Grills at Sams Club and Home Depot

[TGodsil]

I went to both earlier looking around.
Check out this HUGE 8 burner "event grill".

At Home Depot..I ran across a Kitchenaid Grill. Didn't realize they made them. Then spotted something odd.
I'm surprised this made it past quality control, terribly plated chrome.
In case the pics don't show it..that is severe pitting. Not rust, bad plating.
Sad thing..this grill was all stainless and $999.99

Last but not least, this $1050 Weber All Stainless.
I do NOT like the igniters on the newer Weber's, they seem cheaply made and the button actually slops side-to-side when pressing it.
However..the rest of it made me drool.
I also wish they would put the tank underneath instead of to the side.

 

[Jon Tofte]

Our local small college had one of those flat tops. In short order everything disintegrates and what you have left is a gas hungry flame-thrower with a grate

On the Weber, I actually think they made a good choice by going back to the Genesis roots and moving the tank back to the side and out from under the hot firebox. Weber used to brag about the safety factor of having it to the side, then caved and put it underneath in both 300 series Genesis grills. It looks better that way but is not really as safe. At least the Genesis II includes a small shield to reduce the clutter.

The II line also brought back having two regular wheels like the classic Genesis and even offers an open cart version, though not for that warehouse club special edition. For those of us who lament some of the changes Weber has made in recent years, the Genesis II brings a welcome return of some common sense features.

 

[Bruce]

I am not sure what that is on the Kitchenaid. If it is stainless steel, then there should be no reason to "plate" it. I think that might just be part of the stainless. I am sure that thing is half or less of what a comparable Weber would be and that is the reason for the lack of QC. Actually, it probably wasn't overlooked, but simply ignored in their QC process as an "acceptable" flaw.

I agree with Jon on the tank issue. The tanks inside the earlier model grills not only are an increased fire hazard, but they are also a rust magnet. Every E3xx grill I have seen in my area has significant rust all around that hole inside the cabinet where the tank rested.