Not sure what to tell LBS

[FourSwitch]

I'm a firm believer in supporting my LBS. I feel like I get a great deal there because I am part of the community. Being a member of a group like the AHA costs dues, and you get benefits from these dues. Being a part of my community has benefits a well.

Some things I get through my LBS that I benefit from:

Support and tips (I can discuss my projects with them, get input, the guys are generally interested and excited)
They are available to sample my beers, and give feedback
They have put me in touch with local pro brewers who have tasted my beers and given feedback
They have club activities I can drop in, meet home brewers, try their beers
If I get stumped or frustrated on an equipment issue I can just bring it in there for help and advice
It is a good place to see new products in person
Information about any events or competitions locally

I do still buy some things online. They don't have everything I need. I purchase expensive equipment directly from the manufacturer to get support dialing it in, replacement parts etc. For example SS Brewtech has been great. Online companies often offer new hardware and gadgets I can't find at an LBS. Also there is often a certain yeast or something I want to try that they do not carry.
But for the most part I try and give the local guys as much business as I can. Great Peoples

Well Said

 

[mongoose33]

my local homebrew shop charges £6.50 for 100g of Cascade. To put that in perspective thats the equivalent of almost $9 for an ounce of hops! I kid you guys not! I can get them online for about half that for American hops and about a third for British/European. Two bucks an ounce? man you guys are so lucky.

I get that £6.50 is about $9.

But 100gr of hops is about 3 1/2 ounces, or about....$2.57 an ounce?

Not great, but not $9 an ounce....

 

[DromJohn]

How would I go about this?
Tell the LHBS your concerns as you have told us. Then listen to the LHBS's reply. Repeat.
Buy online when you feel you have to, but let the LHBS know about the online purchase.
More data, better calculations.

 

[BlkWater_brewer]

This is why there are fewer and fewer LHBS around. Sure there are few if any items you can't buy online cheaper, except a certain equipment brand that sets the price their items may be sold for. On the other hand, you can't can't walk into the mail order big guy and expect to be talked to for a half hour after buying a few pounds of grain and some hops.

 

[MidAtlanticBrew]

I seldom use my LHBS, I don't see any benefit to it. They are not very knowledgable, and their prices are 1.5 to 2x those of online retailers. I never have last minute items to pickup because I plan my brews in advance, and I hold a large inventory of Grain and Hops.

You want to help your LHBS owner??? DONT SHOP THERE!!!!, and tell your friends not to shop there!!! the sooner he fails, the sooner he stops struggling to make a lost cause work.

 

[MelbBrew]

I drive out of my way coming back from work to go to a particular https://www.grainandgrape.com.au/ shop here in Melbourne. The shop itself sells most hop varieties for $9.95 AUD per 80g and Wyeast sachets for $13.50 AUD.The shops in my area as well as online merchants traditionally sell the same hop varieties for $9.95 AUD per 100g and a couple dollars cheaper for Wyeast. Similarly grain is more expensive at this shop compared with others.

So why do I spend my money there?

It's all to do with freshness. Even here in Australia, the Wyeast sachets at this shop are regularly anywhere from a fortnight to a month old max. The grain and hops are also of the utmost freshness IMO. I also appreciate that great care is taken in the storage of hops and grain as well as yeast. Well organised and not to mention they have a tap wall for samples of in house brews. They also run weekend seminars free to the public to further learning.

For myself at least, I view all of the previously mentioned reasons as justification for the premium and for my money.

 

[GHBWNY]

I split my purchasing between two different LHBS's depending upon which nearby town we find ourselves in. One is a small storefront in a strip plaza, equipped with just about everything I need for AG, including equipment. It is extremely neat, tidy, clean and well-run and the folks are professional and knowledgeable and prefer to wait on you. Prices reflect a smaller amount of inventory compared to the other which is a stand-alone building, spacious, and co-ops as a hydroponics-supply business. It is not neat, tidy or clean, and the personnel seem to rotate in and out and are not that knowledgeable about inventory or brewing in general or helpful. It's basically self-serve, and while you have to check closely for freshness of ingredients, prices are lower than the other store, which, all things considered is where I like to shop. Still glad to have them both and always enjoy making the stop, if only to look around.

 

[brewcat]

I wouldn't bring up pricing. They most likely already know where they are at. $2 for an ounce of hops is good. Grains also get cheaper if they have the demand for them. Maybe ask how much a bulk sack costs. Being a new shop they still are figuring out suppliers and market. I don't think it is the time to write them off.

Is there anything you would buy from them?

My advice...
Get to know them before making conclusions. They probably are more than willing to help you as much as possible. It is amazing what a good business will do. Give them the business you can. It doesn't have to be all of it, but a little support helps keep something you want.

 

[jmyers04]

I will be going in there soon. I think after reading all of these responses my new mission is to......1. Use him for as much stuff as I can (starsan, bungs, bubblers, yeast, puree, etc). Once I get to know him make the suggestion as....hey it would be nice to buy hops in bigger amounts than just one once, then work the conversation towards seeing if he has looked into buying them in bulk and vacuum sealing them himself....tell him it would be nice to be able to get 4 oz or a pound and then see what he says plus just mention it may be cheaper for him to buy them this way. And see what he says. Overall, he is a very nice guy the few times I have interacted with him and I want a LHBS for sure.....so I will try to do my part by giving him as much business as I can and then spreading the word about how nice he is and how much nice product he has. And let other people make the decision on whether to buy from him or not.

 

[kh54s10]

I will be going in there soon. I think after reading all of these responses my new mission is to......1. Use him for as much stuff as I can (starsan, bungs, bubblers, yeast, puree, etc). Once I get to know him make the suggestion as....hey it would be nice to buy hops in bigger amounts than just one once, then work the conversation towards seeing if he has looked into buying them in bulk and vacuum sealing them himself....tell him it would be nice to be able to get 4 oz or a pound and then see what he says plus just mention it may be cheaper for him to buy them this way. And see what he says. Overall, he is a very nice guy the few times I have interacted with him and I want a LHBS for sure.....so I will try to do my part by giving him as much business as I can and then spreading the word about how nice he is and how much nice product he has. And let other people make the decision on whether to buy from him or not.

If he doesn't have pound sizes of hops or other items, that you are in the market for that size, it wouldn't hurt to ask if he can get it for you.

I have asked for a particular grain, in bulk, and a couple of other items he doesn't stock, and he was glad to order it for me. He had it in a couple days. I didn't have to go home, search the internet and place orders with a couple different sites to get what I wanted.

The grain bags would have cost 50% more with shipping....

 

[kh54s10]

I seldom use my LHBS, I don't see any benefit to it. They are not very knowledgable, and their prices are 1.5 to 2x those of online retailers. I never have last minute items to pickup because I plan my brews in advance, and I hold a large inventory of Grain and Hops.

You want to help your LHBS owner??? DONT SHOP THERE!!!!, and tell your friends not to shop there!!! the sooner he fails, the sooner he stops struggling to make a lost cause work.

What an asinine statement!

Just because your LHBS is not good... And you plan well. Hope you never have a brewday planned and your shipment is missing a critical item...

My LHBS is great! And a lot of things cost less when you add shipping.

 

[MidAtlanticBrew]

Maybe asinine, but probably not. For so many home brewers, the LHBS is like the back-up girlfriend, the girl you string along, with just enough incentive, that they'll be available in case your best girl can't deliver, is or unavailable.

Most know how this works .... For Valentine's day, the best girl gets the diamond pendant, and the back-up gets a hallmark card.

Some HB'ers are loyal but most are two timers, and some are three timers with one LHBS and two online shops. Have a heart, and stop the selfishness, wholely commit to the back-up girl or release her so she can find happiness.