Generally I buy my supplies at my LHBS, but sometimes I need items they do not offer and can’t get through there supplier. I have used a few of the major online suppliers and found some of them to be excellent and have great service, however… They sadly use Fed-ups. Which means my shipments get damaged (yeast frozen twice, the second time the reshipment of the first screw up), mis-delivered, etc. There is only so many times I would expect the company to make up for Fedups mistakes so, sadly I feel the need to find a different supplier.
Any suggestions on a supplier that may not be as well known but has good service, fairly big selection (or can get things in), reasonable shipping charges, and most importantly does NOT us Fed-ex!?
Is it FedEx or FedEx Ground you have the problem with? I understand being up in the NE Kingdom of VT, beautiful country btw Dave, you probably have to speak Québécois to get your stuff at the LHBS. I’ve used many online sources that have have the flat rate shipping, either $7.99 for $9.99 for any amount of weight or dollar value. They normally ship FedEx Ground. With those shipping charges, I have to wait 4 to 8 days, which I accept. I have no problem with that nor have I ever had any problem with an order delivery.
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If you like your online suppliers let them know of your problem and ask if they’d ship via USPS (if it fits it ships boxes) or UPS. They may charge you more since they have a contract with FedEx, but you’ll get the delivery service you want.
Yeah, the brandy would probably explain why she/he (there seems to be a few different drivers) left the box outside the garage (it was unlocked as always) before a snowstorm, down the hill from my house and didn’t even bother to check to see if anyone was home (I was) or leave a notice of delivery! Found it the next day when shoveling snow. >:(
I feel like my last order from Northern Brewer was shipped via UPS. I’ll have to check when I get home since I don’t have the email confirmation with me.
If you track your package online you’ll know the day it is delivered. You could’ve looked for that one that was left outside. I’m always champing at the bit and watching the tracking site, when its out for delivery I know about when the driver will be by.
I don’t even notice who delivers the packages, I’ve never had a problem with delivery from any of my online orders. I’m like Lennie though, I track my packages obsessively and know exactly when they are delivered.
If you talk to them and explain the problem of yeast freezing they might be able to package it differently for you to protect it. Or you can go with dry yeast if the rights strains are available, freeing dry yeast is harmless.
Twelve is “some”. But yeah it might have been Jan 2010, I couldn’t remember for sure. I kind of like it because they deliver on Saturday, but I haven’t had bad luck with either UPS or Fed Ex. I try not to order liquid yeast in the dead of winter but thats probably six months out of the year for some of you northerners.
