And meat which seems to be good for about 4 days gets a big red discount sticker on day 3 so the buyer knows they should use it ASAP. Plus they get a discount.
Neither of those applied to the yeast purchase.
Bad experience with Williams Brewing
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And meat which seems to be good for about 4 days gets a big red discount sticker on day 3 so the buyer knows they should use it ASAP. Plus they get a discount.
Neither of those applied to the yeast purchase.
Lil' Sparky
Cowboys EAC
Dude, I think you just need to let this one go.
They didn't meet your expectations, so use a different supplier next time if you're not happy with them.
You're not totally screwed, just disappointed. The yeast is just fine, but return it if you want it.
I seriously doubt you've changed anyone's mind about WB. In fact, it sounds like they have good customer service to most people here.
Maybe some people will actually look at the dates on their yeast now. I'll probably still forget. Not sure that I've ever checked, in fact.
They didn't meet your expectations, so use a different supplier next time if you're not happy with them.
You're not totally screwed, just disappointed. The yeast is just fine, but return it if you want it.
I seriously doubt you've changed anyone's mind about WB. In fact, it sounds like they have good customer service to most people here.
Maybe some people will actually look at the dates on their yeast now. I'll probably still forget. Not sure that I've ever checked, in fact.
Chill,
Yeast doesn't suddenly stop working on the day of the use by date.
When using dry yeast you normally are massively over pitching.
What $$ are we talking about per pack any way?
Yeast doesn't suddenly stop working on the day of the use by date.
When using dry yeast you normally are massively over pitching.
What $$ are we talking about per pack any way?
Yes, exactly, you felt entitled to more than a refund.
Yes, exactly, you felt you were entitled to more than a refund and when you didn't get it you came on here and whined hoping you could hurt them for not caving in and "making you whole."
Dude - just responding to the nonsense posts, bro.
Lil' Sparky
Cowboys EAC
Who's that, me or you? 
Entitled? No. I asked for something that made more sense given the situation (imo) and they disagreed. I think it is bad practice for them to send out yeast this old which is my real objection. So throw out the dirty word "entitled" all you want, it isn't even close to be accurate.
And then you complained.
That means you felt you were owed more than what you originally agreed to. Hence, you felt you were indeed entitled to something more. Otherwise you wouldn't have complained.
It's a textbook case.
Lil' Sparky
Cowboys EAC
OK, let's not beat up the new kid. We want him to still feel welcome around here. Let's go find some good threads about brewing beer now! I think we're all entitled to that.
Buford
Well-Known Member
I've actually gotten milk at a store that was three days from expiration, with a "price reduced" sticker on it. Interestingly enough it was fine until a week after the date, at which point most of it was already gone.
Evan!
Well-Known Member
Regardless of their customer service (which seems just fine), I think anyone who has been brewing for a while knows that dry yeast, kept in a fridge, will last a long time past the exp date. I'm willing to assume that WB knows that too. Now, if you use said expired yeast and it never ferments, then you have a valid beef. And if that happens, then I'll eat my damn hat, too.
That's one way of looking at it.
The other is that it is a PITA for me to have to ship something back if I get 2 years old yeast that I might not use for 6 months, and while I absolutely agree that all that WB is required to do per their policy is to offer a refund, I know that I am not going to bother ordering from them again. I felt like they were entitled to have a chance at keeping a customer, hence the email, and they declined.
lol - good debates can be fun. Maybe I am that wrong - there have certainly been some good points made that I think make for some good advice either way.
I'm ready to get on to the beer threads as well.
I would say that I am a bit surprised at the strong reaction to my OP. Oh well - it has been a good way to get involved in a new forum - I posted frequently on the brewboard but have been sitting on the sidelines here up till now.
Irie5447
Well-Known Member
Hey we are all here for the same reason, our love of creating and enjoying beer! Cheers Mate!
SchizoFilly
Well-Known Member
Quit whining. Use the yeast to make beer.
The date on the carton is a "sell by" date and not a "use by". I've used milk that was easily 10 days passed the sell by date and it wasn't the least bit soured. It's a hard no-sell date for the store so some may discount it to encourage people to not dig in the back for the newer cartons.
Just one final comment on the OP. I'd call the situation a disappointment from a customer who expects a vendor to always go above and beyond reasonable. The tone is that of utter disgust but 90% of the people who chimed in don't think it was warranted. Most of us would be slightly disappointed with the older yeast and move on without posting about it. It's OK... you have the right to voice your opinion and we have the right to disagree. These supply shops are not pulling in millions of dollars in profit and they're doing the best they can in a highly competitive market. I think it's all too easy to equate the seller of goods as some faceless Goliath like Walmart when it could be a small as a family business trying to make ends meet just like you.
I posted once about a vendor going above and beyond. I had ordered a bunch of stuff including 4 packs of Windsor yeast. The order showed up without the yeast, the amount charged was reduced and I later received 4 packs of Windsor that was expired by 3 months with a note that says, no charge, keep them or throw them away. That's not a move I would expect from anyone and it warranted praise.
^^^ Troll.
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If the yeast had been expired at shipping or on receipt, I would work out a partial refund credit. But, the yeast is not expired and will have viability well beyond the actual expiration date which you are well aware of.
Sounds to me like you are trolling to get something for nothing. WB has no reason to pull yeast that is withing the expiry date and incur a loss for that. Furthermore, at no fault of their own in an attempt to keep your business they offered a resolution of a full refund for returned product.
Get over it.
Sounds to me like you are trolling to get something for nothing. WB has no reason to pull yeast that is withing the expiry date and incur a loss for that. Furthermore, at no fault of their own in an attempt to keep your business they offered a resolution of a full refund for returned product.
Get over it.
Nice touch. Like many others.
<sigh> I don't get the trolling accusation. The OP was disappointed with his purchase. I would have been, too, especially on such a large order of yeast. Perfectly reasonable. I probably would have sent it back, but asking for a partial refund because a good portion of it would "expire" or pass its sell-by date before any reasonable expectation of use is also a valid request. Yes, I know dry yeast can remain viable for a long time. That's beside the point. While Williams did nothing wrong they also missed a chance to go above and beyond.
Posting this experience was also perfectly reasonable. There are threads here every day about experiences with vendors, both positive and negative. Given the number of online vendors now available, and the great lengths many of them will go to to satisfy a customer, knowing how this turned out (whether you agree with the OP or not) helps everybody figure out where they want to spend their money.
Chad
Posting this experience was also perfectly reasonable. There are threads here every day about experiences with vendors, both positive and negative. Given the number of online vendors now available, and the great lengths many of them will go to to satisfy a customer, knowing how this turned out (whether you agree with the OP or not) helps everybody figure out where they want to spend their money.
Chad
For everyone who thinks I am way out of line here - what would your opinion be if I sent back the yeast in late May given it is still within their 60 day return policy. Say they get it late in the day on 5/31. Is that a reasonable action for me to do...I am going by their policy, and the yeast is still non-expired.
What if I send it back after it expires in June? Still within 60 days.
Note - I have no plans to do either, because I think that would be a pretty d1ck move, but just wondering if the same low expectations and strict application of the rules applies to my decision as well?
What if I send it back after it expires in June? Still within 60 days.
Note - I have no plans to do either, because I think that would be a pretty d1ck move, but just wondering if the same low expectations and strict application of the rules applies to my decision as well?
carnevoodoo
Well-Known Member
You'd be doing it just to be a dick. They'd probably go, "oh no, 4 dollars in yeast." and throw it away. They probably have better things to do.
William's is awesome, who else ships same/next day?
SpanishCastleAle
Well-Known Member
Actuary, I'm a bit surprised by the responses. And imo many of the responses you got illustrate why WB can send out old yeast and get away with it (even applauded it seems). Apparently some will settle for that kind of product. Suckers. Also, there are lots of lemmings out there who will read some responses and then just pile on and there is def some of that in this thread.
IMO, if a supplier deals in perishable items and in items where freshness counts...sending out items that are almost past expiration; or even 'not fresh', is either bad business or a mistake (which everyone makes occasionally)...and if it's a mistake then the supplier should make it right.
I think asking him to spend $10 shipping to return $20 worth of items (esp when it was the supplier who was at fault)...especially ones that are past expiration and won't be useable...is a bit much. If WB really had the desire to make it right they could have determined the yeast was old without him sending it back. But it appears they just read straight from the 'WB policy' book. I can almost guarantee that the two suppliers I use would not have handled it this way.
I also think it's OK to post it here. But I'm just a 'speak with my wallet' person and I would just do business elsewhere. I went through several online suppliers before I found the one that was right for me.
IMO, if a supplier deals in perishable items and in items where freshness counts...sending out items that are almost past expiration; or even 'not fresh', is either bad business or a mistake (which everyone makes occasionally)...and if it's a mistake then the supplier should make it right.
I think asking him to spend $10 shipping to return $20 worth of items (esp when it was the supplier who was at fault)...especially ones that are past expiration and won't be useable...is a bit much. If WB really had the desire to make it right they could have determined the yeast was old without him sending it back. But it appears they just read straight from the 'WB policy' book. I can almost guarantee that the two suppliers I use would not have handled it this way.
I also think it's OK to post it here. But I'm just a 'speak with my wallet' person and I would just do business elsewhere. I went through several online suppliers before I found the one that was right for me.
Of course I would be, but I don't see how it would be any different than them sending the yeast to me, as a customer, in late May with an expiration date of 5/2009. If there is a set of rules to play by, why would "intention" matter as long as the rules were followed?
Brewmasters Warehouse
Well-Known Member
We consistantly ship same/next day for the vast majority of our orders.
Medo
Well-Known Member
Ahoy hoy,
What an interesting thread, considering I just ordered 2 dozen dry yeasties from williams friday. 12 s-04 12 05s. I always order bulk dry yeast from williams, and its always here in less of a week, which, up here in alaska means more to us then to folks in the lower 48, and, it always makes beer for me.
Oh, and just a heads up, you dont have to send that yeast back UPS, they actually do deal with USPS. I get all my stuff shipped priority mail to up here.
Just an FYI.
Reality is a bear, and it doesnt always agree with what is just, right, or indifferent. Its reality. And thats the truth.
Anyways, I never buy less then 2 dozen dry yeasts, and so far, in real life, the score for failure via yeast, is dry 0 loss, liquid 2 or more, due to bad yeast, either expired, frozen, cooked, or whatnot. And at 9 bucks a shot in Alaska for liquid that may be damaged from shipping(from the home brew store; I would never order liquid yeast mail order, it wouldnt make it to up here with the shipping times, partly why the stores yeast is hosed as well), those 1.65 always work no matter what safales are the cats meow in my book.
Your millage may vary. Caveat Emptor
What an interesting thread, considering I just ordered 2 dozen dry yeasties from williams friday. 12 s-04 12 05s. I always order bulk dry yeast from williams, and its always here in less of a week, which, up here in alaska means more to us then to folks in the lower 48, and, it always makes beer for me.
Oh, and just a heads up, you dont have to send that yeast back UPS, they actually do deal with USPS. I get all my stuff shipped priority mail to up here.
Just an FYI.
Reality is a bear, and it doesnt always agree with what is just, right, or indifferent. Its reality. And thats the truth.
Anyways, I never buy less then 2 dozen dry yeasts, and so far, in real life, the score for failure via yeast, is dry 0 loss, liquid 2 or more, due to bad yeast, either expired, frozen, cooked, or whatnot. And at 9 bucks a shot in Alaska for liquid that may be damaged from shipping(from the home brew store; I would never order liquid yeast mail order, it wouldnt make it to up here with the shipping times, partly why the stores yeast is hosed as well), those 1.65 always work no matter what safales are the cats meow in my book.
Your millage may vary. Caveat Emptor
To be fair, they did offer to cover the return shipping. Of course, that doesn't include the cost for me to ship something - buy a package/envlope, take to post office / ups for postage, etc, stuff that I can't do efficiently because I mail packages about once a year. In the end, $10 vs the hassle of doing it made me lean towards seeing what WB would do about it without the shipping it back option. I also only asked for a partial refund in the form of a credit that would force me to spend more money at WB.
I would have been happy, they would have unloaded some old yeast at 50% of retail instead of dumping it in a month (hopefully the do toss it if it doesn't sell by then), and I give them another shot. Seemed like win-win to me.
The 05s I got were just fine - I think they were dated 2010 or 2011 - as you would normally expect.
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