Midwest Supplies

[brew_ed]

I placed a large order (~$200) back in March and my order sat in their queue for 3 days before I started emailing and asking questions. They took forever to answer my emails and they would not upgrade my shipping even after I explained to them that I had hoped to have my order before the weekend. I cancelled the order and ordered from someone else.

This week I thought I would try them out again. I placed a small hardware order on Tuesday, Friday the order still has not shipped. They claim to be experiencing a large volume of orders.

Very slow. Full of excuses. Apparently under-staffed. Will not be buying from them again.

To be completely fair to Midwest Supplies, I emailed them with my concerns and they offered their apologies as well as a gift towards a future purchase. I would say that is high marks in the customer service department, for sure.

 

[swackattack]

As an update to my review. Upon examination one of the items I purchased was defective. MWS shipped out a new one next day without question. Highly recommended.

 

[thatjonguy]

Yes you can. We just need the code that was emailed to you and we can make it happen.

Thanks! Turns out I already burned the gift card on another purchase but Kristin was awesome during the pickup and over the phone payment processing.

 

[dgrums]

Speculation by Midwest Supplies customers was discussed in a now closed thread about the possibility that the Midwest Supplies website was hacked and many customers had fraudulent charges against their account (myself included). Turns out, their website was hacked on 6/13 and was discovered on 7/19. The report says that customers should expect a letter with a $25 coupon. I've always had good experiences with Midwest and will continue to shop from them (I'll just use PayPal from now on). Guess it wasn't just coincidence though.

 

[passedpawn]

Midwest acknowledges credit card security issue.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/important-statement-midwest-supplies-429909/

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

Never done business.

Now will NEVER do business.

 

[Hammy71]

Never done business.

Now will NEVER do business.

Unfortunately this kind of stuff seems to happen to every business once in a while. Sometimes its a software problem, or a rouge employee. So, not sure how your comment will protect you. But, at least they fessed up. Most companies do not acknowledged mistakes or errors. Not sure I've ever purchased from them, but there are several on line shops, that people frequent on this site, that have had the same problems. As far as using Paypal, they brag they are secure.....but I got burned even when I used them about 2 years ago. So, try to use a credit card and not your bank card when doing transactions on line. Both should be protected against fraud, but at least your account won't be raided and bills go unpaid while you wait to be refunded. Nothing worse than a thief, weather they've invaded your home or your wallet. This is why the repression of our gun rights are so important. Police aren't a deterent, but a homeowner with a loaded gun is. Sorry for the political rant.

 

[FatDragon]

This is why the repression of our gun rights are so important. Police aren't a deterent, but a homeowner with a loaded gun is. Sorry for the political rant.

A website was hacked. What's that got to do with guns?

 

[thatjonguy]

Got my bags of malt today after my brother picked it up at the store and drove it 9 hours back to ND. The crush includes at least 50% whole grains.

Waiting on a response from Midwest, guess I won't be brewing this week.

 

[mikescooling]

I've never seen a crush like that, it's almost if they mixed uncrushed and crushed? Crazy

 

[thatjonguy]

Got my bags of malt today after my brother picked it up at the store and drove it 9 hours back to ND. The crush includes at least 50% whole grains.

Waiting on a response from Midwest, guess I won't be brewing this week.

Midwest made it right so far. As long as my new mill shows up on Friday all will be right in the world.

 

[mors]

lol they gave you a mill? That's an epic way to resolve that. Pretty awesome.

 

[thatjonguy]

lol they gave you a mill? That's an epic way to resolve that. Pretty awesome.

They didn't just give me a mill. But I got some nice credit to use towards a mill. Still worked out to be pretty epic for me. Since I need 65 pounds of base malt for this weekend...so shipping two replacement bags or credit for a mill, hard decision for me...not!

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

I'm hoping to hear back from them about a faulty regulator that I got from them. Thought I might have heard something today, but nope. Maybe tomorrow...

 

[thatjonguy]

I'm hoping to hear back from them about a faulty regulator that I got from them. Thought I might have heard something today, but nope. Maybe tomorrow...

They are crazy busy. I had to call a few times.

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

They are crazy busy. I had to call a few times.

Lol... I can only imagine!! Ill give em a few days, considering the current situation.

 

[Braufessor]

Unfortunately this kind of stuff seems to happen to every business once in a while. Sometimes its a software problem, or a rouge employee. So, not sure how your comment will protect you. But, at least they fessed up.

Purchase: March 1st
HBT thread suggesting credit card breach: early July
July-August - much denial by MW
Early september - I get new credit cards from my CC company due to breach notification.
Day later - Midwest letter arrives notifying me that they did have a breach....

6 months after my credit information was compromised, midwest "addressed the situation as soon as possible."

....yeah..... they "fessed up". Pathetic. There are A LOT of great homebrew shops out there people. They can all be hacked. But FEW would respond to it as poorly as midwest did. Shop somewhere else.

 

[dstranger99]

I got a letter in the mail from MW yesterday telling me my credit card may have been compromised..........lol........When I get time I'll have to check my statements to see if anything suspicious is on it.

 

[n240sxguy]

My last order was on 5-31. My card was never affected, but I was wondering who they sent the letters out to? It seems there were people who ordered before and after me who had issues. I don't plan to order from them anymore because they can't correctly fulfill an order to save their lives, but I'd place one more order if I had a $25 card from them. I'm still hopeful.

 

[ncbrewer]

This thread has the latest on the security breach: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/important-statement-midwest-supplies-429909/

 

[thatjonguy]

They didn't just give me a mill. But I got some nice credit to use towards a mill. Still worked out to be pretty epic for me. Since I need 65 pounds of base malt for this weekend...so shipping two replacement bags or credit for a mill, hard decision for me...not!

Midwest made it right. Upgraded my shipping to make sure my mill showed up to brew this weekend. Thankfully I will get it brewed for my comp in early October.

I will remain a customer, however I usually purchase stuff at the retail store in MPLS when I am in the area.

Thanks to Brent in Retail and Lyndsey in Phone Support for making it happen.

 

[Groner]

My last order was on 5-31. My card was never affected, but I was wondering who they sent the letters out to? It seems there were people who ordered before and after me who had issues. I don't plan to order from them anymore because they can't correctly fulfill an order to save their lives, but I'd place one more order if I had a $25 card from them. I'm still hopeful.

I got the credit card letter and $25 buy off as well. My order was in April. Of course this happens after all of the other problems I have had with them... Still, I decided to give the $25 credit a shot and filled my cart with some draft cleaning stuff. Total came to $24.93 with shipping. Showed zero balanced owed. The online system would not let me place an order however. It said it wanted payment info but when I tried to enter it, the credit card block was gone because there was zero balance due. Was this a ploy to get me to spend more money than I had originally intended, which was nothing?

 

[thatjonguy]

Buy an extra shank washer for $0.50...

 

[Bluelinebrewer]

Got an email yesterday from MWS stating that they were shipping me a new regulator to replace the faulty one. So, hopefully they'll make good on it and ill recieve it quickly! I've yet to get a letter or $25 gift card for the CC debacle, and our CC was compromised...

 

[Groner]

Buy an extra shank washer for $0.50...

I was going to go the Muslin bag route but thanks for the tip! I'll see how that works and report back!

 

[thatjonguy]

I was going to go the Muslin bag route but thanks for the tip! I'll see how that works and report back!

What ever is cheap and you can use. I only said washer because you said you were getting some draft cleaning stuff. I inspect and change if necessary.

 

[brew_ed]

To be completely fair to Midwest Supplies, I emailed them with my concerns and they offered their apologies as well as a gift towards a future purchase. I would say that is high marks in the customer service department, for sure.

I will add another follow up to my troubles with them.

They gave me a $25 gift certificate toward another purchase, so I gave them another try. Ordered on Tuesday morning, Eastern time, and as of Friday evening my order was just being prepped to ship out. So it will sit in a shipping hub for the weekend and I had planned to brew.

I'm done. Never again. Too many problems and WAY, WAY too many other choices out there for supplies.

 

[BrentsBrew]

Order placed on Aug 21, about $250 of stuff. My cc was charged.

Received 'we're sorry' email on Aug 24 that a few of the items we're not in stock.

To my knowledge it still hasn't shipped. I sent customer service an email yesterday, waiting for reply.

 

[VaBrewer]

Well, I got the credit card notice from my bank as well as the letter from Midwest with the 25$ coupon.

I ordered a bunch of yeast, ice packs etc late Thursday 9/5. I kept checking the status of the order...processing all the way through Tuesday night 9/10.
I fired off an email to them asking what the deal was, that this was yeast and it wouldn't make it by the weekend.
I got a tracking info notification from UPS on Wednesday and a response from Midwest on Friday saying it would be delivered that day.
It got delivered, I was very happy. Usually with FedEx it would be 4-5 days. Midwest also upgraded the packaging of the yeast by throwing in an extra ice pack and an extra thermal pouch! So, I'm a happy customer.

 

[satownsend]

I just got some supplies today, and for the second time in a row there was no ice for the yeast. I'm done with them.