eBay ingredient sellers - anyone use them?

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GHW

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Anyone ever bought ingredients off eBay? Specifically from 'grains and hops uk'?

I'm trying to buy 3k of Pilsner malt on its own and I'm b*ggered if I'm paying £6-7 delivery on a fiver's worth of grain from the usual online suspects.

These folk are selling the grain at a sensible price but only £3 delivery. But because I'm over 40 I'm inherently suspicious of eBay.

Anyone used them?
 
Hi Gareth Huw W
strangely, my sons are Gareth and Huw..its all welsh.....????
If its cheap on eBay they make up the difference on postage
As you spotted it pays to look closely
 
If they've got a feedback score in the thousands, then I reckon you'd be safe in terms of reliability of service. As for quality however, you can't really tell. Is there not a smaller amount you could buy to see if they're any good?
 
Robin54 said:
Hi Gareth Huw W
strangely, my sons are Gareth and Huw..its all welsh.....????
If its cheap on eBay they make up the difference on postage
As you spotted it pays to look closely
Click to expand...

The postage was ok in my opinion, certainly cheaper than using most sites which want £6 a pop.

@ notlaw, at the cost of the grain I might as well just buy the 3k. Was looking on phone so couldn't see what their rating was, I've got the app on iPad so I might look now. I don't use eBay generally so a bit of a clueless spanner
 
Ask them how old is the grain and when was it crushed. Post a link on here. Always looking for someone offering cheaper delivery.
 
Garethhuwwilliams said:
The postage was ok in my opinion, certainly cheaper than using most sites which want �£6 a pop.

@ notlaw, at the cost of the grain I might as well just buy the 3k. Was looking on phone so couldn't see what their rating was, I've got the app on iPad so I might look now. I don't use eBay generally so a bit of a clueless spanner
Click to expand...

I actually closed my account..! I had a bad buy and eBay were poor on resolving the issue so I sacked them off. Maybe a tad hasty.... I had hundreds of good transactions before that.! Derp.!
 
Just checked, they have 100% positive feedback but if you look at the reviews it seems to be lots of the same one repeated just saying 'thanks'.

Bit dodgy I reckon.

I've got a kinda local shop I've never used as its prices are sky high (nearly £3 For a kilo of malt), and a rubbish range, but that'll still be cheaper than buying online with delivery.

Knowing me though I'll end up paying £2 to park and it'll end up costing the same, but taking a lot more time.
 
I've bought hops and equipment on ebay (not very often) and its all been fine.
I think £6-£7 next day courier delivery is pretty good as many of my suppliers charge £10-£15 minimum regardless of order size, and I think £6 is getting pretty close to cost price. But I know its a lot when you only want a few KG of grain.
Why not stock up and have a 25kg sack delivered for the same delivery cost?
 
dan125 said:
I've bought hops and equipment on ebay (not very often) and its all been fine.
I think �£6-�£7 next day courier delivery is pretty good as many of my suppliers charge �£10-�£15 minimum regardless of order size, and I think �£6 is getting pretty close to cost price. But I know its a lot when you only want a few KG of grain.
Why not stock up and have a 25kg sack delivered for the same delivery cost?
Click to expand...

Various reasons. I won't use that much grain, especially not Pilsner. Don't rally have anywhere to store it, and not planning on more brews after this til later in the year.

Basically if you don't have a decent lhbs you're shafted when it comes to small orders. Not sure there's an answer As obviously postage costs suppliers money but I do find it annoying.
 
Garethhuwwilliams said:
Various reasons. I won't use that much grain, especially not Pilsner. Don't rally have anywhere to store it, and not planning on more brews after this til later in the year.

Basically if you don't have a decent lhbs you're shafted when it comes to small orders. Not sure there's an answer As obviously postage costs suppliers money but I do find it annoying.
Click to expand...

Snap. Snap. Snap
 
From what I can see many of the ebay suppliers are home brew suppliers who have their own website so you pays yer money and yer takes yer choice.
I did use one small ebay supplier for hops. I received two orders late. The first time I didn't leave feedback. The second time I left positive feedback and positive comments about the transaction, but did mention the order was slightly late, and now he's blocked me!
 
I've bought some stuff from Balihoo who have an eBay store. I just bought a 2kg bag of Munich malt, for 20 p more Expensive than the price on their website but it has free postage as opposed to paying £5.90 postage on their website... I've also bought some spray malt off an eBay shop that was a model shop, and the only problem I had was that one bag had burst in the post, but they were super quick in resolving the issue and sent me replacement within 48 hours. I'm more aware about buying equipment stuff on eBay...so many cheap Chinese knock offs about...
 
I've bought most of my ingredients from eBay so far. For similar reasons. Small quantities and difficult to get to a LHBS.

No problems with anything so far, but just checked and haven't ordered from the specific one you mention in the OP.
 
Garethhuwwilliams said:
Just checked, they have 100% positive feedback but if you look at the reviews it seems to be lots of the same one repeated just saying 'thanks'.

Bit dodgy I reckon.

I've got a kinda local shop I've never used as its prices are sky high (nearly �£3 For a kilo of malt), and a rubbish range, but that'll still be cheaper than buying online with delivery.

Knowing me though I'll end up paying �£2 to park and it'll end up costing the same, but taking a lot more time.
Click to expand...
I use ebay for both selling and buying and find a fair amount of people can't be bothered to even leave feedback and those that do often just use a thank you so wouldn't let that put me off.
 
Hops_and_Dreams said:
+1 for this seller.
Click to expand...

I have used him for over a year now for bits and bobs between big orders with online companys and my LHBS Hops, and have never ever had a late delivery or anything that i wasnt happy with hes first class and would recommend him to anyone
 

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