Brew shop owner scare tactics?

[noodrid]

Hi guys, wasn't really sure where to put this so I though here was ok.

I went into my local brew shop the other day to buy some equipment for a wash. Anyway after talking to the guy who owns it for a bit he basically started telling stories about all these people he's had come into his store thinking they no what they're doing or having read stuff online and ending up sick and in hospital.

Now I didn't discount what the guy was saying, he has been doing this for a long time after all (according to him). But the he went on to say "don't believe anything you read on forums" which is ridiculous, because even if 1 person points you in the wrong direction there will be 10 to correct you and steer you right.

So to my question, are these just scare tactics to try to get people to buy a still off him? He did even say "I only ever recommend you buy store bought stuff rather than make you're own, that's how people get killed". Has anyone else experienced this? Ever since I got into this hobby it seems everyone says "don't listen to what anyone else says, I know what I'm doing".

[NZChris]

There is bugger all money to be made selling home brew supplies to people who know what they're doing.

[MoonBreath]

I stay away from my local (closest) brew shop ...Bought a carboy and ss ladle and got the 3rd degree questioning ...To close to home.

[SoMo]

You probably know more, certainly have a bigger reference base than he. He is in business to make money, he makes way more off of you buying a rig from him than if you build your own. He will try to sell you turbos and all sorts of stuff to make a living, but your malt and let him sell the crap to some other uninformed sucker.

[bearriver]

You probably know more, certainly have a bigger reference base than he. He is in business to make money, he makes way more off of you buying a rig from him than if you build your own. He will try to sell you turbos and all sorts of stuff to make a living, but your malt and let him sell the crap to some other uninformed sucker.

One born every minute and two to take them.

[Halfbaked]

Guy trying to sell you a still at a brew shop huh? The only advantage I see to this is you more than likely won't get a letter from TBB because you will pay with cash and more than likely you will have a lapse of memory on what you name actually is. If you do this you really need to know what is what. I would say build your own. Don't take advice from idiots.

[T-Pee]

Don't take advice from idiots.

Well, there's one for the "Notable and Quotable" thread.

tp (knows one when he sees one)

[iamlulu]

I have several brew shops local to me. The one I tend to frequent was full of all sorts of answers before I got my still (not from them). Seemed extremely knowledgeable. Once I had my still and some practical questions though I was referred to another brew shop as they no longer could answer my questions. A couple weeks of reading this forum and I had outpaced them.

[noodrid]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I had a feeling this would be the case. When he was talking about plans for other people stills he'd seen he said he didn't understand why they had bits here and there and I found myself thinking "yeah I've seen that sort of still and understand why they do it". I suspect he's found a way to do it that works for him and not bothered to learn much more about other methods...

[RevSpaminator]

You know, some people still believe the old prohibitionist propaganda.

[moosemilk]

How many of the regulars and knowledgeable on this forum have you heard about ending up in the hospital? How any threads do you see with them telling us newbies "change this, don't do that it's not safe"? 'nuff said.

[HDNB]

Don't take advice from idiots.

Well, there's one for the "Notable and Quotable" thread.

tp (knows one when he sees one)

are you...lookin' at me??

[MichiganCornhusker]

I went into my local brew shop the other day to buy some equipment for a wash. Anyway after talking to the guy who owns it for a bit he basically started telling stories about all these people he's had come into his store thinking they no what they're doing or having read stuff online and ending up sick and in hospital.

Well, I wasn't there, but some of the guy's comments aren't that far out of line. I'm sure there are a lot of folks out there cobbling stills together based on very limited information. The internet is a great resource, but there is also a lot of garbage out there. noodrid, and the people on this forum, are the kind of people that take the time to educate themselves properly before jumping into something like this. But, there are the other kinds of people who just figure out the basics and give it a go. No doubt some of those people wind up sick from what they are making. Of course, for those folks, store bought equipment probably won't save them either. "Don't believe anything you read on forums" is ridiculous, but, "don't believe everything you read on forums" is sound advice. It does seem like the guy would have known from talking to you that you knew what your were doing, though, and there was no need for him to take his all-or-nothing stance. This is an awesome site, because of all the amazing info, and there won't even be that 1 person pointing you in the wrong direction, because 100 will squash the bad info immediately!

[swampdog 2]

More knowledge on this site about distilling ,than most will ever need

[DFitz]

Bottom line when I go into a shop (and I only go into one) I know what I am doing, what outcome I expect, and what it's going to take to do it. I never use words tha end with L and I pay in cash.

[moosemilk]

How many of the regulars and knowledgeable on this forum have you heard about ending up in the hospital? How any threads do you see with them telling us newbies "change this, don't do that it's not safe"? 'nuff said.

Out of the years on this forum I've seen one account of a guy going to the hospital. He a his friends were on a bender and drank ungodly amount of 190 proof over a three day period and ended up in the hospital. Idiots like that will end up dead no matter what their hobby is.

And even with that, they could have done the same drinking everclear. Just idiocy if they distill themselves or buy it.

[NZChris]

Last time I went to a home brew shop was to get wax for my cheese. I know a beekeeper. Gave him some mead from his honey and got talking about wax yesterday. I think I might have to stop buying wax from home brew shops too.

[thecroweater]

We are quite lucky in that our local guy has a real interest in stilling and is doing his own AG's and always hits us guys up for imfo. lately they have been getting in a lot of different malts and mashing specific enzymes but yeah i am well aware there are quite dodgy venders out there

[Prairiepiss]

We tell people the same things. There is a lot of misinformation out there. And those that aren't willing to take the time. To do proper research. Could possibly get sick from it.

The only difference is. He is trying to sell you stuff. We here are just trying too make it a safe hobby for everyone.

[beefbandit]

i had a similar incident at my local ish brew shop. i have read an asked many questions here an other places, so know enough to keep me safe. But when i went in there an told him about my still i built an asked about brew ingredients. I got a lecture on what is wrong with everyone elses stills while he sat in his chair in the shop smoking lol. The bit that stuck out most to me was when he said that one should allllllllways carbon filter product after stilling, i reply if you get your wash right IE not turbo yeast etc, and run your still properly then there should be no reason to "clean" the spirits. he then went on to say he had some lab tests etc done an there's so much other stuff that comes through the still (mentioned something about copper oxide or something) he then went on to say oh an i have a book that i wrote you can buy off me that explains it all. At this time i notice stills he had built complete with rubber bungs o rings etc, his reply to my questioning about rubber was, RUBBERS NATURAL isn't it. that explains why you'd want to filter your product after using his stills, to get the rubber out ha ha. He was also a fan of turbo yeast and couldn't understand why i didn't want the added benefits of faster and higher % wash.
This said i still frequent his shop and buy products. He is a good guy, just way to pushy when it comes to selling HIS products.
Lots of info out there just got to take it all in and then filter out the rubbish/salesman talk. More times than not that's where the guys here can and will help.

[moosemilk]

I wish we still had a good local brew shop. Other than the u-brew type place and bulk store that sells beer and wine making supplies, but little knowledge of brewing, there is nothing. We once had a great shop. I walked in there twenty years ago and suggested I was interested in knowing how distilling was done, not that I wanted to do it. They had one book, the lore of still building, and suggested I start reading there. And if after I read and was still interested in more, to come back and ask questions as many as I wanted and he'd be happy to talk more. Didn't push any other sales. Nothing. Unfortunately, I was in university and time and money were sparse. Sadly, the business is gone now. But I have a feeling he knew a great deal. And by his approach, feel he would be much like one of the knowledgeable found here. He didn't sell stills at all. Or make mention. But the "read and learn something first" then "feel free to come talk more if you like " attitude suggested somebody truly interested in helping and not just making a buck. Maybe that's why they aren't around any longer.

[noodrid]

The bit that stuck out most to me was when he said that one should allllllllways carbon filter product after stilling,

He was also a fan of turbo yeast and couldn't understand why i didn't want the added benefits of faster and higher % wash.

Yep deja vu for me. Tried to sell me a $180 carbon filter and when I said do you sell fresh yeast he said "what do you mean?". He also said "never put a thermometer on your still" and I nearly said what if you've got a vm reflux still? But I think I would've just been talking gibberish to him.

Anyway he's got a big range so I'll probably be back, just won't tell him what I'm doing...

[goose eye]

You don't know who in there buying stuff. One
of the ale officers is a award winning wine maker
. Reckon where he gets his supplys. Go in get out
an keep your mouth shut. Never let em know how
much you know.
Pride will get you caught.

So I'm tole

[MichiganCornhusker]

Never let em know how much you know. Pride will get you caught.

[HDNB]

Maybe that's why they aren't around any longer.

operators like that are rare, and i'll go out of my way to support them. Like everone else here, someone spouting BS and trying to intimidate his way into my wallet ain't gonna win.
at the same time, small business is the backbone of the economy, our fountain of freedoms and the fibre of the community. I avoid big box stores like costco and wally world like the plague. admitedly, i have made the odd purchase (with the assistance of a "member") since i needed a product... and they had already put the local guy out of business... I'll NEVER work for/with one of these omni-corps that are in collusion with the government to keep the sheep penned up.
what you can't make local, at least buy local!

[moosemilk]

Great advice, goose eye. Pride is good,but the "look at me" pride is never good no matter what. Always get ya in trouble it seems no matter what it's of.