Intelligentsia Group Buy

ch2008

Hey, I've seen a group have done this before so I thought I'd suggest another go. If your interested then let pop your name down and we can sort out the details after that. I'd love to get a bag of black cat but the more people we get in the more varieties we could get. REACTOR's already expressed an interest so it must be a good idea!
All costs will be split in the most decent and honest way...:)
Cheers!
PS maybe put down an estimate of how much you'd be interested in getting too

SeaSide

Would be interested. Work colleague also interested so would be looking at 3xBlackcat and 1xKidO

RE*AC*TOR

I'd be in for 2x 1lb of Black Cat.

Whoever ends up taking delivery (and I don't mind who) needs to be sure everyone will be able to get their coffee on the day of delivery.

Also would be best if the order was placed on the weekend or early in the week (Monday/Tuesday) to avoid a late week dispatch, and a delay due to customs.

Mr Magnolia

I'll take 2 of the Black Cat also please. Will you be looking for CoD or how do you want it?

hshortt

2lbs of Black Cat would be great about now, nothing else I have at the moment is even close.

Slaphead07

I'll take 2lbs of Black Cat too... PM me to arange payment/collection.

ch2008

OK guys, well theres obviously interest there so I think its a goer! Here's what I propose so let me kow if you have any further suggestions or problems;
1. "Enrolment" ends this Friday 5th September and I'll place the order on Saturday so its despatched Monday.
2. All costs are split equally, as in if you order 2lbs and we get 13lbs you pay 2/13ths of the overall cost. I know some bags are 50c more or less but if you guys dont mind i dont mind
3. When we take delivery collection can be made from IFSC/Connolly Station Dublin on the day, Dun Laoghaire that evening and IFSC the day after. I'm being an arogant dub by presuming that everyone is dublin based...?
Eh, I had more ideas but I'm all out. I can give you my paypal details by PM too. I'm new to this loop so if you guys would prefer to go through a more established fo***** thats AOK with me. I'm just in it for the beans! Let me know, cheers

ch2008

For some reason the word "fo*****" came through as fo*****??? I wasnt being offensive

Mr Magnolia

ch2008 wrote: »

OK guys, well theres obviously interest there so I think its a goer! Here's what I propose so let me kow if you have any further suggestions or problems;
1. "Enrolment" ends this Friday 5th September and I'll place the order on Saturday so its despatched Monday.
2. All costs are split equally, as in if you order 2lbs and we get 13lbs you pay 2/13ths of the overall cost. I know some bags are 50c more or less but if you guys dont mind i dont mind
3. When we take delivery collection can be made from IFSC/Connolly Station Dublin on the day, Dun Laoghaire that evening and IFSC the day after. I'm being an arogant dub by presuming that everyone is dublin based...?

All fine by me. I'm no Dub, but I'm there semi-regularly so no probs.

Eh, I had more ideas but I'm all out. I can give you my paypal details by PM too. I'm new to this loop so if you guys would prefer to go through a more established fo***** thats AOK with me. I'm just in it for the beans! Let me know, cheers

What word was it, I can't figure it out. Leave out one letter or change the 'o' to a number '0'

ch2008

Ha, it was F-O-R-U-M-E-R. Why cant I write fo*****??

Mr Magnolia

ch2008 wrote: »

Ha, it was F-O-R-U-M-E-R. Why cant I write fo*****??

Strange one. It may be something to do with 'those that cannot be named' I can't make a connection though (the sticky on the front of each forum).










Instant
Decaf

Nope not filtered yet....

SeaSide

I had offered to act as the importer before. AFAIK and reactor can confirm I have one of the group working close by and am on the route home of another.

ch2008

Your Order

item
quantity
price
total price
Black Cat Blend; Whole Bean (wb)
12
$14.00
$168.00
Kid O's Organic Espresso; Whole Bean (wb)
1
$15.00
$15.00
SUBTOTAL
$183.00
UPS Express
Shipping
$124.75
TOTAL
$307.75


Orders
Seaside 3 BC
1 KO
Reactor 2 BC
Mr Magnolia 2 BC
Hshortt 2 BC
Slaphead 2 BC
Charmon 1 BC

So that works out at just over EUR16.50 a pound so we'll go with that. You can pay me by paypal or in cash on the day of delivery, i dont mind. PM me and I'll let you know my details. Thanks for the prompt replies guys, looking forward to this already. BTW anyone had the pleasure of trying 49th Parallel yet? Could be interesting for the next group buy??

http://www.49thparallelroasters.com/

Mr Magnolia

Super. Cheers ch2008. Looking forward to it. I'll have a read of the 49th.

Mr Magnolia

Also, customs hit us the last time so it could work out at ~ €20/bag.

SeaSide

Coffee beans are zero VAT rated

http://www.revenue.ie/index.htm?/services/tax_info/vatrate/P02030.htm

"Coffee attracts no taxation, VAT or duty, unlike wine, which is heavily taxed in Ireland. " from http://www.galwayadvertiser.ie/content/index.php?aid=13715

If we are stung for duty maybe best to pay so as not to delay and then get a refund after.

Do you have the receipt for the duty on the last batch?

RE*AC*TOR

RE*AC*TOR

Don't know much about 49th but I'd be up for trying anything anytime.

ch2008 - will pay on the day if you don't mind - easier when the full cost including customs / vat taken into account.

hshortt

Ditto for me, just divide up the bill when you get them and let us know the cost, I'll get via paypal or cash at your choice.

Cheers

SeaSide

me too. let me know how to pay and where to collect

ch2008

Cash is fine by me, i'm an old fashioned kinda guy. Heard good things bout 49th, set up by the Piccolo bros former owners of Cafe Artigiano and have a great record in WBC and Canadian championships. I'll PM you guys all contact info

RE*AC*TOR

I'd be up for the 49th purchase in maybe a forthnight.

Paradise Rosters also do international orders.

SeaSide

Are we there yet
Are we there yet
Are we there yet
Are we there yet
Are we there yet
Are we there yet
Are we there yet
Are we there yet
Are we there yetAre we there yet

Are we there yet
Are we there yet
Are we there yet

RE*AC*TOR

:eek:

ch2008

Sorry guys, no sign yet. The UPS website aint giving me any info and Intelli are being helpful if slightly smartarsed....

Good Afternoon!

It looks like the delivery method you picked would be the fastest that we offer for shipments to Ireland. The next step up is sending a guy that’s attached to a coffee-filled briefcase via a handcuff, a shipping method we no longer use as the recent worldwide briefcase shortage has made it prohibitively expensive.

Thanks for your order! Please let me know if there’s anything else I could do for you.

Best Regards,

Steve

Oh, and could somebody (maybe even slaphead!) text me Slapheads number so I can notify him/her of delivery.

Cheers

RE*AC*TOR

$175 for shipping that is guaranteed 2 day to Europe.

Here's the UPS page for the service http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/shipping/time/service/express.html

If it doesn't get delivered within their comitted time do we get a refund?

I'd impress this upon Intelli.

Mr Magnolia

That's some attitude.

Did you get a tracking number? There's not much you can do about it so don't sweat it.

RE*AC*TOR

3pm now - I assume if it hasn't been delivered yet today it won't.
Something very awry with this. Either UPS have lost it, or Intelli were telling fibs about when it was sent.
I've never had any trouble with UPS before.

ch2008

Hey guys, well after many emails and a rather confusing phone conversation this is the general jist of it...

Its left Chicago, I know that much, but 3-5 days delivery is what USPS say so its tomorrow or Monday unfortunately.



I am extremely sorry about the frustration this shipment is causing.

The main part of our confusion stems from a miscommunication over the shipping method used to send your order. Recently, we made the switch from UPS to the USPS on all international orders in order to save our customers money. Your order, for example, would cost a minimum of $214.80 USD to ship using UPS, nearly $100 more than what was paid. We shipped your order via USPS Express Guaranteed, the fastest way to get the order to Ireland. Our website should have reflected this change and I’m sorry it didn’t.

A second part of the confusion comes from the tracking number. Your correct tracking number is *********. Two labels were made for your order and I’m afraid that I sent on the label number that we canceled.

If there’s anything else that I could do, please let me know. Once again, I’m very sorry about all of the frustration that this is causing.

Best Regards,

S

RE*AC*TOR

I call bullshít on Intelli.

No way it would cost $214 with UPS.

My previous order was:

---

Order #102009 ordered on August 6, 2008, 9:12 am

---

---

Subtotal $160.00
UPS Express Shipping $114.25

---

Total $274.25


Which is inline with the price of the current order, and was delivered in 2 days with UPS.

Also on your receipt (previous page) it says UPS Express.

Either I got "gifted" the UPS service or they're pissing us about.

(obviously not your fault Colin).

RE*AC*TOR

Furthermore Global Express Guaranteed is a 1-3 day service.

http://ircalc.usps.gov/IntlMailServices.aspx?Country=10210&M=2&P=13&O=0&sd=1

The 5 day service is "Express Mail International" and should only cost $78.

RE*AC*TOR

http://www.home-barista.com/forums/intelligentsia-no-longer-ships-via-ups-to-canada-t7548.html?hilit=intelligentsia#p88808

Read that - they switched to USPS for CANADIAN orders. But that was before I placed the last order.

Gran Hermano

Not that it's probably any consolation, but I always choose USPS over UPS if I can for the following reasons:

- delivery is normally less than 5 working days
- none of the hassle with UPS customs admin charge
- you can track it easily on www.anpost.ie
- less chance of customs charges

(Now this is when ordering non-perishables)

RE*AC*TOR

Bullet Processed, September 11, 2008, 3:35 pm, CHICAGO, IL 60666
Bullet Processed, September 10, 2008, 4:53 pm, CHICAGO, IL 60622

hshortt

Meh, it's not worth stressing over, of course the longer it takes the more frustrating it gets but there's nothing we can do other than raise a complaint with Intelligentsia.

It'll get it when it does. I'm flying through all my beans in preperation, so I'll just slow down a little!

Cheerio

SeaSide

RE*AC*TOR wrote: »

Bullet Processed, September 11, 2008, 3:35 pm, CHICAGO, IL 60666
Bullet Processed, September 10, 2008, 4:53 pm, CHICAGO, IL 60622

????

RE*AC*TOR

Just pointing out it was still in Chicago yesterday.

SeaSide

ahh ok so.

does it say when it actually left Intelli ?

RE*AC*TOR

The date on the tracking info seems to be the 10th.

ch2008

Ha, this is getting better.....

Your shipment has departed from our shipping partner facility in STANSTED, GREAT BRITAIN on September 12, 2008 at 11:51 PM. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.

If its any consolation we try not to use our beans within a week of roasting because they're still expelling a lot of CO2 and are too frothy and volitile. Would be nice to have the choice though.

With regard to a complaint i think its best to wait till we get the delivery and then send off an email cause (hopefully not) something else might happen in the meantime thats worth complainin about. I think overall its bad organisation and planning on the part of Intelli and USPS. I spoke to their rep and I would be hugely surprised if there was any malice or underhandedness involved. Maybe I'm being naive but they seem like a decent enough set-up, just a little disorganised.

Cheers,
Col

RE*AC*TOR

Your shipment was expedited through our shipping partner facility in DUBLIN, IRELAND on September 14, 2008 at 3:17 PM and is in transit to its final destination.

Happy Days!

Mr Magnolia

Excellent!

SeaSide

so I guess I wont be drinking Intelligencia Black Cat tomorrow morning.

RE*AC*TOR

not looking likely

RE*AC*TOR

Detailed Results:

- Shipment Picked Up, September 15, 2008, 1:02 pm, DUBLIN, IRELAND
- Address Information Needed; Contact Shipping Partner
- Transferred Through, September 14, 2008, 3:17 pm, DUBLIN, IRELAND

??????

Mr Magnolia

Just been told Intelli got the IRL address wrong. ch2008's collecting them tomorrow and is contacting each person I believe

Slaphead07

ch2008,
I'm away for a few days but PM me and we'll arrange something for early Saturday (if that suits you).

RE*AC*TOR

I've only made a couple of espressos, so it may be just the particular brew / grind settings I was using last night, but I'm getting a substantially different flavour profile from this BC than with the last few I've had. It seems to have become much darker, less berry, more chocolate, more bitter.

Here's the thing, my acquaintance with Black Cat only started recently when Fergus brought me back some from New York, then with the last buy, then now. However, if you look at some of the US centric forums it seems that this period marked a funny time in Black Cat's evolution.

http://www.home-barista.com/forums/tips-for-most-recent-intelligentsia-black-cat-t7537-20.html
http://coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/blends/375606
http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/blends/372493

You see Black Cat is a seasonal blend, it's components depend largely on what harvests are available at Intelligentsia at a particular time, and these are blended to a flavour profile that is "Black Cat". As you can see from the above posts though a lot of people were giving out that the recent iterations (that we have had) differed significantly from the traditional Black Cat profile. So I suspect that what we now have is something more in line with what Black Cat was.

It's too early to say for me, but my initial impression were that I preffered the "New" (as in New Coke) Black Cat. I liked those berry-ish flavours to the fore, balanced in by the richer, deeper notes (that never seemed to get too bitter).

Anyway, 1lb went straight into my freezer as I'll be out of the country next week and it'd only go stale. Gives me plenty of time to gather further thoughts.

I'd like to thank ch2008 on what proved to be a very messy affair. He did a lot of chasing by phone and email - on something that should've been routine. The order was placed on the weekend of the 6/7th and by Intelli's own production schedule these should've been roasted and dispatched on Monday 8th http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/store/productionsched . If you look at your bags, however, you'll see they weren't roasted till the 9th. The package didn't show up on the tracking either until the 10th - but that could just be down to the tracking system / courier.

Finally on their website they make no reference to a switch to USPS for international customers, only to Canada. This is compounded by the fact that our previous order (last month) was shipped with UPS, cost a similar amount, and on the invoice for the current order UPS Express was indicated.

Mr Magnolia

Interesting. Look forward to giving it a try this evening.

Mr Magnolia

Certainly a different blend to the last black cat. I enjoyed a shot just now, tasted nyom but I think I prefered the last blend, more research required.

Thanks again to ch2008, you had a bit of hassle but it all came good in the end. Nice to meet & talk to you.

SeaSide

Indeed a big thanks to ch2008 he put an awful lot of work in and it was good to meet.

Only one shot so far for me and like Reactor while I was blown away with the first taste last time this time around I'm not as much.

More research is defo required but will have to wait till morning otherwise family will suffer too much.