Oddbins to close 39 stores

Can I point out (as one of the staff made redundant by the recent cull) that not only are we being cut loose at a time of considerable economic difficulty, but under the terms of the CVA that Oddbins have taken out, all redundant staff are being treated as creditors - in other words, Oddbins are proposing to pay me 21p in the pound of the wages and redundancy money that I am owed. If the CVA is approved, I should receive 1/5th of what they owe me in February 2012. Cheers Oddbins.

I'm glad to have read the first comment mentioning the employees, it could end up being in the hundreds if it isn't already...
A very sad time as Oddbins hangs in the balance.
Where else can you buy wine with friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable advise whilst also having a chat about life in general.
I know some Oddbins people and they are all loyal to the end. Some of the people walking away from this have worked for the company for over 17 years (10 years is common amount of time), it's as though their hearts have been broken.
I hope Oddbins survives this and comes out stronger and that those that are now left adrift will continue to be supported at least in thought by their old and loyal customers.

As a fellow independent wine merchant who started in the old Oddbins, it's sad to see what is happening here. Pressured by the supermarkets and then torpedoed by Castel.

Just one thing to say on this subject. Think of all the employees at the 32 stores closing who are goingt o join the millions who are currently employeed. being a wine advisor does not offer many transferable skills in a retail marketplace swamped with applicants for positions like cashiers and sales assistants.

An appeal to those who work in the wine dept.s of the supermarkets head offices: Do you all really want a world without Oddbins? Then why have you, or why do you continue to drill it into the earth? YOU,have been to blame for this situation!

There will always be an Oddbins. In whatever shape or form! Here's to a high street without just a mcdonalds, a tesco, a primark and an apple shop!!!

I quite agree. In Wapping there is quite a large Oddbins, but it is very expensive charging way over the odd. Luckily we have a very good Waitrose in Canary Wharf with a specially controlled temperature and humidity room with plenty of fine wines being retailed at decent prices. For example at Oddbins a bottle of Dead Arm is normally £34.99 on sale at £29.99 and has an added special offer of 27.99 if you buy more than 6. At waitsose, A bottle of Dean Arm (same vintage) is 27.99 normal price for one bottle and if you buy six there is a further 5% off that. This is only one of many many examples. No wonder people don't shop as much in oddbins.

It is very disappointing to see the beginning of the end of Oddbins. It used to be THE place to buy wine But since downsizing the local one to a tiny shop the size of a cupboard I cannot even bring myself to go in there anymore. I have been underwhelmed by the staff's interest and enthusiasm for the subject in hand but I suppose that kind of apathy is natural after years of bad decisions being made by the higher echelons. I was finally turned off when I realised that giving 20% off to every customer who bought a case was actually being used as an excuse to charge everyone else 20% extra. The Oddbins of old will be missed but good riddance to the present format.