Here is my thought process on ther damaged 26'rs.
First of all, it is boxed in a large cumbersome box. A large cumbersome box that weighs 63 pounds.
What's the easiest way to move that box around? On its SIDE.
The further these boxes have to travel, the more they are handled by diffrent people.
Just because the box doesn't get damaged, doesn't mean someone along the line didn't drop it, or have it slip out of their hands.
Take a brand new 22" still in the box, and drop it on its side a couple times, and tell me it's gonna come out of the box perfect.
Hell, take a vintage kettle and put it packed in that same box, with the Weber packaging.... I bet it would get damaged just the same.
Now add the fact that the 26'r weighs 63 pounds shipped, when that drop / mishandle happens, that grill is gonna get DAMAGED.
A drop on the flat side won't neccesarily damage the box.
I feel most of the defects are a result of shipping. [emoji2369]
Attached is a pic of mine when it was delivered..... on its side.
I feel pretty confident that 99% of these grills that had to be handled by 1 person, it was handled on its side, where the actual grill sits closest to the cardboard box.
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