My experience with Weber parts and service is always at the extremes of the spectrum. When I ordered a new copper bowl/lid to drop in a SS performer frame, I had to do all kinds of justifications as to why I was ordering it. More recently, I was purchasing SS ash sweeps and was warned that “they will not fit my grill”. The Weber rep went so far as to document that the “customer ordered the parts even though they were warned the parts would not fit the grill”. And lets face it – when trying to track down part numbers so you can place an order for any Weber replacement part, the Weber website is the least helpful resource you can use.
I get it. They want customers to order the correct parts to fit their grills and continue to be happy customers. They certainly don’t want off-center people like me ordering weber parts so they can hook their performer propane tank to a home made potato gun mounted on a performer cart allowing said griller to shoot potatoes off the deck while grilling (sorry for that tangent, just thinking out loud). After all, when the propane gun catches fire and burns the house, the headline will read "Grilling accident leaves family homeless".
But to give a stern warning that an ash sweep won’t fit my OTG system? To make me beg for the part despite "all the risks". Give me a break.
But just when I am about to give up on them, something like this happens: I need a new bowl vent for an older 18.5 kettle. I find out from this forum that the 18.5 WSM bowl vents are exactly the same and will work for my application (thanks AJ). I call Weber and order replacement bowl vents for an 18.5 WSM (that I don’t own, but know that I have to say I have one to get the parts).
Weber then proceeds to send me the replacement vents. Free of charge. With free shipping.. The very next day.
Jekyll and Hyde, that Weber company....
Winz