RumRunner, repent! For your days are numbered... I used to live in this store back when they were in their old location across the street. Starting when I turned 21 I began my wine education there. Back then the clerks were whimsical, cool guys who knew their stuff. But starting about a few years ago, those helpful aficionados have been replaced by arrogant jerks. Staff rudeness has gotten way out of control. I don't know how many times I've had to smile through one of their thinly veiled snide comments. I wish I had supressed my politeness and told them something like 'Look dude, just because a few handful of Tucson's wealthy come in and buy a bottle of Louis XIII every other week and you chat like you all are good buddies doesn't put you in a higher class than the rest of us.' Prices RumRunner, prices! Recently a wine and liquor superstore, Total Wine, opened up across from the Tucson Mall. Usually I am totally against the superstore concept and a hater of Wal-Mart. However, Total Wine's bulk purchasing power allows them to offer screaming good deals: My Navy Rum at RunRunner's: $25.99, at Total Wine: $19.99. Lagavulin single malt is $120 at RumRunner's vs. $82 at Total Wine. Total Wine also offers a massively larger selection and a lot of harder to find wines you won't see at RumRunner's. I would have stopped going there a long time ago, but for the last few years they were my only supply of the top shelf Pusser's Royal Navy Rum. Every time I went there and asked a question about certain wines, the staff members acted like I was putting them in the witness stand at a trial. If a customer asks about a wine a professional knows to do one of three things: First, tell them your honest opinion if you actually know the product. If you don't like a product because its a Zinfandel and you are a Pinot Grigio drinker, just say: "I've heard a lot of good things about this Zinfandel, I personally couldn't tell you as I am more of a Pinot person." OR, if you don't know jack, just say so. Don't be pretentious and act as if you know something when you don't. Also, I like to pay for my booze and groceries with cash and every time I threw down some hard currency, those guys literally would roll their eyes. As if it is that difficult to make change because I hand them a few twenties rather than flip my plastic card. I used to eat at the Dish too back when they were still a secret and happy for the business. Now that they've become an established place with lofty awards, they've become really stuffy and rude. They charge $12 to re-cork your bottle of wine if you don't finish it at dinner. If you want to linger after a meal to finish the bottle, they tell you get out so they can give your table to another customer. I like what they did with the new building across the street. It looks really cool. But in view of the nasty, under-informed staff and the price gouging, anyone in their right mind ought to seek out Total Wine or a different small purveyor where the staff knows how to treat its loyal customers. read more

Over the years I've enjoyed popping in at this little place. I followed them as they moved across the street. The new location is just as charming as the old. However, this has become a case of an establishment that has rested on the good reputation it earned in past years. Recently, the staff has become arrogant and rude. They never treat me that way, but I see how they are with most customers. Apparently they have two customer service policies. If you go in and pick up bottles worth $120 or more, they kiss your feet. If, however, you pop in looking for a quality low-priced wine or cherry pick from their cooler of imported beer bottles, they treat you like peasant scum. Funny to experience snobbery from dudes dressed and adorned such as they are. They look like they showed up to work hung over after attending a Mushroomhead concert the night before. The selection is lousy. There's hardly anything there you can't find at Total Wine or Beverage House. Underneath the Chianti they actually had cases of Canei jug wine. The staff is rude, not helpful, and totally lacking in knowledge. I think these guys are the sort who only drink Everclear and Pabst Blue Ribbon. And the prices are more than their competition. I don't expect them to be able to offer the kinds of prices a warehouse place like Costco or Total Wine can... but the wine market is so vast they can surely spend some time locating hard-to-find labels. If they had their shelves stocked with 'best kept secret' type wines that I can't find anywhere else in town, I'd gladly shell out an extra few bucks. Rum Runner was great last century. In this century they've become lazy and pretentious. read more

I confess, I am a wine snob with very distinct tastes. That being said, I always find something here that suites my desires perfectly. I find their prices to be fair and their selection comprehensive and void of crappy shelf fillers. And, I find the staff quite friendly and helpful. Thank you Rum Runner for making my transition from California Wine Country to Arizona a much smoother one! read more

Very good selection of wine, but I've had very mixed success with the guys who work there. I've had some really poor recommendations from them. But if you already know what you want, they're likely to have it. read more

I was impressed by the variety and quality of items as well as the knowledge of the staff.

I complained and the owner made things right.