Have 4 Webers and find the quality and service to be going down hill.

[Chad-Burnt to a T]

Yep, you can find true quality from right here in the USA. You have to be able - and willing to pay.

I'd imagine the people dropping 1.5- 2k+ on Chinese made products will find no problem doing so. I mean it's not just grills it's, cars, electronics, appliances, and on, and on. People just accept them, and say there's no other options made in the US. Sad truth is there are(were), and when you ignore them and just settle for corporate greed moving it off shore that is when it does become the only option. “Designed and engineered”in the USA is getting to be a pretty big theme. Another "assembled in".

 

[Josh Dekubber]

Custom BBQ Grills - Pellet Grill | Lone Star Grillz

Our selection of custom BBQ grills and pellet grills are built to last. Check out our wares online or call for more information on a customized grill set.

lonestargrillz.com

None of those grills are appealing to me but I'm glad I have several first and second generation Weber Genesis grills. I will always have at least a couple of them for the rest of my life. I'm sure I'll see lots of new designs come and go

 

[Chad-Burnt to a T]

None of those grills are appealing to me but I'm glad I have several first and second generation Weber Genesis grills. I will always have at least a couple of them for the rest of my life. I'm sure I'll see lots of new designs come and go

So your initial post wasn't genuine? Those meet, and or exceed all of what you said you wanted. Built to last a lifetime 100% American made, and a great customer service department that stands behind their products, and you'd pay a lot more for it today. Why is that not appealing? If you're wanting that from Weber in 2025 you're never going to see it.

 

[Josh Dekubber]

So your initial post wasn't genuine? Those meet, and or exceed all of what you said you wanted. Built to last a lifetime 100% American made, and a great customer service department that stands behind their products, and you'd pay a lot more for it today. Why is that not appealing? If you're wanting that from Weber in 2025 you're never going to see it.

I know I'm not going to see anything new from Weber compared to what I already have from 30 to 40 years ago and I'm fine with that. I wouldn't trade any of my Weber's new or old for one of those big ugly grills. Maybe if I was running a bbq restaurant but I definitely wouldn't want one of those visible in my backyard.

No offense to you if this is your company or you are somehow affiliated with the sales department.

 

[Chad-Burnt to a T]

I know I'm not going to see anything new from Weber compared to what I already have from 30 to 40 years ago and I'm fine with that. I wouldn't trade any of my Weber's new or old for one of those big ugly grills. Maybe if I was running a bbq restaurant but I definitely wouldn't want one of those visible in my backyard.

No offense to you if this is your company or you are somehow affiliated with the sales department.

None taken, and you may be the only one here that wouldn't. The best thing weber ever made wouldn't hold a candle to a 1 at a time hand built cooker. That's just honesty in plain sight.

 

[Cody Bratton]

I’m with Josh. I looked on that site too, and nothing there is all that visually appealing to me. I am sure they’re fantastic cookers and look very well built.

The only thing that really appealed to me are the Fire Pits. Decent fire pits are hard to come by. Thankfully a couple years ago I scored a curb find Weber pit in fantastic shape!

 

[Jim Weber]

LSG products and vids started popping up to me when I started my deep dive into smoking --- definitely some quality units and built for a lifetime if used and well cared for. I'd be all over one of their offsets or pellet units IF I thought I could utilize it like it deserves...... and I had a bunch of $$$ that I didn't mind burning.

 

[Benny Gilbert]

I'm sure everyone has a favorite Weber customer service story. Here's mine: at least 15 years ago I bought a green 22" kettle from one of those "unclaimed freight" stores. The lid had several places where the porcelain had been badly chipped, but the price was right, so I took it. I called Weber customer service, explained the situation, and asked the CSR if she could tell me a brand/color of high-temp paint that was a good match for the green color. She said that wouldn't work very well, and that instead she would send me a replacement lid. I again explained that I had bought the grill from a non-standard source and the lid had been damaged by negligent handling before I got it. She insisted on sending the new lid, so I gratefully accepted. I cooked burgers on that grill yesterday. I've replaced the wheels, and added a KillaGrilla grate, and I expect the grill to outlast me. It would be nice if product quality and customer service were still at the level I experienced.

Larry, would you mind if I quoted this in the Weber Customer Suggestions presentation I am currently working on? Quality control is a huge aspect of it, and stories like this would be ideal to put in. And for the record, you would receive full credit in the presentation.

 

[Chad-Burnt to a T]

I’m with Josh. I looked on that site too, and nothing there is all that visually appealing to me. I am sure they’re fantastic cookers and look very well built.

The only thing that really appealed to me are the Fire Pits. Decent fire pits are hard to come by. Thankfully a couple years ago I scored a curb find Weber pit in fantastic shape!

Visually appealing? Sorry, but weber is hardly visually appealing. Isn't the most important factor build quality, and dependability? If it doesn't last, and doesn't work I don't care how sexy it looks.

 

[Cody Bratton]

Yes. I appreciate build quality, and I’m very pleased in that from the era of Weber from the 50’s and into the 2000’s.

The only offering I see from LSG that would provide what I’m looking for in a charcoal grill, is almost $4,000. And to me and what I like, isn’t visually appealing to me. A massive stainless steel hood atop a 450 pound flat black painted steel cart, regardless of its thickness, weld quality, etc. isn’t what I prefer to see in my yard, even if it out lives me. I’m sure it’s a great grill. But it’s not practical to me.

I will keep my Weber’s.

 

[Chad-Burnt to a T]

Yes. I appreciate build quality, and I’m very pleased in that from the era of Weber from the 50’s and into the 2000’s.

The only offering I see from LSG that would provide what I’m looking for in a charcoal grill, is almost $4,000. And to me and what I like, isn’t visually appealing to me. A massive stainless steel hood atop a 450 pound flat black painted steel cart, regardless of its thickness, weld quality, etc. isn’t what I prefer to see in my yard, even if it out lives me. I’m sure it’s a great grill. But it’s not practical to me.

I will keep my Weber’s.

Build quality has went down hill quickly from when I bought my first, and last performer to the one I bought for my oldest son. I don’t see it getting better. My fold down table performer is even worse. The 26er I have can barley support itself, and I already had to buy new legs. Your knocking a commercial grade product made in the USA vs a production line big box store grill. Sorry if I don't take that seriously. If you have been around a grill made in the 50s - 70s you would quickly see just how cheap today's products are made.

Since Chris is very humble at LSG I doubt he would come off harsh, but I can guarantee he would laugh at the thought of any Weber being a better grill or smoker then what he makes at any price range, and you sure don't need to spend 4k to achieve that, nor do you have to have ss top through LSG. When we now see big box models going past 1- 2k that are built to fail and made in China I just can't agree with your take.

I'm not taking a jab at anyone that enjoys rebuilding old Weber grills or old grills period, but they don't really support Weber unless they still make parts to buy, which for many models they don't. Weber wants the new blood that spends and tosses away. I'd also imagine they will stop producing parts quicker as well for many newer models. That's just today's world.

 

[Jon Tofte]

To some extent, we are comparing apples to oranges. Other than the short-lived Vieluxe, Weber never really has tried to compete in the rarified air that companies like Lone Star Grills operate in. LSG, I think, is VERY appealing to professionals and serious and well-healed at-home barbecuers. You can't really compare any of LSG's amazing charcoal grilling products to a Weber Performer on any Weber charcoal grill. For that matter, LSG's pellet grills starting at $2,695 are also not really comparable to a Weber Searwood. Very different market and very different expectations.

I DO think Weber has made and still does make some very eye-catching grills. If "sexy" in style but compromised by cheaper build, they are just delivering what a lot of people want at prices more can afford. Like Josh, I personally love having some classic Webers outside to cook on that do have solid build for the price range they were in. I even have a few inside just to look at! I don't see having a LSG in that light, but would I be proud to have one on my patio? Absolutely! I wish that was in my budget, but my wife is already fed up (probably justifiably) with the much less than that that I have spent on the whole herd of old Webers that I own.

 

[Bruce]

And I would add that the competition in the grill market (Gas, coal, electric, pellet) have all gotten much higher in the last 20 years. I don't know for sure, but Weber's market share of grills sold has likely gone down considerably since the turn of the century. Look at how many gas grill companies have come and gone in the last 40 years. Weber is just trying to adjust with offering the best grill they can and not price themselves out of an entire section of the grill market.

 

[Cody Bratton]

Your knocking a commercial grade product made in the USA vs a production line big box store grill. Sorry if I don't take that seriously.

I didn’t knock it, just said it wasn’t for me and listed the reasons why. I used the charcoal grill I could find on the site for reference, at $3500, plus tax and freight to my door, to roughly state $4k.

I’ll say again, for the people in the back, they look like very high quality units, that don’t fit what I like and are way out of line with what I’d be willing to spend on a grill.

The quality of Weber has gone down, no one is arguing that. I’ll still happily cook on and refurbish my late-century vintage, USA made Webers.

 

[Josh Dekubber]

Chad everyone is entitled to their opinion and if you are happy with LSG that's all that matters. If you are here trying to boost sales for your company or affiliate don't be surprised if people buy into it. When opinions are stated as facts they are still just opinions.

 

[Steve Hoch]

Unless I'm missing something, I don't really see too much from this LSG company that matches up with Weber's offerings to begin with.

 

[Chad-Burnt to a T]

Chad everyone is entitled to their opinion and if you are happy with LSG that's all that matters. If you are here trying to boost sales for your company or affiliate don't be surprised if people buy into it. When opinions are stated as facts they are still just opinions.

Problem with your opinion is one is actually a Comercial grade cooker and the other is an expensive big box store toy compared to it, yet people act like they wouldn't want it.

Here is what I find extremely challenging in your opinion. If both sat side by side and you could only have 1, I doubt very seriously you would choose the weber, and I have no affiliation, like I actually see a weber guy that chimes in time to time. That's fine, but I don't buy much of his storyline. He's trying to sell people here or he wouldn't be here. You can't literally spend 2k on a weber now that doesn't hold a candle. That's my point, and why I posted it to you in the first place. It met everything you said you would want.

It's OK to say something is better then a weber, and still keep your head above water. People that become so entrenched in a product line is amusing. The auto makers all have good, bad, and just pure junk. Some fanboys will never admit it, and some will buy whatever the emblem is, and eill most likely be much happier. I bought weber, because it was either that or some random China made 50 buck special.

Grills are the same, and now that more weber is China made the less I care about them. That's just the truth for me. They could easily still be 100% usa made, and I don't care what some weber sales guy says. They do it to max out their earnings plane and simple. There's a margin of gain, and then there's just being greedy. IMO they made bad calculated moves, first being moving production for greed second, having too many different models, and tried to reinvent the wheel vs greasing them. They have always been more expensive so the reason to go cheap, just hurt them way more then staying well built vs their competition, and still being more expensive. Better, and expensive is a good scenario vs As good at best, and more expensive.

Just look at how much SNS can sell a kettle for vs what weber does. How many options would a weber fan love to have, that SNS has added? They're small in the market, yet can still be very competitive and cheaper with more options. They have less buying power and far less marketing and buy in power to retailers. Weber should be head, and shoulders better.

 

[Chad-Burnt to a T]

Unless I'm missing something, I don't really see too much from this LSG company that matches up with Weber's offerings to begin with.

They both sell grills and smokers.

One is overbuilt and made 100% in the USA.

The other is underbuilt and not made in the USA.

You may be on to something.

 

[Josh Dekubber]

Problem with your opinion is one is actually a Comercial grade cooker and the other is an expensive big box store toy compared to it, yet people act like they wouldn't want it.

Here is what I find extremely challenging in your opinion. If both sat side by side and you could only have 1, I doubt very seriously you would choose the weber, and I have no affiliation, like I actually see a weber guy that chimes in time to time. That's fine, but I don't buy much of his storyline. He's trying to sell people here or he wouldn't be here. You can't literally spend 2k on a weber now that doesn't hold a candle. That's my point, and why I posted it to you in the first place. It met everything you said you would want.

It's OK to say something is better then a weber, and still keep your head above water. People that become so entrenched in a product line is amusing. The auto makers all have good, bad, and just pure junk. Some fanboys will never admit it, and some will buy whatever the emblem is, and eill most likely be much happier. I bought weber, because it was either that or some random China made 50 buck special.

Grills are the same, and now that more weber is China made the less I care about them. That's just the truth for me. They could easily still be 100% usa made, and I don't care what some weber sales guy says. They do it to max out their earnings plane and simple. There's a margin of gain, and then there's just being greedy. IMO they made bad calculated moves, first being moving production for greed second, having too many different models, and tried to reinvent the wheel vs greasing them. They have always been more expensive so the reason to go cheap, just hurt them way more then staying well built vs their competition, and still being more expensive. Better, and expensive is a good scenario vs As good at best, and more expensive.

Just look at how much SNS can sell a kettle for vs what weber does. How many options would a weber fan love to have, that SNS has added? They're small in the market, yet can still be very competitive and cheaper with more options. They have less buying power and far less marketing and buy in power to retailers. Weber should be head, and shoulders better.

Man that was a boring read. I couldn't get myself to read it all but I think I skimmed through and hit the main points. You're still not getting it. I would have no interest in your product whatsoever. It's worth nothing to me. If you don't like Weber's I have no problem with that. I'm definitely not going to try and sell you on anything. I could care less what you grill with or what your opinions are. It's not going to change my mind and I'm not going to try and change yours. If you're secure in your decision and you're not trying to sell something you shouldn't care so much if anybody likes your product.

 

[Chad-Burnt to a T]

Man that was a boring read. I couldn't get myself to read it all but I think I skimmed through and hit the main points. You're still not getting it. I would have no interest in your product whatsoever. It's worth nothing to me. If you don't like Weber's I have no problem with that. I'm definitely not going to try and sell you on anything. I could care less what you grill with or what your opinions are. It's not going to change my mind and I'm not going to try and change yours. If you're secure in your decision and you're not trying to sell something you shouldn't care so much if anybody likes your product.

Nice side step, and its not my product or one I sell. In the future don't say something that's an untrue want. Look at what you said, and a light bulb may go off. Good luck brother.