Bru Gear

[Jaybird]

Hey guys I did start a new thread about this but I though I would toss it in here just in case you needed something and/or missed the thread I stared.

I know a lot of you are having troubles getting stuff made for your Bru Gear kettles. In chatting with a bunch of you here on HBT and via Email we decided to go ahead and add the Compression tubes for the Tri Clover attachment so you have a way to get threaded fittings IN your kettles.

Check em out and let me know what else we can come up with for you.

http://www.norcalbrewingsolutions.com/store/Tri-Clover-Compression-Tube-1.5-Inch-x-1.5-Inch.html

Cheers
Jay

 

[frodus17]

Nice work Jay! We just talked about that last week and you already have one up!


Bru-Gear update:
Talked to Phil a couple days after the busy Black Friday (they have had some sales going). They got their shipments in and he sent an invoice and shipped my gear a few days later. Looks like I'll be getting it Friday.

Ended up ordering:
3 QTY ProBoiler 10 Gallon Electric Kettle with upgraded Tri-Clover ball-valve
1 QTY 10 gallon HERMS kit
1 QTY 10 Gallon False Bottom
3 QTY ProBoiler Dip Tube

Should get it Friday.

Gonna get Jay's whirlpool after finances

 

[Jaybird]

Nice work Jay! We just talked about that last week and you already have one up!

Yeah it was time. We had built several just custom ones for a few guys and after you and I chatted I was like OK, time to get that bad boy on the site and see who else needs em. I sold 4-5 the first day we put it up on the site.
We added the customizing so you guys can have em built any size ya need.


Cheers
Jay

 

[frodus17]

Any chance you can sell without the conpression? I found a female not compression I want to use.

 

[Jaybird]

Any chance you can sell without the conpression? I found a female not compression I want to use.

You bet.

Feel free to call the store to place the order. I'll give Becky the heads up to do the refund on the compression.

Cheers
Jay

 

[frodus17]

Got my gear today and pretty happy with it so far. Haven't cleaned it all up yet and fully inspected, but it looks great. Pretty much only need recirculation hardware, HERMS fittings and heating elements/hardware. Will post more soon.

View attachment 1450500129076.jpg

 

[frodus17]

Update again:

Everything looks great. I looked everything over and the welds are all clean. The fittings are a little different from a photo I was sent, but this works out just fine for me anyway.

The HERMS is really nice and sits just above the element. The welds on the TC fittings for the HERMS look laser welded. Super nice.

The false bottom is a tad different than pictures, but looks of high quality and fits perfectly.

The kettles are all nice. Just a few scratches on one handle but otherwise came in good shape. Packed well in bags with extra cardboard on the outside of the box. The Induction ready bottom is sealed well and looks solid.

Missing one fitting, but emailed Phil to resolve. Shipping was quick. Overall I'm impressed with the system. The thermowell is a bit long, but I'm replacing that anyway with an RTD sensor. I think the value is great for what you get for a full 10-gallon HERMS system with all TC welded fittings and hardware included.

Pics below.

 

[djphantax]

Anyone heard from these guys lately? I have an order in for a 20 gallon kettle and some accessories in since mid December and my order still shows as new in their system and cannot get ahold of anyone via email or phone.

I ordered one up front to check out as I wanted to order 2 more of them when it arrived, but I can't wait another month.

 

[frodus17]

they're slow, but they do follow through. Just email again.

 

[Ihop2many]

Anyone heard from these guys lately? I have an order in for a 20 gallon kettle and some accessories in since mid December and my order still shows as new in their system and cannot get ahold of anyone via email or phone.

I received a 14 gall fermenter last month, it took a few weeks from the initial order as they were waiting for a component. I'd suggest sending an email asking for an update.

All the best.

 

[KRASHED]

Does anyone have experience with them shipping to Canada? Really want: http://www.bru-gear.com/ProBoilertm-15-Gallon-Kettle-Gen-2-with-optional-customization_p_87.html

Can't calculate shipping and haven't got an email response back yet.

 

[KRASHED]

So far have called, left messages, emailed, and responded to an email they sent about not completing my order.

It's like they don't want my money!

 

[Gus_13]

Communication is a big issue for them for some reason. It's been like that from the beginning.

 

[KRASHED]

Called everyday for past week and a half. No one answers the phones on any extensions. Emails are not returned.

I'm starting to think they've gone out of business and no one has announced it yet.

 

[martianpc]

Good luck, they are just HORRIBLE with customer service!

 

[Gus_13]

Called everyday for past week and a half. No one answers the phones on any extensions. Emails are not returned.

I'm starting to think they've gone out of business and no one has announced it yet.

Par for the course. It took a long time for them to answer me even after I had made my purchase.

 

[martianpc]

I think I will use spike if I need something in the future

 

[KRASHED]

I think I will use spike if I need something in the future

That's where I would go but the brugear stuff is on sale and the American dollar is kicking the snot out of the Canadian dollar.

 

[martianpc]

That's where I would go but the brugear stuff is on sale and the American dollar is kicking the snot out of the Canadian dollar.

Very fair point. My biggest complaint with my Bru Gear is the TC port being at 12 o'clock back middle. Makes the depth required deeper for the kettle on the table if you go electric. Also can't stand the side TC ports at 9 and 3 makes it hard to keep them close together in a HERMS arrangement

 

[Ihop2many]

That's where I would go but the brugear stuff is on sale and the American dollar is kicking the snot out of the Canadian dollar.

A sale item is only of value when it is something you are looking for and can get it in a timely manner.

After several Bru Gear purchases and months of no-response I have given up on Bru Gear for my future needs and have been looking at the custom product from Spike Brewing, at a minimum I receive timely responses regarding custom options, pricing and lead-time.

Any product is only as good as the support behind it. When it's this poor before a sale what would you expect after you've spent the money?

 

[Gus_13]

I think I will use spike if I need something in the future

A sale item is only of value when it is something you are looking for and can get it in a timely manner.

After several Bru Gear purchases and months of no-response I have given up on Bru Gear for my future needs and have been looking at the custom product from Spike Brewing, at a minimum I receive timely responses regarding custom options, pricing and lead-time.

Any product is only as good as the support behind it. When it's this poor before a sale what would you expect after you've spent the money?

Exactly. If I did it over again, I'd have Spike or SS kettles.

 

[AF1HomeBrew]

Exactly. If I did it over again, I'd have Spike or SS kettles.

That's what I did... my BruGear 20G mashtun is now my HLT, and now I have Spike for my mashtun and Boil Kettles. If you want quality and customer service (or at least a company that replies back) Spike is Amazing!

 

[JonW]

I'll toss in Brewers Hardware as a company that delivers. They have a full time welder that does all modifications and whips up all kinds of custom stuff for customers. I've been very pleased with every thing they've done. I just recently had them make me a custom tippy dump that mounts to their kettle and the back of my rig. Real happy with the outcome.

 

[BrewAmy17]

We've been trying for months to receive our equipment and app for our control panel. They have put our business behind by months. Terrible customer service, highly NOT RECOMMENDED.

 

[KRASHED]

I have up and bought an Ontario sourced Mash King and I love it. From purchase to my door was 3 days.

Wish I didn't waste so much time trying to contact them.

I cannot comprehend why they would have such non existent customer service. I don't even know what their service is like because I've never gotten ahold of anyone.

Left a nasty review for others to take warning.

 

[davidgaines]

Just curious what kind of questions you guys ask that don't get answered? I emailed and had an answer in about 12 hours. Or what address are you using?

 

[NervousDad]

Just curious what kind of questions you guys ask that don't get answered? I emailed and had an answer in about 12 hours. Or what address are you using?

I don't think they ever responded to any of my sales questions. Just simple stuff about specs, version etc..

 

[Ihop2many]

Just curious what kind of questions you guys ask that don't get answered? I emailed and had an answer in about 12 hours. Or what address are you using?

Does it really matter what the question was? If it was for something outside their "product or service offering" a simple "we don't provide that" or "check out blah, blah, blah" would suffice. The responses in this thread illustrate a pattern of behavior that is just unacceptable when conducting business today and if you choose to ignore it, too bad, you got what you asked for. In my particular situation questions were about their capability to complete a design, which Phil initially had stated they could do using a local welder, the cost of the custom design and the lead time required.

Communication was by email (2 addresses) + phone + text + comments on website Facebook page.

I'm happy that you got your response in a timely manner, a pity that you were the exception and not the rule.

Bru-Gear had great potential and offered something unique at inception: robust kettle, induction capability and TC fittings, to the market for a reasonable cost. It's a real shame that an essential ingredient: communication, fell by the wayside. It is well documented that timely & frequent communication conquers most missteps.

Overall I'm better off due to the delays caused by the lack of service at Bru-Gear as I discovered that Spike Brewing could match the design criteria for my kettles, and they were answering queries within 12 hours, fancy that!
After a few days of finalizing design options & placement considerations I ordered 2 custom V3 kettles from Spike Brewing last Monday, received a payment confirmation, shipping estimate of 1 week tank and tracking number on Wednesday. Yes a tracking number, so I don't need to bug them about "did it ship?". I would call this forward thinking, I can check as many times as I wish to see if the shipment has left the building without disturbing their productivity.

Our brewing life cycle is too short to be waiting for equipment to arrive and questions to be answered, there are alternatives, go forth and find em.

All the best,

 

[KRASHED]

I never got a chance to ask questions because I never got an answer to my initial question.

Apparently answering "how much is shipping to Ontario?" Was too difficult for them to comprehend.

 

[autonomist3k]

Their customer service is horrible, I asked them for pictures of their rims tube kit, they said they would send them to me but never did.
When I bought a kettle from them a while back they sent me another one for free since the welds were crap, when I got the new one the welds were the same, when I complained again they offered to give me a ball valve, thermowell, and thermometer to make up for it, I agreed since I was tired of dealing with them.

I took the kettle to a local welder and he confirmed that the welds were indeed of very poor quality.

I'm over this company, buyer beware.