Hi, I stumbled across this site while Googling and thought I’d join in. I got a Simpsons model Weber grill as a wedding gift when I got married in 2000. I no longer have the wife, but I still have the grill.
We were married late in the summer and never actually opened the box until the following spring, at which time I found that the kettle and lid had a couple of chips in it. I called Weber, expecting an argument, but the customer service rep just asked for the date code on the vent, and then told me they’d send out replacement parts right away. I was expecting to have to send back the damaged parts, but she told me no, if I could use them to just keep them. Replacement kettle and lid arrived shortly thereafter, along with a copy of the free guide they were giving out at the time on how to grill pizza. I’ve heard differently more recently, but I was very happy with Weber customer service (my parents got good service, too, when Weber sent them a new igniter for their gas grill for free.)
Fast forward 21 years and believe it or not, I have never gotten around to installing the replacement kettle and lid—they’re still in the original shipping cartons out in the garage loft. The original damaged parts are much worse for wear and have acquired a few more chips in the finish. I’ve decided that I’m going to look around for an otherwise trashed Weber that has good legs, ash can, sweeper, and other parts and try to put together a second grill with the replacement parts. Having acquired more extended family since my partner has been here, it has become clear that there are times it would be useful to have two grills going, especially when our son-in-law, who is Creole from New Orleans, comes by and starts in on his Cajun cooking. (I’m actually vegetarian, but man, I can still smell-feed!)