More Problems with my LHBS

[GloHoppa]

The closest LHBS for me is a small collection of random/assorted supplies in the back of a hobby shop. If there is anyone else from the North Shore of MA, I am positive they will agree. I only go there to get small things like bottlecaps, Montrachet yeast (thanks EW!), but as far as larger things like hops, specialty grains, equipment, I use online retailers like MW or AHS

PS Forrest, I got my shipment yesterday from you guys and everything looks AWESOME. I love your extract recipe for the California Common!

 

[dontman]

I have posted here before about my annoyance with my LHBS guy for giving bad advice. I mentioned in that thread that he gouged on prices. For instance: $1.60 for 2 row regardless of quantity, $4 per ounce of hops etc. Generally his prices were about 50% more than I would pay elsewhere.

There has been an update on this. He has RAISED, yes raised, all of his prices by 50%! Now 2 row is $2.00 and 1 ounce of hops is $6 He gives a bulk discount down to $1.40 when you buy 50 lb sacks but otherwise his prices just piss me off to even think about.

I, too, consider anything I purchase from him to be penalty for my lack of foresight and planning.

 

[Domminigan]

My LHBS is pretty good for the area. Specialty stores usually fail in Wichita, and that they have been able to hang out as long as they have is really impressive.

The shop is located in a storefront that last saw a makeover in the 1970's.
The selection is not spectacular, the prices aren't the greatest, but they exist. They do cover the bases well, and have a decent supply of non-perishables.

Wichita is a fickle place. Everyone starts a project and never finishes it. We have had car shows that failed because it was too much of an effort to drive across town. We had a dedicated Tobacconist that went out of business because they moved to a more accessible location. The city generally sees itself as split into two pieces, East side and West side. The idea is that if you can't get somewhere in 15 minutes, you might as well not go. I'm surprised by the amount of Homebrewers that I've found from here.

As things are in my city, I'm glad that I even have an LHBS to shop at.

 

[andyb0527]

I have posted here before about my annoyance with my LHBS guy for giving bad advice. I mentioned in that thread that he gouged on prices. For instance: $1.60 for 2 row regardless of quantity, $4 per ounce of hops etc. Generally his prices were about 50% more than I would pay elsewhere.

There has been an update on this. He has RAISED, yes raised, all of his prices by 50%! Now 2 row is $2.00 and 1 ounce of hops is $6 He gives a bulk discount down to $1.40 when you buy 50 lb sacks but otherwise his prices just piss me off to even think about.

I, too, consider anything I purchase from him to be penalty for my lack of foresight and planning.

That sucks! My LHBS sells 2 row for $45 for a 55 pound sack. Can't complain.
It sounds like you would be better off buying online and paying for shipping.

 

[dontman]

That sucks! My LHBS sells 2 row for $45 for a 55 pound sack. Can't complain.
It sounds like you would be better off buying online and paying for shipping.

I do shop online almost exclusively. I got four sacks from North Country last week. $42 for the 2 row delivered. Up to $56 for Maris Otter. ($20 of those bag prices is delivery.)

Did you catch the hops price? $6/ ounce? Outrageous. I just paid $1.30 / ounce for the same exact hops online. He is charging more than 4 times as much.

I consider him my yeast source only. And then only if I need a specific WL product that I have not used before. (Such as the Saison that I picked up yesterday.)

 

[ISUBrew79]

I know you mean. My old LHBS was a drag to visit when it was the only game in town. The guy wouldn't put prices on his stuff. Therefore you had to ask how much for each thing. He'd bitch and wine about you asking and then try to justify prices w/o me even complaining. Every time it was like this.

More than once I walked out of the place paying $125 with the original intent to spend about $75. I told him more than once that I have a budget and that keep to or hear SWMBO's wrath.

I couldn't ask questions because down played all of the science of the AG process. I soon figured out why.... I asked his opinion about some techniques only to learn he doesn't brew.

To add insult, he said brewing was stupid and its just cheaper to drink Natty Light. He wasn't joking either.

That was the last business he ever got from me. He is a dick with ears.

I later learned to my surprise that this guy is a supposed to be a genius. I ask why then is he always wining about the internet putting him out of business. Its no wonder to me. Genius my a$$. Smart he may be, but he can't relate to people, so he can't be too smart.

Schlenkerla-

I also experienced your pain with that particular LHBS. That was the first place I went to buy supplies when I first started brewing last year. After a couple visits I was fed up with the poor service and prices which I later found to be very high. I have since started frequenting a newer LHBS and beer store elsewhere in the Des Moines area (I'm sure you know the one I am referring to) and have been very pleased with the owner's friendliness and prices on equipment and ingredients.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Schlenkerla-

I also experienced your pain with that particular LHBS. That was the first place I went to buy supplies when I first started brewing last year. After a couple visits I was fed up with the poor service and prices which I later found to be very high. I have since started frequenting a newer LHBS and beer store elsewhere in the Des Moines area (I'm sure you know the one I am referring to) and have been very pleased with the owner's friendliness and prices on equipment and ingredients.

Mark - Is awesome! I only wish I though of it sooner.

 

[kharmajavah]

Man...I guess I'm lucky. We have a great LHBS in Tallahassee, and I've gotten great advice from all the guys that work there (I don't always follow it, with mixed results...hehe).

Anyway, online can almost always beat their prices, but it's ten minutes from my house, and I get good advice and folks that are happy to answer my questions (and...they like to brew! Crazy, eh??).

I don't have a lot of money to throw around, but regardless - I'd rather pay a little more, ask some questions, get some honest advice, and support locally owned business.

Now...if the LHBS sucked and the guys were pricks, I'd shop online exclusively. It's really all about the kind of business that they run.

 

[carnevoodoo]

I just realized that I am lucky enough to get 55 pounds of 2 row for 36 dollars. And I can get it as a certificate and pick it up with everything else I need when I go to the store. I am sure I'd be all over the online stores if my LHBS wasn't so great.

Also, I think they only buy Great Western and they use it for their production brewery. It is just fine.

 

[Saccharomyces]

Yeah what's up with dissing Great Western. I was just at a local brewery which uses their 2-row as their base malt. Trust me, their beer doesn't suck.

 

[carnevoodoo]

Yeah what's up with dissing Great Western. I was just at a local brewery which uses their 2-row as their base malt. Trust me, their beer doesn't suck.

It is just fine. Ballast Point uses it and they turn out some amazing beer. The Bruery uses it too. I am sure many more in town do as well. I don't know how it got a bad name.

 

[Homercidal]

I can't remember which brand of grain I just bought, but it was a canadian 2-row and I got a 50# sack for $40. I know it's good because I bought it from a Brewery! And their beer was not bad!

I think that guy is just sour grapesing you because he'd got problems in his life. As long as that sack of grain is fresh enough, it will be fine.

 

[david_42]

Great Western is one of the oldest maltsters in the US and its products are well respected. You don't stay in this business 75 years selling junk.

 

[hbomb]

I'm glad to have the friendly folks at AHS as my LHBS these days, but I can definitely empathize with the frustrations having lived elsewhere. Lot's of places it seemed like I'd walk in and they'd condescend and treat me like I had no idea wtf I was talking about for no other reason I could come up with besides my being a woman. Then some self aggrandizing dudely dude would walk in pretending he knew what was up, grab a can of 10 year old malt extract, and the staff would be right there at his beckon call. I started making a habit of getting in and out quick as I could, but always wondered about missing out on the LHBS "experience".

Actually, come to think of it, it still happens at bike shops, with car mechanics and at the home depot... But I'm glad to have the fellows at AHS now, they're always great.

 

[believeinsteve]

oh I got one or a few...

my lhbs, only has two varieties of hops. These sit out in the open at whatever their room temp is, and have been there for several months.

When I was making a pale ale and asked about a safale us 05 or nottingham, I was told that the Munich wheat beer yeast would produce the same results.

When I asked if they rent out corkers, the guy looked at me like he was offended and said, "why the hell would we do that?"

They charge 48 dollars for a 5 gallon glass carboy.

but i could go on
thanks for letting me vent

 

[Hodor_Baggins]

How about this one . . .

I swung by a hbs that is along my commute that I just heard about yesterday to check the place out. The owner was there and was generally haughty and condescending.

I asked him if he had fermcap-s or any other anti-foaming agent and he told me that fermcap-s is a clearing agent and I could just use whirfloc or irish moss.

Yeah, not likely to go back there again, luckily I live near one lhbs and work near another and both seem pretty good.