Atlanta Grill Company no longer BGE?

distanceman · June 2018

Anyone know why AGC (I think formerly known as Roswell Hardware) nonlinger carrier BGE? I heard it completely switched to KJ?

Ozzie_Isaac · June 2018

Seems like a big loss for BGE ....

DoubleEgger · June 2018

That’s a pretty bold claim for a company that’s only been selling KJs for a few weeks. I would suspect Costco would have something to say about that.

JohnInCarolina · June 2018

DoubleEgger said:

That’s a pretty bold claim for a company that’s only been selling KJs for a few weeks. I would suspect Costco would have something to say about that.

Might actually be true however. Probably wouldn’t be hard to do.

rekameohs · June 2018

DoubleEgger said:

That’s a pretty bold claim for a company that’s only been selling KJs for a few weeks. I would suspect Costco would have something to say about that.

It says Largest KJ Dealer. "Largest" could mean biggest showroom, most number of BGE items carried, heaviest owner/dealer, etc, etc.

Dondgc · June 2018

DoubleEgger said:

That’s a pretty bold claim for a company that’s only been selling KJs for a few weeks. I would suspect Costco would have something to say about that.

I don't think Costco is considered to be a "dealer." They don't show up in a search for dealers.

tarheelmatt · June 2018

Matt Pittman has, I think jumped ship to Traggers.

Lit · June 2018

They still had BGE last week

Lit · June 2018

Damn looks like they are gone off their website. They said when people looked st the 2 side by side they sold the KJ almost every time. Is the lifetime warranty our lifetime or BGEs?

Ozzie_Isaac · June 2018

Lit said:

Damn looks like they are gone off their website. They said when people looked st the 2 side by side they sold the KJ almost every time. Is the lifetime warranty our lifetime or BGEs?

KJ warranty were they ship parts directly to you is a huge bonus in my eyes.

I had a great dealer in my old town, but not in my new town. I wish I didn't need to deal with a middle man.

johnnyp · June 2018

tarheelmatt said:

Matt Pittman has, I think jumped ship to Traggers.

Smart move. I assume he saturated the Kamado Market and is looking to cast a bigger net.

Back to the OP. KJ is crushing online content right now. Their YouTube presence is great. Fans of the product are also very active on social media. KJ is doing a lot of things right to build their brand.

GrillSgt · June 2018

What’s going on at BGE is typical of what happens to companies that were basically monopolies and thought they were invulnerable. When a turnaround is attempted it’s usually accompanied by some internal battles. I would guess that the BGE market share was large enough that they can be competitive. I think they’ve done a great job of product placement. You see a lot of green in stories about restaurants and in the homes of the rich and famous.

GATraveller · June 2018

I had no idea they jumped ship. I only went there for rub/sauce/pickles anyway cause nothing in there is cheap.

DoubleEgger · June 2018

I would suspect KJ gave them a sweetheart vendor deal to ditch their bread and butter product.

flexfusion · June 2018

I bought my LBGE there (Roswell Hardware) from Gary and a few accessories. Nice guy and it was always fun place to visit. Last time I was in Alphretta I was going to stop by but ran out of time. We're very limited here in Central Bama for dealers.

distanceman · June 2018

Lit said:

Damn looks like they are gone off their website. They said when people looked st the 2 side by side they sold the KJ almost every time. Is the lifetime warranty our lifetime or BGEs?

I honestly think KJ does a better job w/ their presentation..."You get ALL OF THIS" (and I laugh when people say you get all this "free"). So comparing side by side, yeah, KJ def seems like the better way to go.

I did way too much research, and basically built my own Egg package the way I wanted it (Smokeware top, KAB, CGS Woo/Split Heat Dividers)--and I'm completely content.

Initially I wondered if I made a mistake going BGE; however, after creeping around on the KJ page again, I think I made the right call. All this "innovation" is good, but I think it's rushed, and not well tested. Their new vent top peels pain on the food (gross) & also is too heavy and wears out the gasket material and flops around, and drips grease on the grill/patio; mesh gasket is peeling off; firebox ring warps like a Pringles chip, pops off & firebox falls all over the place; folks propping up old Big Joe w/ a stick; people are melting part of the new BBQ Controller (iKamand) because it's plastic next to the firebox...

I actually think KJ may overextend themselves (working on a new $3,500 grill to complete w/ KK). One reason I went BGE is because, while I doubt it would happen, I wouldn't be surprised if KJ went under at some point--too much, too fast. We'll see!

HeavyG · June 2018

distanceman said:

Lit said:

Damn looks like they are gone off their website. They said when people looked st the 2 side by side they sold the KJ almost every time. Is the lifetime warranty our lifetime or BGEs?

I honestly think KJ does a better job w/ their presentation..."You get ALL OF THIS" (and I laugh when people say you get all this "free"). So comparing side by side, yeah, KJ def seems like the better way to go.

I did way too much research, and basically built my own Egg package the way I wanted it (Smokeware top, KAB, CGS Woo/Split Heat Dividers)--and I'm completely content.

Initially I wondered if I made a mistake going BGE; however, after creeping around on the KJ page again, I think I made the right call. All this "innovation" is good, but I think it's rushed, and not well tested. Their new vent top peels pain on the food (gross) & also is too heavy and wears out the gasket material and flops around, and drips grease on the grill/patio; mesh gasket is peeling off; firebox ring warps like a Pringles chip, pops off & firebox falls all over the place; folks propping up old Big Joe w/ a stick; people are melting part of the new BBQ Controller (iKamand) because it's plastic next to the firebox...

I actually think KJ may overextend themselves (working on a new $3,500 grill to complete w/ KK). One reason I went BGE is because, while I doubt it would happen, I wouldn't be surprised if KJ went under at some point--too much, too fast. We'll see!

KJ used to have a $7K kamado in their lineup - the original Joe Pro - so I don't think their new ceramic version Joe Pro (at half the price) is really intending to compete with KK.

distanceman · June 2018

@HeavyG you may be right, but it is certainly designed to compete above the L/XL or Classic/BJ categories of your every day Kamado user. The Pro Joe is pretty massive (as looks impressive, anyways).

odie91 · June 2018

We have a store called Abt, which is the appliance superstore here. First thing you see when you walk in is green eggs. Until last year. Now Joe's. Floor sales guy tells me they just felt it was a better buy with all the included accessories. Also have a chain called Steingauffels, more of a discount store with cheaper quality stuff, but also green egg ers. Now i don't see any eggs when i walk in... maybe I'll see some Joe's in the near future. I would not buy an other egg for the simple reason I'm just too busy to drive around trying to find a dealer to honor warranty service when something goes wrong

cookingdude555 · June 2018

You can’t go wrong with either KJ or BGE. I have 5 BGEs and picked up my first KJ (jr) last week. Got it from someone on letgo for $200 brand new in box. Didn’t need it but had to buy it because of the bbq voices in my head. I don’t see BGE maintaining their 1st place kamado lead if they don’t change the way they do business to adapt. I think they are too in love with this dealer model to stay out front. People want to buy online, people want to do warranties online. We don’t care to go to a dealer to do warranties. We don’t stay in the dealer and buy BGE accessories. We are picking up CGS stuff or other aftermarket items from somewhere else. It’s fruststing to see them lose their position. I believe they always remain a strong player, I’m not sure it’s ahead of KJ when you fast forward into the future. It’s annoying because they owned the market. BGE has made advancements and innovations lately (many stolen, but still), so it is encouraging to see them react on losing sales to other competitors.

distanceman · June 2018

@cookingdude555 I think you’re pretty accurate in your assessment. And I agree both are good companies—I was/am contemplating a Jr if I can find the right price. I think my point was KJ seems good, but I’m not sure it’s quite as amazing as their fan base says. Or I’m not seeing it, anyways.

I do do wonder if BGE will move to an online or hybrid model as you said. Cause for whatever reason, losing their biggest brick and mortar dealer has to be a huge blow.

Hoster05 · June 2018

Sam thing happened here in Minneapolis. I bought my LBGE at a store called the kitchen window, when you first walked in the door it was all green eggs, every size unit, accessories, charcoal etc. they switched to KJ within the last year. I asked the owner about it and all he would tell me was there was “some things that they didn’t care for and it had nothing to do with their product lineup.”

Jeremiah · June 2018

Same thing is happening here in the Aiken/ Augusta area.

SamIAm2 · June 2018

Went into a local Pinch-a-Penny pool supply a couple weeks ago which previously sold BGE along with accessories and rubs. They had both BGE and KJ. Asked the clerk how long they would be selling BGE, response was we'll see. Haven't checked the rest of the local stores so it is more wide spread.

StillH2OEgger · June 2018

I would imagine the dealers love not having to take care of the warranty side of things.

Jeremiah · June 2018

StillH2OEgger said:

I would imagine the dealers love not having to take care of the warranty side of things.

I warrantied my base going on two months ago, with the dealer I originally purchased from, the remaining largest in the area. Still waiting.

distanceman · June 2018

LOL. Maybe my assessment was off...and BGE not KJ will go under! I’m curious to see how things progress over the next few years.

cookingdude555 · June 2018

@distanceman, I don’t think either will go under. I don’t believe anyone outside of them own the first and second position in the market. BGE sells far too many kamados to go under, and I think they have healthy margins as well.

stlcharcoal · June 2018

Keep in mind ATL is a totally different market when it comes to BGE, KJ's, Primo's, Grill Domes, etc.

-All 4+ companies are based a few miles of each other
-There are dozens of Platinum level BGE dealers, and a lot of dealers carry multiple brands and don't get down ranked like you do in other parts of the county.
-EVERYBODY knows what they are, selling them comes down to price only

I've seen BGE packages in retail that would be similar to want my dealer price would be by the time I factored in the freight to get it to me (if I special ordered it one at a time).

DoubleEgger · June 2018

I don’t think it’s just about price here in Georgia. BGE really does have a cult like following here. People who don’t have one know what they are and surely know a couple of folks that have them. It’s kind of like Yeti. Sure you can go buy a Pelican with more features or a cheaper RTIC, but you don’t get the same street cred as hauling a Yeti around Panama City Beach in your jacked up F 250. A KJ doesn’t doesn’t carry that street cred on the patio around here.

caliking · June 2018

Jeremiah said:

StillH2OEgger said:

I would imagine the dealers love not having to take care of the warranty side of things.

I warrantied my base going on two months ago, with the dealer I originally purchased from, the remaining largest in the area. Still waiting.

Well that sucks. It took me maybe 20mins (not including driving time) to get a new base from my dealer some years ago.

Atlanta Grill Company no longer BGE?

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