NorthBayBrewer
Member
I support the LHBS except when I DIY. It is good for the local brewing community & neighborhood economy.
LHBS or On Line Retailer
- Thread starter OlatheSurferDude
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I agree that for price and selection, you can't beat the online HB sites. I loved the extract kits from Northern Brewer - top notch.
That being said, I make sure to throw a certain percentage of my hobby spend to my LHBS (mostly bottles and misc supplies).
Even though it costs me more and the quality is sometimes less than what I can get online, I write the difference off to ensuring that I have access to emergency brewing supplies (in case I can't wait four days to get it shipped).
I say use both!
That being said, I make sure to throw a certain percentage of my hobby spend to my LHBS (mostly bottles and misc supplies).
Even though it costs me more and the quality is sometimes less than what I can get online, I write the difference off to ensuring that I have access to emergency brewing supplies (in case I can't wait four days to get it shipped).
I say use both!
My LHBS (Brewbrothers) is cheaper than NB or Austin, not by a little bit, but like 25-50% cheaper on grains, and slightly cheaper on hops and yeast. The other places in town are more expensive than the online retailers, and I've had terrible customer service experiences at them. So for me, if the one LHBS I use wasn't around I'd buy online in bulk. If my store wasn't around anymore I would actually go out of my way to buy online, that's how bad my experiences have been at the 4 other homebrew shops around here.
Satisfaction
Well-Known Member
Having lived in small town America and have family members that own their own stores. I buy everything I can from my LHBS, except when their price is way out of line and he cannot meet the difference. This has never happened... The other situation is when they do not carry the item, I will purchase from someone online.
Just have an open and honest conversation with your LHBS, once they know you are not one of the uninformed masses and not a prick picking apart their business. They will be willing to deal with you and funny enough appreciate your patronage.
Just have an open and honest conversation with your LHBS, once they know you are not one of the uninformed masses and not a prick picking apart their business. They will be willing to deal with you and funny enough appreciate your patronage.
Firebat138
Well-Known Member
We buy a lot from LHBS, a bag of 2 row for $50... Cant find that online... We get the little things also, carboys handles, hop bags, small malt ingredients, but hops we have started buying online of course... Local hops are $3.80 for Amarillo and online I can get for less than half. That being said the store is right around the corner from my house, so it is very convenient... And they add 6 visits up and give you 10% of the total off your order... Example, spent $450 in the last 6 visits and got a $45 coupon off...
I buy the vast majority of my supplies at my LHBS (homebrewparty.com) and sometimes austin homebrew supply (in store) but their prices are competive on most items. I do buy hops in bulk online, and occassional equipment online if my LHBS is more expensive. However if my LHBS was considerably more I would not think twice about buying online.
PollardsVision
Active Member
I'm still pretty new. So far, I've only bought from the LHBS and I plan to always do the vast majority of my business there.
-It's 10 minutes away.
-The prices are right in line with the online retailers.
-Most importantly, the owner is incredibly helpful.
If any of the above wasn't true, I'm sure I'd shop online.
I'm not a "shop local nazi", but certainly, there's a benefit to doing so, when it makes sense.
On the other hand, it doesn't make sense to shop anywhere that doesn't provide the value or service you need.
-It's 10 minutes away.
-The prices are right in line with the online retailers.
-Most importantly, the owner is incredibly helpful.
If any of the above wasn't true, I'm sure I'd shop online.
I'm not a "shop local nazi", but certainly, there's a benefit to doing so, when it makes sense.
On the other hand, it doesn't make sense to shop anywhere that doesn't provide the value or service you need.
ReverseApacheMaster
Well-Known Member
I buy some locally, some online. I prefer to buy locally but what is most important to me is the quality of the ingredients and then secondly price. Third is convenience. I'd rather not wait for shipping but if it's the better deal and I am not in a rush then sometimes online orders are more convenient.
One local shop has really cheap base grain but terrible prices on everything else and very little grain selection so I can only go there when I need the most basic grains or I already have the specialty grains on hand. Another shop sells even fewer grains slightly cheaper but requires bulk purchases. I haven't bought from them because I usually need more than what they have. There is another shop I used to frequent but they took down their website so I can't tell what they have in stock and certainly cannot price compare. They are too far of a drive to go there and leave without what I need. A new shop has opened in the area but they are more expensive. I will probably check them out just to see what the store is like but they have been closed around the holidays each time I wanted to go. There are a few other shops in the area even further away so by the time I factor in gas and time it is considerably more expensive than buying online.
I do my online purchases at BMW and hopsdirect (for hops only, of course). Great selection, very reasonable prices, great service. Everything I could hope for.
One local shop has really cheap base grain but terrible prices on everything else and very little grain selection so I can only go there when I need the most basic grains or I already have the specialty grains on hand. Another shop sells even fewer grains slightly cheaper but requires bulk purchases. I haven't bought from them because I usually need more than what they have. There is another shop I used to frequent but they took down their website so I can't tell what they have in stock and certainly cannot price compare. They are too far of a drive to go there and leave without what I need. A new shop has opened in the area but they are more expensive. I will probably check them out just to see what the store is like but they have been closed around the holidays each time I wanted to go. There are a few other shops in the area even further away so by the time I factor in gas and time it is considerably more expensive than buying online.
I do my online purchases at BMW and hopsdirect (for hops only, of course). Great selection, very reasonable prices, great service. Everything I could hope for.
kttx740
Active Member
It all comes down to convenience for me. If I know I will be near my LHBS I will stop in and get what I need. But if I don't plan to make that trip an online supplier will be getting my business. Nothing against the LHBS but like I said, its a convenience factor for me.
smalliewader
Well-Known Member
My LHBS was about 5 minutes from where I worked...very convenient for stocking up on my lunch break. Now that I'm not working there, I have a 30 minute drive each way, but still use them over online. The prices work out the same after shipping and I can actually go in the store and select my ingredients and poke around. It's an hour round trip drive, but at least I'm not waiting 2-3 days for my grains and hops. I usually brew on a whim. Make a starter and just go...I don't want to be waiting for that small ingredient I need for the style I want to make.
JiltedEmu
Active Member
As many people have stated, getting the best value for my money is my biggest priority. Fortunately, there are four LHBS within 40 min of me and their prices are quite comparable to online retailers. I find that most of the time if I'm shopping online it's to find more exotic ingredients (like Falconer's Flight) or just to make sure I'm getting a good price.
If the price difference is negligible though, then I prefer to spend it at a LHBS. I like being able to taste the grains, smell the hops, or check the freshness of the yeast. Also, I like interacting with shop owners or their employees. Most of the time, they are personable, nice, and somewhat knowledgable about their products.
Also, one shop in particular usually has brews on tap that I can sample to get ideas or just to enjoy
If the price difference is negligible though, then I prefer to spend it at a LHBS. I like being able to taste the grains, smell the hops, or check the freshness of the yeast. Also, I like interacting with shop owners or their employees. Most of the time, they are personable, nice, and somewhat knowledgable about their products.
Also, one shop in particular usually has brews on tap that I can sample to get ideas or just to enjoy
OpenContainer
Well-Known Member
My Local store is only open on Friday's from 10 - 3 and is a side business for the proprietor. He has a very small selection of pretty much nothing, but takes email orders the week before for pick up the following week.
When I asked him to order me some Montrachet, he didn't do it since he already had K1-V1116 and in his mind it would be ok. Well.......that's not what I asked for. I'll likely spend a dollar or two there for some smaller equip items, but Northern will get the majority of my business from here on out.
When I asked him to order me some Montrachet, he didn't do it since he already had K1-V1116 and in his mind it would be ok. Well.......that's not what I asked for. I'll likely spend a dollar or two there for some smaller equip items, but Northern will get the majority of my business from here on out.
I live north of the twin cities but drive through them to go to my parents house. So after seeing my parents I try to swing by Midwest. My lhbs is a liquor store or a brew on premise wine place. neither have bulk grain, hops other than cascade or mt. hood and the yeast is routinely past date. however if I need an auto siphon or star san or a pound of grain I try to hit them up. other than that I like ordering from midwest.
marmonduke
Well-Known Member
I go to Homebrew Shop in olathe for yeast and grains if I'm wanting to brew that day. To be honest some stuff is alot cheaper there than ordering online and some is way overpriced. I do both oline and local..there's just somethings I can't get there..like Perlicks, acidulated malt, etc. bulk grain prices are a joke there also so I go to Bacchus & Barleycorn to get my $47 bag of 2-row and just buy specialty grains and yeast at LHBS. If I lived closer to Independence I'd check out apexbrewwares for bulk grain but I'd spend more in gas then it's worth. Hops I like to buy in bulk online.
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