Northern Brewer's Brewsaver shipping

[Beer-lord]

Anyone use NB's Brewsaver shipping on an order? I don't order much from them but wanted to try the Fast Pitch Canned Wort for a starter. As I am in no rush for it and want to save a few dollars on shipping, I order a few other things I can't get locally and choose the $7.99, Brewsaver shipping. I know it takes a bit longer but it's been 7 working days and they've not even shipped the order yet.

So my question is are you actually getting a slower shipping service or a slower order prep service? 7 business days and it's not even left the shop is kind of sad in my opinion and I am not in a hurry but how can 1 4 pack of canned wort and 10lbs of un-milled grain take so long to pack up? I wonder how much extra profit they are making in shipping for those not choosing this option.

Here's their fine print:
$7.99 “I Can Wait Flat Rate” Shipping

on all qualifying orders*

We are happy to extend a $7.99 “I Can Wait Flat Rate” shipping option every day, and most of our customers do choose that option. Many of our products are custom built with unique components or made on demand to guarantee freshness. The extra time we take to process “I Can Wait Flat Rate” allows us to provide a low cost option for those who do not have a specific brew day scheduled.

Want delivery of your product in a rush or on a specific day? Choose the “Need it Now” shipping option instead and we’ll expedite your order. Either way, we’ll shoot you an email to track your order as soon as your package ships.

[RickBeer]

How they ship it depends on where it's coming from and where you live as to the method - and of course their systems capability to use multiple shipping vendors and multiple shipping methods. Clearly though the issue is they have no even picked your order yet, which is pretty bad after 7 days.

The slowest way to ship is via a combination of FedEx or UPS and the USPS, where FedEx or UPS brings it to a regional post office and then hands it off. Takes freaking forever. USPS isn't slow because most things end up going Priority, which is 2-3 days. UPS and FedEx have zone maps, which I know you know given you ship things also.

Seems like it's a "we have more important customers in front of you, so we'll get to you when we do", without a "it's been too long ship it now" flag in the system.

[BlackDuck]

The most interesting line in their fine print to me is: "The extra time we take to process “I Can Wait Flat Rate” allows us to provide a low cost option for those who do not have a specific brew day scheduled."

I read this as: "
We've got your order, but since you don't need it right away, it goes to the bottom of our priority list to fill. We'll fill all the orders marked "Need it Now" first and we'll get to your order when we can. And since we get "Need it Now" orders through out the day, it may take a couple weeks for us to get to your "I Can Wait Flat Rate" order since we clear all the others first. Cheers and Happy Brewing, although we're not sure exactly when that will be"

[Beer-lord]

For $7.99, I would think they do hand it off to USPS but doesn't that seem like using 2 shipping companies would be more expensive than 1?
I have to say that even the few times I've ordered from them, they take a longer time from ordering to actually shipping than Midwest and Austin do. Morebeer and Rebel usually ship out the same day.

I get the extra time to process, but 7 working days? C'mon, you're not saving any money doing that.
I ordered a custom server from Dell Monday and it's shipping today. Ok, most of their crap is pre-assembled but they still had to put it together per my specs.
I'm really ok with this and am just being picky since my customers put me thru hoops I really am just looking to being the ass on the other side. But I'm not bugging NB about it.

[Dawg LB Steve]

That is simply bad customer service, I get trying to save your customers a few pennies but you also need to take care of them, and flat rate shipping sounds like it is the USPS. It almost sounds as if you are putting them out to take care of your order cause you didn't need it at a certain time.

[RickBeer]

Northern and Midwest are owned by the same private equity firm, although they may have different back office capabilities.

No, it's cheaper to ship FedEx/USPS or UPS/USPS then staying with the carrier because "the last mile" is the most expensive part of delivery - i.e. coming to your home.

[mashani]

FWIW, when I order with them and use that option, it usually takes 2 or 3 days before they ship it. But not 7. 7 is abnormal.

[Beer-lord]

I ordered on 10/19.....today will be day 8. To be fair, it may have shipped but I've gotten no email saying so though I did get an email when the order was placed telling me I'd be notified when shipped.
Also, when I check online, it does not say 'shiipped' nor do they list a tracking number so I'm guessing it has not shipped.
I'm not pissing on NB, just curious about this method. In the past when they were $6.99 flat rate, they shipped right away.

Man, shipping is very expensive and is eating my small company up. Once again, UPS and FedEx are raising their rates another almost 5%. My UPS driver makes $89K a year!

[RickBeer]

There are only two ways to make shipping viable for a small company. Either ship enough to negotiate a discount, or charge the customer more. It's unfortunate.

I assume you're aware that you can use things like PayPal to ship and get a discount? Or was it Ebay? I'd have to look.

Amazon also lets sellers that ship their own product tag along on Amazon's discount.

[Brewbirds]

I wonder if there is an inventory issue with one of the products you ordered.

That doesn't mean it isn't still horrible customer service though, they still should have notified you.

I wish I could go back in time to the day I tried to lift BB2's wheelchair out of the mud and messed up my back. I would apply monthly to work there and earn 80k that's amazing.

[mashani]

Did you get an email that read something like this:

"An update on your order
We'd like to update you on the status of your most recent order. As you know many of our products are handcrafted and made "on demand" in order to guarantee freshness. And many others are custom built with unique components. This occasionally results in slightly slower processing of orders in times of heavy demand.

Your order ##### is current in the hands of our Brewmasters and they are working feverishly to ship it out to you ASAP.

More blah blah blah"

Normally, if it goes beyond a few days, I get an email like that. And then it usually goes out in another day or so.

[Dawg LB Steve]

My UPS driver makes $89K a year!

Man am I in the wrong business!!!

[Beer-lord]

Did you get an email that read something like this:

"An update on your order
We'd like to update you on the status of your most recent order. As you know many of our products are handcrafted and made "on demand" in order to guarantee freshness. And many others are custom built with unique components. This occasionally results in slightly slower processing of orders in times of heavy demand.

Your order ##### is current in the hands of our Brewmasters and they are working feverishly to ship it out to you ASAP.

More blah blah blah"

Normally, if it goes beyond a few days, I get an email like that. And then it usually goes out in another day or so.

Yes, within seconds of placing my order. That's the last I've heard from them.

[The_Professor]

I placed an order with them 3 days ago and am getting a ship notice tonight.

I actually found the tracking number in my account before I received the ship notice.

Maybe check your account?

[Beer-lord]

Just got an email that it shipped today and should arrive Monday.
Maybe they've been looking at this thread today.