Do you support your LHBS?

[fatguy-littlecoat]

I tried going to my LHBS over the internet HBS but the internet stores actually have BETTER customer service. I like the idea of going local and keeping my money in the local economy but when the owner of the LHBS acts like I'm just there as an inconvience then I'll take my hard earned money elsewhere.

Seriously think of Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons.

yours too? i had to look at your location to make sure we weren't talking about the same one!!! Cary is a great place though!

interesting ive had the exact opposite experience!

 

[Crabnut]

I love my LHBS, Larry's Brewing in Kent, WA. Maybe a little eccentric, nicely down to earth, very knowledgeable, and always willing to talk methods, supplies, and equipment, especially DIY equipment. Larry is great and his family is always there supporting. Has opened up well after closing just because I pulled in and parked. And all I needed was some yeast. Prices are as good or better than on-line, even before shipping. He does a serious on-line business as well. 15 minutes from the house, with three others in the area, but none up to Larry's standard, so far.

 

[alexdagrate]

I love my LHBS, Larry's Brewing in Kent, WA. Maybe a little eccentric, nicely down to earth, very knowledgeable, and always willing to talk methods, supplies, and equipment, especially DIY equipment. Larry is great and his family is always there supporting. Has opened up well after closing just because I pulled in and parked. And all I needed was some yeast. Prices are as good or better than on-line, even before shipping. He does a serious on-line business as well. 15 minutes from the house, with three others in the area, but none up to Larry's standard, so far.

Briess has Larry listed as their Seattle-Tacoma area distributor. Are his malt prices ridiculously good because of this?

 

[Crabnut]

Briess has Larry listed as their Seattle-Tacoma area distributor. Are his malt prices ridiculously good because of this?

Don't really know about that. But I do know that when I have a C02 tank swapped out, he charges me less than I would pay at a welding gas supplier. It seems a little crazy, but I don't complain.

 

[Brewin06111]

I support 1 of the 2 local ones... I just bought bottle caps at the one I support today... I go there for the little things (Yeast, Bottle caps etc) but for ingredients and whatnot I just order online.

PS: The second shop guy deserves a kick in the teeth.

 

[alexdagrate]

I represented one of my LHBS guys in a DUI, so I know he stands behind his merchandise!

 

[Brewin_CRAZY]

I think that I support my LHBS a little to much.... In all seriousness though, as long as you have a decent LHBS there is no reason not to support them, and it cuts out the cost of shipping. I have become good friends with my LHBS here in Corvallis OR (which might I add is a fantastic place) and it pays off. If they dont have something I need they get it, sometimes we have beer tastings in the back, or I bring in my beer and get their opinion. Its just something that you dont get online and I love being able to converse with other people about my beer.

 

[78kombi]

I represented one of my LHBS guys in a DUI, so I know he stands behind his merchandise!

HAHA! thats awesome!
My local HBS is beer-wine.com
they are 1/4 mile from work so we ( work/brew buddys) go there like 2 times a month, but yeah , hops are cheaper online.
the best part about going there is the expert advice, theres an older woman with a german ( guessing) accent who knows EVERYTHING!
they know me and are always pleasant and very helpful..something that seems lost these days when shopping in a store. I dont know if anyone uses thier online store, but if you come to Massachusetts, I recommend visiting the store
and meeting the people who make it all happen.I rate them A+

 

[JuanKenobi]

HAHA! thats awesome!
My local HBS is beer-wine.com
they are 1/4 mile from work so we ( work/brew buddys) go there like 2 times a month, but yeah , hops are cheaper online.
the best part about going there is the expert advice, theres an older woman with a german ( guessing) accent who knows EVERYTHING!
they know me and are always pleasant and very helpful..something that seems lost these days when shopping in a store. I dont know if anyone uses thier online store, but if you come to Massachusetts, I recommend visiting the store
and meeting the people who make it all happen.I rate them A+

I used to get all my stuff from beer-wine.com before I discovered BMW. They do have excellent customer service. Unfortunately their prices are pretty high and they charge shipping by totaling the estimated weight and charging you for that. I usually paid for nearly double the actual shipped weight. I'd still really like to see the store. Aside from the prices I never had a bad experience with them.

 

[Montanaandy]

I am fortunate in that my LHBS store/owner is close by, has very competitive prices, and is very knolwedgeable. The place is always hopping but he always will make time to talk to a relative newbie such as myself and give me advice based on his 30 years of experience. He does not push you to purchase things - if anything he steers you away from a sale if he feels that there is a better (cheaper) alternative that you can get elsewhere. We don't have sales tax here in MT so prices when sales tax + shipping are figured in are often lower than what I see online. The only reason I order online is if there is something that I want that I cannot obtain locally. Montanaandy

 

[yummybeer]

i like going to my local hbs to buy what i need. gives me a chance to meet other people in my area who also homebrew. my local hbs also has friendly service and advice. i'll order stuff online if the hbs doesn't have what i'm looking for.

 

[Yankeehillbrewer]

I'm fortunate to have a really good LHBS in Chico, Ca. It's about a 40 minute drive but that's my fault for living out in the sticks. The owners are Knowledgeable,Freiendly & eager to give advice when asked.They have just about every grain you could ever need, a good hop selection, and a great yeast selection. The prices are decent, and I enjoy going in there.

 

[wolfstar]

Brewers Connection in Tempe is where I go. So far they have been good, and certainly seem to have their stuff together. Being relatively new still (only 20 batches or so under my belt) I will likely continue to go there as they are very helpful.

 

[Jaybird]

I would like to thank all that go to their LHBS. I have always supported mine and when it closed I was devistated. "Now what", I asked my brew partner. Well we bought online and continued to do so for a few years. I opened my store 5 months ago and will be more than happy to share my story. Right now I am off to bed. I just got off a 12 hour shift after working in my store most all day yesterday, and I have to go back to another 12 hour shift tonight. I will follow up tonight, after I have time to read all the posts.
Cheers
Jay

 

[uechikid]

Yes I do. More beer is only a 20 minute drive. But before they were around there were a couple other small shops that I would use. I like to go in and get my grain ingredients in person. Most of the time they have me mill my own grain.

 

[wrestler63]

I have been buying alot of hops and yeast online due to the great discounts on large quantities of hops. I feel guilty so, I have my LHBS order me my pre crushed 2 row to throw him a bone rather than ordering it myself.

 

[JarrodH]

I try to as much as possible, but I have been overcharged and have had to go back in after looking at the receipt over 5 times at the LHBS. Something with thier scanner always hits white labs yeast twice. They do have a good selection and the people are reasonably cool (probably cause of the brewery built in as well - Ballast Point) but sometimes it just gets me when I have to go back cause I was charged twice for something. I do get my bigger ticket items online (kettles and the like) but I like to try to send as much money as I can to the local business.

 

[trailblazer]

i buy my grains, hops and yeast from him but i either make everything else or buy it online for a better price then he has it for. i see alot of people going in their with simple questions like "how can i cool my wort esier then an ice bath" and instead of telling them to take a trip to home depot and build a iwc i keep my mouth shut and let him tell them he sells wort chillers for 120 bucks. hes a nice guy and keeps a kegerator with four taps in the back so every time i buy my supplies i get a cold mini cup or three of whatever he's got on tap.

 

[Pintodave]

I would like to thank all that go to their LHBS. I have always supported mine and when it closed I was devistated. "Now what", I asked my brew partner. Well we bought online and continued to do so for a few years. I opened my store 5 months ago and will be more than happy to share my story. Right now I am off to bed. I just got off a 12 hour shift after working in my store most all day yesterday, and I have to go back to another 12 hour shift tonight. I will follow up tonight, after I have time to read all the posts.
Cheers
Jay

I'd love to hear as much as you are willing to share, I love hearing about small business adventures, both the ups and downs.

Good educational stuff...

 

[permo]

I buy my grains and yeast from LHBS, but $3+ an ounce for hops is ludacris, so I order bulk from hopsdirect or midwest at around $1 an ounce. I usually only keep 4-5 varieties in my freezer and I always have 4-5 containers of washed yeast in my fridge.

 

[Revvy]

Heck, the owner of my local Lhbs and I are facebook buddies, AND he is giving me some venison in the next couple weeks.

Now THAT's customer loyalty.

 

[Beerrific]

I do now. Woo-hoo!

http://www.brewmasterswarehouse.com/

 

[Revvy]

I do now. Woo-hoo!

http://www.brewmasterswarehouse.com/

can Ed now have actually walk in customers? Or is he still only allowed to do mail order?

Either way, Ed Rocks!!! He and Forrest of Austin Homebrew are two of the best things we have on here. Not just vendors, but participants in the community as well.

 

[hcarter]

No, I don't, and anyone who lives in the Columbus, Ohio area knows why. I can't stand that shop in Clintonville.

 

[Beerrific]

can Ed now have actually walk in customers? Or is he still only allowed to do mail order?

Either way, Ed Rocks!!! He and Forrest of Austin Homebrew are two of the best things we have on here. Not just vendors, but participants in the community as well.

Yes he can. Went up there last week to pick up some grains, etc. Great having a LHBS close that actually cares about its customers and has competitive prices.

 

[griffondg]

I really love AHS but like to throw some business to the local shop as well.

 

[Revvy]

Yes he can. Went up there last week to pick up some grains, etc. Great having a LHBS close that actually cares about its customers and has competitive prices.

That's good news! Talking to him on here, he seems like a great guy.

Two LHBS owners I want to meet for sure one day are him and FOrrest.

Oh and Jaybird too...but I don't think of him as a lhbs guy, since he was on here first as a member before he became on owner.

 

[doughaas]

No, I don't, and anyone who lives in the Columbus, Ohio area knows why. I can't stand that shop in Clintonville.

Agreed. The cheaper of the two shops charges 2.59/lb of grain and 3/oz of hops. Don't even ask what the more expensive aforementioned shop in Clintonville charges or how bad their service is.

 

[bubbachunk]

Yes for some things, but not for all. Some of his prices are outrageous and when i can get things for half the price online I cant really beat that.

 

[remilard]

$3 an ounce is pretty much the going rate for hops.

That is what both Brewmasters Warehouse and Austin Homebrew Supply charge, and people seem to like those shops.