Buying in Berlin

Joe Bates find his experience a little disappointing but there is hope.

I have often said in this column that standards of customer service in duty-free shops are generally on the way up.

Unfortunately, I was made to eat my words on a recent trip through Terminal A of Berlin's Schoenefeld airport,where a 1,100sq m Duty Free and Travel Value shop has recently opened.

It was nine o'clock on a Thursday morning, but the liquor area of the store was unsupervised. There were only a few customers in the shop at the time, yet no one came over to ask me if I needed any help for the full 15 minutes I was there. I suspect quite a few potential sales were lost that morning.

It is a shame because the new walk-through store with its bright lighting and clean,modern layout is really rather good. The whisky selection was solid enough too.

Well-heeled travellers could choose from a high-end offer that included Chivas Royal Salute Hundred Cask Selection at ?170/£160.70, Johnnie Walker Blue Label at ?140/£132.33 and the new Glenmorangie Signet at ?150/£141.80.

For those with shallower pockets there were plenty of midrange malts to choose from such as The Glenlivet 18 Years Old (?55/£51.18), Laphroaig Quarter Cask (?46/£43.50), The Macallan 1851 Inspiration (?79/£74.70) and Balblair 1990 (?60/£56.70).

Two Glenmorangie whiskies were on promotion on our visit— Glenmorangie The Original 10 Years Old (?28.90/£27.30), and one of the brand's better wood finishes, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban Port Wood Finish at ?37.90 (£35.80).

There are imminent plans to e...

• By : Joe Bates
• In : Retail
• Issue : 79
• Page : 34
• Words : 519