Any Issues With Northern Brewer?

[AussieBrewerInColorado]

I made a purchase from Northern Brewer a few months back for a grain mill and a march pump. Grain Mill was great. March Pump had some threading issues on the "IN" (something was out of whack on threading and barbs go on crooked causing a leak), so I sent them a message on their website but haven't heard anything back. Not sure what to do, anybody else have similar experience? If so, let me know and i'll give them a call with our concerns.

There are so many other suppliers here that I think that can step-up and earn business when stuff goes wrong.

 

[ruffdeezy]

I placed an order at the end of February, which I am still waiting for the rest of the items to arrive. I have asked a few times when they will be mailed, and each time told they were recently shipped. After waiting almost two months, I have asked for a refund for the items that were never shipped. They haven't responded to my request. I no longer shop with Northern Brewer.

They ship by fedex. What did the tracking info say? What did you order that took so long?

 

[marnel]

That sounds really odd, i do over 90% of my orders thru them and have never had a single issue. Why don't you try calling them instead.

 

[broadbill]

I made a purchase from Northern Brewer a few months back for a grain mill and a march pump. Grain Mill was great. March Pump had some threading issues on the "IN" (something was out of whack on threading and barbs go on crooked causing a leak), so I sent them a message on their website but haven't heard anything back. Not sure what to do, anybody else have similar experience? If so, let me know and i'll give them a call with our concerns.

There are so many other suppliers here that I think that can step-up and earn business when stuff goes wrong.

Since you are having a problem specifically with the March Pump, you might want to talk with the manufacturer directly. Walter works for March Pump and is a member here:

http://iam.homebrewtalk.com/WalterAtMarchPump

I'd shoot him an PM.

 

[jfrank85]

I've never had issues with NB personally but i have had tracking issues with Midwest Supplies. Both orders I've done have been sent out without an email confirmation stating they shipped them out with a tracking number, and yes i did check my spam and my email address is correct.

 

[onthekeg]

I was just in their store yesterday. Nothing out of the ordinary. Give them a call, they will fix your pump issue.

 

[remilard]

I made a purchase from Northern Brewer a few months back for a grain mill and a march pump. Grain Mill was great. March Pump had some threading issues on the "IN" (something was out of whack on threading and barbs go on crooked causing a leak), so I sent them a message on their website but haven't heard anything back. Not sure what to do, anybody else have similar experience? If so, let me know and i'll give them a call with our concerns.

There are so many other suppliers here that I think that can step-up and earn business when stuff goes wrong.

Why don't you call them with your own concerns?

 

[Lechien]

They have always been great in my book, multiple orders, fast shipping, no backorders.
They have a live chat on their website I used once, they should be easy enough to get in touch with.

 

[strat_thru_marshall]

They always respond to my emails the same day. I get great service every time I place an order or ask a question.

 

[shortyjacobs]

Why don't you call them with your own concerns?

+1. This forum is not a customer complaint database, and they might not read your post. They are stand-up guys and girls, and I'm sure they'll work with you.

 

[astropunk]

Northern Brewer & Midwest are my go-to sources for about everything. My guess is they will make it right, but you need to do your own due dilligence. Dont just rely on an email that they may not have had time to reply to.

 

[osagedr]

I've had good (but not perfect) service from NB. They have always made things right if they made a mistake.

 

[broadbill]

Northern Brewer & Midwest are my go-to sources for about everything. My guess is they will make it right, but you need to do your own due dilligence. Dont just rely on an email that they may not have had time to reply to.

+1. This forum is not a customer complaint database, and they might not read your post. They are stand-up guys and girls, and I'm sure they'll work with you.

+1000 to these comments. If you shoot them an email and you don't hear back, the next step is a phone call, not to complain on a discussion forum for all to see.

This thread is only a few hours old and we've already had the the people coming to NB's defense, those coming out and saying they've had crappy customer service from NB, and even people who feel they need to complain about another homebrew mail-order shop, completely unrelated to NB. What's the point?

 

[ayoungrad]

I have ordered from NB several times. I have never had an issue with timing or product quality. They have been the best online store I've used so far.

I just placed a small order (with no grain) on Sunday afternoon and it arrives today. Considering the shipping time is 4 days, that's pretty impressive.

 

[1234]

I had a regulator go bad on my banjo burner and the sent a new regulator free of charge out to me quickly. I am not sure why you just didn't call them in the first place.

 

[BrewThruYou]

My issue with Northern Brewer is that too much of my money goes to them.

 

[pd230soi]

Generally good service. A couple of minor packing issue. But I find they are the best out of the mail order folks.

 

[Toga]

I have ordered a couple times from them with no issues.

 

[Malintent]

I had the same problem with the March pump ordered from MoreBeer. the issue is with attempting to screw a metal coupling onto a plastic nipple.. the easy crossed threads destroys the nipple on the pump. You have to thread your coupling on extremely carefully. After crossing my threads and crushing the plastic nipple on my pump, I had to bust out my set of fine files and painstakingly reform the threads enough to get the coupling on straight and liquid tight.

 

[shortyjacobs]

I had the same problem with the March pump ordered from MoreBeer. the issue is with attempting to screw a metal coupling onto a plastic nipple.. the easy crossed threads destroys the nipple on the pump. You have to thread your coupling on extremely carefully. After crossing my threads and crushing the plastic nipple on my pump, I had to bust out my set of fine files and painstakingly reform the threads enough to get the coupling on straight and liquid tight.

Protip: Place the coupling against the nipple, then slowly turn it backwards, (CCW). You will feel it "click" down as the threads align at a certain point in the rotation. Then slowly thread forwards.

This works very well with spark plugs too to avoid cross-threading.

 

[Teromous]

I've never had issues with NB personally but i have had tracking issues with Midwest Supplies. Both orders I've done have been sent out without an email confirmation stating they shipped them out with a tracking number, and yes i did check my spam and my email address is correct.

I had a similar issue with them and I talked with one of the guys there. He told me that they were having issues where emails weren't being sent out and were working to fix it, and that I could check my account with them or contact them if I ever need info about shipping. He also pointed out (because some of my orders had tracking numbers and some didn't) that you only get a tracking number if you use fedex. If I were you, I'd just check your account to see the status.

 

[joety]

I had the same problem with the March pump ordered from MoreBeer. the issue is with attempting to screw a metal coupling onto a plastic nipple.. the easy crossed threads destroys the nipple on the pump. You have to thread your coupling on extremely carefully. After crossing my threads and crushing the plastic nipple on my pump, I had to bust out my set of fine files and painstakingly reform the threads enough to get the coupling on straight and liquid tight.

+1, same supplier, same issue, same fix

I had two pumps, I cross threaded one but the other went on fine. Both are leak free now.

When they die I may suck it up and lay out the 300 bones for the SS head variety. I know that is just way too f'n much money for a lot of folks, but I understand from Kal the 3/4 inch inlet makes priming much easier as well.

 

[Gussymo]

FYI. They make plastic pump heads with 3/4 inputs. I have 2 of them.

 

[Kahler]

I had an issue with Northern Brewer, called them, they apologized and i had my order sent overnight to me. Then, the order was missing two items (2of 25 mind you) and they not only overnight shipped those, but also gave me a $25 credit. So basically...CALL THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FarmerJoe]

Ordered a couple times from them and I've loved the service so far!

 

[VanHolton]

I bought some ingredients for Denny's Wry Smile in the store in St Paul. When I got home I realized they had charged me for an extra ounce of hops. I just let it go. Maybe I should call, but it's been 3 weeks now....

 

[jafo28]

My issue with Northern Brewer is that too much of my money goes to them.

This!

 

[joety]

FYI. They make plastic pump heads with 3/4 inputs. I have 2 of them.

Where did you find them?

 

[Gussymo]

I got the March pumps with 3/4 inputs from Ed at Brewmasters Warehouse.

 

[Gussymo]

Nevermind. I looked and it doesn't look like he has them anymore.