ACT OF WAR!!!

jollygreenegg

Saw this on Twitter...  taken in front of BGE HQ!  The redcoats are coming! Lol

HeavyG

There was a thread about this a few days ago tho the billboard graphic in your photo is a bit different - https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1214037/atlanta-grill-company-no-longer-bge#latest

Hans61

Pretty good pun whoever designed the ad

cookingdude555

That’s awesome. 

TEXASBGE2018

It should say  "Made with cheap plastic parts and unnecessary add ons" on the left and "The one everybody wishes they had" on the right.

cookingdude555

TEXASBGE2018 said:

It should say  "Made with cheap plastic parts and unnecessary add ons" on the left and "The one everybody wishes they had" on the right.

Wow, I dont see that between my Kamado Joe and eggs.  I just see the ceramic color is different.  Have you experienced issues between your Kamado Joe and your big green egg?

TEXASBGE2018

cookingdude555 said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

It should say  "Made with cheap plastic parts and unnecessary add ons" on the left and "The one everybody wishes they had" on the right.

Wow, I dont see that between my Kamado Joe and eggs.  I just see the ceramic color is different.  Have you experienced issues between your Kamado Joe and your big green egg?

I don't have a Kamado Joe, and wouldn't buy 1 because A) I hate Red  and B ) When I was shopping and went and spent hours messing with the KJ's and BGE's side by side in store the KJ's felt cheaply made to me. They felt like they are made in china as a knock off. Plastic Shelves, crappy removable metal basket where the ash falls, the grates felt flimsy and cheap, They put what is essentially 2 Rutlands on it when only 1 is needed. The "nest" they use felt and looked cheap. These aren't "Innovations" to me. Those are how can we make this thing cheap but sell it for the same price as the competition by offering "more" in the package. While I don't love everything about the egg. It feels solid as a rock, I like the wood shelves and wood handles and the cast iron "old school feel" of the daisy wheel. I feel that if BGE made a few minor tweeks to a few things they could improve their product to the point that KJ becomes irrelevant. The problem with BGE is not the product. The problem is the Management teams unwillingness to improve things so I guess from that standpoint the KJ Billboard is correct, although "scambling" is a bit exaggerated.

Cornholio

TEXASBGE2018 said:

I don't have a Kamado Joe, and wouldn't buy 1 because A) I hate Red  and B ) When I was shopping and went and spent hours messing with the KJ's and BGE's side by side in store the KJ's felt cheaply made to me. 

I guess from that standpoint the KJ Billboard is correct, although "scambling" is a bit exaggerated.

You spent hours fiddling with them side by side?  Is that a bit of an exaggeration too?  

TEXASBGE2018

Cornholio said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

I don't have a Kamado Joe, and wouldn't buy 1 because A) I hate Red  and B ) When I was shopping and went and spent hours messing with the KJ's and BGE's side by side in store the KJ's felt cheaply made to me. 

I guess from that standpoint the KJ Billboard is correct, although "scambling" is a bit exaggerated.

You spent hours fiddling with them side by side?  Is that a bit of an exaggeration too?  

Unfortunately no, its not an exaggeration. I think all in all I spent around 6-8hours in total going back and forth over a period of 2 weeks to the same 3 BBQ stores. Opening, and closing each of them. Taking all the Ceramics and grates in and out, inspecting the grates, looking at the hinges. They started knowing me by name before I even made my purchase. I kept trying to see the supposed advantages of the KJ over the BGE. I couldn't find any. That was in addition to the hours of research I did online here and on the KJ forum and just googling and youtubing about both. Anytime I make an expensive purchase I do this. The 1 thing I will say I did like better on the KJ was the hinge. I do hate the hinge on the BGE. I wish they could make a soft close hinge without putting some giant box in the back like the KJ.

cookingdude555

I am glad there are two serious competitors.  Both grills are excellent in my opinion.  I have the eggs listed in my signature, but only one Kamado Joe. And its the jr. So I can only comment on that one grill compared to the others.  But I feel it is a great product, and well worth the money compared to the competition.

Lit

TEXASBGE2018 said:

It should say  "Made with cheap plastic parts and unnecessary add ons" on the left and "The one everybody wishes they had" on the right.

If I was buying right now I would get a kJ for sure.

TEXASBGE2018

cookingdude555 said:

I am glad there are two serious competitors.  Both grills are excellent in my opinion.  I have the eggs listed in my signature, but only one Kamado Joe. And its the jr. So I can only comment on that one grill compared to the others.  But I feel it is a great product, and well worth the money compared to the competition.

I also think the competition is good. I just view KJ is taking cheap shots. Heck the freakin guy that founded KJ used to use BGE's but he got "frustrated" with what he felt were flaws. My point is this, there would be no KJ without BGE so maybe take the high road instead of bashing the basis for your entire company existing. You don't see Primo or Vision doing this kinda 4th grade crap. What it honestly tells me is that KJ is struggling for sales. They feel they need to step up their marketing probably because BGE still outsells them 5 to 1. If you or anyone else likes their KJ cool. I just won't be buying one and everyone that asks me which one they should get I tell them BGE.

bikesAndBBQ

I think it is kind of funny. The competition is good for everyone. Usually, when you have to call out a competitor, you know you are falling behind. I am a typical consumer and will buy what works best for me at the best price point. 

Lit

bikesAndBBQ said:

I think it is kind of funny. The competition is good for everyone. Usually, when you have to call out a competitor, you know you are falling behind. I am a typical consumer and will buy what works best for me at the best price point. 

You guys noticed that Atlanta Grill Company put the billboard up not KJ? Atlanta Grill Company was the largest BGE dealer in the world a couple months ago and only sells KJ now. If you look at KJ and and egg side by side and choose an egg you don’t know what your looking at.

TEXASBGE2018

Lit said:

bikesAndBBQ said:

I think it is kind of funny. The competition is good for everyone. Usually, when you have to call out a competitor, you know you are falling behind. I am a typical consumer and will buy what works best for me at the best price point. 

You guys noticed that Atlanta Grill Company put the billboard up not KJ? Atlanta Grill Company was the largest BGE dealer in the world a couple months ago and only sells KJ now. If you look at KJ and and egg side by side and choose an egg you don’t know what your looking at.

Ya, I did notice that. But they couldn't do it without KJ's permission. As to your other comment, I would say if you look at a KJ and an egg side by side and you choose a KJ, then you are a sucker for the whole "quantity of quality" argument.   My initial purchase of my egg bundle came with everything the KJ comes with minus an extended rack and was $150 cheaper than the KJ "bundle". Even after I spent $100 getting my CGS PSWoo and Extended Rack I was sitting at $50 less than the KJ bundle. So actually the egg is a better deal at least in DFW.  You can get a large egg, platesetter, nest, shelves, grid gripper, ash tool, bag of charcoal and starters for $1050. The KJ bundles here are $1200 unless you go to the Costco roadshow.

Lit

TEXASBGE2018 said:

Lit said:

bikesAndBBQ said:

I think it is kind of funny. The competition is good for everyone. Usually, when you have to call out a competitor, you know you are falling behind. I am a typical consumer and will buy what works best for me at the best price point. 

You guys noticed that Atlanta Grill Company put the billboard up not KJ? Atlanta Grill Company was the largest BGE dealer in the world a couple months ago and only sells KJ now. If you look at KJ and and egg side by side and choose an egg you don’t know what your looking at.

Ya, I did notice that. But they couldn't do it without KJ's permission. As to your other comment, I would say if you look at a KJ and an egg side by side and you choose a KJ, then you are a sucker for the whole "quantity of quality" argument.   My initial purchase of my egg bundle came with everything the KJ comes with minus an extended rack and was $150 cheaper than the KJ "bundle". Even after I spent $100 getting my CGS PSWoo and Extended Rack I was sitting at $50 less than the KJ bundle. So actually the egg is a better deal at least in DFW.  You can get a large egg, platesetter, nest, shelves, grid gripper, ash tool, bag of charcoal and starters for $1050. The KJ bundles here are $1200 unless you go to the Costco roadshow.

You must not have looked too close the divide and conquer that comes with the KJ can’t be bought from the CGS for $100. It’s $100 for 2 half stones and 2 half grids from CGS. I have spent a lot of money at CGS without pricing it out I would guess you would be at $2-250 to get the same thing. Atlanta grill company had both in their show room side by side for a little while and they told me when people looked at them side by side they sold the KJ 9 out of 10 times.

Lit

Not to mention KJ has a better warranty and upgrades like the weightless open and nice top vent. 

TEXASBGE2018

Lit said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

Ya, I did notice that. But they couldn't do it without KJ's permission. As to your other comment, I would say if you look at a KJ and an egg side by side and you choose a KJ, then you are a sucker for the whole "quantity of quality" argument.   My initial purchase of my egg bundle came with everything the KJ comes with minus an extended rack and was $150 cheaper than the KJ "bundle". Even after I spent $100 getting my CGS PSWoo and Extended Rack I was sitting at $50 less than the KJ bundle. So actually the egg is a better deal at least in DFW.  You can get a large egg, platesetter, nest, shelves, grid gripper, ash tool, bag of charcoal and starters for $1050. The KJ bundles here are $1200 unless you go to the Costco roadshow.

You must not have looked too close the divide and conquer that comes with the KJ can’t be bought from the CGS for $100. It’s $100 for 2 half stones and 2 half grids from CGS. I have spent a lot of money at CGS without pricing it out I would guess you would be at $2-250 to get the same thing. Atlanta grill company had both in their show room side by side for a little while and they told me when people looked at them side by side they sold the KJ 9 out of 10 times.

Ok, fair enough. I personally don't like the half stone thing. It basically eliminates your ability to have an entire grate at felt level and leaves you only able to use half of the space correct for direct cooking assuming you had a half stone underneath.  I don't have experience with it so I can't comment on whether it actually does work. As far as them selling KJ's 9-1 over BGE. I would like to see the proof of that. Maybe so, but I very much doubt it. Unless....Surely they wouldn't have any incentive to fabricate that claim being as they are pissed at BGE and slowly transitioning away from them to KJ, right??? 

MJG

I move my I love my Egg but I might take a look at Primo next time. I like made in the USA. 

Lit

TEXASBGE2018 said:

Lit said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

Ya, I did notice that. But they couldn't do it without KJ's permission. As to your other comment, I would say if you look at a KJ and an egg side by side and you choose a KJ, then you are a sucker for the whole "quantity of quality" argument.   My initial purchase of my egg bundle came with everything the KJ comes with minus an extended rack and was $150 cheaper than the KJ "bundle". Even after I spent $100 getting my CGS PSWoo and Extended Rack I was sitting at $50 less than the KJ bundle. So actually the egg is a better deal at least in DFW.  You can get a large egg, platesetter, nest, shelves, grid gripper, ash tool, bag of charcoal and starters for $1050. The KJ bundles here are $1200 unless you go to the Costco roadshow.

You must not have looked too close the divide and conquer that comes with the KJ can’t be bought from the CGS for $100. It’s $100 for 2 half stones and 2 half grids from CGS. I have spent a lot of money at CGS without pricing it out I would guess you would be at $2-250 to get the same thing. Atlanta grill company had both in their show room side by side for a little while and they told me when people looked at them side by side they sold the KJ 9 out of 10 times.

Ok, fair enough. I personally don't like the half stone thing. It basically eliminates your ability to have an entire grate at felt level and leaves you only able to use half of the space correct for direct cooking assuming you had a half stone underneath.  I don't have experience with it so I can't comment on whether it actually does work. As far as them selling KJ's 9-1 over BGE. I would like to see the proof of that. Maybe so, but I very much doubt it. Unless....Surely they wouldn't have any incentive to fabricate that claim being as they are pissed at BGE and slowly transitioning away from them to KJ, right??? 

They were selling both at the time they weren’t transitioning. BGE said them or us from what I understand and they made their choice. The divide and conquer system is nice you can do anything you want with it.

GATraveller

Lit said:

They were selling both at the time they weren’t transitioning. BGE said them or us from what I understand and they made their choice. 

They sure seem salty for having made the choice.

Lit

GATraveller said:

Lit said:

They were selling both at the time they weren’t transitioning. BGE said them or us from what I understand and they made their choice. 

They sure seem salty for having made the choice.

Pretty sure it was in response the BGE putting 2 billboards by their store pointing out close BGE dealers.

HeavyG

"Cheap plastic parts"?

I'm pretty sure that the "cheap plastic" used on the shelves and handle of KJ's will far outlast the wood used on Egg handles and shelves.

My 3 year old KJ Jr. has been in the sun 24/7/365 and the handle still looks brand new.

I can see that the plastic shelves might be problematic if you set a hot grate on them but there is a simple solution - don't do that.

blasting

I've said that I bleed green, but BGE is changing my mind.  Forum members had their ideas ripped off.  Forum members have had dealerships pulled.  Dealers are dropping them left and right.  Dealers have told me say BGE is impossible to work with - especially on warranty issues.  Meanwhile KJ is expanding their dealer network, and taking R&D swings - lots of them.  BGE in the last five years has added a mini max.

BTW, it was mentioned above that BGE outsells KJ 5:1.  Market representation does not support this, and in fact would indicate KJ is actually cutting BGE's grass.

I'm rooting for BGE to return to being the undisputed leader.  I really would prefer my backyard to be green.

SemolinaPilchard

KJ has a firebox that already is broken into several pieces, so I guess that is considered an innovation. I have replaced a few BGE fireboxes over the years, with no hassle. So, the question is, is it a bigger hassle to replace a BGE firebox every few years, or take the 16 piece KJ firebox apart every time you clean out your egg, at least for us that do take the firebox out every so often. In advertisements lesser cars are always compared to the Honda Accord, there is a reason.
I guess the takeaway from all this is, don't open a business next to a billboard.

GATraveller

HeavyG said:

"Cheap plastic parts"?

I'm pretty sure that the "cheap plastic" used on the shelves and handle of KJ's will far outlast the wood used on Egg handles and shelves.

My 3 year old KJ Jr. has been in the sun 24/7/365 and the handle still looks brand new.

I can see that the plastic shelves might be problematic if you set a hot grate on them but there is a simple solution - don't do that.

Yea but plastic isn't biodegradable......how do you appeal to environmentally conscious millennials with all that earth murdering ocean polluting plastic?  
KJ hates the environment.

SemolinaPilchard

Lit said:

Not to mention KJ has a better warranty and upgrades like the weightless open and nice top vent. 

Why do people say "not to mention" and then they mention it? However, I must say this is the first time that I have witnessed some starting off a sentence with that.

Killit_and_Grillit

I get the concept of the direct/indirect sell with the half plates, but I really don't see the use for it until you get up to the XL size. Maybe that's just me.

I tried it on a large and had to push the indirect side to the back 1/3 to really get the effect. Then there were so few cooks where I needed say an indirect and direct 350 simultaneously.

Usually low and then a sear. Then I'd just use my Woo and yank the stone or fire up a second small grill for high heat.

Cornholio

HeavyG said:

My 3 year old KJ Jr. has been in the sun 24/7/365 and the handle still looks brand new.

And just what planet is it that you live on that has constant sunlight all day and all night, year round?  

I’ll just move along now since I’m not adding anything of substance to the conversation.  

Lit

SemolinaPilchard said:

Lit said:

Not to mention KJ has a better warranty and upgrades like the weightless open and nice top vent. 

Why do people say "not to mention" and then they mention it? However, I must say this is the first time that I have witnessed some starting off a sentence with that.

How could you use it not starting off a sentence? 

TEXASBGE2018

blasting said:

I've said that I bleed green, but BGE is changing my mind.  Forum members had their ideas ripped off.  Forum members have had dealerships pulled.  Dealers are dropping them left and right.  Dealers have told me say BGE is impossible to work with - especially on warranty issues.  Meanwhile KJ is expanding their dealer network, and taking R&D swings - lots of them.  BGE in the last five years has added a mini max.

BTW, it was mentioned above that BGE outsells KJ 5:1.  Market representation does not support this, and in fact would indicate KJ is actually cutting BGE's grass.

I'm rooting for BGE to return to being the undisputed leader.  I really would prefer my backyard to be green.

Disclaimer Disclaimer This is by no means a scientific observation or marketing based and represents solely my immediate area in the DFW metroplex.  When visiting friends or my parents in their neighborhood or just driving around town and seeing peoples backyards and porches as I drive by, I could count on 1 hand how many KJs I've ever seen. No one I know personally owns one. I know of several that own BGE's. I can't even give a number to how many BGE's I've seen. So I think its a pretty safe bet that BGE is far and wide the market leader and will remain that way for years. A lot of folks on here live in the Atlanta area where both of these companies and a couple others have a lot of representation. So naturally they may feel that KJ is outperforming BGE but nationally and even internationally I bet its not even close. Our local BBQ's Galore sells both KJ and BGE and they sell BGE's 5 to 1 over KJ. Not to say that eventually if BGE doesn't innovate or stop with their whole "us or them" mentality that they might lose a lot of their market share but I have yet to hear about large swaths of people using KJs. I would be curious to hear from some of the Canadian or Overseas folks if they have ever even seen a KJ at a store anywhere over there.