Apparently customer service is alive and well.

This is an email I got from Alternative Beverage. I had orderedthe really cheap ground shipping which takes 4-6 weeks according to USPS. They shipped the order on February 15th and I got it last Wednesday (March 7).

Thank you for your most recent order with us.

I have talking to Canadian Postal Inspectors for the last 2 days. It seems that the package was damaged to some degree and they saw the CO2 tank in the box. I had to convince the inspector that the tank was empty. Then she discovered that we ship the syrup cannisters with CO2 in them and then I had to sweet talk her into releasing the non-harmful gas and remove the lids totally. It has been an ordeal trying to get this through customs but you should have it very shortly I hope.

Thank you for allowing us to serve you.

Sincerely,
Jess

The order arrived exactly as described. I am very happy with the transaction with these people. Good prices and excellent customer service.

So I take it you ordered a kegging system from them in the US? What kind of price? How is the product? If you like it, can you post more info about the company, pricing, shipping costs, duty, etc? I am shopping for a kegging system right now. Thanks!

Absolutely. The system was about $180 US and it included three corny kegs and new O-rings that you install yourself. These were ball locks and while used, they appear fairly clean. I haven't broken them down yet because I don't have any brew to go into them, but from initial inspection they are in good shape.

With the kit you get a brand new aluminium C02 tank. They sent me an '06 model so I've lost a year on the life right away, but according to the company that sold it to me it's less than $20 Cdn to have it hydro tested. You also get a C02 gauge and the secondary gauge is calibrated to be within the ranges that you would need for brewing.

Feel free to PM me if you like. I'm always happy to talk to another Canuck!

Sorry, I paid another $46 US for shipping. The total order was around $222 US. They didn't make me pay anything else at the post office, but that seems kind of hit and miss. Always use USPS if you can. They seem to get through without broker fees.

Thanks for the info. That was a really great price. Temptation, temptation, temptation.....

You mean to say that http://www.simgo.com/ and http://www.paddockwood.com/index.php and http://www.betterbrew.com/ don't have what you need at a reasonable price?

My kegerator came from Neat Brewing Ideas but all I get from their site now is porn, and not beer porn either, lol.

boo boo said:

You mean to say that http://www.simgo.com/ and http://www.paddockwood.com/index.php and http://www.betterbrew.com/ don't have what you need at a reasonable price?

My kegerator came from Neat Brewing Ideas but all I get from their site now is porn, and not beer porn either, lol.

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I can't speak for the other sites you mention, but *IF* Paddock Wood has kegging systems in stock (currently they don't), they are almost TWICE the price the Fingers paid. I have also found that for most other equipment and ingredients, Paddock Wood is about as cheap as you will get in Canada, so I assume the kegging equipment is no different.