As you may be aware, in a little under four weeks' time there are some Olympics arriving in London and apparently they are bringing with them some transport issues. A combination of athletics fans and ZiL lanes is likely to cause disruption to deliveries for the duration of their stay here and for this reason we have brought forward our annual reserves reminder:
If you have stock in storage with us in the UK which you would like delivered or transferred elsewhere please let us know immediately.
Storage rates 2011-12
Later this month we shall be issuing storage invoices for stock held in the UK on behalf of customers (no storage charges apply prior to shipment). Storage is charged annually in arrears. For the third year running, there are no changes to our rates, and we have lowered the volume required for our best rate:
Volume rate: £8.40 ex VAT per standard (9 litre) case per year or part year for 20 cases+
Standard rate: £9.60 ex VAT per standard (9 litre) case per year or part year for 5 to 19 cases
Starter rate: £12.00 ex VAT per standard (9 litre) case per year or part year for fewer than 5 cases
Our rates are proportionate to the actual volume stored. For instance, a 6-bottle case is charged at £4.20 on our volume rate; one magnum at £1.40. And all deliveries from reserves are charged at the same competitive rates as new purchases.
Receipt of external stock
We are happy to consolidate stock on behalf of customers. An administrative fee of £5 plus VAT per stock line is charged for the receipt of external stock onto our system. Our usual storage charges apply thereafter. Please email us with cost price and full description (vintage/producer/wine name) before transferring the stock to account UNC001 at Vinotheque. We shall not be held responsible for the quality of stock purchased from third parties.
New developments
Since its launch a little over three years ago, the current Uncorked® website has provided you with details of wines you have in storage with us, including order and invoice numbers, purchase price and date, stock location and duty status, and maturity. A year ago we added leading independent wine price information from Liv-ex - completely free of charge. Click here to log in, using the email address to which this has been sent. Very soon we shall be unveiling our fourth generation site, which aims to offer a vastly improved user experience as well as, over time, a wealth of new and innovative features.
Vinotheque
Customer reserves are based at Vinotheque in Burton-upon-Trent, acquired by London City Bond in 2004. According to independent research (Professional wine storage in the UK, 11 September 2008, jancisrobinson.com), temperatures range from 11 to 15°C (but with no sudden changes), and humidity is in the range of 61-67%. Storage and security conditions at this Victorian, grade II-listed, former brewery grain store, with metre-thick walls, controlled air flow and natural light shuttering, are second to none. Our normal rates apply for deliveries, which benefit from London City Bond's award-winning logistics, transport and distribution system.
Uncorked customer reserves code of practice
· Stock ring-fenced from Uncorked trading stock
· Stock documented to identify individual customer ownership
· Reserves statements available at any time without charge
· Stock available for inspection
· 'All Risks' insurance included to full replacement value
· Stock removed only with written permission
Help
Finally, despite the technological innovation of the last few years, never forget we're a small company of only six people and we're here to help. We don't outsource our administration and we certainly don't employ call centres, and each one of us is intimately involved with the product. Yes, even our IT man. So if you require any help, just drop in to our Bishopsgate shop or give us a call on the number below. /AR
