer your direct questions. 1) I think I am just one of the people who understand that the three tier system—with its mandated use of middlemen distributors, it's strange provisions such as bans on central warehousing that only protect distributors, and its inability to deliver to consumers the products they want—serves very little purpose.

2) No, I never knew any distributors as a young boy and was never assaulted by one. However, Kent Williams once beat me up on the bus coming home from school (for the record, he coldcocked me…and I may have mentioned at school that his mother bore a resemblance to a dog).

In conclusion, you had me right up until you insulted wine bloggers. That was nasty of you.

Sincerely,
Tom Wark…


14 Responses

  1. Andrea - July 30, 2012

    Great response, Tom. Aside from his anger, the commenter is too cowardly to leave his name so I have little respect for his opinion. I say, “Man up, Anonymous.”

  2. Patrick Frank - July 30, 2012

    Wow, what a post. Whoever wrote that (and they lack the courage to identify themselves) needs to go cool off. I agree that the 3-tier system does not adequately serve consumers, and that’s the purpose of capitalism, serving the customer. Not protecting somebody’s job as our Anonymous person seems to believe.

  3. Rob McMillan - July 30, 2012

    OK I confess. I did it.

  4. sao anash - July 31, 2012

    As always, a gentlemanly response, Tom.

  5. David Vergari - July 31, 2012

    “…100s of thouses of good Americans are employed by distributors…” plus one perfect anal sphincter who emailed you. Truth is, what with all the consolidation we’ve seen in the wholesale sector over the years, the head count has dropped to, uh, 10s of thouses [sic]?.

  6. harvey posert - July 31, 2012

    tom,
    actually it shows that criticism of the three-tier system elicits the kind of response you got, further identifying the kind of people we’re up against.
    harvey

  7. Greg - July 31, 2012

    Tom,
    I beat up Kent Williams one year later for being an ass…
    gb

  8. david - July 31, 2012

    Perhaps it was Kent Williams writing!!!

  9. Susan DeMatei - July 31, 2012

    Great share. I don’t know what is more hysterical: The bad grammar, poor spelling, lack of logic or weak arguments this person put forth. Classic example of how to respond to a troll of this type. And thanks for taking one for the team! Keep up the great work!

  10. Neil Barham - August 2, 2012

    The guy is right, while ther are problems with the system, how would anyone get wine in the middle of the country? I am in Colorado and we have incredible bad times in the winter receiving our wines from NY and Cali. And when shipped by UPS they are either frozen or cooked. I agree the distributors need to be better at customer skills to both their suppliers and their accounts. The need to be engaged and focus on placing their suppliers wines, especially those small family producers who get buried by the industrial suppliers, but really if the account buyers and the wine drinking public became engaged as well it would all be fine, then there would be pull from the consumers which would mean sales for the wineries, etc. instead we see big horrible brands forced on the public. You should take time and research these industrial brands, instead of beating up us guys out in the trenches fighting for our lives and the livelihood of our vignerons!

  11. Tom Wark - August 2, 2012

    Neil
    I’ve nothing against you. I’m only sure the mandate that a wholesaler must be used is a law without merit, as is the prohibition on consumers in CO having wine shipped to them from our of state retailers. Yet every wholesaler in the nation support and defend these anti consumer and protectionist laws.

  12. Kris Chislett - August 3, 2012

    I know next to nothing about the three tier system, and that’s why I stick to writing “stupid wine reviews.” It’s safer that way.

  13. Deli Devine - August 8, 2012

    I think that was a serious topic to discussed about. A law must be take in consideration when dealing a topic like wholesaler and consumers relations.


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