Group Buy in Chicago #7

[forstmeister]

I bet it wouldn't hurt if a conversation was had with the account rep. I am sure that the folks that handle the actual purchase must be busy, but that doesn't give them an excuse for sub par customer service. An order is an order, id it's $100 or $10,000. We are all participating in an exchange of goods and services and you should treat each customer with care and respect.

Not only that, if they continue to drag their feet then we run the risk of getting more items come up "out of stock." Frankly, I am worried that they are filling regular customers orders ahead of ours because we aren't as important as the actual breweries.

Maybe I am just paranoid, but it sounds a little like they don't try too hard to please us. Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate that they will even sell to us at all, it just feels like they may not care quite as much as they would if Revolution Brewing were placing an order. But again, I don't deal with them directly. Bill does so much leg work on this that I can't even imagine how he has time.

 

[bmason1623]

I bet it wouldn't hurt if a conversation was had with the account rep. I am sure that the folks that handle the actual purchase must be busy, but that doesn't give them an excuse for sub par customer service. An order is an order, id it's $100 or $10,000. We are all participating in an exchange of goods and services and you should treat each customer with care and respect.

Guys, while our orders are sizable, let's not bite the hand that feeds us. Keep in mind that a few people on this board, even in this thread have tried to open up an account and were turned down. I am happy that we get to pool our purchases and save big because they sell to us.

By the way, I just talked to them. They will get us a final invoice this afternoon. I will call my bank to send them payment and we will be on our way. Delivery by tomorrow is not going to happen. Probably looking at Tuesday. The weather should be a little nicer by then too. Always the optimist!

 

[Neopol]

Patience...

the other option is $50/per sack at the LHBS.

 

[johns]

Patience...

the other option is $50/per sack at the LHBS.

or 2 USD/pound for 2 row at my LHBS

 

[JonGrafto]

Keep in mind that a few people on this board, even in this thread have tried to open up an account and were turned down.

This is the main reason I am even participating in this group buy and driving down from WISCONSIN... Our brew club tried to open up an account and they told us no. And that the only reason other brew clubs are able to buy from them is because they are grandfathered in... Lucky basturds..

 

[geckholm]

or 2 USD/pound for 2 row at my LHBS

Ouch! I'm assuming you go to 2-brothers maybe? Chicago Brew Werks has 2-row at $1.23/lb and $1.99/lb all specialty grains.....they are located in Plainfield. Discount if you're a member of a club.

 

[bmason1623]

Neopol, what was the hop supplier that was charging insane prices (like $40/lb or something) for hops?

 

[Neopol]

Neopol, what was the hop supplier that was charging insane prices (like $40/lb or something) for hops?

I have all my notes at home, the guy out of Northern Illinois? or are you talking about N*koBrew..< quite a gouger (my opinion.)

I communicated with about 20 or so vendors, some had OK pricing not as great as we got; however we might have to entertain some markup to get access to some varietals.

A few (Wisconsin and Michigan) farms directly for some fresh varieties..

Almost at #1000....we can do it....

 

[bmason1623]

I have all my notes at home, the guy out of Northern Illinois? or are you talking about N*koBrew..< quite a gouger (my opinion.)

I communicated with about 20 or so vendors, some had OK pricing not as great as we got; however we might have to entertain some markup to get access to some varietals.

A few (Wisconsin and Michigan) farms directly for some fresh varieties..

I was referring to Nik*br*w. Even if we have to wait a few days extra to get delivery, it's still better than getting gouged.

 

[Gothic_Horror]

Guys, while our orders are sizable, let's not bite the hand that feeds us. Keep in mind that a few people on this board, even in this thread have tried to open up an account and were turned down. I am happy that we get to pool our purchases and save big because they sell to us.

By the way, I just talked to them. They will get us a final invoice this afternoon. I will call my bank to send them payment and we will be on our way. Delivery by tomorrow is not going to happen. Probably looking at Tuesday. The weather should be a little nicer by then too. Always the optimist!

By no means was I complaining. I am happy to be a participant in these and all of Bill's group buys. Mostly musing and generalizing about customer service. I was one of those that tried to open an account and was told by the account rep that he would love to take my business but that the LHBS wouldn't be very happy if all of us opened up accounts and cut them out of the loop. So, thanks Bill for setting these up for all of us to benefit.

 

[johns]

two brothers is not that expensive. The brothers dont have a good variety in thier inventory. Its a small portion of thier overall busness. There are hbs out there that are that expensive. Aint naming names, because they are freinly ownerers and I appricate there business.

 

[bmason1623]

ok, it looks like this will be processed tomorrow since nothing came in today. They did reply to my email and I did get to talk to them so I know they are working on it. Patience, my dear brewing friends...patience.

 

[bmason1623]

UPDATE

Here's the latest reply from MCM:

" Bill - okay so i have converted the quote to an order, we are short 7 - 32oz of Star San, we have no US Saaz for sale, and we are out of stock on Heather Tips, and Toasted Oak Chips. *Please advise on what you want to do about the out of stocks."

I asked if they can substitute Czech saaz for US saaz to do so. Wishful thinking on my part. Otherwise, they will ship everything else. Keep in mind that I gave them the ok to make appropriate substitutions for any out of stock grains. We are moving forward.

EDIT: no Czech saaz either so I told them no substitutions either. Sorry guys.

 

[johns]

What should be done about the starsan?

 

[jmg727]

UPDATE

Here's the latest reply from MCM:

" Bill - okay so i have converted the quote to an order, we are short 7 - 32oz of Star San, we have no US Saaz for sale, and we are out of stock on Heather Tips, and Toasted Oak Chips. *Please advise on what you want to do about the out of stocks."

I asked if they can substitute Czech saaz for US saaz to do so. Wishful thinking on my part. Otherwise, they will ship everything else. Keep in mind that I gave them the ok to make appropriate substitutions for any out of stock grains. We are moving forward.

EDIT: no Czech saaz either so I told them no substitutions either. Sorry guys.

I'd be willing to upgrade to a gallon of star san if there are three more takers.

 

[brewingmeister]

Whatever happened to the pbw? There was talk of splitting buckets at one point since they were out of the 8lb containers or did they just get dropped?

 

[bmason1623]

who ever picks up their starsan first gets it; everybody else will get a refund. this also applies to everything else. with an order this large, inevitably there will be some out of stock items.

 

[Moses3000]

I would also be willing to upgrade to a gallon of starsan if need be

 

[Neopol]

No...my heather tips...I love heathers tips. Bye bye Froach.. Don't refund me tho, I owe you a few bucks for the Barrel shipping adder.

 

[Neopol]

Whatever happened to the pbw? There was talk of splitting buckets at one point since they were out of the 8lb containers or did they just get dropped?

I just read a thread on hbt that boiled PBW down to red devil T-90(tsp safe replacement - sodium metasilicate) and Oxyclean at 70/30 ratio.. Interesting thread..

 

[johns]

I am in for the starsan

 

[forstmeister]

The small chest freezers that hold two kegs are on sale at Jewel grocery stores currently. They are off brand freezers but I've been running mine for over two years with no problems. Plus you get a coupon book that has $170ish worth of free food coupons for various items in the store. Last time I did this the food items were mostly things I eat anyway so it was a deal for me.

Thanks for the info on this ylpaul. I picked one up today much to the dismay of the wife, until I reminded her that she spent 3X as much on a laptop last week. I think at least $125 of the coupons are worth using so its a win by my standards. Fits 2 cornies even without a collar so I will run picnic taps for now until I modify or buy a bigger one and use this for food in the future.

 

[johns]

looks like you could fit 4 corneys and a 20 lb tank in that thing. Am I right?

 

[forstmeister]

looks like you could fit 4 corneys and a 20 lb tank in that thing. Am I right?

It will only fit 2 of the 5 gallon tall kegs plus my 5 lb tank but a bigger tank would fit. The compressor hump is on the right side so another tall keg won't fit. Maybe a 3 gallon or a shorter keg would fit in there.

 

[mobly99]

Does a bucket/carboy fit in there ok? Maybe worth looking at for a fermentation chamber....

 

[mvanwie]

I just read a thread on hbt that boiled PBW down to red devil T-90(tsp safe replacement - sodium metasilicate) and Oxyclean at 70/30 ratio.. Interesting thread..

Been doing this for a couple years, myself. Will never buy PBW again. The only downside is that real PBW doesn't foam as much as the "homemade" stuff.

 

[FermentedTed]

I'd be willing to upgrade to a gallon of star san if there are three more takers.

I'll take one of those three spots...

 

[ylpaul2000]

I would take a spot as well

 

[ylpaul2000]

Let's try this again

 

[ylpaul2000]

Thanks for the info on this ylpaul. I picked one up today much to the dismay of the wife, until I reminded her that she spent 3X as much on a laptop last week. I think at least $125 of the coupons are worth using so its a win by my standards. Fits 2 cornies even without a collar so I will run picnic taps for now until I modify or buy a bigger one and use this for food in the future.

No problem, I figured it had to be a good deal for someone.