whats up with AHB

[wedward]

I ordered a few things (tubing and fixtures) on 2/17 around 4PM PST and they were shipped 2/18 with a notice in my inbox at 9:30 AM. Goods received here in LA on 2/20. I'm impatient as hell, so paid $24 to UPS 2nd Day Air, and with less than 1/2 day to process, I think that's a pretty sweet turn around.

Like any biz - probably depends on what you order as well as when.

I do hope that the new site will have some good backend to it to estimate shipment and processing times, and provide some immediate notice if delays are hit. But if the systems won't do it for you automatically, don't waste you people power on it.

AHS will be a regular for me regardless - since they're priced well and proactive here!

 

[PlayMizuno]

I want to give a thumbs up to AHS and Forrest. I have always received timely responses to e-mails sent regarding orders and even kit ingredients. If you need the order in less than a week, pay the extra couple of dollars over the standard 6.99 and you will get moved up the list a little bit and get your order processed somewhat quicker. I am sure Forrest takes a beating on most of the orders where people choose the 6.99 shipping, so give him a break and thank him for what he if offering. Thanks Forrest and AHS........you guys rock and I can't wait to see the new website

 

[fastricky]

I also just made a first time purchase (being a loyal customer to a big AHS competitor) earlier in the week after months of thinking about doing so, and have been waiting all week for the shipping info to appear in my Inbox.

I appreciate AHS's position and what they are doing to rectify it BUT! what if I did not happen to click on this forum thread?!?

All week I've been like WTF? about the order not yet happening, and I now see I am definitely not the only one. Seems a quick & dirty email to all those placing recent orders just letting us know it would be a few additional days could squelch all of the apprehension. If a customer is given a reason for unexpected/undesired circumstances they will drastically tend to understand. However, if left in the dark one will tend to stew & feel like future business should head elsewhere.

Forrest-

Sales are good; they bring in extra business that may not otherwise happen. Don't err to simply eliminate that. Just communicate that you are overwhelmed. This happens with all businesses, and it's generally OK when that happens. We just need to know what's up.

Looking forward to getting my shipping info...

Good post.

I think AHS is an excellent resource, and YES, this isn't life saving equipment we're ordering here!

Just some FYI is all that's needed. In my case I was much more anxious than usual for my delivery as I'd broken my hydrometer and have 2 batches on the go, plus a new one I wanted to make that I've needed the hydrometer for. Adhering to the posted 24-48 hrs shipping protocol would have kept everything hunky dory. (I'd emailed to check on the status when I hadn't heard anything and didn't hear back either... so a number of odd happenings I wasn't accustomed to elsewhere).

BUT yes, they offered a pretty cool sale (and serendipitously I happened to go to the site on the day my state was featured not even knowing of the sale) so I thought to give 'em a try. Sounds like it exceeded expectations for the owner, and that is great news given what we're hearing on the news everyday.

I'm sure things will improve swiftly from what a very high ratio of accounts here vouch to be an excellent supplier. I look forward to hearing more about that. It sounds like this is just a bit of growing pains... keep on truckin'!

 

[Austinhomebrew]

Forrest, are you giving 10% off in-store sales on Saturday for those of us who live, you know, around the corner?

Yes, we are. Also we are giving away a $50 gift certificate in store.

Forrest

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

I had a very good experience with AHS. I forgot to add yeast nutrient on my online order so I called and they added it no problem and the order shipped quickly...and it was correct and packed very well.

If I were to pick nits it would be that tape that they secure the plastic tubing with...it leaves a lot of difficult-to-remove adhesive on the tubing.

C'mon Florida state sale....gogogogog (hint, hint).

 

[Evan!]

Here are a few questions that should be considered as well. This applies not only to the OP, but anyone else who has issues with the vendor in question.

1) Why is it that there are rarely any complaints about other online retailers? Is it because Forrest is active here and everyone just figures it's easier to complain here.

Apparently you've missed all the complaints about B3's awful inventory system over the past couple months...

 

[McKBrew]

Apparently you've missed all the complaints about B3's awful inventory system over the past couple months...

Nope, I've seen those complaints. But if you take the Austin complaints, they would tower over the B3 complaints. I'd have to dig to find a complaint against Midwest, Williams, or Northern Brewer, but you can't tell me people haven't had issues in the past with them as well.

It's one thing to complain after you've tried to work with the company, totally different if they don't respond or you don't give them the chance.

 

[fastricky]

I will say though to be fair, NB screwed up my previous 2 orders as well, but were quick to respond and communication never lacked.

Seems like business is booming for lots of folks and the growing pains associated with it... good news all around so long as these stores aim to get better (which I think they do).

 

[BierMuncher]

Solution:

• Bulk grains - Order multiple 55# sacks.
• Specialty grains - Order multiple 10# sacks.
• Hops - Order by the pound.
• Yeast - Order what you need...harvest the bountiful yield for foreseeable future.

Brew what you want, when you want.

 

[McKBrew]

Solution:

• Bulk grains - Order multiple 55# sacks.
• Specialty grains - Order multiple 10# sacks.
• Hops - Order by the pound.
• Yeast - Order what you need...harvest the bountiful yield for foreseeable future.

Brew what you want, when you want.

Show-off. Someday BM, someday I'll be doing that. Spent too much money on equipment this year, maybe next.

 

[flyangler18]

Solution:

• Bulk grains - Order multiple 55# sacks.
• Specialty grains - Order multiple 10# sacks.
• Hops - Order by the pound.
• Yeast - Order what you need...harvest the bountiful yield for foreseeable future.

Brew what you want, when you want.

EXACTLY what I do. :rockin:

I just inventoried all my grain- I'm sitting on about 400 lbs total. :rockin:

 

[llazy_llama]

Solution:

• Bulk grains - Order multiple 55# sacks.
• Specialty grains - Order multiple 10# sacks.
• Hops - Order by the pound.
• Yeast - Order what you need...harvest the bountiful yield for foreseeable future.

Brew what you want, when you want.

View attachment 10023

Ladies and gentlemen, a historic event! BierMuncher's first picture of non-ugly junk!

:rockin:

 

[Evan!]

Nope, I've seen those complaints. But if you take the Austin complaints, they would tower over the B3 complaints. I'd have to dig to find a complaint against Midwest, Williams, or Northern Brewer, but you can't tell me people haven't had issues in the past with them as well.

It's one thing to complain after you've tried to work with the company, totally different if they don't respond or you don't give them the chance.

Well, I've worked with them in the past, and, interestingly enough, when I PM'd forrest last time, he never responded. The last time I ordered during a sale, it took 10 days (yes, 10) to pull the order, then shipping time on top of that. I think Forrest is wise for stopping these storewide sales, TBH.

Quite frankly, though, B3's inventory problems are worse than the AHS delays, as far as I'm concerned. I wish them both the best of luck---looks like AHS is getting a bigger warehouse and a new employee, and B3 claims that fixing their inventory problems are their #1 priority for the new year. As for Midwest & NB, I've never had a single issue with either of them, and have never used Williams.

Everyone seems to be taking this sh*t personally, when it's just business. Yes, I agree, trying to fix the problem through the proper channels before posting in public is only common courtesy---but sometimes nothing changes until someone complains in public.

 

[BierMuncher]

...............

 

[llazy_llama]

Everyone seems to be taking this sh*t personally, when it's just business. Yes, I agree, trying to fix the problem through the proper channels before posting in public is only common courtesy---but sometimes nothing changes until someone complains in public.

Is it just me, or does Evan! always seem a hard grasp on the balls of the issue in general?

Seems to me that Forrest is a small businessman, and he ran this 50-state **** as a small businessman. It looks like it brought in a lot more business than he expected, so he (and here's where **** gets serious, folks) hired more staff to cope with the influx. Don't get me wrong, I look forward to the future when my yeast can be e-mailed to me in 0.0003 seconds, but until then, AHS seems pretty quick and reliable.

Also, the deal I got (not even on my discount day) was rediculous. Compared to my last online HBS, I saved some money and got higher quality ingredients.

 

[Evan!]

...............

View attachment 10025

I'm sure it doesn't hold a candle to your tally, Munchie...

 

[TheBandit]

I ordered from them after seeing good reviews on here. I ordered the 19th and they shipped the 25th. Yes a little slower than I thought. I was hoping to get it before this weekend but it will be here Monday. I'll just have to brew next week sometime. It does say on the site to pay the shipping if you want it expedited. If not just order a little earlier if you are happy with them. Not too big a deal. If I'm satisfied with what I get from them I will order again. But I'll order a little earlier. It's great to hear someone is very busy in these trying times. And I'm sure he is busy for a reason.
Anthony

 

[schristian619]

+1 for supporting Austin Home brew. I typically get most of stuff from my LHBS, but I do order online from time to time, and AHS has been great! I had one small issue one time but that was resolved immediately. I look forward to teh CA sale day and have no problem with any delay as it is to be expected during a sale like this.

 

[Edcculus]

There are only problems when people complain. Stop freaking complaining. You are getting a hell of a deal. Tough **** if it ships later than you want it to.

 

[PSmurf78]

Hey Forest, any chance once the 50 day sale is done you could give us a metric of which states had the highest % of orders? It's be interesting to see something like:
TX 12.2%
CA 10.3%
FL 9.2%

We could then tell those guys to move to a different state to get their orders faster

 

[WhyTee]

Don't want to keep dragging this on but I'm really happy with everything I've gotten from AHS. Tomorrow I'll be placing an order as it's my state When people ask me where I get my stuff that's where I send them.

 

[Austinhomebrew]

Hey Forest, any chance once the 50 day sale is done you could give us a metric of which states had the highest % of orders? It's be interesting to see something like:
TX 12.2%
CA 10.3%
FL 9.2%

We could then tell those guys to move to a different state to get their orders faster

Texas will win by far. About a third of our customers are from Texas.

Forrest

 

[vav]

+1 for AHS.

 

[PSmurf78]

Texas will win by far. About a third of our customers are from Texas.

Forrest

We slackers from Washington need to kick it up a little

 

[DD2000GT]

I am a big fan of AHBS - and have been to there store as well. However, a few weeks back there was a post regarding extremely slow service and incomplete orders - once again Forrest replied that there was employee issues and he was addressing it. I was missing several items from my two page order, and while the guy I called handled it quickly, it still took about three weeks from original placement of the order until I got all my stuff to brew. I posted then that for several months we have been seeing posts about slow service from AHB and the repeated reply from Forrest that it was staff issues and is being addressed.

Well - until I start seeing positive posts and not excuses, I think I will give my business to a vendor that understands basic business philosophy. When I want to brew, I do not want excuses - I want what I ordered and paid for. I don't seem to have issues with any other vendor I order from - so I will stick to what works for me. It is not worth the extra two weeks wait to save $2 on shipping - and I am unemployed right now.

And for you guys who will flame me for my post - I like AHB, I really do - but I also do not think it takes several months to take care of personnel issues. Keep ordering from them and waiting several weeks to get your stuff - and hold your breath that all the stuff you ordered comes in. See post below:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/50-my-online-orders-have-been-screwed-up-101111/

I really, REALLY, hope they get there stuff together before they loose too many customers for good. Just callin' it as I see it...

 

[pkpdogg]

I don't know why the people posting their concerns/complaints are getting slammed so hard. They have legitimate concerns and complaints. We all have to realize that we are talking about doing business, and there are certain expectations on the customer AND vendor side that come along with that.

Forrest's presence on HBT isn't for all of us to kiss up to him. It's a marketing channel for him, in addition to being his opportunity to get feedback to learn about how he can improve his business model and policies to better satisfy his customers and ultimately make more money and grow his business. Complaints in the business environment are often more helpful than hearing about what you're already doing well.

The take away from this thread is that quick communication with the customer is key. That's it.

So let's all just RDWHAHB!!! Damn, can't we all just get along?

 

[jonp9576]

so much hostility. i just want PA to come up on the 50 state sale so i can drop some of this tax return money

 

[BluesGuy]

Bottom line for me....I only order on line from AHS. Nothing but good experience. Is a Texas store....that says it all for me.

 

[double_e5]

Bottom line for me....I only order on line from AHS. Nothing but good experience. Is a Texas store....that says it all for me.

Anybody else think it was going to take this long for someone to start waving the Texas state flag?

 

[jonp9576]

hahahahahahahaha