LHBS sells cheaper on Amazon and won't price match

[55x11]

Yes, it does sound like the person didn't give you the right discount, unless perhaps try don't offer a "whole bag" discount, which I think would be strange.

That being said I don't think it's at all fair to assume you'll get the same discount as ordering online, especially via Amazon. In many cases the online side of the business is a completely different entity. Ordering online means drop shipping from a warehouse somewhere with very different shipping rates and very little overhead costs. To have 55 bags of grain delivered to a LHBS retail shop is likely more expensive (Amazon shipping discounts wouldn't apply) and there's much more overhead that needs to be accounted for in the product markup. To sell it to you in person at the Amazon rate would likely be selling it at a loss for them and not a sustainable business practice.

I see what you are saying but I just cannot see how shipping 1 bag is less expensive than shipping 50 bags or 500 bags. The higher the volume, the lower the cost. That's the law of business.

Otherwise, can't the brewshop get their own amazon prime account and ship from their own warehouse to their own shop and make money?

 

[aprichman]

2-row is $32 a bag at my LHBS, but I suspect that's mainly a regional difference. I think the main issue is that they won't give you a bulk rate on a full sack -- every shop I know of does that. The Amazon price probably reflects some cost-shifting from an inflated S&H rate, I'd guess.

What LHBS?

 

[brewprint]

Yes, it does sound like the person didn't give you the right discount, unless perhaps try don't offer a "whole bag" discount, which I think would be strange.

That being said I don't think it's at all fair to assume you'll get the same discount as ordering online, especially via Amazon. In many cases the online side of the business is a completely different entity. Ordering online means drop shipping from a warehouse somewhere with very different shipping rates and very little overhead costs. To have 55 bags of grain delivered to a LHBS retail shop is likely more expensive (Amazon shipping discounts wouldn't apply) and there's much more overhead that needs to be accounted for in the product markup. To sell it to you in person at the Amazon rate would likely be selling it at a loss for them and not a sustainable business practice.

That could be as I mentioned earlier about the drop ship. I believe that if that is the case that I should've been explained that. Then I would have no issue and wouldn't have even made this post.

Now, because of this entire situation, I will shop even less there. After all their prices are full blown retail which is not competitive. Most of the staff isn't friendly at all and they seem extremely busy when I'm the only person in the shop. That's probably because they're filling online orders!

Regardless, I can buy grain by the pound and it's still cheaper at Homebrewing.org. Then I don't have to mess with driving and storing a 50lb sack.

On a side note I looked at a barley crusher and it looks exactly the same as the Cereal Killer mill I bought. I wonder if they're the exact same mill.

 

[j1n]

Its one thing not to price match, its another when you don't price match your own prices. that's just laughable.

I'm all about maximizing my dollars, i really don't care where i get it as long as its a good price. Im not going to spend extra to support the LHBS. I only shop at the LHBS cause i need something that cant wait to be shipped.

 

[brewprint]

Its one thing not to price match, its another when you don't price match your own prices. that's just laughable.

Indeed it was hard for me to not laugh out loud at this when she told me they couldn't do it. It didn't hide the grin on my face though

 

[Toejam792]

Wallmart won't match their online prices, but they will match other companys lowest price on the same items.

 

[BigFloppy]

one of my lhbs asked other day if I was member of any of local brewing clubs (I'm not) - if I was, then they'd give a 10% discount.

Am seriously deciding whether I'll be going back there or not

 

[donbrew]

one of my lhbs asked other day if I was member of any of local brewing clubs (I'm not) - if I was, then they'd give a 10% discount.

Am seriously deciding whether I'll be going back there or not

Mine used to do that, even though I was buying enough to brew 15 gallons every 2 weeks. They all knew me by first name, but no discount if I didn't claim to be a club member.

I have found that the prices in many store fronts is the same as eBay + shipping. I don't buy from ones that are more.

Until recently, I would have to pay cost + at the local "feed & seed" for bulk grains. Now a dedicated homebrew store opened that sells for less and by the Lb.

 

[brewprint]

Well it sounds like I should go to the local feed and seed and see if I can get a 50lb bag of malted grain cheap. Plenty of farmers around here.

 

[gwaugh]

Not sure exactly, but I think I know the shop the op is talking about. If so I've had the same experience there. Sacks are pretty expensive and every time I'm in there it seems there are a lot of employees in the back presumably working on filling Internet orders.
Depending on where you're at I've heard Titgemeirs in Toledo has decent sack prices. I haven't made it up there myself yet because of my crazy work schedule so I usually resort to Morebeer.

 

[55x11]

Well it sounds like I should go to the local feed and seed and see if I can get a 50lb bag of malted grain cheap. Plenty of farmers around here.

well, it's not just the farming of barley grain. You need to malt it properly and monitor temperature, humidity etc. They are experts at starting germinating and then stopping it altogether. This requires drying the grain, then adding water/moisture, than rapidly drying it again at precisely the right moment. That's a skill where a lot of experience can go a long way. I am actually surprised how cheap malted barley and other (e.g. roasted) grains are, considering the amount of effort and knowledge that goes into the process. $1 a pound is a steal.

 

[brewprint]

Not sure exactly, but I think I know the shop the op is talking about. If so I've had the same experience there. Sacks are pretty expensive and every time I'm in there it seems there are a lot of employees in the back presumably working on filling Internet orders.
Depending on where you're at I've heard Titgemeirs in Toledo has decent sack prices. I haven't made it up there myself yet because of my crazy work schedule so I usually resort to Morebeer.

Titgemiers is a great store. I haven't priced the bulk sacs there yet and I haven't been there in a while due to all of the construction this year in Toledo. I need to make it over there.

Yes we're probably talking about the same store. Almost every time that I walk in no one is there including employees. I have to wait for someone to come out. No wonder the prices are so high.

With Morebeer I can have a sack shipped for $20 making it $57 total and no tax.

 

[Calder]

With Morebeer I can have a sack shipped for $20 making it $57 total and no tax.

Northern Brewer may be cheaper for you. A 50 lb bag of domestic 2-row is $35, and they ship to me for $18, and I think you are closer. Wait for one of their 20% off sales, and you can get it for $28 + shipping.