<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jerry N.:
Remember, there are two types of quality - materials and functionality. The weber has both. The cheaper brands have neither. The materials will last a few years, but the functionality is sorely lacking on the cheaper units. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Amen. My father-in-law has an 'el cheapo Brinkman' since we've been married (12 yrs.) I think he's used it 3 times. Every time he uses it, it's an excercise in futility. It just doesn't work that well.
OTOH, a good friend of mine has a WSM (I have a 2005 Performer w/a "BBQ Baffle"). Anyway, I was at his place over the July 4th weekend and we did BRITU ribs. He followed the BRITU recipie to the letter and the ribs were just fabulous. The entire process was also stone simple. Once the fire was established and the ribs were on, it was 'set it and forget it' until it was time to check for doneness. It could NOT be easier.
Point is that if you go cheap first, you'll likely be disappointed and give up on Qing. Spring for the WSM, and you'll be blown away by the quality and ease of use.
My favorite quote: "The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten." Read it, learn it, live it.
Not to get off on a tangent, but this is why I won't by anything at Wal-Mart. It's the lowest common denominator. Do you really think an $8 toaster is going to be worth a sh!t? Sure, it might get hot and make something like toast a few times, but then it quits and you throw it away in a perpetual cycle of filling up landfills and sending jobs overseas.
But I digress.....
Buy quality once and you're done. It might hurt a little up front, but it pays in the end. I paid $1000 for a Sebo cannister vac for our house when we moved in (our old house had a central vac that I put in). Yes, that's an insane amount for a vacuum. The Euro exchange rate doesn't help (it's German). It's plain white Euro design, not some colored whiffle ball looking Dyson. It has triple filters, it is so quiet that you can barely hear it run, variable (amazing) suction, and it has a fit and precision that is superb. It likely will last 25 years with basic maintenance.
Or, I could go out and buy a piece of junk for $60 every year from Wal-Mart that barely works, etc. etc. and at the end of 25 years have spent over twice the amount of money as on one good one. The trick is that I will maintain and service the Sebo, unlike a lot of people.
Unfortunately, this is a concept that is lost on most Americans today. People equate only to low price and ignore features, quality, performance, etc. It's only how big for how cheap.
Get the WSM.....
Chris