Oh, Jesus, Spare My Soul From The Travails Caused By Un-Knowing State Liquor Store Clerks

The slide down the slippery slope of self-parody gathers speed.

I had reason yesterday afternoon to go into our local Soviet Socialist Keystone State Wine Shop -- in Pennsylvania, you'll recall, you can only buy wine and spirits at a state-run store* -- looking for a bottle of dry Riesling. The store manager whom I'd asked for help (because I don't know Rieslings) sold me a bottle of sweet wine he insisted was dry. It was undrinkable, and ruined an event I'd planned for last evening. Details of what happened below the jump, if you care to subject yourself to a yuppie whine. But there's a serious point here about economics and the law. The state's legal monopoly over the sale of wine creates a situation in which sales clerks don't have to know jack-squat about the products they sell. There is no competition to make them give better service to the customer. I had a bad experience yesterday that's going to result in me going back there today to ask for a refund; I'm still steamed over a ruined social event because the manager, whom I'd asked for advice, sold me the wrong wine.

And I am finished shopping there, period. I'll just drive out of state to buy my wine -- you know, to a state where there's a better selection and it's reasonable to expect a wine store clerk to know basic facts about the things he sells, because hey, if he doesn't, and he fails his customers, the market will incentivize him to improve.

I have no way of knowing, but it makes sense to me that Pennsylvania probably sells less wine than it otherwise might -- and therefore takes in less revenue -- because of this stupid scheme. Who benefits from it? For me, it's not even about the price; it's about the service. Details for those who care, after the jump.

A "ruined social event." The shock, the horror. "Ruined, I say! Har-rumph. And now, allow me to lecture you on The Market, my good man." We remember that Megan McArdle used to link to this marketer. Now we understand.

*"You'll recall." Is this a recurring theme? We are not investigating.