I hate to say this!!!

Gogogordy

BigGreenPackerFan said:

The Egg is made in the same plant that manufactures the ceramic tiles for the Space Shuttle.

Nobody at THIS Space Shuttle tile manufacturing facility appears to speak spanish: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/npe11.sci.engin.systems.shuttletile/making-space-shuttle-tiles/

odie91

Lol some of you guys crack me up.  What exactly constitutes a superior ceramic?  

Resistance to cracking?  Both KJ and GE have plenty of customers cracking their cookers.  I guess the only difference being that KJ will ship the replacement to your doorstep for free (a concern, if you happen to live far far away from a dealer).

Heat retention?  The BGE definitely feels more dense, but you will not see a difference in coal consumption.  My Big Steel Keg on the other hand, consumes a noticeably less amount of coal.  (I own a Keg, Akorn, and Green Egg fwiw)

KJ being made in China?  Okay, I admit, possibly a concern.  They did, after all, kill their babies with milk formula, and they like to put cadmium, lead, and other stuff in the products they ship this way.....  

freddyj

If I'm not mistaken, KJ claims a thicker ceramic and BGE a denser ceramic which both claim to achieve similar results. Is one better than the other ? Possibly. Is one less-expensive than the other and includes more with initial purchase? Maybe.-Probably. Has one been on the market much longer with a bigger following and some kick-butt egg feasts? Most Definately.

Ladeback69

I priced out a KJ at a store here that also sells Premo and there KJ's were more then the XL is was looking at and the acessories were more too. They are a kind of store has high prices and when they have a sale the price is normal. They didn't want to deal and they farther away then I want to drive for their products. That's why I bought a BGE. My dealer is fair and have great accessories. Their cooking classes are great too.

cookingdude555

odie91 said:

Lol some of you guys crack me up.  What exactly constitutes a superior ceramic?  

Resistance to cracking?  Both KJ and GE have plenty of customers cracking their cookers.  I guess the only difference being that KJ will ship the replacement to your doorstep for free (a concern, if you happen to live far far away from a dealer).

Heat retention?  The BGE definitely feels more dense, but you will not see a difference in coal consumption.  My Big Steel Keg on the other hand, consumes a noticeably less amount of coal.  (I own a Keg, Akorn, and Green Egg fwiw)

KJ being made in China?  Okay, I admit, possibly a concern.  They did, after all, kill their babies with milk formula, and they like to put cadmium, lead, and other stuff in the products they ship this way.....  

@odie91, I agree on the heat retention of the bubba keg.  Lump goes even farther than it does on the egg.  I cook pizza on my eggs and bubba when I do pizza parties, and the bubba keg is the last one to run out of fuel every time.  It also is cooler to the touch on the outside, but that supports why it uses less fuel, more heat is contained within the cooker, and not transferring out the walls.  But the eggs get more use still.  I keep bubba on the side yard so it can be easily hooked up to the trailer hitch for when I need a kamado on the go.

warwoman

Bullibe said:

mrw123 said:

They look good and I don't doubt the quality or value. But I REALLY wanted to support US manufacturing when I was buying. I know BGE quality is great and I was willing to pay more for a product made here. I fully support everyone spending their own money EXACTLY the way they want though. Just my two cents.

BGE is made in Mexico as far as I know, but I love mine !

 

Hey, anymore now-a-days Mexico is the US, and vice-versa! Have you signed up to house your immigrant kids yet?

warwoman

I've got a large BGE and a mini I bought at a flea market. I use the mini for sears, mainly.

We have a friend who wanted a BGE after I got mine (naturally), and found a KJ large, brand new, at a BGE distributor (in the basement, I might add!). The price was good, accessories were good, and she asked if I would look it over for her when I was up there. I did, and when she asked if I thought it was a good deal, I told her no....but that if she didn't buy it...I WOULD!!! She bought it that day, I took it to her house, and she loves it! We are color blind!!

qprhooligan

I bet the Joes are good but BGE sure has a great warranty. Even if both offer lifetime, will the customer service be up to BGE quality? I love a bargain as much as the next guy, and I do owner products from other companies too, but I love and trust my BGE most.

Grillin_beers

Yesterday at Costco they had a guy selling KJ's. They looked decent enough but there was just something about them I didn't love. I did buy two 20 pound bags of lump for $20 though. KJ lump is pretty damn good. I always get huge chunks and it burns for a long time.

Lit

The KJ roadshow is at our costco this weekend from what I've heard. Gonna get a couple bags to try.

SunDeviledEgg

qprhooligan said:

I bet the Joes are good but BGE sure has a great warranty. Even if both offer lifetime, will the customer service be up to BGE quality? I love a bargain as much as the next guy, and I do owner products from other companies too, but I love and trust my BGE most.

KJ will fedex any warranty parts straight to your door at no cost.

Ladeback69

From what I have seen the KJ and the Bubba Keg are about the same price as the BGE or more. The Premo is differently more then the BGE. I to like the warranty and the service I get from dealer and will continue to buy from BGE if I get another one. I will never go back to gas though.

Lit

The KJ junior with the stand, pizza stone, stainless grate with the flap so you can add wood without removing the grate, and raise direct cooking device like the woo is the same price as the mini egg with no accessories. To get the small egg with all those accesories you would be close to double th eKJ junior.

Eggcelsior

Lit said:

The KJ junior with the stand, pizza stone, stainless grate with the flap so you can add wood without removing the grate, and raise direct cooking device like the woo is the same price as the mini egg with no accessories. To get the small egg with all those accesories you would be close to double th eKJ junior.

If I could find a KJJ for 330, I might consider it. I suppose it depends on where you live but that is what my mini cost. I use it for quick cooks so there is no point in any of the extras for me. Now, compared to the small? That's a different story.

Gogogordy

Eggcelsior said:

show previous quotes

The KJ junior with the stand, pizza stone, stainless grate with the flap so you can add wood without removing the grate, and raise direct cooking device like the woo is the same price as the mini egg with no accessories. To get the small egg with all those accesories you would be close to double th eKJ junior.

If I could find a KJJ for 330, I might consider it. I suppose it depends on where you live but that is what my mini cost. I use it for quick cooks so there is no point in any of the extras for me. Now, compared to the small? That's a different story.

Compared to a small its a better value, compared to the mini its apples and oranges. Love my Jr. and the included accessories are top-notch, and purpose built.

SGH

Some things made in Mexico are about as good of quality as you could hope for. I borrowed this example from one of henapples post. But it proves the point about Mexican quality for sure. I couldn't find a flaw any where.

Lit

@SGH I paid $350 for my KJ junior but that was with shipping to my door. Most of the posts I have seen others paid $400 for their juniors which is still cheap with everything you get. I have a mini egg too and love it and obviously its not all about money. I sold my small egg once I got my junior and tried it so even at the same cost the junior is superior in my opinion. Your post I found a flaw. No egg.

SmokeyPitt

I would be curious to hear what the KJ Jr is going for at Costco.  The iterweb told me they were $350 in Austin. 

http://www.kamadoguru.com/topic/13248-kamado-joe-road-show-at-costco-in-austin-tx/

I am considering grabbing a Little Joe also, $350 is tough to beat.

Gogogordy

SmokeyPitt said:

I would be curious to hear what the KJ Jr is going for at Costco.  The iterweb told me they were $350 in Austin. 

http://www.kamadoguru.com/topic/13248-kamado-joe-road-show-at-costco-in-austin-tx/

I am considering grabbing a Little Joe also, $350 is tough to beat.

They were $349. At Costco in Vista Ca includes all accessories, bag o' KJ lump, and starters...

Lit

@smoketpitt I was just at the Cumming store and they were $349. Also had Prime Sirloin caps at $6.19 a pound. If you can't make it up here let me know and I'll go get one for you.