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An example of treating customers like royalty

By
Real Estate Agent with Compass CA DRE# 01215160

No matter how much we love where we work and where we live, sometimes the time is right to spread our wings a bit and leave the 'hood. And you just never know what lessons you'll learn when you do.

Last Sunday we were invited to accompany friends to a wine tasting and a tour of the Hafner family winery and wine caves, set in the beautiful Alexander Valley near Healdsburg. Along with the wines,  set under spreading oak trees, there was a beautiful array of local area cheeses, almonds, olives, hummus and crackers. Chefs at the barbecue prepared tri-tip and other hors d'oeuvres, along with garlic prawns. Everything was exquisite.

At the Hafner Family Winery

 

A family member greeted us and about 100 others warmly and invited us to partake of the bounty. No one asked us to sign in, or asked for our phone number or email address.

Welcome card-back sideWelcome letter- back

 

 

The tour was lead by another Hafner family member, who gave us just the right blend of information without overload. Wines were available for purchase, as a discrete sentence at the bottom of the card we were handed when we arrived mentioned. That was all -- the wines spoke for themselves.

The entire afternoon was one of casual elegance; we relaxed, we smiled, we laughed; we felt honored to be there.

Hafner - cabernet

We purchased one special bottle to save for a holiday dinner. It is packaged exquisitely with a wine stopper included, along with a note about the wine signed by the head of the Hafner family.

The afternoon was delightful and relaxing, with lots of laughter and chat as we shared all that was prepared for us. The day was a prime example of how to treat customers and clients, how to make them feel valued.

Sometimes getting out of the 'hood is just the right thing to do, and you never know what lesson you'll learn along the way.

Letter from winery owner

 

Comments (17)

Pamela Cendejas
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Kingman, AZ
Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235

Sounds like so much fun.  All of your faces tell the story of how much you all enjoyed it.

May 19, 2016 02:42 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Lottie, sounds like the perfect way to spend the day.....fabulous.

May 19, 2016 10:03 PM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Lottie. Glad you experienced something special with friends.

May 19, 2016 11:20 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hello Pamela Cendejas - we did have fun, and I was treated to a wonderful example of great customer service.

Hi Roger D. Mucci - we had a delightful day visiting the Hafner winery; I hope my clients feel as great working with me as I did visiting the winery

Good morning, Sheila Anderson - it was a wonderful get away afternoon. The Hafner winery has customer service down pat.

May 20, 2016 12:41 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Lottie, that does sound like you got the royalty treatment, and always feels so good.

May 20, 2016 09:34 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Joan Cox - AR was very responsive and fixed the picture upload problem. To see examples of the top-rate treatment by Hafer Winery, take another look at the post.

May 20, 2016 10:29 AM
Dana Tapia
Re/Max of Orange Beach - Orange Beach, AL
Gulf Coast Real Estate Professionals

Sounds like you had a great time. Places that go the extra mile to make you feel special are wonderful. 

May 20, 2016 12:56 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Lottie

From seeing the smiling faces looks everyone is enjoying the day.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

May 21, 2016 01:12 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Lisa, the best example of great customer service I've seen in quite a while, Dana Tapia & Lisa Pigott 

Indeed, Lou Ludwig - smiles were plentiful that day; we felt valued and appreciated, just the way we want our clients and customers to feel, right?

 

May 21, 2016 01:45 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Lottie

What a wonderful way to spend time with friends, in a beautiful setting where you are trated like royalty. Sure makes me want to head to the Hafner Family Winery next time I am in the area

Jeff

May 23, 2016 12:50 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Lottie you are so right and on a side note I wish I could have been there with you clearly a case or two would have been shipped back to LA:)Endre

May 23, 2016 04:40 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Keep the Hafner Family Winery in mind, Jeff Dowler CRS - but check their web site first, tastings and tours are only a couple days a month.

Good morning, Endre Barath, Jr. - their wines are superb; a couple of magnums came home with us, to be savored and enjoyed on special occasions.

May 23, 2016 11:28 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Ah... what a great break from the rest of the world. Can you imagine living there? May each of you continue to have the peace and joy you experienced together and I wish you all many, many more!

May 24, 2016 01:23 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Thank you for the most beautiful wish, Patricia Feager You are a special person, and I'm delighted to "know" you here in the Rain.

May 24, 2016 01:46 AM
Jane Peters
Home Jane Realty - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles real estate concierge services

That sounds like a wonderful outing. I almost feel relaxed myself reading about it.

May 24, 2016 06:00 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Most of my "down time" is spent being active, Jane Peters - our afternoon at the winery was a rare treat, and absolutely relaxing. I highly recommend it.

May 24, 2016 07:44 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Lottie I am a fan of drinking but Magnums are a bit too much for me and Diane:) I rather get a case of .750liter bottles:))Endre

May 25, 2016 03:53 PM