I bought one used a few months back, and after trying to use it a few times, I don't like it. Using the snake method just works infinitely better. I had a few issues with it. When it runs out of charcoal and you have to reload it, you basically have to do like 10 - 15 briquettes at a time. Because if you do more than that from the rising heat they all get hot and you get a roaring fire and not low and slow cooking. With the snake I can quickly rebuild a snake going in the other direction if I have to. Then came fire management, on a snake I'm only adjusting the vents when the weather is being a bitch. If I have a nice day with very little breeze I don't have to touch them. With the smokenator I found I was constantly having to adjust the vents based on what/how many coals decided to get hot at anyone time. Not worth the money IMHO.