Do you recommend BGE purchase to friends?

ronw9471

Yes, if they ask, I will recommend it.

KiterTodd

KiterTodd said:

...

• And then I tell them about another product to look at instead.

It doesn't seem like BGE is bending to any of the competitive pressure but they must be losing customers in scenarios like I described.  Is there any chance they are looking to bundle eggs with accessories or offer some incentive to bring in new owners to the family?

I can't in good conscious recommend it to friends when the cost is so high and brands like KJ offer virtually the same products, cheaper, with all the accessories you'd have to buy, and with a similar warranty.
...

I was wrong!  Based on some of the feedback to this thread, I did some of my own research this morning:

The KJ classic stand-alone is selling for $1100.  Even though there are some design differences (top vent, SS latch, hinge) and some tools you can buy cheap elsewhere, I think the only thing they really give you that the BGE doesn't come with is the Divide and Conquer indirect cook system.

I can't find a lot of BGE pricing online, but it seems like a large BGE these days goes for $900.  The best parallel I can find to the D&C rack/diffuser  that people buy for the BGE is the ceramic grill store solution, but to keep things simple let's just stick with the D&C which you can buy as a set for $189.  That's the same system that comes with the Joe.

So yeah, you're right.  The grills are the same price!

That's funny.  I read all the chatter and falsely assumed there was a HUGE price difference between the two. Since there isn't, yes, I'll point people to the BGE.

There are some price differences if you get the cart, but that is a $50 delta and it looks to me like the BGE cart is superior in build quality.

Okay, good post! Glad that I asked and that this is a forum where we can have a civil discussion without name calling!  I mean that.  It's so hard to do that in other places.  So thanks, everyone, for your honest and respectful opinions.

DieselkW

Hmmm. I don't know how many Eggs I've sold - I only need to sell myself, and that happened one morning I walked into the BGE dealer's store/catering office. He was making breakfast -  

He told me he doesn't have an oven, or a stove, or a hotplate. He cooks for his catering business 100% BGE including breads, desserts, entrees, and appetizers. He has a really nice portable kitchen in a stripped out RV with 6 Eggs in it. 

He sat my wife and I down, and fed us breakfast - eggs over easy, french toast, and prime rib hash. Free.  Well, that "free" breakfast cost me about a thousand dollars.

An hour later, I was swiping my credit card for an LBGE I didn't intend to buy, I had heard about Kamado grills and wanted to look at one since my charcoal grill was due to be replaced it being old and grey at 2 summers use. 

Now, the gasser crowd will not be as interested... instant on heat and zero carbon flavor appeals to many, not me. I was a diehard fan of charcoal cooking for a couple dozen years, about a dozen charcoal grills as I used them for two years and put them at the curb with a $20 sign to ensure they disappeared.

My three year old Egg is my daily cooker from March - October. Occasional smoker October - March. I don't Egg in the rain or the snow anymore.

I feed about 20 neighbors every June at our annual get together in my yard. The "guys" show interest every year, but no one has said: "I bought one because of yours"

It's like their lawn tractor - John Deere - they have one, but I haven't punched that ticket yet, I still mow my acre with a 24" self propelled walk behind.

I guess I prioritize cooking over mowing.

Carolina Q

DieselkW said:

I was a diehard fan of charcoal cooking for a couple dozen years, about a dozen charcoal grills as I used them for two years and put them at the curb with a $20 sign to ensure they disappeared.

I take it you weren't using Weber grills. TWO years? My $100 22.5" kettle is still in use after 20+ years!

fishlessman

i might push ceramic grills when i see a bargain. kamado joe made some upgrades to their grills this year, the older version had big discounts on the floor. my vision kub (similar to a mini bge) went on sale for 100 bucks a few years back, alot of us jumped on that bargain with no regrets. when i bought my larges years ago they were 500 dollars delivered from kentucky to massachusetts for free, with full warranty. i will push a bargain

NPHuskerFL

I "recommend" a variety of cooking vessels including komado style cookers.  Does a BGE sear a steak, smoke a butt, bake bread and pizza? Yes. Do other komado style cookers as well?  Yes. 

JRWhitee

I have sold at least a few that I know of, 4 guys in my office now have an egg 3 with a large and one XL and at least one friend.

mgmcclain

I bought my XL BGE, from a dealer, for much cheaper than the cost of the KJ Big Joe. I got the Egg, Plate-setter, Charcoal Rake, Bag of BGE Charcoal, and BGE Fire-starters for $970. I then had a custom table built for around $200. So all together still much cheaper than the prices of $1,399 -$1,699 for the KJ. I don't know the Costco Roadshow prices, but I'm happy with the price I paid and what that included. 

DieselkW

Carolina Q said:

I take it you weren't using Weber grills. TWO years? My $100 22.5" kettle is still in use after 20+ years!

yeah, two years of nearly everyday use - lots of twice a day uses - left out in the rain, lighter fluid, uncontrolled overheats, I beat the pi$s out of those black Weber 22" units. Usually replaced the steel grill each season too. 

My Egg is 4 years old and is taking the punishment much better.

YukonRon

I was selecting a brisket this morning at Costco, going through a pile to find the one with a larger point While doing so, some other folks stopped by and were very curious concerning the process of my selection.
I told them why I choose the larger point (best meat on the cow) and then they asked me how to cook it. More people kept showing up, and asking questions, and as luck would have it, the Traeger rep was there.
He burst in, as I thought he would, to get people to come over to where his display was in the store. I would have done it too, if I am being honest.
One couple asked me if I had a Traeger, and I told them "no, I do not."
Then they asked what I cooked with. I told them I use a Big Green Egg.
Others, which were there, gathered around and the questions were coming at me faster than I could answer, concerning why I owned the BGEs.
I was not offensive to the Traeger, but I did tell them I have two BGE's.
The Traeger rep, spoke up, out loud, saying I needed the two BGE's to do the work of one Traeger.
Folks kind of snickered, and I shook my head, holding back as best I could.
I told him, and any of the others that chose to listen, I bought the second, a MM, because we liked the food off the egg so much, we wanted to take it with us when we camp and tailgate. 
Then one sly individual asked how easy it was to take a Traeger tailgating or camping, and the traeger rep started to talk about cooking it first, then taking it with you to warm up.
Then I mentioned baking a pizza is pretty nice too.
He left after telling the folks where his display was located, again.

Wardster

I wish I had a cut of how many I've sold....

bjeans

Flatfoot said:

bjeans said:

I agree with you for many people. But while our hotdogs on our Weber were good, the hotdogs on the Egg are weirdly great. I'd like a mini (not minimax) to go along with the large for those quicker, smaller cooks. Maybe for my husband's birthday next month, not that he wants one. 

At a Nats game last week I spent three innings talking grilling with our usher, who has a huge smoker. He's bringing homemade rubs for us to the next game we go to. 

I bought my large three years ago as a retirement gift to me!  My wife bought me a mini for Christmas a couple of years later. I probably use it 3 out of 5 times that I cook. Perfect for empty nesters like us for a quick entree. I wouldn't want to give up my large, but I can promise that your husband will love the mini!  

OT Thanks for the ammunition, Flatfoot. Just two of us too, and I agree he'd love it, even though I'm the only one doing cooks so far. (I have much more time but he wants steaks left for him.) So his present would be for me... but the food would be for him, right?! 

Question - is the amount of time to get the fire going and temperature stabilized about the same as with large, or does the size reduce time? I'm finding that stabilization takes longer than I expected. I can start a new thread instead of hijacking this one if that would be best.

blasting

@YukonRon  That's a great story.  When the stars align, and scenarios like that unfold, that is more entertaining than any TV show.

bluebird66

Yes!

lousubcap

@YukonRon - great moves right there.
BTW- Whenever I am cruising through my dealer's stores (two) and someone starts to ask about the BGE I will offer my thoughts.  However, as many above, with the neighbors I will answer questions but knowing the level of commitment to really getting a lot out of it, I do not actively try to sell.  I will endorse it capabilities but also the constraints that come with it.  FWIW-