Wine Well @ Wivenhoe - Colchester

Jake H.

Great shop, loads of variety and open pretty much all the time but why oh why have you decided to shut the post office on a Saturday… Post office closes at 2pm on a weekday so someone who works full time can’t post anything. Bad decision

Bee B.

This shop is my local WineWell in Wivenhoe. They are usually welcoming and quite friendly but this is the third time I have been ignored and not served according to being first in the queue.

The first time I raised concerns, I was told that the customer behind me has bought from the shop but I am only using the post office which is not profitable at all to the shop.

Today, again, the customer behind me was called and served first whiles I watched on and waited.

The reason being that I am just using the post office ; therefore someone who buys from the shop has to be served before me in the queue.

On this occasion, there were just two of us in the shop at that very moment. It was not busy in the least.

When I expressed concerns, it really annoyed the manager. I was talked to angrily even though I maintained my calmness and just politely expressed it was unfair.
The manager went on to say that he does not care and asked why I even come to the shop and then said that I should go somewhere else!

Okay, I will.
I wanted to like this shop because of the proximity to my house and the fact that I thought they were fairly nice.
Was I wrong?
Thank you for letting me know you do not want to see me in your shop even though I have done absolutely nothing wrong.

Looking really incensed, he went on to explain that he gets absolutely nothing from running the post office.

But is that a reason to make post office customers wait whiles you serve other customers even though those customers are behind in the queue? Especially when there were just two of us customers in the shop at that moment and I was first in queue.

He angrily went on for a bit, I felt embarrassed and apologised just to keep the peace and not because I did anything wrong; I was merely stating that I thought it was rather unfair to always be served last just because I have come in to use the post office which he stated, makes him no money.
(How am I supposed to know that? And is that a reason to serve others over me?
I would hate to think that Royal Mail forces Wine Well to operate the post office.)

I felt like I dare not say anything more as I did not want to see him getting more and more angry. I felt my views were not valued as he went on and on as I quietly listened and waited for my receipt.

I did not feel I was important as every customer should rightly feel and I felt taken for granted.

I thought, “how disrespectful!”
How is one supposed to feel when others are repeatedly served over you even though they are behind you in a queue

This makes me quite sad.

Is this the norm at WineWell or is it just because it’s me and I do not matter for whatever reason. To the extent that the customer who arrived after me is of more importance than me even though it’s just the two of us to be served.

I reminded him politely, that the people who use the post office are the same people who come in to buy things from the shop therefore should be treated fairly.
In other words, the post office, does pull customers in who also buy from the shop so it’s not entirely unprofitable like he implied.

What’s the real reason that I’ve been repeatedly skipped and others served before me? I wonder!

What ever happened to “First come, First Serve”?

Annie S.

Staff so helpful and friendly and beyond their control how limited the Post Office opening hours are. We will continue to support this fabulous store and Post Office

Sammie I.

This is a great community focused business! I was in need of change and couldn’t get any at the other post office due to my business not having a high street bank account! Wine Well helped me no problem! They’re friendly and very helpful. I will definitely be using them from now on for all of my post office needs! Thank you Wine Well.

Joe G.

A really fantastic local shop for local people with great owners and staff always helpful

Snotty D.

Selling Prime for £13 is absolutely ridiculous, you can buy it in other convience stores in collchester for £3 a bottle.

Overpriced is an understatement. Can't believe you'd advertise this on out local notice board. Talk about caring for the community 🙄

Chan W.

Wine well provides an excellent drinks selection. The staff are amazing and the atmosphere is exceptional! A top notch place to get things!

Evan G.

Best customer service in Colchester and best stocked shop, 100% recommend