OlatheSurferDude
Well-Known Member
I got into a bit of a debate a few weeks back about where to get supplies. When I got my starter kit from Christmas a year ago it came from Midwest Supplies. Because of that I started purchasing other items from them. I do have a LHBS store in the area (actually 2). They are nothing on the size of a Midwest or Austins, but they are local.
I asked my friend if he wanted to place an order sometime through Midwest. His basic response was he would rather support the Mom and Pop down the street. I get that and in fact I have made several purchase the last few weeks including equipment and ingredients at my LBHS. I tend to like to support the locals as well.
My issue is when I look at pricing and how much less expensive it is to get the same item on line and that includes shipping. If I'm smart about what I'm ordering and making sure maximize my what I'm ordering, it helps out even more on the shipping.
My LHBS seems to have a good supply of ingredients and they package their own extract kits which I have used. So they have available most of the basics. But as I said earlier no where near the inventory of someone like Midwest.
I guess my what I'm looking for is how people would look at this? Try to buy, at a higher expense, from the local store to help business and support them and the local brew market, buy from the good on-line retailers, or a combination of both?
Maybe I'm just over thinking this but have to think about something brew wise as my fermenters are full and won't be brewing another batch for a week or to. I guess I should feel lucky to have a store that is available where I live for those short notice type items...
I asked my friend if he wanted to place an order sometime through Midwest. His basic response was he would rather support the Mom and Pop down the street. I get that and in fact I have made several purchase the last few weeks including equipment and ingredients at my LBHS. I tend to like to support the locals as well.
My issue is when I look at pricing and how much less expensive it is to get the same item on line and that includes shipping. If I'm smart about what I'm ordering and making sure maximize my what I'm ordering, it helps out even more on the shipping.
My LHBS seems to have a good supply of ingredients and they package their own extract kits which I have used. So they have available most of the basics. But as I said earlier no where near the inventory of someone like Midwest.
I guess my what I'm looking for is how people would look at this? Try to buy, at a higher expense, from the local store to help business and support them and the local brew market, buy from the good on-line retailers, or a combination of both?
Maybe I'm just over thinking this but have to think about something brew wise as my fermenters are full and won't be brewing another batch for a week or to. I guess I should feel lucky to have a store that is available where I live for those short notice type items...