morebeer increased their free shipping threshold

[fluketamer]

morebeer just increased there shipping theshold to 79 from 59. and all there malts increased by 2-3 dollars per pound.

that sucks

 

[redrocker652002]

morebeer just increased there shipping theshold to 79 from 59. and all there malts increased by 2-3 dollars per pound.

that sucks

Really? I have not looked at their prices in a while. Might make the trip to my local home brew shop and see what they have. They are about 45 mins away and a 10 dollar bridge toll, but what the heck.

 

[fluketamer]

unfortunately my closest is not close at all.

 

[redrocker652002]

Maybe look into Williams Brewing and see what they have. I think their free shipping is high too though. I would use Brewhardware, but shipping to California from him really adds cost.

 

[TexasTea]

morebeer just increased there shipping theshold to 79 from 59. and all there malts increased by 2-3 dollars per pound.

that sucks

I didn't hit like on your post because I HATE when fellow brewers receive price increases. I just switched to all grain and the malt/ shipping cost is also killing me (really limiting the savings). I tried everything; quoting multiple suppliers, ordering 10 pound sacks, waiting for sales, etc.,. I went to the LHBS and they were worse. The closest LHBS (30 minutes away) quoted me over 120 bucks for a 50-55 pound sack. I left outta there quicker than a vampire in a room fulla crosses. The next closest (an hour drive each way) was 80 dollars give or take, about the same as online vendors, even more expensive when you factor in time and gas.

So here's what I did...I contacted a local craft brewery 3 minutes drive away. They ordered a sack of malt (see below) for me and charged me cost. I was so happy I bought a six pack of craft beer to add to it and gave them a 10% tip for a total cost of $62.50 (including the beer). I literally just walked in the house with it right before posting this.



Here is my next Malt cost busting idea-Many of these big malt houses have several warehouses around the country. I found one an hour away and applied to become a customer. They turned me down initially because they don't sell to individuals and I didn't have a resale certificate. Well I own a company (lab work / consulting) so I put in an application using my company and they didn't reject it, they took it and are working on it now. They said they had plenty of labs as customers and I didn't need a resale certificate as a lab. If I get accepted I'll let ya'all know and post costs.

 

[lumpher]

I got an email about the shipping threshold, but the price increase... it's good I have enough ingredients for 6 or 8 more brews.

 

[day_trippr]

I've never bought malts from morebeer.com but I just checked the bag prices for a few base malts I use, and a bag of Briess Brewer's Malt is $48.99 - which is essentially what I've been paying for that malt for a few years now from the local BSG in RI (no shipping cost, we pick it up). Otoh, a bag of Weyermann Pilsner is $70, and Simpsons GP is $80. I don't know if those are higher than "before", but those prices are $15 and $25 more than I paid earlier this year.

 

[fluketamer]

i am very close to approaching one of the local craft breweries for malt. problem is its usually hard to find an actual brewer at the breweries . usually i am only in touch with dispensers (bartenders) .

at the coney island brewery, the brewers were always around and often talking but that has since closed ( a huge loss)

there merman ipa was amazing. super citrusy. now its never fresh and hoppy anymore.

maybe i will try the other half . although they seem to be getting very big. i doubt i will be able to get malt from them .

 

[Broothru]

morebeer just increased there shipping theshold to 79 from 59. and all there malts increased by 2-3 dollars per pound.

that sucks

All their malts, or just all non-US malts? They’ve finally started restocking all the malts they used to carry (before their warehouse consolidation). If so, tariffs may be playing a large roll in the increase.

As to shipping, this is the first time in a long time since it went up. The good news is that with prices going up, you’re essentially getting the same goods shipped ‘free’ </s>.

OTOH, MoreBeer used to be my GoTo when LHBS didn’t have what I was looking for. Now, not so much. Sad, ‘cause I’ve been patronizing them almost since I started brewing 30+ years ago.

 

[jdauria]

I can see increasing European malts due to tariffs, but don't get increasing US malts too, Seems crazy.

I usually order mostly from BrewHardware in NJ. Ordered grain yesterday and got it here in MA today. No flat shipping rate though.

Before I started buying from them, almost exclusively after my LHBS closed, two places I really liked, for stuff the shop did niot have, were Keystone Homebrew Supply in PA and Hop Craft Supply In Michigan, both had flat rate shipping and both carry a lot of grains and allow you to order by ounces if ordering for a recipe. Both ship fast two, Keystone shipped to Mass like 2 days after your order, Hop Craft Supply was 3. I have noted that Hop Craft Supply seems to be constantly out of Euro malts lately. Been looking for CaraBohemian malt, which seems impossible to find. They have on their site but are out as many other Weyermann malts were. Makes me wonder if they just are not carrying it anymore,

 

[Deadalus]

I've never bought malts from morebeer.com but I just checked the bag prices for a few base malts I use, and a bag of Briess Brewer's Malt is $48.99 - which is essentially what I've been paying for that malt for a few years now from the local BSG in RI (no shipping cost, we pick it up). Otoh, a bag of Weyermann Pilsner is $70, and Simpsons GP is $80. I don't know if those are higher than "before", but those prices are $15 and $25 more than I paid earlier this year.

Unless it has changed, you won't get free shipping on a sack. Several times at least I have seen people mention multiples of 10lb bags, perhaps 5 multiples even from Morebeer but I can't recall if there's a limit on those. I don't know anywhere that ships sacks for free (without baking it into the price) except maybe Label Peelers making a mistake or a special offer. Usually sacks aren't covered by free shipping policies. Sacks I try to pick up when travelling if at all possible.

 

[simbabrew]

You have to realize Fedex and UPS added a surcharge for packages over 50 lbs. a while ago. You cannot blame home brew suppliers when they charge a lot for a sack, they are just passing along costs from Fedex/UPS

 

[Deadalus]

You have to realize Fedex and UPS added a surcharge for packages over 50 lbs. a while ago. You cannot blame home brew suppliers when they charge a lot for a sack, they are just passing along costs from Fedex/UPS

Is the "You" referring to me? The price of the sack is just the price of sack without price inflating it to account for "free shipping" as the stores that offer "free shipping" add a shipping surcharge for sacks. The store might still inflate the sack price as a general rule to handle the free shipping of their other products but that's not easily discerned. I pay about what @day_trippr quoted for Briess at other places. The pilsner may be higher but I haven't been able to keep a fixed pilsner brand. I've bought Maris Otter and it was around those other prices. Now I'd guess roughly I use about 2 sacks a year but that's somewhat variable. I buy infrequently.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I pay about what @day_trippr quoted for Briess at other places.

RiteBrew, MoreBeer, and Williams Brewing have a similar price for Briess (or equivalent) Brewers Malt. Northern Brewer is higher.

You cannot blame home brew suppliers when they charge a lot for a sack, they are just passing along costs from Fedex/UPS

Might be true if the sack of malt is available under 'free' shipping. But at MoreBeer, it's not. And at Northern Brewer, it's not. And at Williams Brewing, it's not.

So it looks like I'm paying actual shipping costs based on distance (from the warehouse to me). Assuming product price and quality is 'the same' across all three online stores, the closest warehouse with the best shipping price is most likely going to win my business.

You have to realize Fedex and UPS added a surcharge for packages over 50 lbs. a while ago.

This appears to vary by location/time/weight.

I order from a 'regional' online home brew store that offers two shipping options (a regional shipper and a national shipper) and does does not offer 'free' shipping.

For my typical orders, the regional shipper is typically a couple of dollars less, but not always. Both shippers get the order to my door the next day.

As for weight surcharge, there was a time when shipping cost for 45# orders was 50% more with the national shipper. Today, it looks like that 'surcharge' starts at 95#.

 

[TexasTea]

Just when you think you got it licked my malt price busting idea #2 got shot down in flames. I just got an email (read below) from the Malt company that they will not approve me as a customer.
"Thank you for filling out an application to become a customer of ours. Please note that we are a business-to-business (B2B) supplier within the beverage and food industry. To maintain regulatory compliance, we require documentation demonstrating that our customers are established and registered within these industries & we currently provide ingredients, equipment, and products to businesses meeting these requirements.
We apologize but we cannot accommodate your request at this time."

Geez, I have a business (corporation) provided them with that info (Tax ID # etc.) and I could most likely provide some references relative to the food industry (NSF etc.). At this point since they don't want me as a customer, I don't want to waste anymore time with diminishing returns and will stick to picking up 55 pound bags from a local brewer. If I just pay for the bag including tip and not buy any craft beer its less than the price WITHOUT shipping for the online vendors .

 

[Steveruch]

I got an email about the shipping threshold, but the price increase... it's good I have enough ingredients for 6 or 8 more brews.

To avoid the tariff price increases I stocked up with enough ingredients to last until the end of next year, 16-17 batches.

 

[CopperWolf]

I use my local shop which is only an hour and a half from me. But they ship free of charge on anything over 66. So 90% of the time I order more than that. But it also helps my cousin comes up every weekend and he lives 5 mins from there. They have a great website. Ebrew.com. owner is a super guy

 

[Bobby_M]

Just when you think you got it licked my malt price busting idea #2 got shot down in flames. I just got an email (read below) from the Malt company that they will not approve me as a customer.
"Thank you for filling out an application to become a customer of ours. Please note that we are a business-to-business (B2B) supplier within the beverage and food industry. To maintain regulatory compliance, we require documentation demonstrating that our customers are established and registered within these industries & we currently provide ingredients, equipment, and products to businesses meeting these requirements.
We apologize but we cannot accommodate your request at this time."

Geez, I have a business (corporation) provided them with that info (Tax ID # etc.) and I could most likely provide some references relative to the food industry (NSF etc.). At this point since they don't want me as a customer, I don't want to waste anymore time with diminishing returns and will stick to picking up 55 pound bags from a local brewer. If I just pay for the bag including tip and not buy any craft beer its less than the price WITHOUT shipping for the online vendors .

They are trying to keep the last of the brewing supply stores in business. I know it's frustrating to be a customer of such stores these days but the alternative is that they all close.

Back when I first opened my store in 2014, the local clubs would hit up whoever they could to pull off a bulk buy of a pallet of grain at wholesale prices. No big deal, we'll still buy specialty malts, hops and yeast from the LHBS. That will keep them in business. Next buy, they'd buy a sack each of all the crystal malts and split those up into 5 lb bags. Next time they break down an 11 LB bag of hops. Now the LHBS become the last resort when a single brewer's schedule couldn't wait for another group buy.

I get it, I was on the other side of this scenario for almost as long as I'm on this side. It's capitalism afterall. It's just a matter of whether you're willing to pay a little extra to have that anchor point or are you willing to piece all of it together forever. I think of myself and my store as a community resource. You buy stuff from me at a fair price, maybe sometimes a little less or a little more than the pure-hustle-rock-bottom that you can find if that's the most important thing to you. In turn, I don't disappear back into corporate life.

Maybe I'm just naive and aging out of this whole thing. The internet and chatGPT are taking over the knowledge resource side of things and Amazon will get you 10 packs of yeast tomorrow.

 

[TexasTea]

They are trying to keep the last of the brewing supply stores in business. I know it's frustrating to be a customer of such stores these days but the alternative is that they all close.

You buy stuff from me at a fair price, maybe sometimes a little less or a little more than the pure-hustle-rock-bottom that you can find if that's the most important thing to you. In turn, I don't disappear back into corporate life.

I don't begrudge anyone making a fair profit. I like supporting the LHBS. If the 80 dollar a bag LHBS was closer than an hour each way, I'd buy from him all day long.

The LHBS charging 120 dollars a bag for the same thing....I have to think that's a bit steep and I won't do it.

But thanks for explaining the rationale behind the malt company rejecting me as a customer. I really appreciate it.

 

[Pennine]

They are trying to keep the last of the brewing supply stores in business. I know it's frustrating to be a customer of such stores these days but the alternative is that they all close.

Back when I first opened my store in 2014, the local clubs would hit up whoever they could to pull off a bulk buy of a pallet of grain at wholesale prices. No big deal, we'll still buy specialty malts, hops and yeast from the LHBS. That will keep them in business. Next buy, they'd buy a sack each of all the crystal malts and split those up into 5 lb bags. Next time they break down an 11 LB bag of hops. Now the LHBS become the last resort when a single brewer's schedule couldn't wait for another group buy.

I get it, I was on the other side of this scenario for almost as long as I'm on this side. It's capitalism afterall. It's just a matter of whether you're willing to pay a little extra to have that anchor point or are you willing to piece all of it together forever. I think of myself and my store as a community resource. You buy stuff from me at a fair price, maybe sometimes a little less or a little more than the pure-hustle-rock-bottom that you can find if that's the most important thing to you. In turn, I don't disappear back into corporate life.

Maybe I'm just naive and aging out of this whole thing. The internet and chatGPT are taking over the knowledge resource side of things and Amazon will get you 10 packs of yeast tomorrow.

I have to agree here. We should stop complaining about price increases and be more supportive to the people and companies that support our hobby. I know all of them are struggling right now and they are just doing what they need to do to stay in business.

I sincerely doubt most homebrewers are going to go bankrupt spending $20 more an order. However it's very likely the LHBS will if they don't increase prices to keep up with inflation.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

With regard to rising ingredient costs, perhaps a study of what British breweries did from around 1915 to around 1955 (two major wars and with an economic decline in between) would yield some insights in what might work and what might not work when trying to brew more with less. Shut up about Barclay Perkins may be a good starting point.

 

[mac_1103]

morebeer just increased there shipping theshold to 79 from 59. and all there malts increased by 2-3 dollars per pound.

Look at the "bright" side - the higher prices will make it easier to hit the higher threshold.

 

[Bobby_M]

The LHBS charging 120 dollars a bag for the same thing....I have to think that's a bit steep and I won't do it.

Here's an idea that maybe you didn't think of. Tell the LHBS that they're losing your business due to the price. It's not your job to tell them their business but if you're willing to open up a dialogue with them, they might be receptive. You know what they pay per sack because it's the same price as the brewery you're tagging on to. Let the place decide if a $20 bill on top of their cost is preferred to getting $0.

 

[TexasTea]

Here's an idea that maybe you didn't think of. Tell the LHBS that they're losing your business due to the price. It's not your job to tell them their business but if you're willing to open up a dialogue with them, they might be receptive. You know what they pay per sack because it's the same price as the brewery you're tagging on to. Let the place decide if a $20 bill on top of their cost is preferred to getting $0.

I'm going to try that and will get back to ya'all. Thanks for the suggestion, I really appreciate it.