[tschmidlin]

Sorry you've had bad experiences, but I'm not about to drive an hour to pay $90 for something that I can get shipped to my door for $60.

Here's part of the problem when we're talking on-line from all over the place.

Your LHBS is an hour away?  That's not local as far as I'm concerned.  I have no less than 6 homebrew shops within an hour of my house.  There's 2 shops within 5 minutes of my daily commute if there's no traffic.  And for the record, even as close as they are I might not pay $90 for something I can get shipped to me for $60 either.  But would I pay $65?  Sure.

Depending on traffic through New Hope and how stupid I drive, yeah. But I'll make the drive for their grape juice. Which is why I hate the "you guys should support your LHBS" arguments. Trust me, even if you don't you'll be ok. Don't support bad businesses.

No one is saying support a bad business.  When the discussion turns to "support your LHBS", I think you can fairly say "I don't have a good one" if that's how you feel about it.  Because while I support my LHBS as much as possible, there are some of those 6 that I don't like and I would be buying everything online if they were the only choices available.  Back ~1998 I stopped brewing for 6 months because my favorite shop burned down and I didn't like the available options.  If I had known about a good online store I would have shopped there, but I didn't.

[MrNate]

[redacted]
Nevermind, I'm talking around points.

[tschmidlin]

My argument being that marking things up 50% or better over your competition and expecting your customer base to support this out of goodwill is bad business, not that all LHBS are bad businesses.

I agree, that's bad business.  I assumed you were referencing one shop as a bad business, not LHBS in general.  I wouldn't expect anyone to support a shop where they don't like the owner, the staff members are rude, the prices are exorbitant, etc.

Sounds like we agree.   

[MrNate]

Yeah, more or less. I just realized I had drifted into pointles kibitzing.

[homebrewgamecock]

I participate in a group grain buy here in Denver once or twice a year.  I buy English Pale, Pilsner and usually split a bag of Munich with someone (avg sack price is $40-50 with shipping).  I purchase my American 2 row from my local Gordon Biersch brewery.  The head brewer allows me to come by and fill up my 33 gallon trash can I use for grain.  He charges me his cost, which is about 30 cents per pound. 

I buy specialty grain, yeast and other supplies from my LHBS.  It's close - 15-20 minutes into Boulder for me.  They have good prices and service so I try to spend my money there when possible.

As for the bulk grain, they just can't come close to those prices which I understand.  As much as I brew, saving some dollars is helpful.  I try to frequent mom and pop stores, restaurants and services as much as possible, even if it costs a little more.  When it costs a lot more, I tend to go somewhere that less costly.

[grainpaw]

http://beeradvocate.com/beerfly/list?c_id=US&s_id=WV&homebrew=Y
This is the link to to the BA page for WV homebrew shops. Mine is The Cellar. There are two reviews from club members before the rift. The club did go on to buy  from North Country Malt. They may have dealt with the local brewpub as well.
The 55 lbs. Muntons Pale Malt was $66 at the time, around April 2009. Prices are down since then. Now I would price it at about $59, plus 3% tax.

[giant_macaskill]

Allow me to get on my high horse.

I for one am not sympathetic to my LBHS who owns a monopoly over a large area, and is completely uninterested and unresponsive to customer requests. You can shove your 400% markup and matching attitude up your ass.

[majorvices]

I dunno what the hell you guys are talking about. I just bought 80 sacks of malt from them and I'm a homebrewer.  

[bluesman]

and I'm a homebrewer.  

not anymore....        

[redbeerman]

and I'm a homebrewer.  

not anymore....        

+80

[Thirsty_Monk]

2 pallets. Nice.

[majorvices]

and I'm a homebrewer.  

not anymore....        

I am mashing a Belgian white at home right now at this very moment. So yes, I am still a homebrewer. 

[bluesman]

and I'm a homebrewer.  

not anymore....        

I am mashing a Belgian white at home right now at this very moment. So yes, I am still a homebrewer. 

Well I suppose we'll still let you hang out here with us.          

[majorvices]

I shall continue to grace you all with my presence until you finally bore me.

[bluesman]

I shall continue to grace you all with my presence until you finally bore me.

So what was the shipping damage$$$ on two pallets from NC?