ACT OF WAR!!!

SGH

Lit said:
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 several years ago when I bought my Joe Jr I made a similar statement here that I got ridiculed for. At the time I was the only one in my little neck of the woods with a BGE (or kamado of any kind). I use to cook on it 2-3 times a day. Several folks would pull up in the driveway and ask “what kind of grill is that and how much did it cost?”. With that said, people were fascinated or at least very curious about my green, odd shaped grill. 
However on my drive in and out I never noticed one of my neighbors with a BGE in their yard after seeing and inquiring about mine. Fast forward a year or so and I bought a Joe Jr. Within no time of me buying it, I started noticing more and more neighbors that suddenly bought a Joe or a Joe Jr. I made a comment in jest that it looked like a Kamado fest in my neighborhood. And it really did. People bought them left and right. 
Let me say up front that I like and own both a BGE and Joe. I’m not trying to debate the merits of one over the other. But there is no denying that there has been an explosion of sales of Kamado Joes the past couple of years. I don’t know if it was simply because they started out cheaper or because of a simple color change. But KJ sold a ton of grills in a very short period of time. 
Fast forward to today and one of my neighbors now has an XL BGE. However, and without exaggerating, about 30 people between my house and the highway now have a Joe or Joe Jr. Again, I’m not trying to debate which is better or which one should someone buy. I’m simply pointing out what a lot of people seem to be buying for whatever reason. KJ is selling a huge amount of grills. For no longer than they have been around they are selling an astronomical amount.  

TEXASBGE2018

SGH said:

Lit said:
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 several years ago when I bought my Joe Jr I made a similar statement here that I got ridiculed for. At the time I was the only one in my little neck of the woods with a BGE (or kamado of any kind). I use to cook on it 2-3 times a day. Several folks would pull up in the driveway and ask “what kind of grill is that and how much did it cost?”. With that said, people were fascinated or at least very curious about my green, odd shaped grill. 
However on my drive in and out I never noticed one of my neighbors with a BGE in their yard after seeing and inquiring about mine. Fast forward a year or so and I bought a Joe Jr. Within no time of me buying it, I started noticing more and more neighbors that suddenly bought a Joe or a Joe Jr. I made a comment in jest that it looked like a Kamado fest in my neighborhood. And it really did. People bought them left and right. 
Let me say up front that I like and own both a BGE and Joe. I’m not trying to debate the merits of one over the other. But there is no denying that there has been an explosion of sales of Kamado Joes the past couple of years. I don’t know if it was simply because they started out cheaper or because of a simple color change. But KJ sold a ton of grills in a very short period of time. 
Fast forward to today and one of my neighbors now has an XL BGE. However, and without exaggerating, about 30 people between my house and the highway now have a Joe or Joe Jr. Again, I’m not trying to debate which is better or which one should someone buy. I’m simply pointing out what a lot of people seem to be buying for whatever reason. KJ is selling a huge amount of grills. For no longer than they have been around they are selling an astronomical amount.  

Dangit SGH, stick to shave posts    You are the 1st person I have ever heard say that.

SemolinaPilchard

Lit said:

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? 

The way that everyone else does. As example would be "Urban Meyer knew that his assistant coach was involved in some sort of domestic abuse calls to the police in 2009, and again in 2015, not to mention he covered up some of the misdeeds of Aaron Hernandez.

HeavyG

BREAKING NEWS

Kamado Company that has been in business for 40+ years has larger market share than kamado company in business for just a decade

Film at 11:00

Lit

SemolinaPilchard said:

Lit said:

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? 

The way that everyone else does. As example would be "Urban Meyer knew that his assistant coach was involved in some sort of domestic abuse calls to the police in 2009, and again in 2015, not to mention he covered up some of the misdeeds of Aaron Hernandez.

I guess. If you go back and look I was the post above it I was just continuing my though and didn’t feel like editing the previous post. 

SemolinaPilchard

HeavyG said:

BREAKING NEWS

Kamado Company that has been in business for 40+ years has larger market share than kamado company in business for just a decade

Film at 11:00

Remember the scene where Tony Soprano gave his father-in-law a Beratta shotgun? HeavyG, is that you starting at the 3:00 mark?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlA9Fs350PE

tjv

TEXASBGE2018 said:

 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.

@Texasbge2018, thanks for picking up the PSWoo Combo.  Just fyi when spreading the word in DFW, the egg package you described is $980 in our store and includes a PSWoo. Or swap the Rig/Oval Stone for Conveggtor/PSWoo, same $980.  KJ Classic is $949, in store.    

I always enjoy these threads......

t   

TEXASBGE2018

tjv said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

 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.

@Texasbge2018, thanks for picking up the PSWoo Combo.  Just fyi when spreading the word in DFW, the egg package you described is $980 in our store and includes a PSWoo. Or swap the Rig/Oval Stone for Conveggtor/PSWoo, same $980.  KJ Classic is $949, in store.    

I always enjoy these threads......

t   

Thanks. I have a friend that’s wanting to get an egg. I’ll let him know to come visit you guys.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

tjv said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

 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.

@Texasbge2018, thanks for picking up the PSWoo Combo.  Just fyi when spreading the word in DFW, the egg package you described is $980 in our store and includes a PSWoo. Or swap the Rig/Oval Stone for Conveggtor/PSWoo, same $980.  KJ Classic is $949, in store.    

I always enjoy these threads......

t   

Hey! Im digging your Tuesday’s with Tom
Facebook videos. Great idea. 

nolaegghead

GATraveller said:

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.

Great concept idea!!!  Maybe scientist could figure out a way to recycle plastic!!  WOW!!!  Unheard of!!!!

nolaegghead

TEXASBGE2018 said:

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.

Two comments:

1.  Paragraphs are your friend.

2. What you can see with your eyes around your neighborhood can possibly not be representative of all neighborhoods.   Planet Earth is a large place.

tjv

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

tjv said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

 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.

@Texasbge2018, thanks for picking up the PSWoo Combo.  Just fyi when spreading the word in DFW, the egg package you described is $980 in our store and includes a PSWoo. Or swap the Rig/Oval Stone for Conveggtor/PSWoo, same $980.  KJ Classic is $949, in store.    

I always enjoy these threads......

t   

Hey! Im digging your Tuesday’s with Tom
Facebook videos. Great idea. 

thanks, it's my daughter Kelsie's idea. I am one for mixed metaphors and knucklehead word choices.......but it's fun.....hope it's entertaining and educational.

t  

thetrim

The only person that I know who owns a Joe bought one (and purposefully didn't buy a BGE), because his wife pushed him to the Joe.  She's an anti-establishment type that was just a little "too cool" to buy the market leader.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

tjv said:

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

tjv said:

TEXASBGE2018 said:

 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.

@Texasbge2018, thanks for picking up the PSWoo Combo.  Just fyi when spreading the word in DFW, the egg package you described is $980 in our store and includes a PSWoo. Or swap the Rig/Oval Stone for Conveggtor/PSWoo, same $980.  KJ Classic is $949, in store.    

I always enjoy these threads......

t   

Hey! Im digging your Tuesday’s with Tom
Facebook videos. Great idea. 

thanks, it's my daughter Kelsie's idea. I am one for mixed metaphors and knucklehead word choices.......but it's fun.....hope it's entertaining and educational.

t  

I think it will be. And you are connecting with a whole other demographic. Your daughter is wise and I think
you are great at it. Fun to watch 

blasting

@tjv fyi - The link on your website homepage to fb is broken - it points to shopify instead.  

CodyA88

Competition is never a bad thing.

Scantron

I'm a huge BGE fan and can't imagine getting anything different. I'm getting a MiniMax soon as a little brother to my Large. Competition always makes the end product/services better so I think it's a good thing. Even though I recognize KJ as a great product (and possibly cheaper), my patio is going to be matching green across the board. 

JMJ

TEXASBGE2018 said:

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.

As for overseas (Sweden in my case) I’d say KJ is leading the market. I have no numbers to verify that, though from the bbq forums om Facebook, there’s no question about it. Over here, all of the kamado stuff is a silly lot more expensive (almost twice the price) and KJ places themselves a little lower than BGE. So, it’s pricing and branding, I guess. 
With my LBGE with an AR from CGS I am all smiles, but if I had to start all over I’d probably go KJ. Just sayin. 

Eoin

Killit_and_Grillit said:

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.

Half stone works on the XL for some things, but can be done with a semi circular kiln shelf pretty cheap.

http://www.theceramicshop.com/store/category/33/120/Kiln-Shelves/

Eoin

People here in the UK like the kamado concept, but prices across the board are a LOT higher than in the US, so a kamado is a luxury purchase. Plenty of cheap brands here for people to buy, especially on amazon. I would guess overall BGE market share here is pretty low.

HendersonTRKing

If you’re driving somewhere, a Hyundai will get you there, too — not everyone needs or wants the Ultimate Driving Machine. Nothing wrong with that, of course.

I’m no advertising guru, but it would seem a bit desperate for Hyundai to put up a a billboard out in front of the BMW dealership. The reverse also applies. When you’re really on top, and you’re not worried about the competition, you talk UP your product and ignore the other guys. 

Toxarch

A store and a company who are both jaded. 

I have a BGE and a KJ. If I were buying again today, I would go with KJ. There are some minor differences in the two but they are pretty much the same as far as performance. KJ has come up with some newer ideas. They might be innovative, they might be stolen, but at least they are for the better.

I will say that the KJ warranty is super easy to deal with. BGE requires you to go through the dealer with a receipt and then go pick up the part later. It can be a hassle if the dealer is not close by. With KJ, you take 2 pictures and submit a claim over the internet. No receipt, no dealer, no hassle. The replacement part gets shipped directly to you. It is very convenient. 

The only thing I don't like on the KJ is the plastic lid handle. When you have a hot fire and get a big flame up, plastic tends to get hot and soft. Mine has tong Mark's in it now. 

dharley

I read this post, and if this has been covered forgive me, but isn't that billboard from The Atlanta Grill Store and located in front of BGE headquarters? Isn't that just a store throwing shade at a former business partner after parting ways? If I'm correct, I think that sign just reflects poorly on AGS and not KJ.  

I have a LBGE. I've looked at the KJ. The BGE seems much more robust. I also dig the look. It's recognized buy people can who only cook ramen microwave. It's the 911 of grills. You don't have to know much about it to know what it is.

That said, I think they're both fine and if I were invited to eat ribs & wings off a friends KJ, I'd eat those ribs & wings.