Event Planner Guide: Selling Unused Client Gifts and Bottles
A simple workflow to inventory, photograph, and submit bottles quickly and discreetly.
Quick Answer
Weddings, galas, and corporate retreats often over-order. Once the event is over, returning alcohol to distributors is often legally impossible.
- We buy leftover sealed cases and loose bottles.
- Recoup budget for your client.
- Clear your storage unit quickly.
Post-Event Liquidation
Speed is helpful.
- Immediately after the event, inventory what is left.
- Separate opened bottles (kitchen/staff use) from sealed bottles (sellable).
- Keep them out of hot venues or loading docks.
Client vs Agency Ownership
Clarify who gets the check.
- Client Owned: If the client paid for the booze, the proceeds go to them. We can pay the client directly.
- Agency Owned: If you bundled it into a fee, you might own it. Check your contract.
- We need to know who the legal seller is.
Logistics
Don't haul it back to the office if you don't have to.
- We can sometimes arrange pickup directly from the venue loading dock if scheduled in advance.
- Otherwise, use our shipping labels to send it from the venue's mailroom.
Common Mistakes
Leaving it behind.
- Leaving cases at the venue 'for the staff' (throwing away thousands of dollars).
- Letting it bake in a truck over the weekend.
- Mixing up empty display bottles with real ones.
What to Do Next
Snap and send.
- Take a photo of the pallet/stack.
- Count the cases.
- Text it to 213-770-WINE.
- We give you a number.
What to Do Next
Ready to get an offer for your bottles? Submit photos and details through our form, or text photos directly if that is easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you buy wine keys/glasses?
No. Liquid only.
What about open bar leftovers?
If the bottle is open, it's worthless. If the seal is intact, we buy it.
Can I sell it on behalf of a bride/groom?
Yes, with their permission. A simple email confirmation works.
Do you buy vodka/gin?
We focus on high-end Whiskey, Tequila, and Cognac. Standard well spirits (Titos, Bacardi) have little resale value.
Is pickup free?
For larger lots, yes.