Northern Brewer Support (or lack of)

[Hurphy]

Hey guys, It's Todd from Northern Brewer. One of our crew pointed me to this post. I am sorry for the slip in service from what you are used to. We are working hard to get back to the normal that you are used to (including live support via text and/or chat) but we had some challenges to work through and a huge backlog of emails to get through. I know it has to be frustrating and hope that we are back much sooner than later.
If you emailed us, we will be responded as quick as we can. Sorry again for the delay.

As far as shipping, we try to keep that transparent... full details can be found here: Shipping Information

@canvasoso - we will get a response back to 1 of your 3 emails as soon as we can. Happy brewing. - Todd J

I’m done with northernbrewer now. I don’t think I’ve had an order arrive on time or with all my items EVER in the 4 years using you guys. I ordered some grains even just this last Sunday and here we are on the following Monday and the order hasn’t even been processed.

 

[Hurphy]

God…they keep buying up their competitors and now everywhere I go I have to order from these idiots. My last three orders

1. 19 days to fulfill
2. 14 days to fulfill
3. 14 days and counting

 

[IslandLizard]

God…they keep buying up their competitors and now everywhere I go I have to order from these idiots. My last three orders

1. 19 days to fulfill
2. 14 days to fulfill
3. 14 days and counting

You said you were done with them:

I’m done with northernbrewer now.

Why did you order from them again?

AFAIK, 2 additional homebrew supply outfits were recently acquired (3-6 months ago, IIRC) by NB / Midwest Supplies: AIH (Adventures In Homebrewing) and AHB (Austin Home Brew), without any public disclosure of such,
This unfortunate event has become common knowledge in our HBT circles.

 

[YankeeBrewer09]

I never used them. Even when they had good and fast service they cost too much. When I lived in NH I shopped at my LHBS Jaspers and they taught me to brew. After I moved I kept ordering from them at their website (boomchugalug). They ship me my stuff to MA sometimes the next day! I don't know how anyone could order weeks in advance. I'm not close to being that organized! I will keep buying from independent places like this until NB buys them too

 

[IslandLizard]

I will keep buying from independent places like this until NB buys them too

The smaller local shops are probably safe from predators as such. They're after the bigger, national presence ones with larger or even national sales coverage.

Northern Brewer/Midwest Supplies, and their other acquisitions are owned by a "capital investment company" in nearby Rockville, MD, one of the northern suburbs of DC.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I don't know how anyone could order weeks in advance. I'm not close to being that organized!

Start this idea as a new topic. If I see it, I'll probably contribute ideas.

I will keep buying from independent places like this until NB buys them too the independent store sells to someone else (perhaps a holding company) willing to buy them or closes the business because no buyers can be found.

FTFY.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

 

[Hurphy]

You said you were done with them:

Why did you order from them again?

AFAIK, 2 additional homebrew supply outfits were recently acquired (3-6 months ago, IIRC) by NB / Midwest Supplies: AIH (Adventures In Homebrewing) and AHB (Austin Home Brew), without any public disclosure of such,
This unfortunate event has become common knowledge in our HBT circles.

I am for the most part. The only reason(s) I had two more orders was because I couldn’t find a particular grain anywhere else for an Irish red I wanted to do and the other reason was totally an accident as I didn’t realize until I checked out that Midwest is northernbrewer in disguise. I face-palmed pretty hard after that.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

Midwest is northernbrewer in disguise.

There is no disguise.

• The relationship is clearly described on the "About Us" page of their web site.
• Various internet archives sites have snapshots of that page going back years.

 

[IslandLizard]

There is no disguise.

Their sites look and feel very similar too.

 

[kartracer2]

Their sites look and feel very similar too.

Yeah, one is a little bit more "glitzy" and the other has better prices. I use them both, depends on catching the better price/sale when I need stuff. The packaging/branding is the same.
I do hope they get their ducks in in a row soon though.
Cheers,
Joel B.

 

[z-bob]

So are they still a decent place to order grain if you don't mind waiting a month to get it? (seriously) I have plenty of malt already, but would like to get a whole sack of vienna. Of course I'd rather have it in a week, but if it takes a month that's okay. If they charge my credit card immediately and don't ship the 2 or 3 months, that's a big problem.

I have ordered from them before their current backlog problems, and I've been to their store a few times. But not since before Covid.

 

[Chorgey]

So are they still a decent place to order grain if you don't mind waiting a month to get it? (seriously) I have plenty of malt already, but would like to get a whole sack of vienna. Of course I'd rather have it in a week, but if it takes a month that's okay. If they charge my credit card immediately and don't ship the 2 or 3 months, that's a big problem.

I have ordered from them before their current backlog problems, and I've been to their store a few times. But not since before Covid.

I ordered some grain, actually a kit that I opted to have crushed, this was done on August 20th. The shipment is arriving today, (September 3) which is two weeks to the day.

They did however charge PayPal on the day of the order and not the ship date.

I had no issues with waiting for this shipment, so I am okay with it.

 

[Conehead]

They are too expensive for everything. I pay $9.50 for White Labs yeast in Canada. Why $13.00 in the US?

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

They are too expensive for everything.

For you perhaps. For me, not so much.

On occasion, when my travels bring me near their in-person store, I find that my total purchase price is similar to on-line pricing elsewhere. Yes, some items cost more. And some items cost less. And some items are not otherwise easily available to me.

And did I mention that they appear to have the best in-person grain room in the upper mid-west?

 

[Carolina_Matt]

So are they still a decent place to order grain if you don't mind waiting a month to get it? (seriously) I have plenty of malt already, but would like to get a whole sack of vienna. Of course I'd rather have it in a week, but if it takes a month that's okay. If they charge my credit card immediately and don't ship the 2 or 3 months, that's a big problem.

I have ordered from them before their current backlog problems, and I've been to their store a few times. But not since before Covid.

What kind of Vienna? The selection isn't as big, but the prices are better at Delta. They have sacks of Swaen (55lb) and Briess (50lb) vienna for about $67 with free shipping. I ordered 4 sacks a few days ago and they shipped the next day.

https://www.deltabrewingsystems.com/products/goldpils-vienna-malt-3-5l?_pos=3&_sid=81af9a2aa&_ss=r
https://www.deltabrewingsystems.com/products/swaen-vienna-4l-1?_pos=1&_sid=81af9a2aa&_ss=r

 

[Hurphy]

There is no disguise.

• The relationship is clearly described on the "About Us" page of their web site.
• Various internet archives sites have snapshots of that page going back years.

Yeah, I guess I should take more time to be an internet sleuth before I commit to an order. I was in a hurry, also a bind, saw the familiar UI and had thoughts but a lot of sites also do that are not affiliated, but I digress. In the end, the service is ****.

 

[Hurphy]

They are too expensive for everything. I pay $9.50 for White Labs yeast in Canada. Why $13.00 in the US?

You think that is bad? Their hops are marked up usually about double.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

 

[David C]

Just noticed 55 lb sack of grain was about $55 shipped with the free shipping and now is $39 plus about $60 shipping. Have shipping rates gone up that much?

Yes, shipping rates world wide have gone through the roof and in the US particularly. There are just not enough truckers joining the Industry as many of the old timers retire juring Covid. Not quite as bad up here in Canada but bad just the same, until things normalise again in a couple of years, expect to see both disruption and delays in deliveries. All the more reason to buy local if you can.

 

[aceluby]

View attachment 780286

You post this in literally every MW/NB thread that complains about shipping times. Twice in this thread. How good their in-person grain room has no bearing on the conversation. It's very much starting to feel like you are with the company. This is unhelpful for people who don't have the option to go to Minnesota to see the in-person grain room at best, but at this point is borderline trolling.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

Nope.

Just promoting something that is valuable to me.

On (random) occasion, I can get to those grain rooms - so I have an 'acquisition plan' that allows me to make use of the stores. That plan has allowed me to brew what I want, when I want, for the last five years. Maybe the plan is good enough to survive TEOTWAWKI .

Others appear to have similar 'acquisition plans'.

Somewhere, I mentioned that a new topic on how to stock a 'in home' mini-LHBS would be an interesting topic. Ideas on how to smooth out the problems with staffing shortages, shipping delays, hard to find ingredients, ..., ..., ...

So far, I haven't seen the new topic. Maybe I missed it.

 

[matt_m]

You must have forgotten to click Post or something. I looked at your recent posts and don’t see it either.

 

[kartracer2]

TEOTWAWKI

Took me a minute or two,,,
I hope I get a little notice,,maybe,,,
Cheers,
Joel B.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

Somewhere, I mentioned that a new topic on how to stock a 'in home' mini-LHBS would be an interesting topic. Ideas on how to smooth out the problems with staffing shortages, shipping delays, hard to find ingredients, ..., ..., ...

So far, I haven't seen the new topic. Maybe I missed it.

You must have forgotten to click Post or something.

Nope (link). About a week ago ...

 

[matt_m]

I meant the new thread about it.

 

[DarrellQ]

I’m done with northernbrewer now. I don’t think I’ve had an order arrive on time or with all my items EVER in the 4 years using you guys. I ordered some grains even just this last Sunday and here we are on the following Monday and the order hasn’t even been processed.

Agree! After waiting two weeks for my order, they shipped it the very day I sent an email cancelling the order. I'm done, finished.

 

[bike2brew]

Sure I have experienced delayed shipping from NB, and backorder/out stock issues, but overall I am not so disappointed with them to quit ordering. I have had solid customer service and support for any questions regarding product selection and technical brewing.

 

[Bobby_M]

Sure I have experienced delayed shipping from NB, and backorder/out stock issues, but overall I am not so disappointed with them to quit ordering. I have had solid customer service and support for any questions regarding product selection and technical brewing.

Sounds like you're a glutton for punishment or you haven't suffered the same two week delays as all the other posters. I haven't bought from them in 10 years but the most egregious thing is the lack of transparency about their delays in the "pre order" process. Sure, they do things to appease disappointed customers after the fact, but taking the order under the reasonable presumption that it would be processed quickly is a betrayal of trust. Put up a notice that they are running a week or two behind. I know... the order volume will drop and wow, how about that, they can actually expedite the orders quickly again.

 

[bike2brew]

Two weeks isn't that big of deal in my life. That might be different if I was diagnosed with a terminal disease and 2 weeks left to live, but maybe not.