Read this before you buy from Kegkits.com

[SC_Ryan]

If you do contact the BBB you should send them a link to this thread. And these two as well...

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/lesson-learned-buying-kegkits-113969/
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f19/problems-dealing-merchant-kegkits-com-89800/

I bet if you did a little research you could even find a few more. Somebody needs to put this clown out of business...

Edit: Here's one from northernbrewer.

http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=71791

 

[datamike]

I wonder if he'll be attending the national conference in oakland this year?

 

[masonsjax]

There really should be a sticky warning people about this guy. It would have saved me a ton of trouble.

 

[-Dan-]

The difference between this thread and others that have been closed is that kegkits has not responded here acknowledging the problem and promising to take care of it.

We closed the thread, in the other case, because the vendor and OP were working to solve the problem. The vendor asked that we withhold comments until it was worked out with the OP.

I still believe at some point this thread needs to be closed. Just b/c he doesn't want (for whatever reason) to post here, does not mean it has to happen whats happening right now. I had my issues too and opened a Paypal dispute. Once Paypal escalates it, he responds quickly, believe me.

I just think at some point mods has to have some sort of fairness to this, too.

 

[EdWort]

I still believe at some point this thread needs to be closed. Just b/c he doesn't want (for whatever reason) to post here, does not mean it has to happen whats happening right now. I had my issues too and opened a Paypal dispute. Once Paypal escalates it, he responds quickly, believe me.

Sorry, but just because he responds after weeks of no contact and the customer disputes it based on advice found here we should close the thread?

I cannot think of ANY vendor who treats his customers this way and deserves the benefit of the doubt after multiple examples of leaving customers hanging till they dispute with with Paypal or file a complaint with the BBB. Tom Hargrave Sales of KegKits.com still has an "F" Rating after all these years with the BBB and has a lower than "F" rating with the EdWort rating of LHBS's.

Tom Hargrave has NOT changed how he does business and people are still complaining after waiting weeks after Tom Hargrave took their money, but did not ship what they ordered. Face it.

It's bad business practice to take customer's money and not tell them that it will be a month or so before they get their order (regardless of whatever lame-ass excuse he uses for his own cashflow problems).

Personally I will be glad to close this thread as soon as we put a sticky on it or a new thread subject "Buyer Beware of Tom Hargrave Sales of Kegkits.com" appears.

Tom Hargrave Sales of Kegkits.com has a "F" rating with the Huntsville BBB and takes weeks to ship orders and sucks at customer communications. Spend a few cents more and buy from a vendor that will ship your order in the next business day and and email you the tracking number so you can be kegging this week.

The choice is the consumer's, but Tom's credibility here at HBT is less than ZERO in my book. Any other vendor will step up IMMEDIATELY, not weeks after taking the money.

We have been through this before and it's the same story with Tom.

 

[Daddymem]

Hrm, he claims he'll be doing a contest on his new forum...wonder how long it will take the winners to get their prize?

 

[masonsjax]

Once Paypal escalates it, he responds quickly, believe me.

I don't believe you. It has literally been months since I ordered. Tom responded to the initial Paypal dispute, but did not resolve the issue, and has since ignored me. I escalated the dispute to a claim, and he still did not respond to their request for more info.

What exactly do you stand to gain by defending him? I see no reason NOT to expose his dishonesty to more would-be victims.

 

[hexmonkey]

perhaps several of you who are currently having issues getting responses should try writing an email to the AHA TechTalk list (preferably at the same time). I see his responses in there constantly...

 

[Ronster]

address if you have it?

 

[hexmonkey]

not sure if you need to be a member to email the list, but the addy is:
[email protected]

 

[mmb]

Pretty sure you need to be a member to email the list.

 

[The Pol]

Pretty interesting that this thread is not closed yet ... same thing about other vendors and the thread had been closed a long time ago.
I have ordered twice at kegkits... once last year and had to wait 5 weeks for my stuff. Gave it another chance 1 year later and still had to wait almost 3. Not great by any means;however, I think it is kinda odd whats going on here right now

This thread needs to remain open. Why? The VAST numbers of un-resolved complaints. If the dude was resolving the issues, fine, since he isnt... well bad press will follow.

I personally believe that we as HBT members, some paying members, have a responsibility to protect those that may wander into what seems to be a questionable business deal.

Keep this thread alive. Update if issues get resolved, if they dont and how in either case.

If a vendor doesnt like bad press... then do good business. Word of mouth works both ways.

 

[Jonnio]

I agree Pol - HBT is not here to serve random internet businesses and protect them, its a community for the members. If a business serves the members then they become part of the community. If a business takes advantage of the members then its up to the community to limit the damage they are able to do moving forward.

 

[The Pol]

Exactly, we are not here to PROMOTE BUSINESS! We are a community that is here for the good of the community.

We do have some vendors who serve our community very well, and they recieve our support. But there is a flip side to that coin. If you take advantege of our community members, we will protect our members by posting FACTS. These facts may not be flattering, BUT when you run a poor business, they rarely are.

We have a responsibility TO our membership.

 

[Jonnio]

PS and off topic - I will be in your area in a few weeks...you bringing any homebrew to the 500?

 

[The Pol]

PS and off topic - I will be in your area in a few weeks...you bringing any homebrew to the 500?

Meh, I never attend the 500... I am almost never in town.

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

Has anyone tried emailing him a link to these threads?! I can't believe that he has supporting members on his message boards...

 

[mmb]

Has anyone tried emailing him a link to these threads?! I can't believe that he has supporting members on his message boards...

Already taken care of

FWIW: In response to an urgent email message referencing this thread, Tom says:

Dan,

No excuses - we are a very small company and are buried. I'd love to
hire a 4th person but every time I looked at the cost, hiring someone
else would put us in the red. I've explained this several times. We will
ship your order as soon as possible. Or if you'd rather, you can order
from someone else and pay more for the same stuff.

Please copy this to the forum. I would respond myself if I had time but
I don't.


Thanks, Tom
kegkits.com
256-656-1924

 

[The Pol]

IMHO, that is a crappy response.

They are SO busy (selling and making money) that they are not providing customer service. BUT, hiring one more person will put them in the RED?

Then I love the little jab at the end...

"Or if you'd rather, you can order from someone else and pay more for the same stuff"


IMHO, Id never order from someone with that attitude. Id rather pay more for the same stuff, AND ACTUALLY RECIEVE IT!

Sorry, this dude doesnt deserve the support of HBT and its members with jabs and an attitude like that.

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

I agree, Pol. His "take it or leave it attitude" seems completely inline with his customer support and business management. I'm considering doing a little experiment and ordering from him...

 

[EdWort]

I belived that he is busy with is taking money from people, waiting to get enough orders to get a wholesale price, then ordering the product and waiting for it to be delivered so he can finally ship it to his customers instead of stepping up and buying inventory so he can provide a semblance of customer service. Poor cash flow management and it falls on the end customer to provide it at the expense of weeks waiting for delivery.

You cannot be so busy that it takes weeks if not months to ship an order, but not busy enough to take the money and sit on it. BS plain and simple.

He needs a big RUN AWAY FAST sign for potential customers based on his current business model IMHO.

 

[The Pol]

Truely appauling.

 

[Myrdhyn]

I belived that he is busy with is taking money from people, waiting to get enough orders to get a wholesale price, then ordering the product and waiting for it to be delivered so he can finally ship it to his customers instead of stepping up and buying inventory so he can provide a semblance of customer service. Poor cash flow management and it falls on the end customer to provide it at the expense of weeks waiting for delivery.

You cannot be so busy that it takes weeks if not months to ship an order, but not busy enough to take the money and sit on it. BS plain and simple.

He needs a big RUN AWAY FAST sign for potential customers based on his current business model IMHO.

I'll say this in his defense, I've actually been in his store, he does have a fairly sizable inventory on hand (except ball lock cornies b/c his supplier is back ordered). However, this isn't his primary occupation, he actually works a regular job and does this on the side.

 

[mmb]

I'll say this in his defense, I've actually been in his store, he does have a fairly sizable inventory on hand (except ball lock cornies b/c his supplier is back ordered). However, this isn't his primary occupation, he actually works a regular job and does this on the side.

I don't think anyone is debating that. What is questionable is his repeated "inaccuracies" in dealing with customers AFTER they have placed orders.

Apparently, he is VERY responsive before he has your money.

 

[Rhoobarb]

I have an old axiom:

You can get something fast.
You can get something cheap.
You can get something that works right.

Now, pick two.

 

[Myrdhyn]

I don't think anyone is debating that. What is questionable is his repeated "inaccuracies" in dealing with customers AFTER they have placed orders.

Apparently, he is VERY responsive before he has your money.

Yeah, I can't really speak that, and I'm not about to defend questionable business ethics. I'm just saying, I know he isn't holding peoples money to then get a wholesale price after he has enough orders or any other conspiracy theory .

Either way though, he's the only place I can go to directly and look before I buy/pick stuff up directly so I give him business.

 

[Ronster]

Already taken care of

Originally Posted by danmickla
FWIW: In response to an urgent email message referencing this thread, Tom says:

Dan,

No excuses - we are a very small company and are buried. I'd love to
hire a 4th person but every time I looked at the cost, hiring someone
else would put us in the red. I've explained this several times. We will
ship your order as soon as possible. Or if you'd rather, you can order
from someone else and pay more for the same stuff.

Please copy this to the forum. I would respond myself if I had time but
I don't.


Thanks, Tom
kegkits.com
256-656-1924

Amazing, I had the same response word for word... Its great feeling like a wanted customer and getting a genuine response

 

[Daddymem]

He is so busy yet has the time to recently set up a new forum which he does monitor and post on....pfffftt Glad I read about this place before I placed an order.

 

[vautourj]

Just got this email last night. Hopefully get my REFUND as stated. Updating my BBB claim.

John,

I apologize for slow emails – we are absolutely buried & don’t have f\time to get everything done.

We will refund your order on Tuesday.

Thanks,
Tom Hargrave
kegkits.com
kegkits.com - Index
256-656-1924

 

[chumprock]

I wonder which Tuesday he is referring to.....?