Weber Kettle Club Forums
Grill Talk => Weber Grill Forum (Grills, Accessories) => Topic started by: LightningBoldtz on October 21, 2019, 06:48:26 AM
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My first reaction with this was a huge eye roll, but as I've read more and more about this, Weber would be foolish to not participate in the pellet grill space. As a respected manufacturer and innovator, Weber should have some market share here. While I'm not interested in purchasing one these outdoor ovens, I'm interested in seeing how they differentiate themselves from the competition.
Completely agree, propane grills are going to be a relic in 10 years, charcoal will still have it's purists but if you were a simple backyard griller and needed to purchase a new grill, why wouldn't you go pellet grill? It is the future. As far as establishing themselves, I am also curious as the market id very well established, they should have done this 5 years ago, IMO.
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Completely agree, propane grills are going to be a relic in 10 years.
I will strongly argue to the contrary.
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Completely agree, propane grills are going to be a relic in 10 years.
I will strongly argue to the contrary.
+1
I don’t see gas grills going away anytime soon.
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"Gas grills sales passed charcoal grills in 1994 and are now almost 60% of all grills sold are gas." (Quote from Amazing Ribs article)
https://amazingribs.com/ratings-reviews/how-to-buy-a-grill/charcoal-vs-gas
If you have the time, read the article in the above link. It is long and covers a lot of interesting points comparing charcoal vs gas grills. The one point it does not touch on is "no burn days" due to high fire dangers or air quality. Here in California, use of charcoal is impacted quite frequently on high fire days. Although not currently included on the list of banded use items on "spare the air days", charcoal grills will be added to the list on these days in the next couple of years. Pellet grills will also be included in these bans due to the particulate released burning the pellets.
I do own a Weber Spirit Gas grill. It is mainly used by my wife for cooking vegetables but comes in handy when the use of charcoal grills is discouraged or banned. Here in California, I don't see the gas grills becoming a "relic" as it (along with electric grills) will be the only source of outdoor cooking as we have more and more "Red Flag - High Fire Danger" days and "Spare The Air Days".
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I say they are around for quite some time, to easy for the average back yard griller to use. Fairly safe to use on most deck material. Different models for almost all budgets. They are a good looking addition to the outside space so both halves of the couple can be pleased.
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I think the pricing on the pellet grills will have to come down significantly in order for them to take a large chunk of the gas grill market to the point they are almost obsolete or not in use. I just took a glimpse at Traeger's website and their entry level grill is still $429 not including shipping or tax. At that size you are likely only going to be hosting parties of 8 to 10 people. Meanwhile you can find gas grills of all shapes, sizes, and price points. Plus they are so prevalent on the used market that if you need to go big on a budget you can. Or they can be found frequently on year end discounts.
I am not going to say I will never buy pellet grill, but the perfect opportunity would have to present itself if it is in the foreseeable future. About the only gas grill I will ever pick up would be a stove top or a griddle.
I look forward to seeing Weber's offering so it doesn't seem like a complete betrayal of my charcoal grilling ways if I do make a dip into the pellet grill pool. [emoji14]
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I’ll also chime in that gas grills are here to stay. I’m guessing that most of the Weber grill sales are truly going to enthusiasts. I for one can’t personally fathom spending the coin on a new Genesis II or whatever. I think that is why you see a lot of Char-Broil and other sub-par brands (IMO) in a lot of backyards and second hand.
Also consider those in condos or HOAs that won’t allow open fire or charcoal. Some can only use a small Spirit or even an electric grill in their outdoor space.
I don’t see myself getting a gasser or pellet grill ever. When I was on vacation in Florida I could only use the onsite Weber Genesis hooked up to NG. I cooked well but I really missed my kettles.
Pellet grills are much like outdoor ovens IMO and cost a lot.
Good luck Weber. Keep making kettles.
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I don’t see myself getting a gasser ........ ever.
Dude, you really need to drop by my house some time.
I could hook you right up. I currently have 9 in my garage.
(https://i.imgur.com/SYrZCFDl.jpg)
It's too dark out to take pics of the 6 under my deck right now, and if my
son was home I'd have him send me pics of the dozen or so that I have stored
in the corner of his basement.
Can't forget about my Tiny Genny that sits on my desk
by the Teleflora red head.
(https://i.imgur.com/Lqo1e9Cl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0wm5BIRl.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lPyFnMZl.jpg)
:D
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Damn Dave. That’s a lot of gassers! I’m already overwhelmed with my limited space for kettles. I couldn’t imagine having all of those. If I ever do change my mind I know who to get ahold of! Sweet collection, and is there a story about the little redhead? That is pretty awesome.
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Obligatory....
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is there a story about the little redhead?
It is actually a fridge magnet. I had a bunch and sold all but mine and one other.
Id offer it up for sale, but there are a couple on ebay right now that are cheaper
than I paid for mine.
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is there a story about the little redhead?
It is actually a fridge magnet. I had a bunch and sold all but mine and one other.
Id offer it up for sale, but there are a couple on ebay right now that are cheaper
than I paid for mine.
That was my first gasser, I still have it LOL
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Gassers becoming extinct? I think not. There are a shitload of people that love gassers and don't want to mess with lighting coals... it's a good market bizwise.
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Or their are a bunch of people like myself who enjoy having a UDS for smoking, a performer for my charcoal fix my favorite grill and a restored Weber 1000 which my wife loves when she needs to get something done quickly. She won't mess with the charcoal but really we use all three of them for different purposes.
There have been times when we have entertained and had all three running. Wings in the performer, ribs on the UDS and pork tenderloin on the 1000. Takes a little timing but all get served at the same time.
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I never realized there were 2 different sizes of the Q!
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I actually think there are 3 sizes of the Q. The largest is two burners.
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I never realized there were 2 different sizes of the Q!
There are actually 3 sizes.
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My first reaction with this was a huge eye roll, but as I've read more and more about this, Weber would be foolish to not participate in the pellet grill space. As a respected manufacturer and innovator, Weber should have some market share here. While I'm not interested in purchasing one these outdoor ovens, I'm interested in seeing how they differentiate themselves from the competition.
Completely agree, propane grills are going to be a relic in 10 years, charcoal will still have it's purists but if you were a simple back hard griller and needed to purchase a new grill, why wouldn't you go pellet grill? It is the future. As far as establishing themselves, I am also curious as the market id very well established, they should have done this 5 years ago, IMO.
Not gonna happen. I'd sooner expect charcoal or pellet to disappear before propane or NG
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Can someone tell me how this topic was created? it is a subtopic from a pellet grill post somewhere else but looks like I created it, I did not. Whomever created this should have have maybe created some context with their own words to drum up the conversation.
@SixZeroFour
@Cellar2ful
@Troy
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Now with the previous stated. I am going to make my point. In 10 years will gas grills still be used? Maybe a relic is a bit much, people will still use gas. BUT all the numbers in the BBQ industry point to pellet grills increasing in sales dramatically and gas grill sales decreasing in numbers.
I can attest to my own experience talking to people and selling gas grills myself, used to be I could sell an refurbished weber gas grill within days of listing, this is no longer the case. When people need a new grill there is a decent percent of them that will opt to go pellet over gas. They are simply too easy and the results are too good for people to ignore. Almost every conversation I have with strangers about BBQ ends up talking about pellet grills, most have seen them and most are intrigued by them.
As far as price coming down, people have been willing to drop 500 to 1000 on Weber gas grills for years so long as they know they are getting quality. On this note as well, the word is getting out, people are not happy with the new Weber gas grills, when I sell a used refurbished gasser I ask them their thoughts on the new Weber and I have yet to hear someone say "they are nice but too expensive" no they say the quality is so much worse than they used to be which is why they opted to go used.
So with those factors, 1. pellet grills are the wave of the future and 2. the #1 gas grill maker making a lower quality product the end results will be a shifting of the market to pallet grills and gas losing ground in the next 10 years.
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My first reaction with this was a huge eye roll, but as I've read more and more about this, Weber would be foolish to not participate in the pellet grill space. As a respected manufacturer and innovator, Weber should have some market share here. While I'm not interested in purchasing one these outdoor ovens, I'm interested in seeing how they differentiate themselves from the competition.
Completely agree, propane grills are going to be a relic in 10 years, charcoal will still have it's purists but if you were a simple back hard griller and needed to purchase a new grill, why wouldn't you go pellet grill? It is the future. As far as establishing themselves, I am also curious as the market id very well established, they should have done this 5 years ago, IMO.
Not gonna happen. I'd sooner expect charcoal or pellet to disappear before propane or NG
You are not paying attention to market trends.
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Seems like a pellet grill is sort of the charcoal grillers' shortcut grill. You get the added flavor flavor of the wood without the additional time to wait for charcoal to heat up. I can see how many consumers could feel like they're getting the benefits of charcoal without the wait. It may not be remotely true, but I can see how a lot of folks could think like that and convince themselves that a pellet grill is more 'romantic' than a gasser.
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Seems like a pellet grill is sort of the charcoal grillers' shortcut grill. You get the added flavor flavor of the wood without the additional time to wait for charcoal to heat up. I can see how many consumers could feel like they're getting the benefits of charcoal without the wait. It may not be remotely true, but I can see how a lot of folks could think like that and convince themselves that a pellet grill is more 'romantic' than a gasser.
People are busy, even in my own life as my kids are now teens and running all over everywhere, I find myself throwing ribs on the pellet grill because it is so easy. When I do have time I go to charcoal because I love to play with fire but in a society that is getting less and less time people love the convenience. I can also attest that the results are close to what I would get on my wsm, in fact I did that very test last year when I cooked 3 racks of ribs on my pellet grill and 3 on my wsm. Most liked the WSM ribs better, but only slightly.
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Can someone tell me how this topic was created? it is a subtopic from a pellet grill post somewhere else but looks like I created it, I did not. Whomever created this should have have maybe created some context with their own words to drum up the conversation.
I created this topic LightningBoldtz. With the number of quick response posts to your comment about gas grills on the original post, I felt the pellet grill thread might be better served by splitting the topic. Your point regarding a context statement is well taken and if I split a topic in the future, I will incorporate your suggestion.
Here is the original thread regarding pellet grills: http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/index.php?topic=43233.0
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Can someone tell me how this topic was created? it is a subtopic from a pellet grill post somewhere else but looks like I created it, I did not. Whomever created this should have have maybe created some context with their own words to drum up the conversation.
I created this topic LightningBoldtz. With the number of quick response posts to your comment about gas grills on the original post, I felt the pellet grill thread might be better served by splitting the topic. Your point regarding a context statement is well taken and if I split a topic in the future, I will incorporate your suggestion.
Here is the original thread regarding pellet grills: http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/index.php?topic=43233.0
OK, I don't have an issue with it because I love the topic, I just think it would have been better understood if you would have maybe put some comments in the original showing that you did it and that you were using my comments as a topic starter. Thanks
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"OK, I don't have an issue with it because I love the topic" Jeff Boldt. I am enjoying the topic and thread as well. It shows that numerous opinions exist and we seem to be having a very open adult conversation regarding our opinions without anyone going crazy. Kudo's to all posts so far and to the class of the WKC !!
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I fail to see the convenience of pellet grills over kettles. I can start a snake and leave for hours.
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However I fail to see the convenience of anything that’s not a kettle lol
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The bbq and grilling world is more than big enough for gas, charcoal, and pellet grills.
As long as pellet grills require a cord to be plugged into an electrical source, charcoal
and propane will still command the market share. As long as I can have all 3, I will also.
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I fail to see the convenience of pellet grills over kettles. I can start a snake and leave for hours.
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My overnight cooks are glorious.
Remember the preferred target audience, people who are not like us in that they feel charcoal is "too messy" "takes too long" "tastes bad" whatever the excuse is for someone who is a simple person or ignorant of how to use charcoal grills.
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I fail to see the convenience of pellet grills over kettles. I can start a snake and leave for hours.
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My overnight cooks are glorious.
Remember the preferred target audience, people who are not like us in that they feel charcoal is "too messy" "takes too long" "tastes bad" whatever the excuse is for someone who is a simple person or ignorant of how to use charcoal grills.
So true! Most of the people I know with pellet grills do not want to mess with charcoal. In fact they usually are switching from a gas grill as you had eluded to what the market is doing. I also know some of those same people that got rid of their pellet grills to go back to gas. It is interesting to watch the trends of the normal people.
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So will gas grills become relics? hard to say as I said before maybe a bit of an overstatement. You will always have those people that just want to "BBQ" dogs and burgers on the gas grill. However there is a decent portion of people that love BBQ and the pellet grill is perfect for that. One of my friends who I make fun of because he literally six months ago would tell me he wanted to BBQ a steak and ask what kindto buy, just made pulled pork for a group of people last weekend on my portable pellet grill. You will always have purists, there are people who swear by stick burners but you wouldn't catch me dead with one. All I can tell you is, my experience is the pellet market cannot be ignored, I am glad Weber is dipping their toe in, just wish they did it 5 years ago.
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Ok, I do not think I fall into the "normal" category as I have come to the "dark side" late in life from the convenient and clean (sarcastic) other side.
I currently have a gasser (Weber Genesis), a pellet cooker (RecTec) and two 22" kettle grills (Weber / Happy Cooker). I have had Weber gassers for 30+ years and have used them at least 3-4 times a week during that time. (I am on the road travelling for work or would use even more). I used them for high heat searing, low and slow cooking and even smoking. I looked a the pellet cookers 4 years ago and liked them for the quality of the low and slow and the smoke cooks which were much harder to achieve with a gasser. JUST this year I purchased my two kettle grills, and have LOVED the experience. Don't know what took me 30+ years, but have a lot of catching up to do. Since I do have the pellet, I have not tried any low and slow long cooks with the kettles, but they have become my go to cooking units for everything else. I use them now 3-4 times a week every week since owning them. I tried some high temp searing burgers/steaks etc with the pellet, but since they burn so efficient not much flavor comes from cooking with the pellets at high heat (at least to me). The kettles are perfect for that. It is sad, but my gasser has really become more of a stainless steel shelf to hold items from the kettles and pellet grills while using them.
With all that said, I am not sure the gas cooking experience will go away completely, but at least for me, I have found other cookers that do the same job, much better and with usually much better results. For me, I see less and less gas in my future.
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After having just spent a long weekend closing my MIL's cottage with a few of my buddies, I can attest that I don't see pellet grills replacing gas grills. We used the 22" kettle for cooking our dinners every night (which were fun but planned productions in themselves), but we also used the Weber Spirit gas grill every day for cooking bacon in the morning or a frozen pizza late at night. The ease and versatility of the gas grill made cooking these things so easy. We had no need for smoke flavor for these items so a pellet grill would have been a waste. The gas grill really came in handy when we wanted to cook something right away with no charcoal fussing, etc.