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GENERAL CHEESE MAKING BOARDS (Specific Cheese Making in Boards above) => Supply Stores Reviews => Topic started by: ColdCoffee on July 04, 2010, 06:25:21 PM

Title: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: ColdCoffee on July 04, 2010, 06:25:21 PM
Hello Everyone,
I have placed a couple of orders through this company(New England Cheese Making Supply Company, abbreviated NECMSC hereafter). I found their shipping to be fairly prompt(I think they shipped out within 48 hours, via USPS priority) and fairly priced. I feel that their prices on the items I have ordered are pretty fair (I think I have seen lower prices on some cultures elsewhere, but I chose NECMSC due to shipping costs being lower, thus lower net cost in the end).

The only real complaint I have about this company is their customer service(at least via email, I have never called them). I emailed in a couple of questions to Ricki, she did respond but gave very short responses- did not answer questions fully(at least one question had several parts- she answered less than half of them, each part was short and should not have taken more than a short sentence or two), did not provide any explanation at all(I kind of had to pry a little bit- hence sending a couple of questions). She was quick to refer me to kits(I was new at the time) instead of providing any real recommendations, I got a general sense that she is way too busy to sit down and properly answer my email questions. Looking around on the web, I have seen that other people have had this experience as well(though I cannot speak for them).

It wasn't bad enough to lose me as a customer. Her prices and selection made up for it. However is was not good enough to make me loyal. I do plan to try dairy connection and thecheesemaker in the near future, but not abandon NECMSC altogether(Unless these other companies give me compelling reasons to).

On the whole, I can certainly recommend this company(With caveat) if you do not need any complicated recommendations. I cannot recommend it if you need help picking things out- or are very sensitive to customer service.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: MarkShelton on July 04, 2010, 07:30:52 PM
I tend to get most of my supplies from thecheesemaker. All of his prices include shipping. Plus, I live in an adjacent state, so shipping is usually pretty quick; once, it came the next day, though it was just sent as first class.
He also boasts the best personal service, which I agree with. I haven't had many problems, but once I had an issue with rennet, and he sent me out a sample of a different kind at no cost. I also get regular e-mails (I'm not sure if I had to opt-in to this or not) with recipes and advice. Usually it's after a purchase; he'll recommend a recipe that works with a culture I just bought.
If his selection isn't quite what I'm looking for, I'll look around, but for the most part, he's pretty good.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: ColdCoffee on July 04, 2010, 09:16:59 PM
Thanks for the suggestion. After reading your post, I decided to take another look at his site (I am actually on his website right now). I don't know how I missed that shipping included in the price bit  :o
I have not been to his website in some time but now that I shop around I am actually very impressed with his selection. I am even more impressed with how much starter you get for your money! (50 dose of DS for $10, why have I been buying single serve sugar packet size portions for a dollar each!?!?!)
I think thecheesemaker has a new customer(Of course plan to check out dairy connection as well)!!

(I love that trier on his site too...)
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: BigCheese on July 04, 2010, 09:44:28 PM
Steve also gives his actual cell number on the site so you can reach him. I have gotten him on weekends. I have been tending towards Dairy connection these days. They have always been patient and helpful too, and have a bigger selection.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: iratherfly on July 05, 2010, 06:07:45 AM
I've actually had good service with both Steve and Vicky. Jim Wallace at New England gave me good technical advice previously, but you just can't move on to serious cheese with these mystery packets and this selection.

As soon as I realized I need very specific advice and to choose cultures with a wider selection of characters  - I moved on to a professional seller. I want to choose the behavior, growth speed, texture, color and aroma of my cheese and having a selection of 10 types of Geo or 10 types of PC or B.Linen or Rennet - is what makes my cheese unique and what makes me a better cheese maker. A pro seller also ships it overnight with cold pack because these cultures must remain COLD.

So my current favorite is The Dairy Connection. Their technical support is FANTASTIC and their selection and prices are great. A worthwhile tip: If you want something that isn't on their web site - do not despair. Email them and most likely they actually have it and can ship it to you.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: Boofer on July 05, 2010, 07:23:52 AM
A pro seller also ships it overnight with cold pack because these cultures must remain COLD.

So my current favorite is The Dairy Connection.

I've bought cultures from New England Cheesemaking Supply Store, Dairy Connection, and Leeners and none of them came with a cold pack. I guess that classifies them as amateur sellers, huh?  ???

Seriously, who have you bought from that packs with a cold pack?

-Boofer-
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: iratherfly on July 05, 2010, 08:42:50 PM
Sorry if this sounded a bit narrow minded or ridiculous to you Boofer, but Leeners, New England Cheesemaking and The Cheesemakers are all hobbyist suppliers. Nothing wrong with that for the first few months of making cheese, but as I matured, I found that their product range, pricing, mystery cultures (pre-mixed in-house) and support (which was decent but not exactly professional guidance) - just weren't good enough.

On top of this, yes, there is the shipping thing: When someone ships me a delicate temperature-sensitive perishable culture in an uninsulated cardboard box that is subjected to days in the heat of trucks and sorting facilities - it tells me something about how they must treat these cultures in their own shops (especially so when they insist on pre-mixing it to keep me from knowing what's in it so that I don't buy it directly from companies like Danlac or The Dairy Connection).

There is something very reassuring about receiving a professionally packed COLD cultures that should be kept in my freezer.  (and receiving them in original manufacturer's packaging). Heck, The Dairy connection wouldn't even ship to me stuff on Friday out of fear that it wouldn't make it through the weekend. Call me paranoid, but I like a culture dealer that has higher standards than the standards I have towards my cheese, not lower. To me this seems like a first rate, professional grade culture supplier (and their customers are indeed mostly commercial cheesemakers - from farmstead to factories).  Furthermore, I have gotten free advice, support and PDF technical spec sheets for every product I asked for.

I was actually introduced to them by referral from the people at Danisco-Choozit. Why get a re-packed, re-mixed Danisco products (Maybe Danisco, who knows?) from New England Cheesemaking if I can just get the original at the same or lower prices from the company that Danisco trust?
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: BigCheese on July 05, 2010, 08:51:09 PM
I am still curious like Boofer, I never get an ice pack with my cultures from dairy connection. I even have a commercial account.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: iratherfly on July 05, 2010, 09:05:04 PM
Surprized. I purchased several times and always arrived coldddddd. They actually didn't want to send it over the weekend because of it. Maybe you purchased something that wasn't sensitive like CalCl or Annato? By the way, I am not sure it was an actual cold pack in the box - it was packed cold into some insulated box and the stuff was separated in Ziploc bags inside to keep water beads off it
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: BigCheese on July 05, 2010, 09:07:27 PM
I did get annatto, but I have also gotten LM57, TA61, yogurt culture, and LH100,
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: Boofer on July 06, 2010, 01:23:16 AM
Sorry if this sounded a bit narrow minded or ridiculous to you Boofer,

Not at all, I'm just curious. That's why I asked.

the shipping thing: When someone ships me a delicate temperature-sensitive perishable culture in an uninsulated cardboard box that is subjected to days in the heat of trucks and sorting facilities

Uh, yeah, Dairy Connection shipped the following to me on May 26, 2010:
...via USPS Priority Mail. No cool pack. Maybe it was dry ice and it just...went away.

I guess you're just lucky.

The cultures were in Ziploc bags.
 
-Boofer-
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: ColdCoffee on July 06, 2010, 01:57:59 AM
I am just curious, when you received product in cold packs, had you ordered Lipase? How large was your order, perhaps they do this for larger orders. You mentioned having a premium account.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: iratherfly on July 06, 2010, 02:16:15 AM
It was a large order, I had a pint of Annato, a pint of CalCl, MM100, MM4002, Fl-Dn, Geo 13, Geo 15, Geo 17, PC-VS, PC-Neige, LR3, KL 71, MD89 and PLA. I think maybe because many of these things are not on their web site and I needed to place a manual order after going back and forth and consulting with them. Maybe it was personally made? In any case it happened on my last 3 order, don't remember before that.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: Sailor Con Queso on July 06, 2010, 02:53:03 AM
A day or two of warm (not extreme) temperature isn't generally going to hurt a freeze dried (powdered) culture. The bacteria are not in an active state, so they are not as sensitive to short term environmental changes. Obviously the lack of food doesn't cause them any harm. Freeze dried yeast is shipped all over the world every day. After you get them, keeping them in the freezer will make them last longer by slowing down any natural die off.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: Boofer on July 06, 2010, 07:12:17 AM
My cultures are in the freezer in vacuum bags. I didn't want them to accumulate any errant moisture in there.

-Boofer-
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: Tropit on July 06, 2010, 05:21:11 PM
I've ordered my supplies mainly from both, New England and Steve.  I find them to be equally professional and prompt in shipping.  None of my cultures were ice packed, but they seem to work just fine. when transferred to my freezer.  NE is fun because they have developed their own Direct Set specialty cultures and give lots of online tips.  Steve gives great customer service and accepts AMEX.  Now...I'm not a commercial cheesemaker, (at least, not yet,) but for the hobbyist, they both offer some decent products.  I mean, afterall, where the heck would I put some of those items if bought in bulk anyway?  I barely have room in my 30 year old fridge's freezer as it is.

OT: I won't even go into how I store my moulds and ripening containers...GAWD...I need a bigger house!

~ C.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: iratherfly on July 06, 2010, 06:26:59 PM
Sailor - and what about Liquid Calf Rennet?  The thing is that these cultures usually have 12 months shelf life in the freezer and being in room temp (not to mention the inside of a truck) shortened their life span. Probably doesn't matter so much for a factory that will use them within a week, but for me - the home cheese maker, it takes me a while to go through a bottle of Lipase...

Tropit - they are both nice people and were sufficient when I started, but when I tried other cultures, I learned that using the right mesophilic, lipase, rennet and surface bacteria makes a HUGE difference in the character of the cheese you are creating. Texture, aroma, flavor, stability, speed of development, color, eye development, sharpness - all these things can be controlled beautifully. I just feel a bit like when you buy generic supermarket brand shampoo and you just don't know what's the real brand behind it and if this will leave your hair as nice as the leading brand you are used to. Sure, it will clean your hair, but can you trust it when you embark on a very particular hair style where the shampoo quality and character really matters?  Does it make sense? (Gee, since when do I make hairstyling references?)
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: Sailor Con Queso on July 06, 2010, 07:01:53 PM
I buy from Dairy Connection on a regular basis and they have never shipped to me with cool packs or warm packs.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: iratherfly on July 06, 2010, 07:47:12 PM
Damn it, I guess I am special.  (Again, can't remember if it was cold back or a chilled insulated box). They seriously advised me to wait for them to ship on Monday on one of their shipments because they didn't want it to get warm.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: Sailor Con Queso on July 06, 2010, 09:57:52 PM
I'm 2 days by UPS and I have had them wait until Monday to ship.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: Tropit on July 07, 2010, 12:43:58 AM
Yes, that makes perfect sense.  And of course, we all know that you're "special"...hee...hee.   ;D
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: Boofer on July 07, 2010, 06:49:53 AM
(Gee, since when do I make hairstyling references?)

You know, my hair is really fine. What can you recommend to control it?  ;)

-Boofer-
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: iratherfly on July 07, 2010, 07:02:06 AM
Smear some Mesophilic on it? Wait, no, I mean buttermilk; same thing
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: Boofer on July 07, 2010, 07:11:10 AM
Okay, I'm doing it!  O0   Wax on, wax off....

-Boofer-
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: 9mmruger on July 22, 2010, 12:57:39 PM
I like to purchase from the Cheese Maker as well.  He is prompt and answers my emails quickly.  I am in Michigan so shipping is usually very quick.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: aspelin on December 27, 2010, 05:05:45 PM
I've tried e-mail and it bounces back and the phone number is not in service.  I hate to think it but do any of you know if New England Cheesemaking Supply (www.cheesemaking.com (http://www.cheesemaking.com)) isn't open/out of business???
Thanks!
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: OlJarhead on December 27, 2010, 05:12:42 PM
I've tried e-mail and it bounces back and the phone number is not in service.  I hate to think it but do any of you know if New England Cheesemaking Supply ([url=http://www.cheesemaking.com]www.cheesemaking.com[/url] ([url]http://www.cheesemaking.com[/url])) isn't open/out of business???
Thanks!


My wife bought me a bunch of stuff for Christmas so I'm sure they are still there.

One note though, they are slow to respond to emails -- very slow.  You can find them on Facebook too...but I'm not sure it will help a bunch.  You just have to be patient and they will respond.

Erik
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: Wolfy on September 01, 2012, 02:31:11 AM
Maybe they have new staff or processes (likely given how old this thread is, but still) because my email queries were answered within minutes, by "April O'Malley at New England Cheesemaking Supply Co." <info@cheesemaking.com>
The initial query I made was answered within 20mins and the follow-up questions all within 1 hour.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: rosawoodsii on November 25, 2012, 09:28:53 PM
I've received very good technical assistance from Jim Wallace at NECM, though sometimes it takes a day or two and a couple more questions to get the detail I want.  I also appreciate their monthly newsletter and tips.  However, I find their items very pricey and it just drives me nuts to have to call or email to find out what's in their packets.  They are definitely geared for newbies, IMO.  I don't want single use, thank you very much, and I want to know what cultures I'm buying.  Occasionally I'll buy rennet or cheesecloth from them, but cultures I get from Dairy Connection or occasionally Glengarry. 
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: Al Lewis on November 25, 2012, 11:40:41 PM
I've purchased from New England Cheese Maker but have found the cultures to be less expensive from https://cheeseandyogurtmaking.com/ .  Shipping is about the same with both.
Title: Re: USA - New England Cheesemaking Supply Store
Post by: mbox on January 12, 2013, 01:04:40 AM
I have purchased from this company for about 3 years, the response was always fast and the shipping price reasonable. They ship international while others dont. Some may say this because the molds/cultures maybe spoiled and ineffective after that trip  but i never experienced a problem at all. I had a question about a problem i created on my cheese once and sent an email got a reply within 12hours!! So from my point of view they are rated very high from product price with shipping and customer service.
Mbox