1855 (1855.com/1855.con): as losses mount injections of capital keeps leaky company afloat

Beached boat – a fate awaiting 1855?

A brief article in the latest edition of La Revue des Vins de France on the 2010 accounts of 1855 makes fascinating and revealing reading. The accounts make dismal reading for Messieurs Émeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon as well as their shareholders. 1855's turnover is on the slide: down nearly 24% in 2010 compared to the previous year: 7,620,722€ (2010) against 9,996,144€ (2009). If this wasn't bad enough turnover has dropped by 33% since 2008 (11,358,845€) and is now lower than it was in 2006 (8,633,856€).

Losses have mounted rising from – 73,963€ (2009) to 780,107€ in 2010. However, this does compare favourably with losses of 1.7m (2006), 8m (2007) and 3.9m (2008). Of course, given 1855's record in failing to buy significant quantities of the wines their customers have paid for it is reasonable to wonder how realistic the relatively small loss was in 2009.

Doubtless 1855 will offer the continuing economic crisis as an excuse for the marked fall in turnover and increasing losses but it may also be an indication that 1855's terrible reputation – '1855.com worst wine retailer on the web' – is finally damaging their business.

During the course of 2010 there were a number injections of capital totalling 11.2m€. This fresh capital helped 1855 buy two wine e-commerce companies: Cave Privée in November 2010 followed by ChâteauOnline in February. I presume also that some of this capital helped to keep 1855 afloat and one has to wonder what would happen if the shareholders, among them Jean-Pierre Meyers, decided that they had poured enough money into the 1855 vat.

I have to admit to being staggered by 1855's losses: they trouser a considerable quantity of their customers' cash and don't supply the wines ordered. Surely a recipe for fat profits! To make a loss in these circumstances surely requires rare financial genius and acumen.

1855 (1855.com, 1855.con): Château Grand Puy Lacoste

Rather gloomy photos of Château Grand Puy Lacoste (Pauillac) not as gloomy as RP's prospects of receiving is wine from 1855 anytime soon

RP, an increasingly frustrated 1855 client, ordered two cases of 2007 Château Grand Puy Lacoste en primeur. These wines should have been delivered at least nine months ago as RP paid the additional tax and delivery charges on 21st December 2010. He is still awaiting for his wine. 

Screen capture taken on 12th September from 1855's site (http://ventesprivees.1855.com/vp198/crazy-bordeaux/2011-09-01/)

Detail of the 81 bottles of 2007 offered

12.9.11: 1855 offering 81 bottles of Château Grand Puy Lacoste for sale when they have been unable to deliver 24 bottles to RP, who should have received his wine nine months ago.

Screen capture: 12.9.11 – 

http://ventesprivees.1855.com/vp198/crazy-bordeaux/2011-09-01/10134774/chateau-grand-puy-lacoste-2007/

RP is particularly incensed that 1855 currently has 2007 Grand Puy Lacoste for sale under a Crazy Bordeaux vente privée offer.

Fed up with being fobbed off with the customary lame excuses for their failure to deliver, RP contacted Château Grand Puy Lacoste and the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux some two months ago. Although rather disappointingly he has yet apparently to receive a response from the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, he has recently received a sympathetic response from the owner of Grand Puy Lacoste. RP has asked me not to publish this response. However, it is clear that the owner is concerned at the damage that 1855's unethical trading (fraudulent trading?) is doing to the image of the Bordeaux Grand Crus and that he would be happy to see the miscreants hauled up before the courts.         

Below is some of RP's correspondence:  

From: RP

Sent: 09 September 2011 08:54
To: 'dfxb@domainesfxborie.com' (Grand Puy Lacoste),  'ugc@ugcb.net' (Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux)
Subject: FW: Continued delay in delivery from 1855.com - Château Grand Puy Lacoste 2007
Importance: High

Dear Sirs,

About two months ago I contacted you regarding delivery problems with 1855 – unfortunately I did not get any reply from you and – as one could expect – I still have not received my 2 cases of Château Grand Puy Lacoste 2007.

It is particularly shocking that 1855 is currently conducting a “vente privee” under the name “Crazy Bordeaux” in which they are selling this wine and still have not shipped it to me. They started with 174 bottles and as of this morning they have 76 bottles left. Please see communication to 1855 management and customer services staff (to which no reply has been received)

I once again ask you for assistance in this matter

Kind Regards,

RP

From: RP
Sent: 02 September 2011 07:59
To: 'e.sauty@1855.com'; 'T.Maincent@1855.com'; 'f.hyon@1855.com'; 'contact@1855.com'; Matthieu Ortalda (matthieu@1855.com); 'nathanael@1855.com'
Cc: 'dfxb@domainesfxborie.com'; 'ugc@ugcb.net'
Subject: RE: Continued delay in delivery from 1855.com - Château Grand Puy Lacoste 2007
Importance: High

Dear Sirs,

As part of your current “Crazy Bordeaux Campaign” you are selling and indicate to have in stock 174 bottles of Château Grand Puy Lacoste 2007  (see attached pdf)

As you are well aware of, I am still waiting for my 24 bottles and I find it totally unacceptable that you are selling items that you have not yet delivered to me.

As a client who has paid for this, I would think it is illegal not to deliver what I have ordered claiming that you do not have it in stock

Can you please arrange for immediate delivery of my 24 bottles (in 2 original wooden cases) and inform me when I will receive them

RP

From: RP
Sent: 13 July 2011 10:43
To: 'e.sauty@1855.com'; 'T.Maincent@1855.com'; 'f.hyon@1855.com'; 'contact@1855.com'
Cc: 'dfxb@domainesfxborie.com'; 'ugc@ugcb.net'
Subject: Continued delay in delivery from 1855.com - Château Grand Puy Lacoste 2007
Importance: High

Dear Sirs,

On July 1st 2011 I emailed you expressing my disappointment that 1855 – once again – had broken its promise. Two weeks have passed and you still have not replied to me.

I ordered (and paid) the wines on 21 Dec 2010 and taxes and delivery charges were paid on 10 Jan 2011 for 24 bottles (two OWC  of 12 x 0.75) of Château Grand Puy Lacoste 2007.

More than six months later, nothing has happened… Every month you send me the same message you replace the month of delivery (please see the history of your messages below).  

Given your continued failure to keep your promises and the fact that my messages and questions (the usual Why? When?) keep on being ignored, you have forced me to inform both the UGCB and the Château itself.

We have reached the point where I expect someone to call me (mobile below) and explain me why this has happened, give me a firm date of delivery but also give me comfort on my 2008 and 2009 purchases!

Kind Regards,

RP

Your message on 3 June 2011:

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your message.We wish to inform you that your application is in the hands of the head department and it does well among the priorities to be addressed.

Recent arrivals from Bordeaux Futures references will be spread through mid June and deliveries will lead to the end of June.

We present again our apologies for these delays delayed but rest assured that this issue will find a positive outcome.

Shipments to claim VAT will be by wave throughout the month of June not to repeat the problems of delay that we experienced in the past.

This means that once you receive this request for VAT, the wines will be sent within 10 days.

Sincerely,XX, Chargée de Relation Client Senior

Your message on 5 May 2011:

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your message. We wish to inform you that your application is in the hands of the head department and it does well among the priorities to be addressed.

Recent arrivals from Bordeaux Futures references will be spread through mid May and deliveries will lead to the end of May

We present again our apologies for these delays delayed but rest assured that this issue will find a positive outcome.

We remain at your disposal for any further information.

Sincerely,XX, Chargée de Relation Client Senior

Your message on 28 February 2011

Dear sir,

We do not have it in stock at the very moment. We are having supplying delays and are making up for them at the moment. We will let you know soon when the wines are available. We sincerely apologise for the delays.

We remain at your disposal.

Best regards, XX, Chargé de Relation Client

1855: Le Parisien plus what justification is there for 1855 remaining in Le FEVAD?

Château Pichon-Longueville

Interesting article in Thursday’s LeParisien comparing Wine and Co with 1855.

The journalist, Marc Hervez, mentions that he keeps getting letters from 1855 customers complaining that they haven’t received their 2006 en primeurs and that 1855 carries no stock. I’m surprised he doesn’t also get letters of complaint about over other undelivered vintages.

Hervez also makes it clear that 1855 owes its continued existence to frequent injections of capital from Jean-Pierre Meyers. Meyers was described as ‘a discret banker’ in an article in La Depeché (http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2010/12/06/964908-Jean-Pierre-Meyers-un-discret-banquier-au-coeur-du-systeme-Bettencourt.html) in December 2010. Quite why he continues to prop up 1855 with its appalling reputation is a complete mystery.

A few extracts from Le Parisien:

1855 et Wine and Co : le match des grands vins:

1855

« Si 1855 existe toujours, c’est d’abord parce que l’entreprise se base sur un modèle parfaitement marqueté. Le groupe dépense un argent fou en communication, en organisant par exemple des soirées dégustation avec 2 000 personnes dans des salles magnifiques.’

‘Ce qui les fait tenir ? 1855 s’appuie sur un actionnaire très puissant, qui n’est autre que le mari (Jean-Pierre Meyers) de la fille de Liliane Bettencourt. Il a injecté à plusieurs reprises des capitaux supplémentaires pour empêcher l’entreprise de couler. Tant qu’il mettra de l’argent, 1855 fonctionnera… »’

‘Leurs points faibles

1855

« Il y a une énorme différence entre ce qui est annoncé et la réalité. Le chiffre de 25,000 références que le site prétend proposer peut facilement se diviser par 100. Car 1855 ne possède aucun stock. Je ne compte plus le nombre de courriers que j’ai reçus de la part de clients qui attendent encore qu’on leur livre leurs primeurs 2006. Les chèques, en revanche, ont bien été encaissés.

http://www.leparisien.fr/economie/1855-et-wine-and-co-le-match-des-grands-vins-08-09-2011-1598261.php

**

Saturday’s question for Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon

At the end of January 2011 1855 were admitted as a member of Le FEVAD (La Fédération du e-commerce et de la vente à distance) on a year’s probation.

Assuming that Le FEVAD (founded in 1957 : http://www.fevad.com/la-fevad) is a serious organization, despite having let 1855 become members in the first place, then they will surely decide to end 1855’s membership because of the company’s appalling record.

So Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon what can you say to convince Le FEVAD that 1855 deserves a second chance and that your probationary year should be extended into 2012? 

1855 (1855.com): Jim's Loire offers new service (cont) – Château Léoville Las Cas(St Julien)

 Gateway to Clos Léoville Las Cas

En primeurs ordered from 1855 and known to be outstanding

15 bottles of 2005

4 bottles of 2007

3 magnums of 2007

Entrance to Léoville-Las-Cas

Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon are the senior 'management' team of 1855 (1855.com, 1855.con). Thierry Maincent was an administrateur and one of the directeur général délégués until he resigned his posts for personal reasons on 30th September 2010. Businessman Jean-Pierre Meyers, who is on the boards of L'Oreal and Nestlé, is a long-term shareholder of 1855.

See explanatory post here.

Tomorrow's question for Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon will be based on their membership of Le FEVAD. 

1855 (1855.com): Jim's Loire offers new service (cont) – Château Léoville-Poyferré (St Julien)

Château Léoville-Poyferré

En primeurs ordered from 1855 and known to be outstanding

24 bottles of 2005

1 bottle of 2007

Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon are the senior 'management' team of 1855 (1855.com, 1855.con). Thierry Maincent was an administrateur and one of the directeur général délégués until he resigned his posts for personal reasons on 30th September 2010. Businessman Jean-Pierre Meyers, who is on the boards of L'Oreal and Nestlé, is a long-term shareholder of 1855.

See explanatory post here.

Today's questions for Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon

1855 offers Bordeaux en primeur. However, it is clear both from the delays in delivery and from the failure to deliver some clients' en primeur that at least a proportion of these wines are purchased by 1855 after the wines have been bottled. Unlike a true en primeur the provenance of these wines is uncertain.

a) What proportion of the Bordeaux en primeur orders received by 1855 are bought after the wine has been bottled and released by the châteaux?

b) Would it be fair to characterise this business practice as 'fraudulent'? 

Unfortunately I have yet to receive a response to the questions I asked on Wednesday (31st August). Here is the link in case you missed them.         

  

  

1855 (1855.com): Jim's Loire offers new service (cont) – Château Gruaud-Larose (St Julien)

Château Gruaud-Larose: vineyards and chai

En primeurs ordered from 1855 and known to be outstanding

 204 bottles of 2005

 12 bottles of 2007
 

Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon are the senior 'management' team of 1855 (1855.com, 1855.con). Thierry Maincent was an administrateur and one of the directeur général délégués until he resigned his posts for personal reasons on 30th September 2010. Businessman Jean-Pierre Meyers, who is on the boards of L'Oreal and Nestlé, is a long-term shareholder of 1855.

See explanatory post here.

***

Astonishing recent post from the discussion forum La Passion du Vin's 1855 'retard des primeurs' thread that now runs to 101 pages:

'Bonjour,

Je suis nouveau sur ce forum et je n'ai pas lu tous les posts concernant les retards primeurs 1855. Voici ma situation: j'ai commandé des primeurs 2007 pour lesquels j'aurais du être livré en juin 2010. Je n'ai évidemment rien reçu, et, jusque janvier 2011, j'ai téléphoné et envoyé des mails sans résultat. J'ai donc fait une "injonction de faire" au tribunal de proximité. Je suis passé au tribunal en mars (le jour où je suis passé, sur 50 affaires, il y en avait au moins 30 qui concernait 1855...). Le jugement a été rendu en avril. Comme indiqué par le jugement, j'ai fait appel à un huissier qui a notifié 1855 du jugement. Depuis, plus rien.

Ma commande s'élève à environ 600 euros, donc j'hésite à faire appel à un avocat, car j'imagine que ça va me coûter le double, sans garantie de résultat vu le peu que j'ai pu lire sur le forum...est-ce que quelqu'un pourrait me conseiller?
Merci d'avance,
Nico'

http://lapassionduvin.com/phorum/read.php?38,261752,page=101

'Je suis passé au tribunal en mars (le jour où je suis passé, sur 50 affaires, il y en avait au moins 30 qui concernait 1855...).'
 

Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon you are invited to comment – 'au moins 30 qui concernait 1855...'

Also two questions for you today:

How many bottles of Bordeaux en primeur from vintages between 2000 and 2007 remain to be delivered to your clients?

How many judical complaints have been brought against 1855 by your long suffering clients? 100? 250? 500? 1000? 

I look forward to hearing from you.

1855 (1855.com): Jim's Loire offers new service (cont) – Château Latour (Pauillac)

Château Latour: general view from gated entrance

La Tour lui-même

En primeurs ordered from 1855 and known to be outstanding

 6 bottles of 2005

 6 bottles of 2007

+

Les Forts de Latour

6 bottles of 2003
 

12 bottles of 2004

12 bottles of 2005

12 bottles of 2006

Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon are the senior 'management' team of 1855 (1855.com, 1855.con). Thierry Maincent was an administrateur and one of the directeur général délégués until he resigned his posts for personal reasons on 30th September 2010. Businessman Jean-Pierre Meyers, who is on the boards of L'Oreal and Nestlé, is a long-term shareholder of 1855.

See explanatory post here.

Post on outstanding en primeur deliveries (408 bottles) for Château Lagrange updated to include Les Fiefs de Lagrange here.

Detail from the gates@Latour – will these grapes ripen before 1855 delivers all of its customers' en primeurs?

1855 (1855.com): Jim's Loire offers new service (cont) – Château Saint-Pierre (St Julien)

 Château Saint-Pierre, Saint-Julien

En primeurs ordered from 1855 and known to be outstanding
 

 2 bottles of 2005


24 bottles of 2006


24 bottles of 2007

Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon are the senior 'management' team of 1855 (1855.com, 1855.con). Thierry Maincent was an administrateur and one of the directeur général délégués until he resigned his posts for personal reasons on 30th September 2010. Businessman Jean-Pierre Meyers, who is on the boards of L'Oreal and Nestlé, is a long-term shareholder of 1855.

See explanatory post here.

Château Sociando–Mallet slams 1855.com's business practices

Grapes in the Médoc August 2008

Château Sociando-Mallet (Haut-Médoc) has refused to have any dealings with 1855 (1855.com) since the 2007 vintage. Furthermore they deplore the company's business practices and their lack of professionalism. 

In response to a letter from an aggrieved 1855 client (NP), who is awaiting delivery of his 2008 en primeur, Pascale Roby, the château's commercial and administrative representative pulls no punches:    

'Cher Monsieur,

Nous avons cessé toute collaboration directe avec la société1855 depuis le millésime 2007 en raison des divers problèmes de livraison signalés par les acheteurs de nos vins. Cette société continue à proposer du Sociando-Mallet en primeur chaque année car elle doit trouver un approvisionnement sur la place de Bordeaux. Nous déplorons le manque de professionnalisme de la société 1855 qui, bien que finissant toujours je crois par livrer les vins dus, ne respecte pas ses engagements envers ses clients en terme de délai. 

Nous vous remercions en, tout cas de nous tenir informés de la suite qui sera donnée à votre commande.

Avec nos très sincères salutations,

Pascale Roby

Contact commercial et administratif Château Sociando-Mallet

33180 Saint Seurin de Cadourne

Tel : 05 56 73 38 80; Fax : 05 56 73 38 88

www.sociandomallet.com'

*

En primeurs ordered from 1855 and known to be outstanding

12 bottles of 2005

24 bottles of 2006

**

Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon are the senior 'management' team of 1855 (1855.com, 1855.con). Thierry Maincent was an administrateur and one of the directeur général délégués until he resigned his posts for personal reasons on 30th September 2010. Businessman Jean-Pierre Meyers, who is on the boards of L'Oreal and Nestlé, is a long-term shareholder of 1855.

1855 (1855.com): Jim's Loire offers new service (cont) – Château Talbot (St Julien) 192 bottles undelivered

Gates of Château Talbot

En primeurs ordered from 1855 and known to be outstanding 

192 bottles of 2005

Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon are the senior 'management' team of 1855 (1855.com, 1855.con). Thierry Maincent was an administrateur and one of the directeur général délégués until he resigned his posts for personal reasons on 30th September 2010. Businessman Jean-Pierre Meyers, who is on the boards of L'Oreal and Nestlé, is a long-term shareholder of 1855.

See explanatory post here.

1855 (1855.com): Jim's Loire offers new service (cont) – Château Lagrange (St Julien) 408 bottles not delivered

Château Lagrange, Saint-Julien

En primeurs ordered from 1855 and known to be outstanding

6 bottles of 2003

216 bottles of 2005
30 bottles of 2006

+


Les Fiefs de Lagrange
12 bottles of 2003

36 bottles of 2004

60 bottles of 2005

12 bottles of 2006

36 bottles of 2007

Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon are the senior 'management' team of 1855 (1855.com, 1855.con). Thierry Maincent was an administrateur and one of the directeur général délégués until he resigned his posts for personal reasons on 30th September 2010. Businessman Jean-Pierre Meyers, who is on the boards of L'Oreal and Nestlé, is a long-term shareholder of 1855.

See explanatory post here.

1855 (1855.com): Jim's Loire offers new service (cont) – Lynch Bages and Pichon-Lalande

Château Lynch-Bages: sign pointing to reception

En primeurs ordered from 1855 and known to be outstanding:


24 bottles of 2006

Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande

En primeurs ordered from 1855 and known to be outstanding:

12 bottles of 2003

7 bottles of 2004

Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon are the senior 'management' team of 1855 (1855.com, 1855.con). Thierry Maincent was an administrateur and one of the directeur général délégués until he resigned his posts for personal reasons on 30th September 2010. Businessman Jean-Pierre Meyers, who is on the boards of L'Oreal and Nestlé, is a long-term shareholder of 1855. 

1855 (1855.com): Jim's Loire offers new service (cont) – Mouton–Rothschild

A distant glimpse of Mouton-Rothschild

En primeurs ordered from 1855 and known to be outstanding:

One bottle of 2004

Two bottles of 2005

12 bottles of 2006

A sphinx guarding entrance to Mouton

I asked one of the sphinxes that guard the entrance to Mouton-Rothschild if they knew when 1855 would be delivered the above wines. True to form there was no reply but I thought I detected a brief sardonic smile flicker across the creature's stone features ...  

Emeric Sauty de Chalon and Fabien Hyon are the senior 'management' team of 1855 (1855.com, 1855.con). Thierry Maincent was an administrateur and one of the directeur général délégués until he resigned his posts for personal reasons on 30th September 2010. Businessman Jean-Pierre Meyers, who is on the boards of L'Oreal and Nestlé, is a long-term shareholder of 1855.  

1855 (1855.com): Jim's Loire offers new service (cont)

Château Duhart-Milon (owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild)

En primeur ordered from 1855 and known to be outstanding: 

30 bottles of 2005

24 bottles of 2006 plus 3 magnums

Château Duhart-Milon

Emeric Sauty de Chalon, Thierry Maincent* and Fabien Hyon are the senior 'management' team of 1855 (1855.com, 1855.con). Businessman Jean-Pierre Meyers, who is on the boards of L'Oreal and Nestlé, is a long-term shareholder of 1855. 1855 is a probationary member of Le Fevad – see also.

Given how long some of 1855's customers have to wait for their wine, this sepia effect may be more appropriate!

* Maincent resigned as administrateur and as a directeur général délégué on 30th September 2010 for personal reasons. 

1855 (1855.com): deliver outstanding 2005s after intervention by Smith-Haut-Lafitte

I was delighted to learn yesterday that through the intervention of Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte. a long suffering client of 1855 has finally received his wine. He has waiting three years for the remaining 18 bottles of assorted 2005 Bordeaux en primeur from a two case order. TP ordered 2005 en primeurs from  Smith-Haut Lafitte, Leoville Poyferré, Carbonnieux, Calon Ségur and Lafon Rochet.

These wines should have been delivered in 2008.

After two and a half years of unsuccessful letters, phone calls, emails to 1855 as well as letters to Christian Brocheton, TP wrote to the five Bordeaux châteaux explaining h1s problems with 1855. He was pleased to get positive responses from three of them.

In addition Florence Cathiard, owner with her husband Daniel of Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte in Pessac-Leognan, wrote to 1855 (1855.com) demanding that the wines be delivered in 48 hours otherwise Smith-Haut-Lafitte would join the putative legal action against 1855. The company was also told that Jean-Pierre Meyers, the son-in-law of Françoise Bettencourt, and a major shareholder in 1855 would be informed before legal action was taken.

Surprisingly this drew no response from 1855. It looks like 1855 behave as arrogantly towards the châteaux owners as they do their customers.

Last week TP was phoned by Smith-Haut-Lafitte and asked if he had received his wine. They were told that TP was still waiting for 18 bottles. Six bottles had been delivered in April 2011. TP discovered that one of his wines, Calon Ségur 2005, was for sale on the 1855 website. It meant a clear escroquerie to sell to someone else the wine I had bought and that they didn’t deliver. He sent a lettre recommandée to 1855, spoting the Calon Ségur 2005 was for 10 days on sale on the website. One week after, the Calon Ségur 2005 (but only that) was delivered.

The news that TP was still awaiting 2005s from 1855 including his Smith-Haut-Lafitte prompted a further letter last week from David Ornon, their commercial director:

‘Voici une nouvelle pièce pour nourrir le dossier à charge que nous constituons au Château contre vos pratiques lamentables, et qui rejoindra celui monté par les groupes organiques qui préparent une action collective.

Il ne se passe pas un mois sans que nous ne rencontrions des gens furieux de n’avoir pas reçu les vins qu’ils ont pourtant payés au moment où vous leur demandiez.

Je vous demande de retirer nos vins de vos listes de vins primeurs, d’autant que vous ne respectez pas les prix de revente que nous avons recommandés aux négociants.

Vous nous avez annoncé fièrement l’acquisition de ChâteauOnline au mois de Mars, et nous recevions le même jour une plainte de Mr Krivine qui attend toujours la livraison des 2005 qu’il a acheté en primeur ! Je vous ai écrit en suivant et vous n’avez même pas fait l’effort de répondre. Même intolérable non-réaction de votre part après ma réponse à votre message du 29 Avril annonçant des bénéfices de 528k€ (sur des données préliminaires non auditées…).

Je vous épargne volontiers le détail des conclusions que j’ai pu tirer ce cette situation, de ces plaintes régulières d’amateurs qui ont cru en vous et en vos annonces. Il va de soi que notre soutien sans faille sera apporté à ces clients lésés, puisque vous ne m’avez jamais répondu.

A vous de me prouver que mon idée sur votre entreprise est fausse.

Maintenant que la campagne primeurs est terminée, et puisque visiblement les expéditions ne vous prennent pas trop de temps, peut-être pourrez-vous me répondre ?'

David Ornon
Directeur Commercial
Château Smith Haut Lafitte
33650 BORDEAUX-MARTILLAC FRANCE
Tel : +33 (0) 557 83 11 22 - +33 (0) 678 27 56 27
Fax : +33 (0) 557 83 11 21
d.ornon@smith-haut-lafitte.com

Ornon’s letter did the trick and the outstanding wines were delivered by 1855 (1855.com) yesterday.

It is clear that this Ponzi scheme will honour en primeur orders only when maximum pressure is applied. Remember that they recently claimed that they didn't deliver during the summer. Yet they were able to deliver TP’s wines yesterday.

I'm delighted to see Cathiards and their staff take a strong line with 1855. My advice to clients of 1855 is to write to the Bordeaux châteaux owners. It would also be a good idea to send copies to Jean-Pierre Meyers, so that he is made fully aware how 1855 conducts its business.       

1855 (1855.com): this scam could be ended quickly

Château Lafite: one of many wines not delivered by 1855

My new post on Les 5 du Vin: 

'On 27^th July I posted a snippet of news about 1855.com on Jim’s Loire. It attracted this comment: “This story will never end ... “

Although it is certainly true that 1855 has been defrauding some of its en primeur Bordeaux customers for far too long, it is nonsense to suggest that this saga couldn’t be brought to a speedy and abrupt end.

 There are three obvious scenarios. There are doubtless others but these three would bring a halt to this fraudulent trading.'
Read the rest here: