Homebrew shops vs. Buying online

[Travisty]

We have two shops that are literally less than one block apart. The one place has super friendly people, but their ingrediant selection isn't amazing an their equipment selection is worse. It is getting better though. They're hops tend to be a bit old and higher priced and they're yeast selection is iffy and usually old. They did just start carrying sack of Weyerman Pilsner malt for 40 bucks though! The other shop has more equipment and generally fresher ingredients but the guy that runs the place can be a real grump if he's in the wrong mood (which is relatively often). He tends to be worse if you don't know exactly what you're looking for. So, I tend to go to the other shop first and if they don't have what I need I'll check with the grump. Things like yeast and hops get ordered online. I can get fresher yeast shipped to me in a couple days with ice packs and an insulated bag for less than it costs to buy it local.

Now who could you ever be talking about.

I wish I could have opened my store in a populated area, but at least where mine is now it make enough to sustain itself and provide access for some homebrewers in the area. I think a lot of LHBS price themselves out and force people to go online. I would go online for bulk, definitely, so what I did with my shop knowing that bulk makes the hobby cheaper, I bring in bulk grains from Thunderhead that he sells to me at cost and charge very little mark up. That is what other shops should do, or get group buys together. If you send them online to buy one thing, bam, they are going to buy other things too.

The problem us shops have is that the product is perishable in almost all cases and that means we have to move it and if we don't we have to charge higher for the risk of not selling it. I get why these places do it but I also think that if you sell it cheaper it might move. I also feel like a lot of the shops are run by guys that just don't get the transition the hobby has made in demographics and aren't catering to those changes. Their loss, pretty soon you are going to see these shops go up for sale or close up and that is when the young guys can buy them out and improve them.

So, if anyone wants to partner up with me, I have the contracts, we can open a store in Omaha.

Yeah, I get why prices might have to be higher due to the lower volume, but I still don't understand how the one guy stays in business. He can seriously be a real asshole. A guy like that should never be in retail!

[Bugeater]

So, if anyone wants to partner up with me, I have the contracts, we can open a store in Omaha.

Another couple of years and I might take you up on that. I'd do it today if I had the capital. I have another part time business I am just getting built up that should take care of my retirement. Once that really gets going then I may get more serious about the LHBS business.

Wayne

[Brandon]

I am lucky my LHBS is Rebel Brewer. Huge selection and killer prices.

But before they opened even though we had a shop here, I irdered from NB or B3 for many of the reasons above

[11amas]

I guess there are just that many people that would rather send their money out of state than keep it local...even if it means giving business to someone who is grumpy. I still think some of you are missing the big picture and taking what you have for granted. I hear of Aussies driving 2-3 hours to get ingredients. Should put a 45 minute drive to shame.

[mikebiewer]

I don't even bother with my local shop. Pulling up to the shop requires me to go the opposite way on the road. Once I get there I half to walk over broken glass from the window that is cardboarded up and watch my head for the sign that is hanging by a limb.

Once inside all of the bins with grain are sitting on the ground, easily accessible to the dog that is running around and the parrot that is shitting in the corner.

Every thing is over priced and dirty. I like local, but I don't like having your 10 year old daughter sell me stuff. Its just awkward...

Online it is for me!

[11amas]

True, a shitty shop should not really be rewarded but what do you do when you are a slackass like me and have one of the following situations:
-you are bottling for a comp and you run out of crown caps
-you need to sanitize a carboy or keg and realize you ran out of starsan or iodophor
-you swear you had that us05 in the fridge to find out it was the us04 and english ale yeast is just wrong for the style
-you swear you had that oz of cascade to dryhop but realize that, the last batch you were surprised to find an 'extra' oz of cascade to dryhop the IPA you are drinking now

These have all happened to me in the last year and I either use my LHBS or say F-it, no big deal but really I like to have the option. Even in a dog lick, parrot shit, 10 year old clerk store...your crown caps can be sanitized, if they store yeast cold and you check the freshness date it should be ok, etc. Try overnight shipping any of these and then your whole cost structure will be turned upside down. All I am saying is beware taking for granted the local option because, one day, it may not be a local option. I really think we all should turn the other cheek and try to help out the local guys. Maybe it is shitty and poorly staffed and the owner is an ass exactly because they are getting killed by 6.99 shipping?
I am not accusing any of you of doing something bad. Shit, I was pissed at my local and drove 35 mi each way instead of 6 mi for almost a year because I had it out with a store manager at my close shop. I patched things up and we help eachother out. It helps that I am VP of a club and I see the symbiotic relationship between homebrewers and the LHBS. Seriously, there is something special about walking into a shop and having a person to help you get started. When you pass that point it is really easy to see the cost savings over convenience.

[Brandon]

I guess the morale of the story is don't be a slack ass then and plan better

[11amas]

The "moral" of my story is not to take a good thing for granted lest you lose "morale" when you come up short.