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By Tim Hunt

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About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in add...  (More)

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Sunday delivery anyone?

Uploaded: Dec 26, 2017
Does it strike you as odd that the only delivery trucks you see on the road on Sundays are the U.S. Postal Service. Of course, they’re not delivering the mail. They are handling Sunday deliveries for Amazon, so it can meet its two-day Prime delivery option.
Driving home late in the morning on Christmas Eve, there was a postal service truck delivering items along Foothill Road. UPS and FedEx were wrapped for the long holiday weekend, but there was a carrier delivering packages.
Incidentally, I was baffled this month when a non-uniformed man, driving a private car with no signage, delivered a package I had ordered earlier that week from Amazon.
According to news reports today, retailers are enjoying a robust holiday season, likely buoyed by the perfect calendar for maximum shopping days that included a very early Thanksgiving and five full shopping weekends.
As a consumer who enjoys wine and spirits, I have been delighted to see Total Wine come into the valley with stores in Pleasanton and San Ramon. The family-owned superstore opened one of its first retail outlets in Pleasant Hill almost in the shadow of the headquarters of BevMo, which has owned that specialty in the Bay Area for years. Of course, Safeway and Costco are the leading purveyors of wine and spirits in Northern California.
The Total Wine managers took direct aim at BevMo and have run numerous ads and sent mail pieces with side-by-side price comparisons. Those comparisons also are throughout the store.
Naturally, BevMo has responded with its own increased advertising.
The unexpected consumer benefit is that Costco also has responded without fanfare. I found several items that I often purchase at new low prices when I was in the Livermore store recently. We have observed the price differentials when we have shopped in the Costco stores in Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage, but it was welcome to see it in our local stores.
Competition in the marketplace is good for consumers
Local Journalism.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Joe, a resident of Ruby Hill,
on Dec 27, 2017 at 7:12 am

After reading all of the complaints in many of the columns and comments about Costco and how they will impact local businesses and how we need to support local businesses, you've mentioned Total Wines, BevMo, Costco, and Safeway and NO mention of the locally owned wine store in downtown Pleasanton-The Wine Steward. Great offerings, events, wine education, helpful staff -something not found at your favorite places to shop. Seriously, how about giving a local, hard working business a plug instead of corporations where you can save a couple of bucks on wines every wine store carries.


Posted by Jack, a resident of Downtown,
on Dec 27, 2017 at 1:45 pm

Jack is a registered user.

Joe, you're right!
The people fo Pleasanton love their unique stores and restaurants! They loved to drive by Amelia's on their way to Subway, loved driving by New Leaf on their way to Raley's and by Kolln Hardware on their way to Home Depot!


Posted by Tom T, a resident of Danville,
on Dec 27, 2017 at 5:46 pm

I must agree with Joe. The Wine Steward in PTown is awesome!
I also enjoy a good craft beer.
May I give a shout out to the Growler, Pete's, Norm's and the Danville Brewing.
And if I may further impose....Altamont Beerworks!
There I have said what I had to say here.


Posted by Steve, a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood,
on Dec 27, 2017 at 7:33 pm

Agree with the above posters...this is really an awful piece, and I'm surprised the PW would allow it to be included on its site. So many struggling local retailers, and this guy advocates for the big-box stores. Shameful.


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Dec 27, 2017 at 9:15 pm

DKHSK is a registered user.

Joe from above has a very good point.

I went into the Wine Steward one day and while perusing the selection I noticed they had my favorite wine but was sure that the price they offered was much higher then my local grocery store. To my utter surprise, the Wine Steward was $3.00 LESS than the supermarket.

Just food for thought.


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