Nightmare turns to happy ending

[56MPG]

I hear you too. The incremental changes (cost reductions or regulatory restrictions) are minimal year-by-year, but over time add up. Comparing anything from 1979 (or 1989) to something similar today will often point that out. Americans have to be willing to pay more for something better, (let alone America made) but that's not often the way it works. As a product designer for many years (power tools mainly) I felt first hand the sting of yearly cost reduction targets and material changes. Mot often it's the retailer driving that, not the company making the widget. It's a balancing act to preserve quality and performance in the face of unrelenting competition. Blame the big-boxes if you have to blame someone. I guarantee every engineer at Weber would love to build a grill the way it should be built. Stainless legs? Sure! Heavier gauge steel? Absolutely! Wood handles? They would have to hire Brian!

All we can do is keep the flame alive by celebrating the best of what they did in the past, and supporting the best of what they do today.

Marty

[kettlebb]

I hear you too. The incremental changes (cost reductions or regulatory restrictions) are minimal year-by-year, but over time add up. Comparing anything from 1979 (or 1989) to something similar today will often point that out. Americans have to be willing to pay more for something better, (let alone America made) but that's not often the way it works. As a product designer for many years (power tools mainly) I felt first hand the sting of yearly cost reduction targets and material changes. Mot often it's the retailer driving that, not the company making the widget. It's a balancing act to preserve quality and performance in the face of unrelenting competition. Blame the big-boxes if you have to blame someone. I guarantee every engineer at Weber would love to build a grill the way it should be built. Stainless legs? Sure! Heavier gauge steel? Absolutely! Wood handles? They would have to hire Brian!

All we can do is keep the flame alive by celebrating the best of what they did in the past, and supporting the best of what they do today.

Marty

Amen Marty!


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[Travis]

I hear you too. The incremental changes (cost reductions or regulatory restrictions) are minimal year-by-year, but over time add up. Comparing anything from 1979 (or 1989) to something similar today will often point that out. Americans have to be willing to pay more for something better, (let alone America made) but that's not often the way it works. As a product designer for many years (power tools mainly) I felt first hand the sting of yearly cost reduction targets and material changes. Mot often it's the retailer driving that, not the company making the widget. It's a balancing act to preserve quality and performance in the face of unrelenting competition. Blame the big-boxes if you have to blame someone. I guarantee every engineer at Weber would love to build a grill the way it should be built. Stainless legs? Sure! Heavier gauge steel? Absolutely! Wood handles? They would have to hire Brian!

All we can do is keep the flame alive by celebrating the best of what they did in the past, and supporting the best of what they do today.

Marty

Well said brother


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[Poorfolks]

Amen X2! I have to agree 56MPH. The big box stores are begging quality mfgs. for their products in their stores but keep complaining that ''are customers can't afford them''. They keep pestering them for a cheap (made in china) product with there name on it. Some mfgs. have refused for years but (sadly) finally gave in.
You know I noticed the walmart is selling cheap (made in china) snapper lawn mowers and weber 22'' JJ grills now.
https://www.fastcompany.com/54763/man-who-said-no-wal-mart


http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/?action=post2

[Idahawk]

  I was a Traeger dealer around the time they cheapened up their products and moved overseas and it caused me so many customer service nightmares that I dropped my dealership. As word of Traeger's shortcomings spread through the BBQ community I'm sure it cost them dearly and that's why their now hocking a unit on an infomercial !  People that know won't touch them with a ten foot pole while Memphis and Yodor are building kick ass solid  units for just slightly more then a high end Traeger . Traeger effectively sold their soul to devil for the bottom line but lost all their respect in the BBQ community and that's who most people look for when they need advise. Maybe Weber is going down the same path and simply wants to move units, as many units as they can in the box stores and they don't care if Joe blow has a quality product or not. It's about quantity not quality . I don't fault a company for making money but not at the cost of integrity.

Here were are talking about adding parts to a new Weber just so it's functional ? Just like guys are buying non Traeger brains to run those ? I'd be embarrassed as a company if it were mine. George welded those handles on for a reason , he wanted you to feel a solid lid in your hand , giving you the peace of mind that you've made the right choice in a grill  not some wiggly piece of metal that comes with a wrench !




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[Darko]

Very true @56MPG. Please don't misunderstand. I'm not bashing Weber. I still think they are the best damn grills on the market. Hands down beats anything else out there. I just think like most things these days, they don't make them like they used to. I got an A code recently and it just feels like a more solid kettle than the new ones in the store.


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That's a crock of shit.

I work for the company that makes the steel for Weber kettles. You would be amazed at how we have to inspect this stuff. Trust me the steel is good.

[kettlebb]

Thanks for the correction @Darko


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[MrHoss]

Very true @56MPG. Please don't misunderstand. I'm not bashing Weber. I still think they are the best damn grills on the market. Hands down beats anything else out there. I just think like most things these days, they don't make them like they used to. I got an A code recently and it just feels like a more solid kettle than the new ones in the store.


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app

That's a crock of shit.

I work for the company that makes the steel for Weber kettles. You would be amazed at how we have to inspect this stuff. Trust me the steel is good.

Not a crock of shit at all. My older ones are slightly heavier. Plus the orange peel effect is not present in newer Kettles. To top it off I cannot buy a non taco handle so old will always be better. MBH's make better food.

[Darko]

Remember, your kettle is made from the finest Canadian steel. I Guarantee it.

[Darko]

Very true @56MPG. Please don't misunderstand. I'm not bashing Weber. I still think they are the best damn grills on the market. Hands down beats anything else out there. I just think like most things these days, they don't make them like they used to. I got an A code recently and it just feels like a more solid kettle than the new ones in the store.


Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app

That's a crock of shit.

I work for the company that makes the steel for Weber kettles. You would be amazed at how we have to inspect this stuff. Trust me the steel is good.

Not a crock of shit at all. My older ones are slightly heavier. Plus the orange peel effect is not present in newer Kettles. To top it off I cannot buy a non taco handle so old will always be better. MBH's make better food.

Guess what! Steel has changed over the years. We make steel now that is thinner and stronger than what was made before.

As for orange peel, I got nothing to do with that

As for non taco, you can always buy the fireplace handles.

yeah I agree that old is always cooler, not necessarily better. But then again steaks taste better off my Seville than they do off my copper Performer.

[MrHoss]

I think the old ones are heavier Darko.....I was not kidding! And as such cook better for low and slow applications. I don't want to add handles. The newer ones may be made of your Hamilton steel but I don't like the way they fit! As far as grilling I like a one touch with the bucket. Steaks taste the same to me.

[Darko]

I'll do a weigh off. We'll see if there is much difference.

[chris_vazquez1]

  How do I get me one of those?! Congrats!

[DarrenC]

I'll do a weigh off. We'll see if there is much difference.

There's your answer right there.  Look forward to the results!

[Cellar2ful]

I'll do a weigh off. We'll see if there is much difference.

I also look forward to the results. I agree that the older lids feel much heavier than the newer lids. I have picked up one in each hand and there is a definite difference. It will be interesting to see the actual difference. The exception is 26" lids which are the opposite for weight difference.  The newer lids are much heavier than the old flat tops. @argentflame , @Heyjude and I were discussing this last weekend.  I guess they had to use a heavier gauge of steel due to the different shape of the newer lid.  The flat top lids feel much lighter.