Weber getting squeezed out at Lowes???


 
Jon Tofte

Jon Tofte

TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
In spite of it being tax season, I had to get something at Lowes this morning, so I took a quick look at the grill section. Some things I noticed:

  • Fewer Weber grills than ever.
  • A new Monument grill was on display. I have to admit that it had some, though not all, nice features. But, a LOT for less than $500.
  • The section of Weber grill parts, accessories, and smaller grills (Qs and Smoky Joes) has been compacted into the narrowest section I have ever seen at my local Lowes.
  • Blackstone accessories had at least as much or more space dedicated to them.

Looks to me like Lowes is putting less and less emphasis on Weber. I don't think they have ever forgiven them for the SmokeFire debacle where I suspect frequent returns clobbered them.
 
Likely but also they have to look at how their inventory is going to "draw" and I can't help but wonder if people are beginning more and more to see Weber as a same ol same ol to other products like Monument at much higher price structures than they may want to go for.
 
It’s funny though, it seems Weber increased its displays at the Ace’s I go to. What used to be a couple small sections of accessories have turned into one side of an aisle.
 
LMichaels said:
Likely but also they have to look at how their inventory is going to "draw" and I can't help but wonder if people are beginning more and more to see Weber as a same ol same ol to other products like Monument at much higher price structures than they may want to go for.
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Yes, I agree that pricing compared to some competitors is making things tougher and tougher for Weber. I personally doubt that Weber can greatly reduce their prices with their current configuration, so they will have to depend on people being willing to shell out a lot more to have the Weber name, and I think fairly should be said, the Weber style and functionality.
 
Cody Bratton said:
It’s funny though, it seems Weber increased its displays at the Ace’s I go to. What used to be a couple small sections of accessories have turned into one side of an aisle.
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Yes, I agree. My Ace in little Brazil, IN moved last summer to a much larger location. They now have a huge selection of Weber grills and products - much more than the way bigger Lowe's in Terre Haute.
 
I don't do lowes unless I have no other choice.
It was that whole black sunday deal where they shut down stores with no notice to the employees.
Wife used to work there.
Menards is one that doesent care about Weber at all. Char Broil or Pit Boss are the big ones.
Farm and Fleet does treat Weber with some respect, they usually have a good amount showing with plenty of spare stuff.
 
As Ace/True Value stores dwindle so will the Weber presence. Sadly given what I see of their lineup IDK how they can keep it up. More than 50% of the product line is no longer domestic, (at least in gas fired appliances) yet they keep demanding higher and higher pricing for lower quality. And unless you look at the Summit no "real" innovation. IOW will you get a better burger or steak off of the $900 Spirit as opposed to the $500 Monument which likely has even more features? Big box stores need product that "moves" without someone having to "sell" it. Prior to 2011, Weber grills were "different" and unique. Now they're all the same products with different names. There's nothing really "innovative" and yet oddly it's Ninja of all companies going back to the original Weber design that made them unique and special and then innovating off of that.
 
I’ve seen a couple Monument grills in person. They don’t look terrible for the price point. The cookbox looks a little thin on the two I’ve seen.

However, Napoleon seems to be slowly taking some of Weber’s share of the premium grill market. They look pretty solid, well thought out grills.
 
Jon Tofte said:
Yes, I agree. My Ace in little Brazil, IN moved last summer to a much larger location. They now have a huge selection of Weber grills and products - much more than the way bigger Lowe's in Terre Haute.
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My local Ace hardware has always had a very large selection of Weber grills, accessories, and replacement parts. They devote a lot more of their limited space to it than my Home Depot does.
 
Steve Hoch said:
My local Ace hardware has always had a very large selection of Weber grills, accessories, and replacement parts. They devote a lot more of their limited space to it than my Home Depot does.
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I agree mine has performers I don't believe that Lowes or Home Depot ever carried the Performer line certainly could be wrong but it would have to be many years ago. Both Lowes and HD carry kettles neither of course carry the Weber Searwood which I kind of think that is a shame but HD is a Traeger shop so I get that. As Jon said and I believe after the Weber Smokefire disaster Lowes was not going to revisit the Searwood just to much risk.
 
I have noticed there is less inventory at Lowe’s too. For the most part it’s a non issue, I’m not doing any rebuilding of any more grills, after breaking down the old Genny for SS frame build that’s the last “project” I intend to accomplish. I’ve not had the gasser for over a year and have not really missed it. There have been a couple of times when it would have been convenient but, it has shown me where my stronger (far longer) relationship with charcoal lies.
 
Timothy F. Lewis said:
I have noticed there is less inventory at Lowe’s too. For the most part it’s a non issue, I’m not doing any rebuilding of any more grills, after breaking down the old Genny for SS frame build that’s the last “project” I intend to accomplish. I’ve not had the gasser for over a year and have not really missed it. There have been a couple of times when it would have been convenient but, it has shown me where my stronger (far longer) relationship with charcoal lies.
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I wonder if once my kids are out if I’ll revert to my love for charcoal, given timing won’t be so much of an issue.
 
I love cooking on real fire, but I still appreciate what a good gas grill can do. Plus, since my wife can’t tolerate charcoal cooked food, my use of charcoal is limited to when I cook fir myself. So, a gas grill, or two, or three😲 will always be part of the arsenal.
 
Cody Bratton said:
I wonder if once my kids are out if I’ll revert to my love for charcoal, given timing won’t be so much of an issue.
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That’s how it went for us. I have more time, sometimes. But for warmer weather cooking, I can get the charcoal going in 20 mins total including heating the grate. Easy for most cooks.

The larger cooks are still weekends. Briskets mostly a few times a year. And party ribs, like for today.
 
Cody Bratton said:
I wonder if once my kids are out if I’ll revert to my love for charcoal, given timing won’t be so much of an issue.
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I am retired so I have plenty of time and I have a Silver C as well as a Perfomer. To be honest and this is me the C still gets about 85% of the workload of course my wife uses it. I do wings, smoke a few chicken breasts a few times a year and rarely do ribs anymore on the Performer.

I keep telling myself I should do more with the Performer but I never do, cooking some filets fire the C up and done pork tenderloins which I do in a cast iron pan when its cold out on the C. I really wanted a WSK just cause I love the design and sometimes I just want things but the reality is I would never get my money back.

Might be age also used to love ribs did them like 4 or 5 times a year now they are just to fatty for me. To appease my wife I do pulled pork a few times a year since she loves it and I could care less.
 
timothy said:
I don't do lowes unless I have no other choice.
It was that whole black sunday deal where they shut down stores with no notice to the employees.
Wife used to work there.
Menards is one that doesent care about Weber at all. Char Broil or Pit Boss are the big ones.
Farm and Fleet does treat Weber with some respect, they usually have a good amount showing with plenty of spare stuff.
Click to expand...
Same here.
I'm not a fan of Lowe's but when I'm there I head straight to the grill section because they sometimes have insanely discounted Weber stuff. I snagged a set of flavorizer bars for the Genny B for less than $20.00.
They recently had an Ooni pizza oven for half-price, but I resisted.
I love the those yellow sale tags!
 
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