Hops Direct Service

[ohiobrewtus]

Hops Direct is one of very few (two, AFAIK) farms that sell hops directly to homebrewers all over the US. They are a reputable company and have provided prompt service and great prices in the past. Their recent price cut prompted an unexpected spike in demand that they were unable to manage well. They did make an effort to notify potential customers of a possible delay, but they didn't catch all instances of their stated service on the website. While a few of you are frustrated, isn't it reasonable to give 'em a break in this case?

I'd hate to see these guys stop selling to individuals over a few negative incidents during what appears to be an isolated period of high demand.

No, I'm not affiliated with the company or farm in any way.

Well put, Yuri.

I've ordered from them many times before and it didn't take me long to figure out that I shouldn't place an order from them if I'm in a hurry for something. I'd guess that commercial orders take precedence over individual orders and I'm ok with that.

Ground shipping from WA to OH alone takes 1 week. I called the first couple of times to get a shipping quote but now I don't even worry about it because, like Evan! said, I have a pretty good idea how much it's going to cost me to get my hops.

They present an incredible value to home brewers if you ask me. If you're ticked off at them, give them a call and let them know. I'm sure that they'll make it right. Even if they don't - I wouldn't let one bad experience sour you on them. Buying hops for ~$10/lb from them vs. $2-$4/oz from a lhbs is a no brainer.

I guess that's the age of the Internet though. Give me what I want, and give it to me yesterday.

 

[thedigitale]

I was going to post something similar. Thanks for saving me the trouble.

I'm amazed that they will even deal with us at this price level.

Inconvenient? Yeah, a little. A tremendous price saving to us minion home brewers? Definitely. They supply breweries. I consider the fact that they will deal in such small quantities as a sservice to beer lovers.

I will happily eat up the inconvenience and poop it out as rainbows of gratitude that they even took the time to deal with me.

You can poop out whatever you'd like. Bottom line is if they are going to deal with me, they should do so in a professional manner and meet their own service expectations. If this is the service I can expect from the company, then if I do go pro, I'll bear this in mind, and not bother with them.

I don't understand how it is that most of you are missing the point here. Let's try to clarify:

I don't care how low the price is if I don't have what I need, when I need it.

I don't care if they get busy, as long as they ACCURATELY reflect the delay in ALL communications.

If you're going to have an online store and deal with home brewers, there should be no reason to call. There should be no difference in the way they treat you.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

The fact that they are busy means that they need to better set expectations. In my opinion, a "slightly longer" lead time means a day or two. I placed the order on the 15th. They are now four days late on the promised shipping quote, and three days late on actually shipping the order, or providing an updated schedule.

Then you misinterpreted their statement. They probably should have quantified "slightly longer" so you wouldn't have to guess.

While I am currently a home brewer, I may at some point decide to go pro. If this happened to me as a pro brewer, it would mean a loss of time, a loss of revenue, and would be damaging to my business. Would that still be ok? Should we still give them a break if it costs money to do so?

It wouldn't happen because as a pro brewer, you wouldn't be ordering a small quantity of hops with less than a week's lead time.

Airlines get busy around the holidays, so by the "cheap prices mean delayed service is ok" theory, would it be ok if you booked a flight before Christmas, and the airline said "Sorry, we got busy, but it was cheap and we'll have you at your destination by the 27th? Seems to me that a delay there would probably make people upset.

Poor analogy. Airline service becomes absolutely abysmal during those times of the year.

The bottom line:
Ok, thedigitale, we get it. You're unhappy. You've been given quite a bit of information about the company including the actual reason that the service does not meet your expectations. It's time for you to move on and place your order with someone else.

 

[thedigitale]

I guess that's the age of the Internet though. Give me what I want, and give it to me yesterday.

This has nothing to do with the internet. How about this:

GIVE ME WHAT I WANT WHEN YOU SAY YOU WILL!

 

[Yambor44]

This has nothing to do with the internet. How about this:

GIVE ME WHAT I WANT WHEN YOU SAY YOU WILL!

No problem with that. Bottom line, if they can post a change to policy on the site, they can change a simple automated email.

That being said, I just ordered 11 pounds from them. They've always been there for me, but I seem to stock pile hops for some reason so not in any hurry......

 

[thedigitale]

It wouldn't happen because as a pro brewer, you wouldn't be ordering a small quantity of hops with less than a week's lead time.

You've never run a business. A small brewpub doesn't use a whole lot more hops for a brew than I do, and there are times when something happens and you need something right away. In addition, who's talking about less than a week lead time? I placed an order 10 days in advance and wasn't given a shipping option. (Although overnight shipping wouldn't matter much if it took 2 weeks to get them out as some have reported).

It appears that no one here can read (or doesn't bother), as all I see are posts that tout the price, or say that I ordered with under a week's lead time.

 

[LarissaEsq]

I was going to post something similar. Thanks for saving me the trouble.

I'm amazed that they will even deal with us at this price level.

Inconvenient? Yeah, a little. A tremendous price saving to us minion home brewers? Definitely. They supply breweries. I consider the fact that they will deal in such small quantities as a sservice to beer lovers.

I will happily eat up the inconvenience and poop it out as rainbows of gratitude that they even took the time to deal with me.

You really have that low an opinion of your own self-worth? Really? That's so... sad.

As for me, I'll stick to my own business practices, wherein a corporate client handing over a $20,000 retainer is no more important or attention-worthy than the guy who's paying me $1500 to handle his traffic ticket. They know and appreciate this.

My clients would never stand for disparate treatment, and neither should we.

Once you choose to do business with someone, no matter how large or small the transaction, you are taking on the obligation to complete the transaction properly and equitably. From what many of you have said, this shop apparently does not adhere to those standards, and if that's the case, I find them to be unethical.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

I don't understand how it is that most of you are missing the point here.

It appears that no one here can read.

When you disagree with nearly everyone else who has posted, perhaps it's time to walk away.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Allow me to clarify the reason that this thread was closed. I DID NOT end the discussion because I had a differing point of view. I closed it because the OP had been answered, and the level of agitation and general negative tone was escalating.