Bergland pot (stock and thermo) owners

[jimbo74]

Have Bergland started selling to UK customers again then? I've been away from brewing for a while and am now looking at getting some kit back together and I thought I'd missed out on their gear as the last I heard they stopped shipping to the UK.

thanks
jim

[TempTest]

Well I'm having a nightmare dealing with them. They will not speak to me on the phone because they are not fluent in English - Fair enough, I couldn't hold a conversation in German - but they only reply to email about once per day. We're at a sticking point where they acknowledge the pots are not right but solving it is an issue:

1) They insist the pots are first returned and will not deliver and collect on the same visit (so I'm looking at another 2 weeks turn around).
2) They want the items packaged 'as they were sent' but the problem is they sent two boxes stacked one on top of the other, lightly selotaped together and then strapped together (those thin plastic straps you can get)... Of course, I cut open the straps on receipt (as you have no option to do) but I do not have the same straps to put back on or equipment to reseal. I've asked if they can collect two parcels rather than one but they're not going for it. I'm not sure what the resolution is.

I've asked if I can just accept a partial refund and keep these to save on the hassle but they are not happy with that either. As it is, I'm not sure how this will resolve. I'm concerned if I sent the items not well packaged and they get seperated (with only consignment slip) then I'll end up without pots or cash!

This would certainly make me think twice about purchasing direct again. Sure, you pay a bit more buying from one of the UK resellers but you get a level of customer service to match it if things go wrong (and they are far less likely to as I don't think one of the homebrew suppliers would have sold me a pot in this condition to begin with!).

Argg!!

[barneey]

As mentioned on the first page, it is their standard practice to await the pot return first, my suggestion go down to poundland (or similar) get a few rolls of the brown parcel tape and use the lot on them, if can also thread the boxes (top lid and bottom lid) together with some string first, pop the post in and tape like a mad man. They normally get the pots right the second time around.

[TempTest]

Just a quick update on this:

As requested by Bergland I returned the pots, on the promise I'd be sent replacements. A few days later the pots arrived back at Bergland only for me to be instantly sent a refund, not replacement. No explanation, even when I queried it... Just a decision they had made! I was confused, they'd promised a replacement yet did not honour it and would not even discuss it. Even odder, given the return was on their recommendation.

After a few emails (given they refused to speak on the telephone, citing bad English - cannot complain though as I cannot speak German!) the 'solution' was for me to get a refund on the original order and place a whole new order again. I'm not sure why such a faff was necessary and it did mean I lost a few quid as the exchange rate had changed since my original order (hence I got back less £s for the given price in € than I had paid). I was a little concerned when I requested they check the condition of the pots this time and was told it 'was not possible' but I felt I had no other options, so I placed the order. After all, I've 'specced out' all of my new purchases on the basis of using these pots...

Fast forward another week and the pots arrived today. To say I am disappointed is a complete understatement. I'll not bother taking photographs this time but rest assured the photographs posted previously are indicative of what has again arrived. In some areas the new pots are better, in other areas worse. Possibly the most frustrating bit (where the new pots are worse than before) is the seal made by the themopot lid. Of course the lid can be put on in one of three ways (120 degrees rotated). In one of these the lid seals poorly and can be 'rattled'. In addition to the other marks, etc, I'm gutted given the £50+ spend.

I'm not sure where to go from here... If I return them this time then I will not order again (and I doubt they'd accept a third order) so it's like it or lump it. The fact is I'm not sure of an alternative. Does anybody know another manufacturer of thermopots? Ideally 12 Ltr, again. Also, selling stock pots too... Any ideas? If I have no alternative I guess I'll begrudgingly keep the pots but it's all left a very sour taste and I'm no longer as excited by my recent purchases as I was... You know how it goes! As I mentioned before, if this is what 'shiny' gets you I'd rather stay plastic!

My recommendation for others? Avoid Bergland pots - Sure, I'm bound to say this and no doubt numerous others will state otherwise based on better experiences... All I can go from is mine and that is based on two separate 'orders' arriving. None of which are at all acceptable and I really would not risk it. If you are hell bent on purchasing Bergland at the very least go via a UK distributor. At least then you have somebody to complain to and, in fairness, they're unlikely to try and send a pot in such poor state out to you. As it is, Bergland want nothing to do with customers after a sale is made... No apologies, nothing. Sure, you'll get your money back (minus any losses due to exchange rates or charges) but you're not getting service that's for sure. I purchased Bergland on the good reputation the pots have within the homebrew community. Unfortunately this is not the experience I had expected. My opinion? Give Bergland a wide berth.

So - Can anybody recommend an alternative? I'm going to give myself a day or two to work out how I want to play this before I contact Bergland...

[Ren]

Are you sure such a small volume will hold temperature well?I had some significant heat losses with 10l batches although I used industrial cooler Igloo. I switched to recirculating Biab

[barneey]

I don't know of any UK based shops selling the small thermopots but would try the likes of http://brewbuilder.co.uk/brew-pots.html or the http://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/ (other shops available) to see if they can source / help you. They might be extra money but then you get the service from a UK company & the checks on condition.

[Andy]

Nightmare! Did you ask them to check this shipment before sending ?

[TempTest]

Are you sure such a small volume will hold temperature well?I had some significant heat losses with 10l batches although I used industrial cooler Igloo. I switched to recirculating Biab

I've not tried brewing such small volumes before. This was originally my 'entry' into all grain so recirculating sounds like an extra complication. If I could have purchased something off the shelf I'd consider it but for now it's a bit too far for me. Touch wood I don't get the heat losses you describe.

I don't know of any UK based shops selling the small thermopots but would try the likes of http://brewbuilder.co.uk/brew-pots.html or the http://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/ (other shops available) to see if they can source / help you. They might be extra money but then you get the service from a UK company & the checks on condition.

Thanks. I'll have a think about what to do. Of course buying direct has a significant cost saving and so I'm sure if I were to purchase these pots elsewhere I'd no doubt be talking £100 rather than £50... I need to decide at what point I'm best to cut my losses. I must say last night I was pretty gutted and considered sending the pots back and canning the idea of trying small AG batches but now I've spent on other bits and bobs (jerry cans for fermenters, auto syphon, thermapen, etc) I don't want those to be wasted.

Nightmare! Did you ask them to check this shipment before sending ?

I was a little concerned when I requested they check the condition of the pots this time and was told it 'was not possible' but I felt I had no other options, so I placed the order.

Very frustrating but apparently they check the pots when they receive them and no further checking is done prior to despatch. I would not mind that if it was a system that actually worked. Clearly it does not (or perhaps these small pots are just particularly bad). The fact that, given I had returned one batch already, they could not check prior to despatch on this occasion is just bizzare - Absolutely no attempt to make sure the problem did not reoccur. I was simply told I could return if I received pots I was not happy with. Given the loop time of this, and the faff of dealing with returns, it really was not ideal. Ever more frustrating when they try and blame the poor quality on the courier (!!!). Check the photos I've posted previously... Dents caused by courier? I can see that. Manufacturing defects? Not a chance.

[barneey]

I wonder what happens to the returns??????

Anyway why not try 3rd time lucky & then either Cheat & buy from a UK supplier or throw the towel in.

[chris2012]

I'd give up with them personally and find a UK company instead