TOPIC:

Thanks guys, I'll check out that site. Yeah, the glass carboy might have been a mistake. We're gonna get the plastic ones (better bottle) when we reorder and our price for the big one is 15.98.

We will be getting crushed malt too, there are different types though so let me know which ones are popular. Our prices on the more expensive one (Pale Malt Crushed) are: 25kg 71.04 and 3kg 9.46. Is that reasonable? I haven't checked anybody elses prices yet.

Thanks guys, I'll check out that site. Agree on the glass carboy, we're gonna order the plastic better bottle. It will sell for 15.98

There are different crushed malts so maybe you might let me know which ones are popular. We can sell the more expensive (Pale Malt Crushed) for:
25kg 71.04
3kg 9.46
Haven't checked any other prices so I don't know how these compare.

... Brian

Perhaps the grains are where you will fall down as while your prices seem to be lower than other Irish suppliers, they are far more expensive than from the UK if you buy enough to offset the shipping cost.

See if you can get a UK supplier.

well first off i'd welcome anyone offerring a better service than is already available, not something merely cheaper in certain areas. so hope it goes well for you, the more competitive the area is the better for everyone.

But looking at what is available compared to homebrewcompany and the homebrewcentre there relly is no comparison. the selection of grains/hops/extracts/yeast and even kits available ,especially from homebrewcompany is massive.

I might be wrong but the price differential is not huge and becuase most people who stick to homebrewing will move away from kits quickly to better quality ingredients they will go to where that is available.

As for what i'd like to see would be large quantities of grain at prices similar to what is available in the uk( see barley bottom or other good online provider in uk to see how much cheaper grain is). its down to €45 for 25kg from HBC
For most people who continue brewing after the fist kit,quality and a wide selection of ingredients is probably what is wanted.

As others have said the website needs some serious work. looking at it i would have presumed it was a dead site from 90s.And i have to be honest i would be reluctant to buy anything froma site that looks less than secure.I'm trying to be constructive rather than cause offence but that was my first reaction to the site.

Aa cj.dezz says it does seem like a bit of market research is needed as i honestly can't see a site relying heavily on kits lasting long, especially if places like natures way health shops are selling kits in bricks+mortat shops.

If you are worried about having stock lying around unsold would it be possible to list what you can stock and the price you would sell for? obviuosly with the previso that there will be a delay for these orders?

Hope my longest ever post was of some use.I'm sure you have plans to expand and improve so best of luck with it and hope it goes well for you.

Much appreciated guys. I guess need to check out other UK suppliers for grain, because we cant buy it from our suppliers at those prices. But this will take a little time; right now we figure we have pretty good prices on the products we stock, and our priority is to let people know we are here. We will extend out stock range with every order as we go along, so please be patient with us!

And the idea of listing product prices that we don't stock (with the provisor that there will be a delay in shipping) is fundamentally good. Its the logistics that might cause a problem, like when somebody orders several items and one of them is not in stock (people get kinda mad when an order gets held up for a wwek or two).

Essentially all suppliers in Ireland pretty much buy from the same UK wholesalers. We know this, because we can stock every product stocked by our competitors. Our pricing is based on the UK RRP, if fact it is exactly the UK RRP plus the 6% differential in VAT. As we don't pay shipping costs ourselves (we all order in bulk), I wonder if we must be missing something . . . why are the others so expensive?

Hmmm, maybe the market is too small . . . or maybe more people order from the UK than we think? I see muscle building / health shops going out of business here in Galway; maybe because you can order the same products in the UK for soooo much less that the shipping costs are covered by the savings.

We sell at UK prices (plus the 6% VAT difference), and we will continue to do so. I guess time will tell. Feedback from you guys is essential to our progress though.

Brian
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no harm to have competition.....means better deal for us