Columbia Distributing Company

I own a bar and have been buying beer and wine from Columbia distributing since 2009. I have always felt that they did less for the customer than others especially since they were sold. Today was the final straw I contacted my rep. last week and told him that the two neighborhood associations that surround my place of business wanted to join in with me to host a wine tasting. He said no problem he would have there wine person contact me. He came in today to take my order and I mentioned that I hadn’t been contacted, he informed me that his wine person said we weren’t a big enough customer to bother with. Well I’m sorry to say I no longer offer Snake Bite Porter, Guiness, Mannys, Pabst, Miller, MGD, Heineken, Red Bull their sparkling and four of their wines. The list goes on but you get the idea. Columbia you are fools lost in a world of producing good numbers for the investment group that owns you and forgot what values that that got you where you are. P. S. Your competitors have all offered to pick up your empties if you fail to fulfill your duties. Cheers to those out there that haven’t lost touch with customer service.

By far the worst out of all the distributors in the northwest. They only do dock sales two days from 10 – 4 and they DON’T SELL CASES OF BEER TO THE PUBLIC, KEGS ONLY? That makes no sense!!! The only way I would deal with these people is if I absolutely had to…

As of 9÷10÷11 they do dock sales, I think they have been doing it for a while before then, but the review that they stopped is wrong.
Dock sales are from 10−4pm on Thursday and Friday, but double check that on their website. Only at the Swan Island location as far as I know.

UPDATE 1÷28÷2010:
They no longer offer dock sales to the public!!!
If you have a business license, business address and OLCC… liquor license… then you can purchase from here.
But if not, you are out of luck!
Too bad, as I used to make a great deal of large wine purchases with several other people and referred even more.
Their loss.
It’s very unfortunate, especially in this economy.
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Original review/​6/​2009, reposted due to accidental deletion:
Calling all whinos! BEST Wine Prices in PDX!
This is the only wholesale distributor in the Portland area (that I know of) who will sell directly to the public (for those of us without OLCC business licenses). So, I’m in.
I love buying (large purchase) wine here. I’ve been doing so for over 4 years and it’s great fun!
Some necessary details to KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
1. Contact someone at CD via email and request a «current» wine pricer list. (they update monthly)
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2. Do your homework! (research the list for which wines you wish to purchase and have back ups, as they have limited selection on smaller– producers or production wines.)
3. Know that you have to purchase a minimum of 36 bottles (3 cases) of wine and no mixed cases. But some of the higher end wines are offered in 6-​packs, so you can get 6−6packs, for example.
4. Convince your wine loving friends to go in on this deal with you, so you aren’t stuck with 1 case of 3-​somethings, unless you so desire.
5. Will-​call only sales, at the will call door, certain hours (ask before you go). and CASH only!
There are drawbacks:
1. Selection is limited and ever changing.
2. Also, you don’t usually have the opportunity to taste the wine before you buy, but some of the staff (email) are very helpful regarding recommendations.
3. Repeat, !Do your homework!, as some local retail shops may be able (on the rare occasion) to get a slightly better price directly from the (local) winery, but you’ll still save over typical retail here… and SAVING a lot.
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I have not found any local «retail» shop which beats their pricing. Certainly not even Costco, especially on the high (er) end wines ($ 50−100+++)