Let's get the debate started on the day of release: Is the Charcoal Summit a game changing new product in the grilling world, like the iPhone was for consumer electronics, or will it be yet another huge product flop like the Ford Edsel or New Coke?
For the game changer argument:
* Unique features that look to address some of the shortcomings inherent in the ceramic kamado design (RapidFire Vent, open air insulation)
* Extremely versatile cooker with the adjustable grates, expansion shelf, etc.
* Insulated bowl that addresses the main weak point of a standard kettle, temperature fluctuation.
For the product flop argument:
The main thing that has me worried is Weber's brand image. I liken it to Volkswagen (pre-dieselgate). In the mid-2000s VW introduced a "luxury" sedan to compete with BMW, Mercedes, and their own Audi. Management thought process at the time was that people who liked the VW brand would buy a $90k sedan, because it was a VW. They grossly overestimated this. Yes, there are very loyal VW owners around the world and in the US. But those people buy VW because you can get a german engineered sedan for $25-$35k, which is what they can afford. Anyone who can afford to spend $90k on a sedan will buy a Mercedes or BMW, if for no other reason than status. That's exactly what happened, too.
I'm wondering if a similar thing will happen to Weber with the Charcoal Summit. I have no doubt that it is a solid product, and already
@chefn58 indicates its performance matches the hype. But most of us who like the Weber brand like it, among other things, because we have a solid, reliable cooker that is extremely versatile and doesn't cost a tremendous amount of money. We get 80-90-95% of the capabilities of a high end ceramic or offset for 10-30% of the price. Most of the people who buy the BGEs and Langs buy them because of the exclusive aspect. Anyone that knows a small amount about grills knows some coin was dropped when a guy takes the cover off his BGE mounted in a table. Will casual grillers realize this when someone pulls back the curtain on their Charcoal Summit? More importantly, will enough people in the BGE/KJ market be willing to consider the Weber brand instead? That's the real test to the success of this product, imo.
I think it would be more successful if it was priced closer to $1k instead of $2k. This would make it more appealing to a wider audience, and it would get more Weber fans on board. Once you have a wave of these guys raving about them online, the marketing will take care of itself. One reason it has stood the test of time is the legion of loyal fans, after all.
Instead, Weber has pinned its hopes for success on this product to convincing a prospective BGE/KJ owner to consider their product instead. Those folks tend to buy prestige and status. They don't necessarily buy performance first. And prestige buyers rarely want to buy something associated with "the masses."