A Serious Wine Tragedy

This is a tragic story of a delivery service gone terribly wrong.

It all started with Château Lafitte-teston: Madiran AOC's fine bottle of Vieilles-Vignes that my friend Max Lindahl gave me as a farewell present back in April.
This bottle of fine wine is the best wine I have ever tasted to date.


After a long search, I finally found the only store in this big country called Japan that caters wine from this particular vineyard. I went there in late May, only to be told that the wine is sold out. It's gone. A new stock is supposed to be coming in July, and much to my appreciation, the store promised to call me as soon as the stock comes in.

I made my way to Vinos Yamazaki (the wine store) on Thursday, June 30th, 2 days after I received the call, and made my purchase.

The case full of wine was strategically scheduled to be delivered on July 3rd between 7-10 PM, because during that time I'd be throwing a celebration party for Sandra's pregnancy (of course, Sandra is not supposed to be drinking it, being pregnant and all, but us the celebrants would be). To our disappointment, the wine guy never showed up.

The following day, Monday July 4th, I rang the store in Shibuya to ask what on earth is going on with the bloody wine. They tracked it down and said that the delivery person claimed that he came at 8:24 PM to deliver but nobody was home. Now that's a lie. I was home from 5 PM and didn't step outside until I made the call on July 4th at 11 AM. I thought we must have been very noisy so didn't hear it when the wine guy showed up, but thought that is impossible. If I didn't hear it, surely somebody would. But anyway, just to be sure, I searched around, there was no paper anywhere noting that they came. I even went downstairs to see the postbox downstairs, nada.

Anyway.... 15 minutes after I spoke to Vinos Yamazaki, Pelican's delivery center rang and said that they will deliver this morning. She rang at 11:30. I was skeptical about it arriving so soon (Japan's definition of morning is between 9 AM-12 AM). So I decided to give them some time. I waited and waited and waited.... 2 PM struck, no wine, no call, no nothing.

I called the shop again... they are as puzzled as I am. I told them I don't want to wait around anymore for something that may or may not come, from some delivery service that can't perform the only service that they do.
Anyway, I told them I'll wait until 3 PM. And then the delivery guy called at 3 PM, saying he's stuck in traffic and will arrive within 30 minutes. Finally the last guy was true to his word after all this hassle.

After much torture in this attempt to conquer a case full of wine.... I feel that I much deserve the wine, but it is very obvious that I should NOT be paying for this. Viros Yamazaki has done no wrong, they have done everything by the book, as have I.
So, in the big picture, I think Vinos Yamazaki should not be bearing the cost of the crappy service that Pelican gives. It is only fair for both party that I get reimbursed full price for every penny that I spent in purchasing this wine (which Vinos Yamazaki offered to me even before I claim it) and that Pelican should AT LEAST be paying all of the cost to Vinos Yamazaki - it is a very small price for any future businesses that Pelican should wish to keep from Vinos Yamazaki.
Vinos Yamazaki's store manager is going to come himself to my apartment tonight and deliver the money into my hand. The Pelican branch manager is also going to come (I made him apologize to Vinos Yamazaki for his branch's crappy service) upon finding out that Vinos Yamazaki's Store Manager was coming. Great... now I have 2 men coming wanting to talk to me at 7 PM tonight at my home.

The irony of it all is.... All I want is a fine bottle of wine.