Woodfordes kits £14:99ea

[sargie]

Well im from grimsby so im lucky enough to have the grimsby home brew centre not too far away. He has obviously got a buissness head because he sells online too. I spoke to shaun on tuesday when i collected my order he is a really nice bloke and he told me they do it all themselves managing the shop and the online buissness. Perhaps if home brew suppliers want to compete with places like wilkos and online retailers they need to sell online aswell as from instore. That way people who arnt near by can still order from there nearest homebrew centre but just get it delivered.

[sparky Paul]

I get all the advice i need from this fantastic forum. Thanks Jim.

This forum is great, but it's not quite the same as being able to pick up a product and ask questions on the spot... or ask about something new you see on the shelf. I know the folk running the HBS can't know everything, but if the shops shut like my nearest HBS, they've gone for good.

If we had to rely on the poor choice at Wilkos for homebrewing supplies, it would be a sorry day.

You also have to bear in mind that shops like Wilkos are fickle, and if there is a another downturn in interest in homebrewing, they will drop the products and fill the shelf space with something more profitable. This is exactly what was happening at Wilkos several years ago, until the recent revival of interest in home brewing... prior to this, many Wilko stores had removed homebrewing supplies from the shelves completely.

Perhaps if home brew suppliers want to compete with places like wilkos and online retailers they need to sell online aswell as from instore. That way people who arnt near by can still order from there nearest homebrew centre but just get it delivered.

Sounds like a good idea. Brewgenie do a free courier shipping deal similar to most of the other online HBS, where you have to spend a minimum of £65, but I see they also have their own delivery vehicle which makes free deliveries in the area around their shops for a minimum order of only £30.

There are lots of excellent online HBS to choose from, but I sometimes wonder if the online market is about saturated.

[colchesterhomebrewer]

This forum is great, but it's not quite the same as being able to pick up a product and ask questions on the spot... or ask about something new you see on the shelf. I know the folk running the HBS can't know everything, but if the shops shut like my nearest HBS, they've gone for good.

I agree, but what really pees off the HBS owner is when people that you know haven't bought from you (and have obviously bought items from Wilko's more cheaply than you can supply them) come in and ply you for the info they can't get from the Wilkos staff, and then sod-off and never return. Would you consider going to a solicitor for free advice or taking a set of parts you've bought from Halfords and asking a mechanic how you should fit them ? Of course not, but you would be surprised at how many people come through my doors wanting to know why their beer is still cloudy and whether or not they have understood the brewing instructions on the beer or wine kit that they have bought cheaply elsewhere but that provides no back up service or advice.

Perhaps if home brew suppliers want to compete with places like wilkos and online retailers they need to sell online aswell as from instore. That way people who arnt near by can still order from there nearest homebrew centre but just get it delivered.

Several HBS do offer online sales to complement their "walk in traffic" and continue to offer free delivery on sales over £65, but to cover such sales we have to charge rates that are closer to full RRP rather than those that Wilko's charge. As a rough guide, a HBS trader will pay around £12.50 - £13.00 plus vat for a Woodforde kit, so your single can of Woodfordes has cost the HBS around £13.75 which gives a profit of less than £1.25 if pricematching Wilkos.

As the 2 can Woodfordes kits weigh 3kgs each, if you sell them online you have to use a courier system to ship them - minimum charge around £4.95 (unless its a local postcode delviery via Fastway in which case it MIGHT be as low as £2.95, but only if you are prepared to invest £250+ pre-purchasing their stamps).

You buy 5 of these price-matched kits at a cost of just under £75.00 to get the free shipping and the HBS has made around £3.00 on the transaction, and less than that by the time they have packed the goods - its not exactly going to go a long way towards covering a £1000+ per month rent and rates bill is it? That's why the HBS charges more than Wilko's... though some, especially those based on industrial estates, often have free parking available outside their shops so that needs to be taken into account as a saving rather than paying in town parking charges.

It might come as a surprise to some people, but HBS owners don't it run their businesses just for the fun of it (though it is good fun), they do it to make a living and try and feed their families in just the same ways their customers try to save money so they can feed theirs. We try to offer the best prices we can, ) but we still want to earn enough to be able to remain open so that you don't have to rely on only having available whatever stock Wilkos know they can turn around quickly

There are lots of excellent online HBS to choose from, but I sometimes wonder if the online market is about saturated.

There are quite a few available and what is worse is the number of "non retail" outlets selling on ebay at prices that are barely above trade prices. Yes its great for the consumer and it may well make enough in a year to pay for a nice holiday, (though you can lay bets that ebay and paypal are making more out of each transaction than the "retailer" is), but its not gonna keep your local HBS ticking over is it?

And, more importantly, unlike your local HBS, the online retailers and Wilko's NEVER, EVER have samples available, like my local HBS in Colchester does, for you to share a drink with them putting the world to rights !!!

[sargie]

My home brew centre has samples too and for what it's worth i much prefer going there. If for example i wanted to buy an edme kit from wilkos they are £9.99 but there bke is £4.99 my local hbs edme kits are 3£11.75 but there bke is only £3.59 so in that case although it's a little more i would go to my home brew centre. so there are other ways to make it cost effective Than the price of kits. And then there are things that wilko just does not sell for starters mine only has coopers lager and a bitter, it only sells the wherry kit, No spray malts, no brewing sugar or carb drops,no bottlers,no plastic bottles etc etc. All these things i buy from my hbs.

[legion]

Brupaks (£16.99), Woodfordes (£14.99) and Milestone kits (£15,.99) are still on sale at creativeWinemaking.co.uk

[araldite]

Brupaks (£16.99), Woodfordes (£14.99) and Milestone kits (£15,.99) are still on sale at creativeWinemaking.co.uk

just had a delivery some woodfordes kits £14.99 and the st peters ruby red £16.99 very well packed, ordered friday afternoon

I'm actually excited about doing the st peters kit how sad is that

Certainly can recomend the service from em and will def use again

[araldite]

Just been and bought some more from here and they are now £14.49 also picked up a brupaks colne valley at £15.99.

Wilcos wherry kits are now £15.74.

araldite

[araldite]

Stuffs just been delivered

Got to say this place his very good service, i know we should use the lhbs but if like me you have'nt got one the service and price from this shop is 2nd to none

well impressed

araldite

[boingy]

Don't be too hard on Wilko's. They are probably responsible for introducing many folks to the hobby. Some of those will never progress past Wilko and some will give up but some others will outgrow the limited range and progress to a LHBS or online equivalent. And credit to Wilko for stocking a decent quality kit in addition to the el cheapo kits.

And don't get too romantic about all LHBS's. My local one has never heard of SO4, or indeed SafAle. I asked him if he had any 10 gallon fermenting bins and he tried to sell me a 10 litre one. He stocks Brupacks and Youngs stuff, all at full RRP and I'm not convinced he is a homebrewer at all. However, he does sell 25kg sacks of MO for £25 so it's not all bad but I've no idea how he is still in busness tbh.

[FlourPower]

This forum is great, but it's not quite the same as being able to pick up a product and ask questions on the spot... or ask about something new you see on the shelf. I know the folk running the HBS can't know everything, but if the shops shut like my nearest HBS, they've gone for good.

I agree, but what really pees off the HBS owner is when people that you know haven't bought from you (and have obviously bought items from Wilko's more cheaply than you can supply them) come in and ply you for the info they can't get from the Wilkos staff, and then sod-off and never return. Would you consider going to a solicitor for free advice or taking a set of parts you've bought from Halfords and asking a mechanic how you should fit them ? Of course not, but you would be surprised at how many people come through my doors wanting to know why their beer is still cloudy and whether or not they have understood the brewing instructions on the beer or wine kit that they have bought cheaply elsewhere but that provides no back up service or advice.

You see this alot in Archery where the choice of the right kit is important for scores and to prevent injury. The shops who will take someone on a range to shoot samples, often having to coach the archer if a beginner and offering additional setup help are often 15% more expensive so many people think they get a bargain by going through all their selection and help only to buy cheaply online.

With my archery as with my beer making, when I need help I'll try and find a real store and pay real prices. If I know what I need then I'll use price as my consideration. The work of the smaller, specialised shops is appreciated by a few of us.

[kay-jay]

hi all,

The work of the smaller, specialised shops is appreciated by a few of us.

here here!

im in complete agreement with that. luckily for me tho my lhbs is pretty darn good. he stocks a massive range of kits equipment extrats and grains. he's happy to help and order anything not in stock. he is also very knowledgable with 16 years brewing equipment. his prices are very competetive when compared to most online outlets....i just have to travel a bit to get there, its well worth it tho cos i can hang around for a bit and have a natter while drinking a beer or to that he has brewed.

KJ

[hoppinmad]

Surely both deserve our support, wilkos for bothering with homebrewers (premium shop floor space aint cheap) and lhbs for their variety of goodies that we suddenly find that we cant live without! i cant seem to visit my lhbs without spending well over £50 a time, cant say that will ever happen in wilkos. besides lhbs are increasing in my area and i think that with the current financial climate and the rate that pubs are closing that homebrewing is gonna boom.

[albacore]

Seem to be £14.49 now.

albacore

[silversurfer]

Who seems to be 14.49 now

[Naich]

Him do seem to be