TOPIC:

No need to lock the thread or stop using the website IMO. We're a community here, and we deserve freedom of speech(within reason).

Question is, are the homebrew shops part of this community, or are they simply businesses? Should we really care about them, and is price fixing(for the sake of a shops profits) really the right option?

Personally, I like dealing with local shops. For the sake of community and the country(and I'm not even Irish). This applies to all shops really. But I still end up in Tesco's instead of the local market, 90% of the time, and for good reason.

I don't know where I'm going with this.. Just saying, I'll stick with the local shops(mostly) provided I'm not being ripped off. And I don't want to see them go bust over extreme competition. But healthy competition is good.

[quote:3549y2qg]Personally, I like dealing with local shops. For the sake of community and the country[/quote:3549y2qg]

I agree with you very much here Rob. We need to keep business in the country as much as we can. Dundalk has been ravaged economically along with other border towns because people are choosing to take their business out of the state. I'm not saying to pay way over the odds for something but if the difference is slight we should opt for someone local.

Like it or not homebrew stores are as much a part of our community as we are, as it wouldn't be possible for us to pursue our hobby if they were not in business.

As for speaking out of turn.. Everyone has a right to express their opinion here if they have been a member for a day or since the site was founded, that's why it is such a great place to come to, and to be a part of.

P.S. Brian_C if you email or call Shane he will post you over some small items as he has done this for me many times <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> ask and you shall receive <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

&amp;quot;mezamo&amp;quot;:318p4zhe wrote: We need to keep business in the country as much as we can.[/quote:318p4zhe]
Not if it amounts to protectionism tho. Any distortion of the free market and the first to suffer is the consumer.

Let the market decide.

would it not make sense to send these free deliveries all on the same day? For example all the deliveries to Dublin will leave on say a Monday regardless of when you order it...surely that would save a few quid on behalf of the suppliers? Customers can hardly complain if it takes a few days longer as the delivery cost is zero

&amp;quot;eddieken&amp;quot;:v312xs6w wrote: I also don't think Sean was looking to set up a forum were only a select few are allowed air any thoughts/grievances and the rest of us are to be quiet, Alex! Sorry Sean don't mean to speak out of turn, as i don't know you but as a beginner brewer Alex's post got to me (smacked of a bit of snobbery).[/quote:v312xs6w]
Eddie, you are as entitled to post your views as much as anyone be they beginner or pro brewer. AT will correct me if I'm wrong but I think the gist of his post was that those of us who have been around since the start of ICB remember the situation when there was no local option for Irish homebrewers. For anything other than kits the option was to order off the likes of Hop & Grape where you could be waiting 10 days between order and delivery at busy periods. I was delighted as were many other members when Shane set up the HomebrewCompany as it offered (I believe) fair prices and next day delivery. For all grain brewers in particular HBC have always gone out of their way to source more specialist items. Many of these are not available from the kit-focused wholesalers which means separate shipping costs and increased administrative workload. All of this has a knock on effect on price. I'm not suggesting people should have blind loyalty to established Irish homebrew shops but I do believe the 'use it or lose it' mantra applies.

In respect of free delivery I agree that a lasting free delivery offer subject to minimum purchase would be a great development.

I think we should all cheer up and make hay whilst the sun is shining... <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

If some of us are able to offer free shipping let us maybe? If we manage to get a good deal and pass it on in order to make our service more attractive is this a bad thing? I don’t think it is going to put anyone out of business and I can guarantee that other shops have been on to their couriers to see what deal they can get and maybe got a reduction which will make for better comsumer pricing...

I don’t think it will last forever but I can tell you that we are noooo way paying anyway near that for shipping!

Again the couriers will cop on soon so make that hay!

Thanks

Donal