Feeling bad about not using my LHBS

[sambogi76]

My LHBS has a poor selection but good prices on what they do carry. They dont carry much for the AG'er, so all I get there any more is DME for my starters. But he does do special orders, so I do get my bulk base grains from him for $40. I get most of my supplies from midwest. I think their stuff is the freshest you can get because of the high amount of sales they have. I visited another HBS in another town 60 miles away once, their prices was way too high (70+ dollars for 50.lbs of 2 row!), and the liquid yeast they did have wasnt very fresh at all. For this I am all for shopping online. I believe midwest has the best model for HBS, they have a actual store, they sale online, they have the freshest ingredients, and their prices are within reason even with shipping. You just need to find a good place to find your base malts to buy in bulk, cause shipping on that is #$%@ing high.

 

[Fletch78]

My LHBS has a poor selection but good prices on what they do carry. They dont carry much for the AG'er, so all I get there any more is DME for my starters. But he does do special orders, so I do get my bulk base grains from him for $40. I get most of my supplies from midwest. I think their stuff is the freshest you can get because of the high amount of sales they have. I visited another HBS in another town 60 miles away once, their prices was way too high (70+ dollars for 50.lbs of 2 row!), and the liquid yeast they did have wasnt very fresh at all. For this I am all for shopping online. I believe midwest has the best model for HBS, they have a actual store, they sale online, they have the freshest ingredients, and their prices are within reason even with shipping. You just need to find a good place to find your base malts to buy in bulk, cause shipping on that is #$%@ing high.

If I had a brew store, I'd basically sell base malt at cost just to get them in the door, and make my money on the hops and yeast and specialty grains.

 

[sambogi76]

I would look to do sales online for increase sales for profit and a good turn over in product to have a fresh stock too. It would be nice if midwest would have franchises.

 

[Fletch78]

I would look to do sales online for increase sales for profit and a good turn over in product to have a fresh stock too. It would be nice if midwest would have franchises.

Alot of wholesalers won't let you, because it would be competition with their existing distributors.

 

[MattCA]

Idk if I feel too bad. It cost me 70 bucks at the store and only 40 online. They charged $10 for a steeping bag. Besides, theyre brew is well known around here.

 

[aerod1]

I buy strictly from my LHBS ( Homebrew Headquarters) in Richardson TX. They are nice, friendly, knowledgeable people who are always there to help. Their prices are good when you consider all the help they freely give. I consider it a great value to me.

 

[thetragichero]

my LHBS is KILLER!
not only are the prices at or below what i see online, but if i wanted to order from their online store they have next-day shipping anywhere in florida for five bucks!
also i can get there and back with about 20 minutes to spare on my lunch breaks

 

[SwampassJ]

my LHBS is KILLER!
not only are the prices at or below what i see online, but if i wanted to order from their online store they have next-day shipping anywhere in florida for five bucks!
also i can get there and back with about 20 minutes to spare on my lunch breaks

Which place do you use? I come up to Melbourne now and then to visit some uncles.

 

[thetragichero]

www.brockshomebrew.com
425 S Wickham Rd (northbound, right after the mcdonald's)

didn't realize i replied to such an ancient thread...

 

[Logger1]

I buy all my ingredients and yeast at my Lhbs,they sell in any increment,i also buy the smaller this and thats there too but when it comes to true hardware alot of it is just too expensive for my budget

 

[BradleyBrew]

One point the economist in me has to make: I don't see the need to support an outdated business model simply because the people running it are nice. A brick-and-mortar store has inherent limitations (mainly a higher overhead cost and a smaller customer base which means a smaller selection) that an online shop doesn't. That being said, a brick-and-mortar store can also have advantages over an online store (no shipping time or cost; personal interaction; fresher product, especially when it comes to yeast). It's up to the owner to maximize the advantages that make it worthwhile. If those advantages don't justify the added cost for you, then there's nothing to feel bad about.

well stated, and I couldn't agree more.

 

[mytommygundont]

Wired Ranco controller $129.95
Reconditioned 5 gallon corny $99.99
2 row for $1.60 (not awful)
Wyeast 1056 for $7.75

Does this sound like a company that wants my business? They are very popular and they don't miss my business. I still fill my CO2 and buy an emergency hydrometer there, but my ingredients are always ordered, especially hops. I just plan ahead.

 

[kh54s10]

My 2 LHBS's are about 40 and 50 minutes away unless a traffic jam. So the gas it takes to get there is probably more than shipping charges.

They are both only open late afternoon Wed thru Fri and one is open Saturday and one is open both Saturday and half of Sunday.

It is hard for me to get there when they are open so I do a lot of online shopping.

Their prices are also high. The only thing I really go to them for is bulk grain. I plan to get in on a bulk buy when I can afford and arrange my pickup.

So I would like to shop locally more but it really doesn't make sense for me.

 

[jbsg02]

I have 2 LHBS in my area. The closer one is overpriced. At $3 an ounce on hops (all kinds), a pretty decent IPA is cost prohibitive to brew. The other shop is great on prices, but close to a 50 mile round trip, and when traffic is bad, it's BAD.

 

[dutchoven]

I have no problem supporting my LHBS ... It's minutes away from my house ... It also happens to be the Morebeer Los Altos showroom ... I'm spoiled

 

[D-MOTITAN]

I have no problem supporting my LHBS ... It's minutes away from my house ... It also happens to be the Morebeer Los Altos showroom ... I'm spoiled

I also hit up the morebeer in concord for my bulk grain and specialty grains and what not. In the course of a month i usually visit three or four LBHS in the Bay Area. Living and commuting in CA has its upside.

 

[mrgstiffler]

My LHBS is awesome. Great prices and nice people. Most hops are $2 for 2oz. They do "virtual bags" of grain. You buy the bag and they create a ledger for you. When you get grains they just subtract it from your spreadsheet. I paid $29 for my 50lb bag of US Pale. Can do some cheap batches at those prices.

 

[amandabab]

I have a LHBS less than 10 miles from my house.
I get everything online. The local shop is expensive and the few times I have gone in I get the "we can order it for you." line.

I can order it, at midnight, on a sunday, cheaper and have it in 3-4 days instead of 2 weeks when they make the regular order.

 

[malevolent]

LHBS near me allows me to measure and crush my grain. Getting it a few dollars more expensive is definitely worth it.

 

[OhCrap]

On the last visit to my LHBS I was getting supplies and I ran a recipe by him and told him what i needed. After about 1 minute he looked at me an told me 'I have all this stuff to send out so what can I get you?'
1st I had already told him
2nd it seemed he preferred dealing online....
This had happened the time before aswell
I was spend around €50 each time
Now I look on line to see if prices are cheaper but I pass the store once a week so it's easier to call in but he needs to change is attitude very soon or I'll stop buying there

 

[Nmillard]

You guys are spoiled a LHBS has just now opened in my area and I'm super excited. I used to have to drive an hour and a half one way.The couple dollars more I might pay is the couple dollars you will pay in shipping and guess what your money stays in your community not going wherever that online guy is.

 

[SwampassJ]

www.brockshomebrew.com
425 S Wickham Rd (northbound, right after the mcdonald's)

didn't realize i replied to such an ancient thread...

Is Sarno's Pizza still there? mmmm 24inch pies.

 

[SwampassJ]

The couple dollars more I might pay is the couple dollars you will pay in shipping and guess what your money stays in your community not going wherever that online guy is.

I like how you say community as if we're ordering supplies from a chinese walmart vs. a group of people with the same hobby and interests as us for beer and wine.

EDIT Stupid phone omitted something.

 

[jmtwo]

You guys are spoiled a LHBS has just now opened in my area and I'm super excited. I used to have to drive an hour and a half one way.The couple dollars more I might pay is the couple dollars you will pay in shipping and guess what your money stays in your community not going wherever that online guy is.

Let's see, my LHBS: 2 row = $2.80 a pound. Place I order online from $.72 a pound. LHBS any hops = $3 an ounce (or more). Online $1 or less an ounce.

On the grains, "because it's easier" he just prices everything @ $2.80/lb.

Plus, just about anytime I try to fill a recipe at the LHBS, I end up having to go with "close enough" for one or more ingredients.

My last brew priced at the LHBS was $80, I got it shipped online for less than $50.

While I would be all for supporting a LHBS, I ain't taking it in the shorts like that.

 

[divrguy]

My LHBS is also morebeer in concord. I will make a 75 mile round trip because this store rocks! There prices are really good in most items and there service is outstanding. Plus, it gets hot as heck in northern ca over 100 in the summer so I can't let ingredients sit. When I need something big and they don't have the best price, I talk to them and see if they can meet it. Show them
The ad and they usually do.

 

[Jayhem]

I don't feel bad at all.

My LHBS is a 40 min drive and their hops are 2-3X more per ounce than I pay online! Having my ingredients magically show up on my doorstep makes me feel like a kid at Christmas every time a box comes in!

 

[landshark]

LHBS I USED to go to is similar to mytommygundonts. Guy is helpful and knows his stuff, but 2-row is $1.80, White Labs are $8.00, Notty is $3.60. Grains are only sold by the lb or 5 lb.

Saving grace the store had was cleaned cornies were $35 when I bought my first 2. However he jumped the price to $55.

The other LHBS in the area, if you are not making Fine Wines and a complete wine snob you are not worth their time, they don't appreciate beer and are vocal about it. I've wondered why they even carry any beer making supplies.

I still run in every once in a while for emergency items as it's a quick lunch break. But I found out one of the online stores was based out of one of the nearby towns, so I just buy from him now and pick it up at his house instead of shipping.

 

[ImperialWolf]

The LHBS in my area is mostly a wine place but they carry everything i've needed for my beer thus far, and they are just as cheap as any online place since that is where they do most of their business anyway. The people who work there, while not beer people, are interested in what people are doing. They sponsor the local beer club and most of the brew events that take place around here.

 

[strambo]

I guess I'm really lucky to have 2 LHBS nearby. The more expensive one (that is well-organized and a great retail experience) is still the same or cheaper than the big online stores. The other one is about 20% less than the 1st. Both have decent websites with online sales also.

My typical partial mash batches with hops and dry yeast cost $14-$20 and no shipping. I prefer the local stores for brewing as their ingredients are very fresh and would still go if the prices were the same as online plus shipping. If it was $10/batch more...I'd have to bail on them, that is a big amount.

The workers at both are very knowledgeable as well, I have gotten solid advice on par with what I read here...

 

[Jayhem]

I guess I'm really lucky to have 2 LHBS nearby. The more expensive one (that is well-organized and a great retail experience) is still the same or cheaper than the big online stores. The other one is about 20% less than the 1st. Both have decent websites with online sales also.

What is their website? About the cheapest brew I make costs about $23 with shipping for the ingredients for 5 gal batches, my bigger beers cost about $30-$35 per batch.