Monday TeaDay 10/4/10 Basically, vendor selection?

[Chip]

Basically, it is TeaDay again. Please drop in and share what is in your cup throughout the day.

This past weekend we discussed changes in the season and life. You can still vote and discuss the weekend's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Back to basics. Currently the numero uno consideration in choosing a "NEW to you" vendor to place an order is? Share share share ...

I am looking forward to sharing this TeaDay with everyone, bottoms up.

[debunix]

Offerings is #1. I have already tried and been quite satisfied in my dealings with a variety of online vendors, as well as B&M stores, and the only reason to go outside that group would be to try a tea that is not available from one of them, or a specific version of a particular tea, or if I suddenly wake up craving first or second flush assam teas.....

[entropyembrace]

I base my decisions a lot based on general reputation from forums, blogs, twitter ect... I try to find as many opinions about an unknown vendor´s service as I can before deciding on buying from them or not.

For example this year when I was trying to decide on vendors for Japanese greens I had a pretty big list to go through...the teavendor guide here was my main source of information...I went through all the posts for each vendor and ended choosing O-Cha and Zencha for my first orders because they had uniformly positive feedback.

[brandon]

Specialist / Offerings / "The Vendor's Website" are all related in a sense and quite important.

[RaynBeatle]

Flip a coin.

If I think I'll like it, why not?

[artmom]

Most of the vendors that I have tried since December of last year have been because of recommendations here on TeaChat.

Mariage Freres Marco Polo this today; twice already.

[Victoria]

I guess I'll go with Forum postings - Although seems like to
me that = experts.

Light rain here; fall is deceptively in the air.

Darjeeling to start the day.

[Seeker]

Forum rec's, acq's, 'experts'.
(tho I can be both susceptible to and yet other times leery of 'experts' -- i hunger for reliable info/teaching about tea, yet I find they often have something to sell)
Just finished my morning matcha, now I think I'll have some shincha (that's right, I'm still going thru my shinchas!)
Cheers.

[Jasmin]

I guess for me it's a mix of value/reputation.

[Chip]

This is actually a pretty tough question to answer, since so many of the listed factors come in to play for me prior to pulling the trigger.

I am going with the vendor's site.

A poor site can really turn me off, this however can be overcome if everyone is raving about the vendor. However the better the site, the more likely I am to take the leap of faith. I can get good or bad vibes from a vendor's site.

Over the year's I have tried a lot of vendors and I continue to do so, but I am more discerning these days.

Great TD with Zencha Fuji the Ultimate to start the day with the Mrs. Next up, Adagio's 2010 Sencha Premier. And currently OTTI 6 TGY from Chinese Tea Culture.

Yeah, a great TD!!!

[entropyembrace]

have been drinking extra tea because I have a sore throat...I can still taste just fine anyway

has been a very green day with all teas from O-Cha...everyday sencha, sakura sencha and kiri no mori matcha...though I´m thinking of Margaret´s Hope Darjeeling with honey now so that will be next.

[Skippyandjif]

Oh, I hope you feel better! The same thing happened to me a couple weeks ago, I was drinking even more tea than usual. O.o

For me, forums are the biggest decision-maker in where I buy my tea online. I like to get a wide range of opinions on a vendor, if possible.

Chrysanthemum pu-erh all day today, along with a lot of iced green tea (amazing after a workout! ). Right now, I'm sipping some jasmine sencha.

[LauraW]

I guess I'll go with Forum postings - Although seems like to
me that = experts.

+1! Definitely get my recommendations from here, though I'll go through some of the other items before actually choosing - that at least gets my initial search going for reputable places, those that other people trust. I don't have the $$ to go trying something that I'm not at least 70% sure I'll like.

The last of the Fujian today.. more in the mail, due to arrive soon!!

[nickE]

Probably forum postings & recommendations, as well as a few other things. A nice website is always nice.

Decided to mix bottom-of-the-bag samples of Manmai, Mansai, & Bangwai in a gaiwan just to see what would happen. The first 3 steeps were truly nasty, clashing flavors all over the place. I'm not sure what I expected... The later steeps were decent though when the flavors mellowed out.