Purchasing Gear woes

[brulelager]

These are the folks we should be supporting.

My opinion only

[jeffsmith]

I think you'll find many have a similar opinion.

[GAM]

Yep.

Ask Tim at WW&B.

[IanWatson]

To be fair they are called Noble GRAPE.

I guess they've chosen their business model to focus on the wine side of things. If it's not meeting your needs, there are others who will.

[mumblecrunch]

Can't deny Noble Grape is handy to have around when I need something quickly and I don't want to drive out to see Dave or can't because he's not open.

I suspect the pricing that's not so competitive is at least partially due to the overhead of operating so many stores. They also do a 10% discount for Brewnosers. Their beer customer is much more likely to be like their wine customer: mostly interested in buying kits that make something decent at a savings over buying at the NSLC (e.g., Festabrew). They carry a few things on top of that which provide a bridge away from kits (steeping grains, more hops, etc.) and which provide a convenience for folks like us who suddenly realize they need an ounce of hops or a pound of specialty grain on short notice. They are what they are and I'm glad they're around.

[amartin]

I've never had a bad experience with them, although it seems some are more wine oriented. Cole Harbour is like that, they don't carry a lot of beer supplies, so unless I forgot at the last minute I need wine corks or filters, I don't go in much, despite living out here. Usually I just stick with Oxford St. and Burnside, and they're always great there. That said, I mostly just use them like Aaron does, if I need a bit of hops or specialty grains, or extract. If I need equipment upgrades, I'll probably talk to Dave, since he has them.

[LeafMan66_67]

I've never had a bad experience with Noble Grape. As someone said, they are what they are. Steeping grains, hops, and yeast all available on short notice. Blichmann gear is available and can be ordered in. Over the past year or two their brewing gear selection has also increased.

[BeerMouth]

The Grapes and Grains store here in Port Hawkesbury is INCREDIBLY supportive of home brewing. We are very lucky to have such a wonderful store in our town. I'm so new to brewing that I've not even set foot in a Noble Grape store but I may put them last on my stopping list after reading some of these comments. Good to know who deserves our business and who doesn't. Thanks for sharing!

[redoubt]

I don't think it's a question of "who to support", or that Noble Grape doesn't care. They've got a certain business structure, and all-grain brewers just aren't their target customer base. That's ok. You can't expect a business to give you everything you want, just because it's somewhat related to what you're after. Does that make them bad people or a bad business? No, absolutely not. Does it mean that we can't do a "one stop shop" with them? Yeah. But let's face it - we're doing specialty stuff, we're likely going to have to hunt a little harder, or have fewer store choices to access everything we want. But we have that! Dave has a ton of stuff, is local-ish for Halifax and area, and also ships things. OBK ships things as well, if they have something different that you're after. And there are the group buys to get better access/prices for grains, hops, etc. And you guys have listed other spots that carry what you need. So...use each resource as appropriate, but don't bitch that NG needs to become something it's not, just because you seem to want it to. We've personally had INCREDIBLE service from Ed and crew at the Coldbrook location. He's got his hands tied by the business structure, obviously, but he'll work to find what we're after if he can. And if he can't, then we get that item elsewhere. No piss-offs, no panties in a bunch, no "don't support them". Just my two cents, but don't go rallying against something just because you didn't get your way.

-Keely.

[Jayme]

Yeah I agree with that sentiment - the owners are good guys.

[Celiacbrew]

And don't they sponsor the homebrew competitions?

[brulelager]

Say what you will, I stand by my original conviction of

1. That an item I had priced was the most expensive place to purchase it in all of Canada, that I can conclude, a line of products they carry.

2. I waited far to long to get that quote, which in the end took them less than a min to give me.
I never got my panties in bunch, I wasn’t pissy, in fact I bought a bottle Star San and left.

3. They have been condescending, at the Burnside location, I didn't say Ed in Coldbrook was, or anyone else elsewhere. On the contrary the folks at the Cole Harbour location are knowledgeable, courteous and helpful.
I know they don’t really deal with beer, just some kits and accessories, that's what they have and I respect that.

This site is a beer forum site, there are shops and services that really want to cater to brewers, all grain being more specific. Do I expect a business to give me everything I want? Of course not, but if you sell grain, which NG Burnside does, then perhaps a good business model would be to supply the items needed to brew such grain, or at least act interested when I inquire about items they don’t regularly stock. I highly doubt I would purchase tires at tire shop that doesn’t balance them when installed.

And to be clear I never said “don’t support NG” I just suggested we support those that support us.

And while were on the topic, their website sucks.

Just my two cents worth bro.

[GAM]

The overhead cost is high. The wholesale cost of the items is available (for the most part). Do you (or I) want to part with the money for the product? Maybe yes maybe no. We vote with dollars every day. I have made some good buys and some bad. I feel it is my responsibility to do the leg work and find the gear I want.

S

[brulelager]

I always do my leg work, I find I learn a great deal in the process.

[GAM]

I agree. What others have done wrong is a great place to start to learn to do it right (ish).

S

[Jayme]

And while were on the topic, their website sucks.

That I won't argue with

Lots of retail-centric places do still tend to have equally crappy websites though. Not that I think that's an excuse, just and observation.

[redoubt]

And to be clear I never said “don’t support NG” I just suggested we support those that support us.

And from your original post: "Why is it one of the largest retail brewing outlets, Noble Grape, carries a dismal selection of brewing supplies and yet many continue to support them." Followed by rant. Implication? Don't shop with them. You just didn't like that I called you out on it.

Your response post to me is much more charitable towards Noble Grape as a whole, noting specific issues, which hey, those issues are problematic. And yes, I do see that you didn't call out Ed or elsewhere, but I was adding my personal experiences to your general review, as you had added yours.

I'm not an argue-on-the-interwebs sort of person, but your initial post rubbed me the wrong way.

-Keely.

[brulelager]

your don't know my spirit, and you never called me out on anything, because what I said is the truth,
and I stood by it. How does the truth rub you the wrong way?

To quote Bart Simpson, "Don't have a cow man".

I revise my original post, Boycott 'em all, LOL

[redoubt]

And I don't know why I bother...

[CorneliusAlphonse]

Attitude means a lot, try to stay positive folks

Noble grape has pretty good grain, hop and yeast selection, and their locations means they tend to be batch and open decent hours. Some of their costs are unreasonably high, but for those items shop elsewhere

[LeafMan66_67]

And I don't know why I bother...

Because you care!

[evanisnor]

I went to NG in Coldbrook yesterday and asked guy about Erlenmeyer flasks. He told me straight up that they'd have to order from the US, the dollar sucks, and I'd get a better deal going elsewhere. He talked like a brewnoser so the conversation is always good, no bullshit from that guy. Not going to complain that they can't cater to a niche, but props for the honesty.

[brulelager]

Everwood has them, https://www.everwoodavebrewshop.com/category/yeast/

[CPR]

I went to NG in Coldbrook yesterday and asked guy about Erlenmeyer flasks. He told me straight up that they'd have to order from the US, the dollar sucks, and I'd get a better deal going elsewhere. He talked like a brewnoser so the conversation is always good, no bullshit from that guy. Not going to complain that they can't cater to a niche, but props for the honesty.

Bought mine here: http://buildingservices.medicine.dal.ca ... stores.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you're not a Dal student you have to pay with a money order, which is a pain in the butt. Prices aren't bad though; far cheaper than ordering from the US (which I've also done).