If you suspect you’re not happy with your purchase, it is worth pursuing the return. You won’t be happy until you do. 

I have the original steel version that is very rusty after a year or use. 

I'm still happy with both of my old steel KAB and have very little rust issues. OTOH if I was told it was SS or implied it was then I wouldn't hesitate in taking it back to the dealer! BTW was the price commensurate with that buying it direct instead? I'm asking because I really don't know, but want to know when I recommend the KAB to friends.

Buyer’s remorse is a horrible thing. 

Having said that, I’m not sure what the advantage of the SS KAB is. 

I have a KAB in my MM, Med, and XL that are the steel version. They are all rusted, but that does not affect how they function. I bought a second XL recently and had the choice between the two, I paid more for the SS version. It seems like it was $30 over the steel version. In this case I’m glad I went with the SS since it was available. I’m not sure the dealer was aware of the new version to be honest.

I have original steel also.  Never any issues and going strong after 3 years!   Used often with high temps and low temps.

My steel KAB is going strong after two years.

If you paid the SS price I would say return it but since you paid the lesser price I see no point. My steel KAB is well into 2 years of use and works fine. Considering I'm on the coast in FL I'd say the steel KAB is durable enough.

Think of it this way......you hopefully saved $20.  The new SS ones are more expensive.  The steel ones are fine.  Check the price you paid--if you paid the price for SS, then I would be ticked.

ive had the normal steel ones for 4.5yrs and 1 year for my second one with no issues.  I would email chad at kick ash basket let him know he needs to speak to his dealers, fire it up and cook some good protein. 

I got the steel version and the SS version for my second large egg. The regular steel is about 3 years old I think and holding up well even through a lot of pizza cooks as well as low and slows. It’s not new looking by any means and starting to flack a little maybe but doing well.

What I found from using an old Weber kettle grill (before my eggs) that I kept a cast iron grate in it for steaks and burgers is if you don’t clean out ash till you are ready to use it, my cast iron didn’t rust. If I cleaned it out to make it pretty and it sat for a week then I would have to scrub and reseason my cast iron. This is totally just my observation and not proven outside my own back yard. But that’s what I do with my egg, let the ashes sit till I’m ready to fire it up. I lift the KAB out, shake it over a metal ash can, use the ash rake to sweep the bottom and discard ashes in the same ash can. Once every few months I will gut the egg and clean behind the firebox. 

Now as as far as my SS version, it’s beautiful! It’s sitting on top of my new large egg box in my garage  So I can’t comment on how well it’s holding up. I hope to have it cooking within a month when I get my outdoor kitchen built. 

Tbent said:

Here's mine after two years of use. Upgrading soon. 

That's one of the early ones.  Having the lower part in circles was an issue.  They beefed up the gauge all over and had the bottom run in horizontal lines.  The next generation regular steel ones held up really well.  

My originally one still works great, yeah it has some rust but I can't see it in my egg anyways. Still the only must have accessory IHO.

1voyager said:

UPDATE:

The dealer sent an email to me this morning insisting that I return the steel KAB for a refund. As it turns out, no-one from KAB notified him of the discontinuation of the product. He will send an email to me when he has the stainless steel KAB in stock. Hopefully next week.

My faith in customer service has been restored!

They sent out the blast email back in January with the new price lists, pop material, etc.

Anything shipped since then you had the option of steel or stainless until the old stock was gone.