Anybody who is about to be the proud owner of 3 1/8 tons of hops deserves a little slack in return for his trouble. Plus I'll be entertained for the next few minutes while I try to imagine what that looks like.
Disappointed with Austin Homebrew Supply
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Anybody who is about to be the proud owner of 3 1/8 tons of hops deserves a little slack in return for his trouble. Plus I'll be entertained for the next few minutes while I try to imagine what that looks like.
Thanks, I saw that they were shrinking???
It packed my Portuguese corker that came in perfect condition and works like a charm. Time to make some more wine!
I also want to second what others have said here, I consider AHS one of my go to IHBS (Internet Home Brew Store). I consider it one of the better if not among the best that I use.
That being said keeping stock is important - big expenses or not, you have to keep the basic blocking and tackling, even while expanding, repairing, re-trenching whatever.
That being said keeping stock is important - big expenses or not, you have to keep the basic blocking and tackling, even while expanding, repairing, re-trenching whatever.
troy2000
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"Reality" is that he requested gift certificates for Austin, expecting to be able to use them, and now he's stuck. I can understand his frustration, since the stuff he wanted to buy with the certificates seems to be readily available elsewhere.
I'm not sure what you think you accomplished by mocking him.....
I've always had good experiences with AHS, so I'm not going to complain.
BUT, I'm wondering if this is a case of "Lean Manufacturing Processes" at work. Many companies are employing "lean" concepts to control costs. In my dealings with "lean" over the past few years, the company over emphasizes inventory turns for cost savings, but the reality is unhappy customers in terms of quality and customer satisfaction.
I hope this isn't the case here, but seems consistent with the whole Lean Philosophy if you're not making a car.
BUT, I'm wondering if this is a case of "Lean Manufacturing Processes" at work. Many companies are employing "lean" concepts to control costs. In my dealings with "lean" over the past few years, the company over emphasizes inventory turns for cost savings, but the reality is unhappy customers in terms of quality and customer satisfaction.
I hope this isn't the case here, but seems consistent with the whole Lean Philosophy if you're not making a car.
Since Austin Homebrew is reading this thread I will ask here. Can you tweak your site so I can add oos items and qualities to wishlists? And the ability to have multiple wish lists would be awesome. I've been using amazon's wish lists to manage items I want on your site since they allow linking from other websites. I just ask since I want to say I read somewhere that you are launching a new site soon.
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![Craft A Brew - Safale BE-256 Yeast - Fermentis - Belgian Ale Dry Yeast - For Belgian & Strong Ales - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [3 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51bcKEwQmWL._SL500_.jpg)
newbrewer001
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I have always received high quality, well packaged kits from austin. I usually only order when they do the anniversary sale each year or when they have a good sale but their prices and quality are always more than fair. I personally prefer them to midwest any day. Give them a little more slack this time.
MotorcycleMatt
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Ill still order from ahs especially if that's not how their fermentis yeast is supposed to be. I've never had issues with them and their customer service has been great.
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I'd like to double up the suggestion that AHS should allow the wishlisting of out of stock items. Wishlists offer the customer one page to check the status easily, and allow the store to assess demand. The wishlisting could even offer an option of an email notice when the item was back on the shelf.
I recall that some AHS items that I had wishlisted became out of stock, yet they stayed on the wishlist with some sort out of stock notice. I think it one was a 60-minute clone kit. At the same time, you couldn't find the clone on a site search (though you could find it listed on the kits sold page and link back). I thought the ghosting of the clone page a bit klutzy.
I recall that some AHS items that I had wishlisted became out of stock, yet they stayed on the wishlist with some sort out of stock notice. I think it one was a 60-minute clone kit. At the same time, you couldn't find the clone on a site search (though you could find it listed on the kits sold page and link back). I thought the ghosting of the clone page a bit klutzy.
If that's your experience with Lean, then somebody is doing it wrong. The whole point of Lean is to eliminate waste to control costs, and unhappy customers who cancel orders and/or don't come back are a major cost. Granted, organizations tend to get carried away with magic buzzword quality tools and often pull the trigger before they aim. That doesn't sound like the case here, though. This is just $**t happening at the wrong time, which is par for the course with any small business. Sometimes you just get knocked down.
In defense of [some] MBAs, though, statistical inventory management is a ridiculously effective tool when used by someone who has the right data and knows what he/she is doing. Again, applied properly it results in happier customers because management has a more reliable projection of how much they need and when. Management also saves money because they don't carry unnecessarily large stocks. Plus, if your inventory guy/gal is really awake, they tend to find all kinds of "well, duh" places to fix the supply chain while sifting through the numbers.
(Said the guy with the totally fake brewing company.
)
AHS is my one and only. If I order on Monday it's on my doorstep by Friday ready to be brewed on Saturday. I do agree about the OOS the last couple months but I'm patiently waiting.
Things happen that are out of our control,so with the service and quality that I get from them the rest of the year I can deal with it.
Things happen that are out of our control,so with the service and quality that I get from them the rest of the year I can deal with it.
WileECoyote
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I would like to Support Austin's by saying I use them often, every order has been shipped quick, any time a item in my order was backordered, their was a note on my invoice explaining that item would be shipped out as soon as they got it in, and thats what they did.
Also I live in Arizona its 120 degrees in the sumer here, Austin's is the Only Place I have found that will work with me on making sure my liquid yeast is viable when delivered, if I order on a thursday or friday on my request they will hold my order and ship my liquid yeast on a monday instead of just shipping it whenever, otherwise it would sit in a dark brown truck in the sun with it 120 degrees out all weekend long.
Just try asking that of any other supplier and you will hear we don't hold orders.
Austin's has some of the best customer service I have experienced period.
Just recently ordered 5 pet carboys that are on sale at Austin's, after receiving them I was so pleased, I ordered 3 more.
Thanks Austin's
Cheers
Also I live in Arizona its 120 degrees in the sumer here, Austin's is the Only Place I have found that will work with me on making sure my liquid yeast is viable when delivered, if I order on a thursday or friday on my request they will hold my order and ship my liquid yeast on a monday instead of just shipping it whenever, otherwise it would sit in a dark brown truck in the sun with it 120 degrees out all weekend long.
Just try asking that of any other supplier and you will hear we don't hold orders.
Austin's has some of the best customer service I have experienced period.
Just recently ordered 5 pet carboys that are on sale at Austin's, after receiving them I was so pleased, I ordered 3 more.
Thanks Austin's
Cheers
MikeBTexas
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Good to hear from AHS about the problem people are having. I too had to split my order between AHS and Midwest brewing because of out of stock at AHS.
I found myself on this thread after googling "Is Austin Homebrew going out of business". I'm local and new to home brewing and love the customer service they provide and want to support them in every way that i can. I was taken aback by the inventory levels I experienced recently and that have been expressed here. Sounds like they appreciate the concern and are addressing it.
If that's your experience with Lean, then somebody is doing it wrong. The whole point of Lean is to eliminate waste to control costs, and unhappy customers who cancel orders and/or don't come back are a major cost. Granted, organizations tend to get carried away with magic buzzword quality tools and often pull the trigger before they aim. That doesn't sound like the case here, though. This is just $**t happening at the wrong time, which is par for the course with any small business. Sometimes you just get knocked down.
In defense of [some] MBAs, though, statistical inventory management is a ridiculously effective tool when used by someone who has the right data and knows what he/she is doing. Again, applied properly it results in happier customers because management has a more reliable projection of how much they need and when. Management also saves money because they don't carry unnecessarily large stocks. Plus, if your inventory guy/gal is really awake, they tend to find all kinds of "well, duh" places to fix the supply chain while sifting through the numbers.
(Said the guy with the totally fake brewing company.
Brick, Oh, I completely agree with you. I work for a company that has taken the tools of Lean, and completely screwed everything up. Just passing this possibility to the OP.
So... UPDATE. The counterflow chiller that I wanted to purchase was supposed to be in stock on Jan 8th, then the date changed to Jan 9th, then changed to Jan 21st. Then it changed to Jan 30th. Then it changed to Feb 2nd. Now it says Feb 18th. This is getting ridiculous!
Marc77
Well-Known Member
This is a prime example of something that could easily be corrected. Don't guess when you're going to get it back in and then have to keep back pedaling. Set a date you know you can get things back in and make it.
Working in the computer programming world that drives me absolutely nuts. I avoid it by saying to clients we'll have it to you in 3 weeks. If it takes 2 then you get a thank you for getting it to them early. But usually if you think it's going to take 2 weeks it will normally take 3 because something pops up, someone gets sick and can't work on the project or other complications, etc.
As for the person saying "So basically you're having a hard time dealing with reality".... I'd agree with the other person, if you don't have anything constructive to say then keep out of the conversation.
Wrecked
Well-Known Member
Anything worthwhile is worth waiting for.
I know what it's like to wait on something on back order. I can also look at the situation from the perspective of having 20+ years experience in inventory control. I guarantee AHS wants to get your product in stock and out to you as soon as possible. RDWHAHB!
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kombat
Well-Known Member
We demand photos!
Marc77
Well-Known Member
You're thinking too small. Someone grab a welder and some tools. We'll tear the roof off and weld the doors shut. Then we just need to call the fire department for the water and we've got the starts of one hell of an IPA!
We're going to need a lot of grain...
OK, but now this thread can't end until we have a grain bill and a name for the recipe.
Marc77
Well-Known Member
Adventures in Destruction IPA?
WileECoyote
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Mare_Mortis
Member
We are talking about a business that is based upon supplying products to customers, failing to do so is bad business. And blaming lack of stock on the holidays a month later is not acceptable.
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Wrecked
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Every business is based on supplying something to someone. Stock shortages happen for a variety of reasons. Small businesses sometimes have expenditures that have to be addressed and they have to move slow moving products to the back of the list until capital becomes available to restock such items. This is not bad business, it's just bad circumstance. IMO, Getting bent out of shape about it because you can't have what you want "right now" is not a good reason to bring a grievance to a public forum.
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Cottonmouth
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So I guess what you're telling OP and all others who've had items placed on backorder that they should put everything on hold and just wait for Austin to get their **** together.
Cottonmouth
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And while I'm at it I'd like to thank OP for bringing this grievance to my attention. The vendors I patronize keep track of their inventory and you can ACTUALLY see if an item is in stock or not on their website. I've never dealt with AHS and don't think I will based on what I've heard so far.
troy2000
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Personally, I think it's a very good reason - particularly when the in-stock date keeps getting shoved back and back and back.... if I were him, by now I'd have asked them to refund the gift certificates so I could go elsewhere.
I'm curious: what would you consider a 'good reason'?
Wrecked
Well-Known Member
I'm not trying to be confrontational here. I would suggest you go back and read my original response. In that original response I simply stated I could see his point and understand it from AHS position too. If you want to get yourself all twisted up over it, go right ahead.
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