Warning - Brew It Yourself (aka The Online Shopping Co)

Si8723

Brambledog wrote: »

This is still going on and this company has a history of this type of trading going back beyond their present incarnation. I know of several people who have had their orders put back and are unlikely ever to receive them. The problem is, the company are using money paid in to finance back orders, and to generate any sort of cash flow they use whatever they have to fill whatever orders they can, regardless of how old they are. Then they wait for some more money for the next lot. Snag is, they still have to pay the suppliers bills in advance and their running costs, so more and more customers' money will go that way and the supply will get further behind. If your order involve several items, the chances of them all being in stock are slim, so you'll never get it. I went to the company Thursday this week and today (Saturday). They don't appear to be trading as there was no sign of life on Thursday or today. There is no sign above the door, no ID anywhere and it seems they don't want to encourage visitors at all. There are many excellent online homebrew suppliers but I can't help remebering the old adage; 'If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.' Homebrew ingredients can be bought in different grades, and the cheap suppliers will not be supplying top grade. We can only hope this places shuts it's door permanently and not too many people get their fingers burnt. As for recourse, the only thing to do is approach your credit card company for a refund, which they will happily do within their terms and conditions.

I think your probably right.
Did you check the adjacent units, these unit numbers appear as listed addresses for other companies the directors and their relations are directors of.

They currently run several online companies, all seem to have reviews saying the same experiences as we have. I guess they all trade in the same way

Some of the linked addresses are:

the-online-shopping-company.co.uk
mrmailroom.co.uk
the-online-basket-company.co.uk
the-online-golf-company.co.uk
Nomad Dot Com Ltd

ILoveHomeBrew

Cards on the table, I am a home brew shop, one of the oldest in the UK, not going to say which one.
My thoughts about all this, is about time :beer:
We have been having phone calls and customers for years about this company, but we never been in a position to do anything. We have told the wholesalers of course, but until now it was only our say so. Until the other day, we gave the email of Ritchie's to the customers and I believe she is posting in this thread.

If Shopping on-line ALWAYS do your checks
most are part of the distance selling act, like phone numbers, address's on web sites but just having these on a site YOU still must check them, phone them, check google maps ( is the address a house ? ) even if they say they are a limited company check ww. companieshouse.gov. uk

if they post a vat number this can also be checked
ww .ec.europe.eu/taxation_customs/vies/

When i buy on-line I NEVER use a debit card, as that is your money always always use a credit card on-line as its not your money then the problem can always be passed along to the card company.

But back to home brew, i have been in this game far too long, there are loads of very good home brew shops both on-line and just retail shops, just trying to save a few pounds is not always the best thing, I over the years Customer service is the best way to get customer coming back year after year, good customer service does add to a companies running costs
but you are never going to please everyone if you please 99.5% then you doing well but we always try for 100%

Here are some online web sites of people that I know has been loyal to the home brew trade and are genuine retailers who always try there best p.s we are one of them in the list


ww. hopandgrape.com
ww. goodlifehomebrew.com
ww. the-home-brew-shop.co.uk
ww. brewuk.co.uk
ww. leylandhomebrew.com
ww. art-of-brewing.co.uk
ww. hopshopuk.com
ww. spitting-feathers.co.uk
ww. innhousebrewery.co.uk
ww. wineworks.co.uk
ww. eastgrinsteadhomebrew.co.uk
ww. home-brew-online.myshopify.com
ww. quaysidehomebrew.co.uk
ww. whyteshomewineequipment.co.uk

they are many more, but all the ones above i have spoken to over the years

I hope this helps to say not all home brew companies are like this, just do your home work, not only home brew but any company

Drink Responsibly. Find out more at ww. drinkaware.co.uk

DR_Paul

Sounds good to me

Beamer525

Cards on the table, I am a home brew shop, one of the oldest in the UK, not going to say which one.
My thoughts about all this, is about time

Thanks for posting your thoughts, it helps to prove that all posts here are genuine not just a couple of unhappy customers having a moan just for the sake of it (when people from the trade add posts).
I suppose it must hurt the trade people as well, trying to complete with their price structure and no doubt losing a few new customers that may well be put off of homebrew after dealing with this company.

Just a shame that it was hard to find bad reviews regarding this company in the first place, well I guess it would be when they threaten legal action against all forums etc.

I see now that their TP score is down to 8.1 from 8.7 since Friday, which would suggest all the removed one's are 1* reviews, just hope they are put back up when TP return on Monday morning.

walp

Hi All.
Review left on trustpilot Friday at 11.30pm, but removed just 20 minutes later. Someone from the OHBC is definitely sat somewhere in front of a computer at all hours desperately removing negative reviews (keen employee, or what?).
I am now in no doubt (and this is my personal opinion based upon the behaviour of this company) that this company is trying to stop negative reviews curtailing further money orders they have no intention of honouring.
As another MSE member has been helpful in actually visiting their business premises on Thursday last (finding little business activity), I sense that the OHBC is shortly to move their assets (IE: our money) to another business name, which will result in their current business folding... We can all then kiss our money goodbye...
Of course, my gut instict is clearly based upon personal opinion (this is still a free country ande I believe we are at least entitled as individuals to that), so I have no doubt that the OHBC's MD (Mr Parsons, is it...?) will be rushing to refute my suspicion on this forum without delay....
Watch this space (but don't hold your breath)....:rotfl:

DR_Paul

I think the fact that they are splitting up the website i.e. putting the forum on its own url suggests that they are asset stripping ready to run

Velleity

septemberblues wrote: »

I'm just wondering why nearly all of the complaints are from Newbies, makes me think someone has something personal against this company.......................................

Well, here's another newbie.

The simple reason is that there appears to be nowhere else left to complain about this company.

• Their forum is a non-starter: posts last an hour or two before deletion.
• Other homebrew forums: they have rules preventing comments about this company (alleged reasons elsewhere in this thread)
• Trustpilot: My review on there lasted about an hour before it was replaced with "This review has been reported to customer service for violation of our review guidelines".

The only advice I can give about these people is AVOID them. I'm currently at 59 days and counting. I finally gave up and tried to cancel my order and the only way they will deal with it is if it's sent recorded delivery. Done that and now awaiting refund.


The most interesting thing I find about Brew it Yourself is that I'm still receiving daily "time limited" offers from them. It would appear that their focus is directed much more at obtaining new orders than fulfilling those already placed.

macma

I'm stilll getting the promotional emails.
I cancelled on their online form and recieved an email confirming the cancellation saying it could take up to 10 days.No mention of recorded delivery,mind you I doubt either of us will get said refund.I hope to visit my bank tomorrow to see if they can do a chargeback.
It's a pity I've ordered several times and it's only recent months I've had problems.
I'm pleased to have found another site who delivered ,well packed within 2 days :T

Kess

Amazingly, even though (or perhaps because) I left a stinker of a review for OHBC on Trustpilot a couple of days ago, I just checked my credit card account and found they have finally refunded my money. It's only been about 6 weeks since I cancelled the order.

[TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]

walp

I have just reviewed Trustpilot themselves (yes, on Trustpilot's own review system) in light of the fact that it's customers (the OHBC for one) seem so easily to be able to doctor negative reviews...
I have done so as legitimate review after review is being removed by the OHBC (mine included) clearly on the basis that they are negative ones!!!
I don't understand how Trustpilot stand for this, as it can have no other effect than diminishing their reputation.
To be completely frank, it simply takes the "Trust" out of "Trustpilot" (how can any such service be trusted if it allows its reviewed services to manipulate things in such a way)?
Should anyone else feel the same way, please also review Trustpilot accordingly...
Ironically, because of others reviewing Trustpilot so negatively due to the manipulation of the OHBC, Truspilot themselves now have a far worse rating than the OHBC themselves!
It is a shame that Trustpilot seem unlikely to use the same tactics of the OHBC (because their reviews are left to stand), but they must realise that there can be no confidence in a review system that is unfair.
If enough people complain, they should eventually either stop the OHBC's meddling, or withdraw their service's availability to this bunch of crooks...
I will gladly re-edit my review of Trustpilot from 1 to 5 stars should they take action to cut out the OHBC's (or other any other company's) ability to manipulate honest opinion.