gonzoflick
Well-Known Member
I've just returned home from the worst LHBS experience of my life. I am so upset I had to calm myself down for 10 minutes before writing this. NEVER in my life have I been treated so callously by any store owner. I will give a brief description now of what happened.
I live in Orlando and Heartshomebrew.com (my LHBS) is the only LHBS one I know of around here. I've been in there about 10 times and the man knows my face I'm sure of it. Today I walked into the store and here went my conversation with the owner.
Me: "Hey buddy I'd like to talk to you about your Brown Ale recipe"
Owner: "OK"
Me: "I wanted to kick it up a notch and add a pound of honey. What do you
think?"
Owner: "I think it will be too sweet"
Me: "Yea I thought I would add some more hops to balance this out. Do you think that would work?"
Owner: "You have to look that kind of stuff up on your own. We dont give recipe advice here."
---------------------------BREAK-----------------------------------
This was their own recipe BTW and on the wall they have nothing but awards, ribbons, and trophies for their brews. The guy knows how to give recipe advice.
--------------------------BACK TO CONVERSATION--------------
Me: "Isn't that what these stores are supposed to be all about, helping your customers brew beer?"
Owner: "We are mostly mail order so we don't care about local business."
Me: "Are you saying you dont care about making your customers happy and helping them out"
Owner: "Our local ones, nope. Thats not the kind of business we're in."
Me: "Well buddy you just lost a local one."
Owner: "Ok see ya"
I will stop here because anyone reading this should at this point be as flabbergasted as I am. I've never once in my LIFE heard a store owner say he didnt care about his local customers. This place is set up for retail for sure. Its not like I was walking into a garage were he just ships his supplies out from.
To speak to someone like that, especially someone who you know is a beginner in the awesome hobby of homebrewing, is just downright evil and cruel. If it was might first time in there I would probably be pretty heart broken and not even try to make beer. As it is now I know I can order supplies from online stores and continue my hobby.
This is a vent post but also one to get you'alls thoughts.
Has anyone had experiences like this at their LHBS?
Thoughts please, to make me feel better and not go hurt somebody...
I live in Orlando and Heartshomebrew.com (my LHBS) is the only LHBS one I know of around here. I've been in there about 10 times and the man knows my face I'm sure of it. Today I walked into the store and here went my conversation with the owner.
Me: "Hey buddy I'd like to talk to you about your Brown Ale recipe"
Owner: "OK"
Me: "I wanted to kick it up a notch and add a pound of honey. What do you
think?"
Owner: "I think it will be too sweet"
Me: "Yea I thought I would add some more hops to balance this out. Do you think that would work?"
Owner: "You have to look that kind of stuff up on your own. We dont give recipe advice here."
---------------------------BREAK-----------------------------------
This was their own recipe BTW and on the wall they have nothing but awards, ribbons, and trophies for their brews. The guy knows how to give recipe advice.
--------------------------BACK TO CONVERSATION--------------
Me: "Isn't that what these stores are supposed to be all about, helping your customers brew beer?"
Owner: "We are mostly mail order so we don't care about local business."
Me: "Are you saying you dont care about making your customers happy and helping them out"
Owner: "Our local ones, nope. Thats not the kind of business we're in."
Me: "Well buddy you just lost a local one."
Owner: "Ok see ya"
I will stop here because anyone reading this should at this point be as flabbergasted as I am. I've never once in my LIFE heard a store owner say he didnt care about his local customers. This place is set up for retail for sure. Its not like I was walking into a garage were he just ships his supplies out from.
To speak to someone like that, especially someone who you know is a beginner in the awesome hobby of homebrewing, is just downright evil and cruel. If it was might first time in there I would probably be pretty heart broken and not even try to make beer. As it is now I know I can order supplies from online stores and continue my hobby.
This is a vent post but also one to get you'alls thoughts.
Has anyone had experiences like this at their LHBS?
Thoughts please, to make me feel better and not go hurt somebody...