Mini Max at Eggtoberfest

If that price includes the carrier along with a platesetter ... I think it's a fair price. Not great, but fair. I will still buy one when they become available. Love the size and portability of it! They will sell.

$600 is too high. I suppose some might pay it but I predict a price drop once the unicorn effect passes.

A sucker is born everyday! I will never pay that price.

Somewhere between "you get what you pay for" and paying a premium for a perceived "best"product, lies a value proposition that many people (if not most) of average means typically seek. For me the $600 price-point for the Minimax fills neither when compared to another, like-sized portable ceramic cooker available. Those that choose to spend the additional for the Minimax vs. another brand certainly have every right to do so, but for the majority of buyers the price-gap between the two is hard to ignore, or justify and will likely prove to be detrimental to the sales figures of this product. Maybe the additional profits gleaned from the extra price of those that do pay the additional will make the accountants happy, but the "halo" effect on the brand is likely to take a hit by 1) not welcoming NEW BGE customers into the base via the Minimax, and 2) demonstrate a pompous, price-snobbery on the company's part forcing many current customers to look outside the brand in effort to cost-justify a $600 cooker when there are others for 20-30% lower prices. I'm sure it's a great product, all BGE cookers are. But....so are other up and coming manufacturers. Im not certain the marketing gurus at BGE understand the evolving marketplace and field of competition they compete against, because they haven't priced a competitively featured product, competitively.

Jeremiah said:

I was told they'll phase out the small and mini, and will give a credit towards a max for further warranty issues after heir production stops. But that was just a dealer, not bge.

Wow, so if my mini cracks, I probably get say $100 to $150 (just guessing) in credit towards a Minimax, which brings it down to the price of a KJ Jr (which comes with free heat deflector and  stand).   If this is true, I'm done with BGE.  

I think $600 is a fair price for what you are getting. I don't care about other products that have been on the market for only 2 or 5 years. What value is a warranty, if a company goes out of business? Worthless. BGE has been at it for 40 years. They must know something by now. School of hard knocks. I am going to get one. Glad the minimax is here.

I am still excited but my excitement after seeing the pictures and price has dropped a bit. If the Plate-Setter is included, I think the price over the KJ Jr. isn't a deal breaker. 

I saw these at EGGtoberfest and at the Mothership. While I don't have a use case for it, I can see plenty of reasons to want one. I was told on my visit to the Mothership that a lot of restaurants are using Minis, but would like more grill area in a unit that can sit on a counter. A couple comments about things I've read here: - I always laugh when people call Apple buyers sheep. These so-called sheep seem to be pretty bright: Macs often have lower Total Cost of Ownership vs initially less expensive computers. Also, Apple products often have the highest Customer Satisfaction ratings over other devices in their category. So to me, lumping BGE in with Apple wouldn't be a bad place for BGE to be in their industry. - While I feel for people who own the Mini or Small if one or both of them are discontinued, I don't think this throws out the lifetime warranty argument at all. When I heard about this coming new product, my first question was: which existing product is it replacing? Whether we like it or not, a company can't be expected to keep a product in it's line forever just because it was offered with a lifetime warantee. I also think the law requires them to keep spare parts available for a certain number of years after a product is discontinued anyway. So there should be some time for people to see how the MiniMax performs and to decide what to do. I think in this case BGE is making a good faith effort towards honoring the lifetime warantee in the best and only practical way possible. Jim

Is it fore everyone no its not. Is it for me damnstrait it is.

eggs are expensive no matter what size you buy that is a fact. I work hard to be able to afford a few luxuries in my life and eggs are just one of the things i enjoy and personality am looking forward to the 1st 1 my dealer gets in as it already has my name on it.

Whirly said:

I think $600 is a fair price for what you are getting. I don't care about other products that have been on the market for only 2 or 5 years. What value is a warranty, if a company goes out of business? Worthless. BGE has been at it for 40 years. They must know something by now. School of hard knocks. I am going to get one. Glad the minimax is here.

I don't have an MBA or anything, but a track history of success does not necessarily foretell the future.  It can lead to complacency, arrogance, stubbornness.   Look at General Motors (which should be gone, if not for our generous tax dollars), Sears, Kmart, Woolworth, Montgomery Ward.   Should I name more?

odie91 said:

Whirly said:

I think $600 is a fair price for what you are getting. I don't care about other products that have been on the market for only 2 or 5 years. What value is a warranty, if a company goes out of business? Worthless. BGE has been at it for 40 years. They must know something by now. School of hard knocks. I am going to get one. Glad the minimax is here.

I don't have an MBA or anything, but a track history of success does not necessarily foretell the future.  It can lead to complacency, arrogance, stubbornness.   Look at General Motors (which should be gone, if not for our generous tax dollars), Sears, Kmart, Woolworth, Montgomery Ward.   Should I name more?

^^^Most excellent summation^^^

Judging on a rumor and "they better not or here's what I will do" are much more fun! 8-|