Is this Minibrew conical site a scam?

[TxBigHops]

Thinking about buying a Minibrew 15 gallon conical. There seems to be another site other than Minibrew selling this at over $200 less. Here's the minibrew site listing it for $478:
http://minibrew.com/product/15-gallon-conical-fermenter-kit-f15bt/

And here is another site selling what looks to be the same fermentor for $255:
http://www.brewinternational.com/mi...8bLqGLWflrW9M3twwS8L6gZTM3yUFTQzzUaAhow8P8HAQ

Both sites charge additional for shipping. Legit or scam?

 

[b-boy]

I'd go for the cheaper model. Use a credit card nd you're covered if there is a problem. Honestly, the lower price seems more realistic to me anyway. This thing is basically a big plastic jug. How can it possibly cost $450+?

Shipping seems a little steep IMHO.

 

[Stillraining]

I was going to buy the one linked below but it wont fit in my fermentation chamber, so I went a different route for now anyway... You might be just as happy with one of these for about 1/2 the money as the one your looking at.

http://www.plastic-mart.com/product/5813/15-gallon-cone-inductor-tank-fully-draining-infd15-19

 

[signpost]

I was going to buy the one linked below but it wont fit in my fermentation chamber, so I went a different route for now anyway... You might be just as happy with one of these for about 1/2 the money as the one your looking at.

http://www.plastic-mart.com/product/5813/15-gallon-cone-inductor-tank-fully-draining-infd15-19

This! +1

I've looked at these. If I was going to invest in equipment to brew significantly larger batches (like if I was going to open a 1 or 2 BBL nano-brewpub), I'd totally go with some of these inductor tanks in a cold room for temp control. Throw some valves and thermowells on there and you've got some really nice fermenters for cheap.

But for my typical batch size of 5 to 6 gallons, I've really enjoyed my FastFerment conical.

 

[TxBigHops]

Thanks for the additional recommendations guys, but my only question is whether the lower priced site is selling a legitimate Minibrew fermentor. The one I'm looking at is local and used and I'm trying to determine a fair price.

 

[Stillraining]

OK....well......Sorry we side tracked your quest.

Carry on

 

[TxBigHops]

OK....well......Sorry we side tracked your quest.

Carry on

No worries. I've thought about the ones in you link also.

 

[MaryB]

Their facebook site is closed down(for the cheaper), the few reviews I saw on Google were not good... the old adage: If it is to good to be true comes to mind!

 

[madscientist451]

Here's the same thing for $337, but its "out of stock" special order:

http://www.store.homebrew4less.com/Minibrew-15-Gallon-Conical-Fermenter/productinfo/HBF15B/

And on Ebay $329:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/15-Gallon-M...hash=item3a73c03f92:m:m0HvYIuvTcP9otrE0U7z62g

 

[IslandLizard]

Thanks for the additional recommendations guys, but my only question is whether the lower priced site is selling a legitimate Minibrew fermentor. The one I'm looking at is local and used and I'm trying to determine a fair price.

A fair price is where both seller and buyer come to an amicable agreement. Retail price has little to do with that.

$450 + shipping sounds really high for a plastic jug on a stand. For that price there are many alternatives, and not just in plastic.

I've seen cylindrical vessels that look very similar, possibly manufactured by the same company. The price of those was staggering too.

 

[TxBigHops]

A fair price is where both seller and buyer come to an amicable agreement. Retail price has little to do with that.

$450 + shipping sounds really high for a plastic jug on a stand. For that price there are many alternatives, and not just in plastic.

I've seen cylindrical vessels that look very similar, possibly manufactured by the same company. The price of those was staggering too.

Agreed on both of your points. For just a little more than the full retail I can get an entry level stainless steel conical. Which is why I feel that the lower price is a more reasonable one for this particular item. For the used one, I would not be willing to pay more than $200; maybe not even that much. I just wanted to show the seller that it is available online for $255 plus shipping as negotiating leverage and why I think his asking price of $275 is too high. But I don't want to try to use a website that is not legitimate.