LHBS brought down the hammer of noobishness

[tenchu_11]

Probably worse brew store experience ever was the first order i've ever made. I called up not knowing a thing and asked "this is my first brew ever do you have any preference what what would be your best selling lager or beer kit?" The guy in a annoyed voice said "most people buy ale kits lagers don't sell that much" so i was quiet for a second or two patiently waiting for him to explain why and it became awkward when he didn't say anything. I did tell him it was my first Brew EVER and it seemed like I was an inconvenience just asking him a question even over the phone. So i just bought a canned no boil lager kit buckets and basic stuff. If they can't take 1 minute over the phone to help me they don't deserve my business. But then again the person who called me from the same shop 2 days later to confirm my address was alot nicer, hard to judge a store by one pissed off employee.

 

[completegeek]

I believe in supporting your local businesses, but I also believe in customer service. If a LHBS wants to be able to compete with the prices that are online these days then there can be no excuse for that kind of rudeness.

 

[Teromous]

Hey Starderup, where is BrewDepot at? Is it over in Cobb?

Also, the BrewBuilder is the bomb! I really like that you can save your recipe and have the ease of ordering the same thing again with one click.

You mean the BrewBuilder from Brewmaster's Warehouse? I'm bad at just buying from a convenient source, so last batch I actually priced it from a few different places. I calculated that my LHBS would cost about $40.29 and BMW was $33.98 including and a gel pack for yeast and shipping. I was pretty surprised that it's cheaper for me to sit on my a** than drive over 1 city to get ingredients. It actually would have cost me even more at the LHBS because specialty grains have to be purchased in 1lb packs.

 

[CaptYesterday]

As far as online ordering goes, I'm a big fan of Brewmaster's Warehouse. I saw the thread on HBT about people seeing efficiency increases as a result of BW's crush so I gave it a shot.

My efficiency jumped 5 points just from using their crushed grain as opposed to crushing it myself. Plus you can use the BBBYO discount code to save on your recipes.

 

[janitorjerm]

Gotta love Defalco's Scott is a really nice guy so I have no problem supporting my LHBS.

+1 Ray at Brew-It-Yourself always takes my order, weighs it out, crushes it, and bags it up for me no problem. I haven't been to B&S in a while but the last time me and SWMBO were there they were very helpful as well. OP i'm sorry you had this experience.

 

[northernlad]

Wow, my LHBS does all of handling and crushing of grains. All the customer needs to do is fill out a grain bill.

This^^

It sucks that some of you have such ******s for shop owners.

 

[Boleslaus]

Wow. I agree with everyone else's comments. That is definitely not a smart way to run your business. My LHBS has always been more than patient with my noobishness. Not only did they offer to crush my grain but one of the guys actually sat down with me and explained my options for my desired result and then let me make up my own mind. I felt like I knew what I was doing haha, and now I've learned something first hand.

 

[mr_goodwrench]

Their store is very well stocked, but their website sucks. They are working on it.
Anyway, closer to Norcross/Alpharetta than Cobb.

Cool, I had actually seen it on a Google search, haven't gotten a chance to stop by. It is relatively close to me and I'll get over soon to pick up some odds and ends that it doesn't make sense to ship.

 

[Shackled]

Brew Depot Google Map
Their store is very well stocked, but their website sucks. They are working on it.
Anyway, closer to Norcross/Alpharetta than Cobb.

Its Alpharetta at that point. Its not far from 400 or North Point Mall.
Thats where I got my starter kit and first 2 batches of stuff. But now that I found Ed's store. If its not from the internet, it will be from his store.

 

[Surly]

Went to the only LHBS in the area to get grains for the first time. I've only used kits before so I've never delt with getting and crushing grains. I asked for assistance stating I'm a noob.

Her response: "what, you can't do it yourself?"

I'll be shopping online from now on... makes me want to open up my own noob friendly LHBS....

Hi neighbor. I live in Menomonie. PM me and I will get you information on the Menomonie Home Brew club. We draw from about fifty miles away.

You are so lucky to have options. Northern Brewers store is what, 60 miles from you. I think Midwest Brewing is about the same. There is a sponsor to this forum that I use a lot, Wind River.

Wind River is located near Prairie Farm. That is I believe about 40 miles from Chippewa Falls.

All three shops give us a 10% club discount.

BTW our club organizes group purchases of malt and hops. Let me know if I can be of service.

 

[user 21663]

You mean the BrewBuilder from Brewmaster's Warehouse? I'm bad at just buying from a convenient source, so last batch I actually priced it from a few different places. I calculated that my LHBS would cost about $40.29 and BMW was $33.98 including and a gel pack for yeast and shipping. I was pretty surprised that it's cheaper for me to sit on my a** than drive over 1 city to get ingredients. It actually would have cost me even more at the LHBS because specialty grains have to be purchased in 1lb packs.

Was that with a discount code for 10% off as well?

 

[deflagratio]

I've been using the Hombrew store in Birmingham, Alabrew since I regularly visit the city every couple of months. While my starting equipment didn't come from them I have loved every kit I've purchased from them. I just say what I want and they print out the instruction sheet. They gather all the ingredients, mill the grains put everything in their mesh bags and then a ziplock. All the hops bags are labelled as bittering, flavor, or aroma and they are referred to that way in the instructions. Makes for a very easy brew day.

 

[PvtSkippy]

Its Alpharetta at that point. Its not far from 400 or North Point Mall.
Thats where I got my starter kit and first 2 batches of stuff. But now that I found Ed's store. If its not from the internet, it will be from his store.

Same here. My office is about 5 minutes from Beer Necessities, but since the day BMW was able to sell to GA residents, I'll run over to Marietta instead. Ed doesn't sub out grains without telling me.

 

[smokinghole]

I didn't really feel like reading 5 pages worth of "how rude they were" and my LHBS does _________ for me no questions asked.

All I wanted to say is why the hell does everyone have such a thin skin? Grow a pair and deal with it. If I swore of buying someplace because I had to deal with someone with a bad mood I'd be hard pressed to find places to buy stuff. I think it's a cultural problem in the US, people get offended way too easy.

 

[Valcarde]

Gotta love Defalco's Scott is a really nice guy so I have no problem supporting my LHBS.

We must have gone to different locations.
Even when I walked in and knew exactly what I want, the guy at the counter was more or less telling me what I wanted instead, despite knowing exactly what I was looking for.

Ugh. If they weren't one of the only ones around my area that I know of...

Anyone know good LHBS' in the Ottawa, Ontario area?

 

[david_42]

There are several stores around, none are local. One is mainly a wine lab, one has a rude owner and the third is okay. About the only problem I've had with the last one was when they caught me running a dark grain bill through the main crusher. This is verboten because it contaminates the system and might darker someone's Pilsner. They have a separate crusher for dark grains.

Both are labeled now.

 

[WCrane]

Its amazing the spectrum of shopp owners discussed here and in similar threads. Makes you wonder if not for the interent promoting the hobby thru vendors and forums, how would the hobby expand. There are people i have met you have yet to find the net. If it wasn't for my LHBS i wouldn't have gone 100mph into this hobby. It seems the more negative shop owners would drive people away from the hobby. thank goodness for other outlets

Luckily I am fortunate enough to have a good one Artisan Homebrew in Downingtown. Only a few miles from the house. Good little store, pricing competes with online vendors. (last batch was a few bucks cheaper v. online).

 

[jgln]

You were there so you should know if she was being rude or not, but asking that question depending on tone does not necessarily mean rude. She could have just been trying to confirm the fact you could not do it yourself. Another example="I don't know what this is used for" she replies "What? You don't know what that is for? Well, let me show you!" I hear that kind of response all the time, just a way of speaking some people have where they kind of repeat what you say.

 

[motobrewer]

There are several stores around, none are local. One is mainly a wine lab, one has a rude owner and the third is okay. About the only problem I've had with the last one was when they caught me running a dark grain bill through the main crusher. This is verboten because it contaminates the system and might darker someone's Pilsner. They have a separate crusher for dark grains.

Both are labeled now.

my lhbs doesn't do this, and I was wondering about this when I was in there. I just tapped out the chute thoroughly before and after i crushed. they have two mills, this is a good suggestion.

 

[koomber]

Where I stay the nearest HBS is about 3 hours away! That being said the online shops in the UK are just phenominal when it comes to cost and thanks to forums I get all the advice I need with the minimum of ****** and thanks to tabbed browsing, I get porn too!