Does this annoy anyone else!

[Hogarth]

I do tend to choose a particular shop because it has that one obscure item in stock -- say, a certain diameter of silicon tube -- and then it's just more convenient to buy everything else there as well, including sacks of grain.

[Battleaxe]

Years ago now I used to be really into Rc off-road buggys etc etc, and all the suppliers and hobby stores had postage that went from 99p to £6.99 but it was always reasonable especially if you only wanted a screw kit or consumables.

Why HBS can't do it is beyond me I'd be happy to pay £1.99 upto a certain weight and then £6.99 for over that but most seem to employ a £6.99 charge on everything regardless which makes it hard to justify the overall £20-30 quid orders I always end up waiting until I'm desperate for grain or I have 4/5 planned brews and order for those at £40+ unfortunately for me SWMBO doesn't see my logic...

[Aleman]

A lot do use royal mail and send stuff out at much reduced costs. I know Hop and Grape and malt miller do it as they have done it for me when I've forgotten yeast on the main order.

[Kev888]

Yes, the better ones will use sensible postage for smaller items, and often detail who they use for what size/weight on their website. FWIW I'm also a regular user of The malt miller/neils, not only is his own service superb, but for orders of any size he uses DPD who for me have been light-years ahead of most other delivery services. In the past, Hop & Grape and also The Home Brew Shop in aldershot have also been quite helpful.

Though even with the best there are limits, in fact perhaps especially so: offering relatively fresh ingredients must make stock-keeping even more challenging. Personally, I try to keep a stock of the regular stuff, so I'm only looking for a few specifics per brew.

[Battleaxe]

Yes, the better ones will use sensible postage for smaller items, and often detail who they use for what size/weight on their website. FWIW I'm also a regular user of The malt miller/neils, not only is his own service superb, but for orders of any size he uses DPD who for me have been light-years ahead of most other delivery services. In the past, Hop & Grape and also The Home Brew Shop in aldershot have also been quite helpful.

Though even with the best there are limits, in fact perhaps especially so: offering relatively fresh ingredients must make stock-keeping even more challenging. Personally, I try to keep a stock of the regular stuff, so I'm only looking for a few specifics per brew.

I get the impression that a HBS has to also compete with larger breweries taking priority for hops and malts they obviously buy more and this must mean the maltsters and hop growers will have less readily available stock for the smaller LHBS.

My argument I suppose is the postage prices and then products being out of stock or the don't carry an item etc etc.

I did however today find some Low colour crystal which I had been unable to find! and a new bottle brush as it was a suggestion when I checked out...

[rpt]

Malt Miller has sensible postage for small orders. I've bought several sachets of dry yeast with postage only just over £1. Unfortunately White Labs yeast is just over 100g so postage goes up to £3.60 so threw in a few other items.

[Notlaw]

I'm quite fortunate to have Leyland Homebrew just a very minor detour on my way home from work. Anything he hasn't got, he can normally get for me as long as I give him enough notice.

[chris172]

Have you looked at 'GetErBrewed'

they have an online recipe builder so you only enter the amount you want...IE 20g of hops instead of 100g packs and loads wasted.

Haven't used them myself so can't comment but have run a few recipes through it and it seems to work ok. They use pellets only though

[Redimpz]

I have recently noticed that weight limits have crept in with regard to the homebrew co and other sellers. where they used to send the whole order for £6.95 regardless of weight it is now limited to 30kg.
My reply to the original poster is. Yes, it can be very annoying. I often spend much time on different sites comparing prices and postage costs and hoping that one supplier has all that I need. I have bought from many different suppliers but mostly end up at the homebrew company as it can often wind up being a few quid cheaper.

[Halfacrem]

It's even more annoying when everything is in stock, but you find out you forgot to order your Yeast only when you open up your delivered goods. And then you place another order for your Yeast and a couple of other things and then remember you needed something else only after you've clicked buy

Not that I've done this myself, you understand..

[alix101]

I can understand your predicament but a bit of stock goes a long way.... stock up on hops before they go.With the amount of micro breweries now hops are at a premium, but buying 500g packs when available and freezing is a good idea (often on sale on ebid or the fir sale section ) a sack of pale malt and a range of slopes and dry yeast ,and your order day doesn't have to be as stressful..