46 replies to this topic

[pods8]

$3.99 at northern brewer and my LHBS too. 

 

For $4 I would likely have just hit up the local place to throw them a bone but I was getting a couple packs of that plus some 71B, etc. and it quickly was a few cheaper to just order it so I opted to show my support elsewhere.  In this case its not just a faceless internet source either (to me).

[Brownbeard]

For $4 I would likely have just hit up the local place to throw them a bone but I was getting a couple packs of that plus some 71B, etc. and it quickly was a few cheaper to just order it so I opted to show my support elsewhere.  In this case its not just a faceless internet source either (to me).

Right.  When the owner of our LHBS came to town, he immediately joined the brew club.  Every time we have an event, he kicks in door prizes.  He really is a friend to our club.  We do a base malt purchase every year, partnering with Lion Bridge brewery.  So I do not buy base malt from him.  But I get everything else there.

[SchwanzBrewer]

I don't order much anything online for malts or yeasts anymore. I buy in bulk from the LHBS for malt, and they pretty much always have the yeast I want and it's fresh. I order hops in bulk though online from the growers. 

[japh]

Just checked because I haven't been in a while, and my LHBS is $4 for US-05.

[positiveContact]

only thing I really have to order online now is wyeast.  my lhbs doesn't carry it b/c they won't sell to him (too many other LHBS in the greater area I guess).  He gets all of my dry and white labs yeast business along with specialty grains and other odds and ends.

 

bulk grain gets bought from a bottle shop that is owned by a homebrewer who does bulk buys every few months.

oh yeah - hops do get ordered online.  forgot about that.  hard to beat the bulk pricing at hopsdirect, label peelers, etc.

[bierboy]

I'm not.  This is for her soda stream, in those bottles.  Wasn't planning to have anything in my kegging stuff.

 

$2.99 https://www.ritebrew...ct-p/830468.htm

 

I also grabbed this mangrove jack cider yeast, anyone ever tried it?  https://www.ritebrew...ct-p/830102.htm

That's who I order from and then go pick it up.   His warehouse is about 15 minutes away and has Saturday morning hours.

[Trub L]

I am all about decent customer service and courtesy, but man, I think when someone uses the phrase "earn my business," they sound like kind of a douchespigot.

[pods8]

I am all about decent customer service and courtesy, but man, I think when someone uses the phrase "earn my business," they sound like kind of a douchespigot.

 

"retain" better?

[Stains_not_here_man]

The LHBS here in town was struggling  but then he branched out into selling hydroponic growing equipment and apparently is now doing pretty well

[neddles]

"retain" better?

No. You were correct the first time.

[pods8]

Attract, entice, etc. Whatever.

[Big Nake]

I have a LHBS that is on my way to and from work calls and it used to be pretty bad. They have changed locations and stepped up their game very nicely over the years and this is where I pick up bulk grains (55 lbs sacks), hop pellets and Wyeast along with things like Whirfloc, lactic acid, CaCl and CaSO4, tubing, funnels, airlocks, flasks, sanitizer, etc. The grain and hop selection used to be very sparse and now it's excellent. If they don't have something, I'll order it from Farmhouse or Rebel. I feel like I want to buy from this place because they have made such an effort to improve the store. If they appeared to not care, charged high prices, sold old ingredients, etc., I would not feel obligated to help them. My money goes to those who seem to want to earn it. Local is nice too because I can save money on shipping and I'm going right past the place (sort of...) anyway.

[MakeMeHoppy]

I don't think that mark up is too bad, as mentioned online it's at least $4. Add it the online cost the $1 extra for an ice pack and overnight shipping during warm weather. It's easy to bulk order hops and grain so many bypass the local shop for that. They simply cannot stay in business selling just yeast to people so a good mark up on the yeast is completely reasonable.

 

I should also say I think the locals need to update their business plan and shift more toward training than in just supplies. Mine is just too high for 1 lb grain purchases and they refuse to get 50-55 lb sacks so I go a little further to the shop that will do that. Homebrewing seems to be a growing market and local shops that rely on just selling overpriced extract kits are losing out.

[ChicagoWaterGuy]

I don't think that mark up is too bad, as mentioned online it's at least $4. Add it the online cost the $1 extra for an ice pack and overnight shipping during warm weather. It's easy to bulk order hops and grain so many bypass the local shop for that. They simply cannot stay in business selling just yeast to people so a good mark up on the yeast is completely reasonable.I should also say I think the locals need to update their business plan and shift more toward training than in just supplies. Mine is just too high for 1 lb grain purchases and they refuse to get 50-55 lb sacks so I go a little further to the shop that will do that. Homebrewing seems to be a growing market and local shops that rely on just selling overpriced extract kits are losing out.

You get an ice pack with dry yeast? I haven't done that. I doubt it was refrigerated when shipped from the manufacturer/wholesaler/lhbs.

[positiveContact]

I don't think that mark up is too bad, as mentioned online it's at least $4. Add it the online cost the $1 extra for an ice pack and overnight shipping during warm weather. It's easy to bulk order hops and grain so many bypass the local shop for that. They simply cannot stay in business selling just yeast to people so a good mark up on the yeast is completely reasonable.

 

I should also say I think the locals need to update their business plan and shift more toward training than in just supplies. Mine is just too high for 1 lb grain purchases and they refuse to get 50-55 lb sacks so I go a little further to the shop that will do that. Homebrewing seems to be a growing market and local shops that rely on just selling overpriced extract kits are losing out.

 

my LHBS survives by also being a small brewery.  the HB supplies are almost secondary to him.

[pods8]

I don't think that mark up is too bad, as mentioned online it's at least $4. Add it the online cost the $1 extra for an ice pack and overnight shipping during warm weather.

 

Except its not as mentioned.   For dry yeast I see no real need for ice or overnight shipping so the shipping cost was adsorbed into the markup of a single pack, as is I wanted a couple so it quickly was cheaper for me to order it.

[Big Nake]

I should also say I think the locals need to update their business plan and shift more toward training than in just supplies.

I agree. The LHBS I referred to earlier is also a "grow" shop and there are a lot of ... ahem ... growers that work there. Sorry for that vivid image. If you ask them about beer ingredients or equipment, they may or may not have an answer which is okay for me but it's an area where they can do better. Another LHBS in our area that was run into the ground was REALLY good about giving out advise, training, holding classes and seminars, brewdays in the parking lot, etc. Everytime I went in there to see a buddy of mine, he was swept away by newbies asking questions and he loved that kind of attention and I know the newbies liked it too. Alas, the owner of the place was a nimrod and fukced it up for everybody.

[MakeMeHoppy]

Well I usually order dry with liquid so I get the ice pack. My local keeps all yeast in a fridge and I can't think of any that I've been to that leave dry yeast sitting out.  Do you guys leave dry yeast at room temperature at home?

[neddles]

Do you guys leave dry yeast at room temperature at home?

No. 33-34F in the fridge.

[pods8]

Well I usually order dry with liquid so I get the ice pack. My local keeps all yeast in a fridge and I can't think of any that I've been to that leave dry yeast sitting out.  Do you guys leave dry yeast at room temperature at home?

 

I don't leave it out at home but I also don't think its nearly as sensitive to a couple days of shipping temps.  Thus standard shipping/no ice is perfectly fine in my book and then I store it in the fridge.  In the LONG term I think temps will affect viability.