Buying Online VS. Local

[P-Train]

How many of you buy online rather than driving over to the local shop?

I try to buy local and support my community but sometimes I like to order something that's not in stock that I want to try.

I think in most cases it's always best to buy local.

What do you think?

[b3s]

i tend to give preference to local stores for grain. otherwise, my decisions are based on price. for instance, i can get yeast from morebeer for $3/vial less than my LHBS and 3# of DME for $1/bag less -- toss in no sales tax and free shipping above $50 (hell, i can make a $50 order in about 8.76 seconds!) and i'm not only saving cash, but screwing the guvmint at the same time!

that said, i like to give the locals my business -- and i especially prefer to get fresh grains locally.

[S.F.B.]

I have always given my business to my local supplier. His prices are usually right in line with the on line shops. Even if his price is a little higher I will go to him. Mostly because when I brew It is a spur of the moment decision and I need the ingredients right away.

Bottom line is I feel you should support the local guy whenever you can.

[wortchillergoal]

Count me in on the local business. I have been brewing for 10 years and have never purchased a brew supply online.

[eddiefebuary]

Online. I don't have a local one nearby:(

[wild]

The only thing I've bought online are cornys and wasn't pleased with what I received.

Wild

[Bruno_78]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by b3s
i'm not only saving cash, but screwing the guvmint at the same time!

[QUOTE]

You know, you're supposed to pay those mail order taxes at the end of the year!

With that said, I buy almost exclusively online, with the exception of 50# bags of 2row for $25. My local store sucks in selection and price.

[Dropzone]

Driving up from Sanford to Raleigh to buy my grains is annoying and a waste of time & gas. But, since I don't have a grain mill and because I want to help out the local brewer supply shop, I drive the hour each direction. If I had a mill (and a garage for that matter), I'd probably buy online. Of course, the people that work there are also very knowledgable and I'm full of questions. :D

[toneyc]

I only buy online what I can not get locally. For two reasons: 1) I am a hands-on kinda person, I like to hold it in my hand before I buy it, and 2) I am very much against the Wal-Mart-ization of America. It is hard to find quality anything these days because you can get it cheaper at Wal-Mart. Not better - cheaper. The town I am from in Louisiana is almost dead because there is a Wal-Mart 30 minutes in either direction. All the little shops and stuff could not survive against the largest retailer in the world.

Oops, sorry, didn't mean to chew yer head off.

:eek:
Toney.

[corysdad]

My local homebrew store is 35 miles and they don't carry alot of supplies. But I still stop in there when I am in town and may pick up a few things. But generally I shop online.

[ray m]

I shop local as well. My LHBS is only @ 15 minutes from my hizzouse.

[MrMethane]

There are several home brew shops in and around Boston. I tend to buy things there. Like Tony I also like to see things before I buy them if its something I haven't previously purchased or used.

There are 2 homebrew shops within about 15 minutes from me. I mostly go to same one I origanlly bought my equpiment at. They seem to stock just about everything you can think of and they are always extremely friendly and knowledgeable. But they aren't open on Sunday in the summer so if I need something I go to this other smaller shop which is great for grains and hops but a little lacking on the equipment.

I do find some of their equipment prices to bit somewhat higher at my LHBS than what I can get it for online, but there is no shipping cost and I don't have to deal with UPS which is usually worth the extra money to me. No matter what day I order something online it always seems to arrive on a Friday. If I'm not home to sign for it UPS won't leave the package. Instead they leave a thing to sign and leave out so they can redeliver the next "buisness day". Well since its almost always on Friday this means I have to wait until Monday and its usually a long weekend so I have to wait till Tuesday to get my stuff that I should have had on Friday. Its worth $5 more to not deal with this. This is the main reason I don't buy hops, grains or yeast online, I have no idea how long they'll be in a hot(or cold) truck for.

Plus as others have said, it feels good to support the "Mom and Pop" business. Its getting rarer everyday to find a store that isn't a chain and staffed with 15 year olds. Its nice to walk into a store and be recognized and be treated nicley because they appreciate your buisness, not because the training video told them to always great the customer.

[rocketman]

from toneyc:

2) I am very much against the Wal-Mart-ization of America. It is hard to find quality anything these days because you can get it cheaper at Wal-Mart. Not better - cheaper. The town I am from in Louisiana is almost dead because there is a Wal-Mart 30 minutes in either direction.

Toney,
Try East TX. I was in its capital, with one regular and two super Walmarts. 3 total !!! in a town of about 80,000. They even put Kmart out of business. Makes Target look like a 5th Ave store. Well, I really recommend everyone stay away from St. Pat's, and go to AHS. The guys at AHS are very helpful, and I've always been impressed everytime I walk out. I lived in the middle of nowhere, but if I was in town, I'd be sure to stop in AHS, otherwise I'd buy from them online and get the free shipping.

[BluesHarp]

I have been buying local, but the nearest decent place is a good 45 minutes through relatively heavy traffic.

There is one about half that distance, but the store is a mess and I think a lot of the products are old.
He is part of a buying co-op so everything is in bulk - LME is in plastic tubs, grain sits in pails, and the hops are in small zip lock bags!
The last hops I bought there smelled like dung...I just threw them out.
I will only go there for equipment and occasionally yeast, since I can check the date on the package. O2 Mash knows who I am talking about...

I think I will try mail order for my next batch.

[SoxyinMO]

My local shop is about 95 miles away. I buy on-line, but I buy from them. Best of both worlds ;)

[Ilwaco Ed]

No LHBS in Ilwaco. We're so small Main St is a deadend. I mail order from 2 shops about 100 miles away. One shop writes a regular column for BYO and is very helpful. The other has been supplying breweries for over 100 years and sells to homebrewers as a fun sideline, but man!!! what a fun sideline setup it is!! Since they also wholesale to HBS, it seems I end up using their products no matter where I buy.
If there was a LHBS I would try to support them.

[fuji6100]

I order online since I live in Georgia, and the only LHBS around here are 150 miles away in Atlanta, or 80 miles away in south carolina.

[YamahaXS]

my local HBS is a great resource, but they are very expensive. That said, I still tend to buy locally, but I have been known to drive to a near by town to buy locally in another city where there is more competition.

[tropicaljoe]

I buy everything on line because I can't find anything whatsoever in south Florida. There oughta be a law!