Calling any/all Kamado Cermic Grill Owners (NOT BGE owners)

[brucered]

seriously looking at a Kamodo. wife says i have to get rid of the Weber Kettle, which i'm ok with as she doesn't want 5 bbq's on the deck.

i can get a Kamado Joe wth cover and the little fold out side tables NEW in BOX for $550+tax in canada.

i'm thinking of just buying it and worrying about selling it or placing it later. appears to be made (a quick google search) by Vision Grills and is currently at Costco in canada, in store for $549. with the costco warranty, it's probably a no-brainer. it seems too cheap to be true or am i missing something?

any thoughts?

here's another thread on it, by someone else with their pics: http://www.greeneggers.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&func=view&id=1114443&catid=1

some comparisons: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65729

 

[Alacrity59]

Well you have my attention. Lowes had one last year that looked interesting but it seems they tended to self destruct.

 

[smalltank]

just out of curiosity..I also thought about a grill..I was told wood charcoal is a better idea that regular charcoal or even gas for that natter..anyone have any thoughts on using wood charcoal?

 

[brucered]

Well you have my attention. Lowes had one last year that looked interesting but it seems they tended to self destruct.

it looked rock solid and is backed my Costco warranty, even though the Vision warranty is only 90days on parts and 1y on ceramic, i'm confident costco would back it in 5y if it started cracking...they back everything else, right. appears to be a great value with the side table fold outs, metal cart, cover etc. pretty sure i'm heading this afternoon to get one while my wife is sleeping off her working nights and i'll see if i can "sneak it into rotation" like i do with razors and put it where the kettle currently is!

just out of curiosity..I also thought about a grill..I was told wood charcoal is a better idea that regular charcoal or even gas for that natter..anyone have any thoughts on using wood charcoal?

LUMP charcoal is considered WOOD CHARCOAL i believe...it's all i use since i got the kettle and i will most likely never use chemical charcoal again.

read this: LUMP vs BRIQUETTEs and you'll probably never even look or touch briquettes again.

 

[ackvil]

Wow, that's a great price. Wish our local Costco stores carried it.

 

[brucered]

Wow, that's a great price. Wish our local Costco stores carried it.

bought, assembled and sitting on my deck. i was very impressed with the build quality and construction of the cart and side tables. all bolts, no screws, hardware and tools included, no striped bolts...took about 20-30min once we got the 250lb beast onto my little grilling deck area. pics will follow, but they are the same as above, so maybe i'll wait till i fire it up.

i liked the thermometer, it's removeable with a nice nut but ii only wish my Tel Tru BQ300 would have fit in the predrilled hole to upgrade the thermometer, but no go. it's too big

so to confirm, it's MADE IN CHINA by VISION. 1y MFG warranty on ceramics, 90 days on parts (but endless from costco if you think of it that way)

 

[43moon]

I am a BGE owner, but I am not here to sway any opinions of brands, just here to welcome any other members of the ceramic grill club. I am loving it.

 

[brucered]

I am a BGE owner, but I am not here to sway any opinions of brands, just here to welcome any other members of the ceramic grill club. I am loving it.

thanks 43...be sure to post some pics of your cooks in the Thin Blue Smoke Thread, found

nothing against BGE or Primo, i just started this thread to see if anyone else was looking at the Costco Vision Kamado... used it once already, worked great.

 

[DogHair]

Our Costo offered them shortly after I picked up a BGE. The neighbor grabbed one. Apples to apples grilling we're similar. The addition of a plate setter and baking stone seem to give the edge to the BGE on flexibility but the price difference is significant. He also has some nice features I don't with out spending more money so It really depends what you're looking for in a grill. I'm happy with the BGE and he's happy with the Kamado.

 

[brucered]

Our Costo offered them shortly after I picked up a BGE. The neighbor grabbed one. Apples to apples grilling we're similar. The addition of a plate setter and baking stone seem to give the edge to the BGE on flexibility but the price difference is significant. He also has some nice features I don't with out spending more money so It really depends what you're looking for in a grill. I'm happy with the BGE and he's happy with the Kamado.

good to know...what i was looking for in a ceramic cooker....one my wife would allow me to purchase without too much flack.

it worked, it's assembled and being used, so i'm happy.

 

[rearviewmirror]

i lost my bge in my divorce

now it just sits outside with all the metal parts rusting.

i'm gonna go cry in my pillow for a bit.

 

[linty]

just an FYI, but that's NOT a Kamado Joe http://www.kamadojoe.com/

 

[brucered]

just an FYI, but that's NOT a Kamado Joe http://www.kamadojoe.com/

i know, sorry about that...it was past the "edit" date for me to change my 1st post.

that said, it's a great grill at a bargain price with costco warranty...and although not a "joe", "komodo" or "BGE", it has been doing a great job, regardless of Make or price.

one minor problem with the front wood handle, an email into the CSR's at vision (site has been updated too and now looks a lot better and reassuring) and they are sending me a new handle, no questions asked and got back to me in a matter of minutes.

more pics up in the BBQ forum on here later and in the future. i sure wish i had purchased a ceramic cooker years ago, but it's the 1st one i could truly justify purchasing or at least getting my wife to go along with.

 

[brucered]

cooking has been going well, but i noticed 2 small hairline EXTERIOR cracks on the outter, lower ceramic bowl.

email and pics in to VISION, and i'll await what they say to do....buy another and then return to costco or leave as is or have them warranty it.

they are small and appear to be just surface and not all the way thru and are in line with where there is a bolt holding the lower vent in place and the 2nd is just in the middle of the bottom somehwere, but both run an inch or two on the underside, then up the side of the wall

pic 65 is on the left side, on the bottom running up the side...pic 66/67 are on the right side, on the bottom running up the side.

 

[brucered]

well, i got a response in a matter of minutes from VISION, after hours too...here is their response, which i am happy with.

Hi Bruce,

I'm sorry you are having this issue.

Yes, the warranty reads a one year warranty but we are changing it and not to worry we will take care of your issues and we will honor your purchase and take care of your problem. We will also put you into our extended warranty program.If you read closely the BGE warranty does not warrant the ceramic itself, so even though it says lifetime it is very limited.It clearly states with the BGE that any cracking is not covered in their warranty. We feel that we should cover the cracking and will if necessary will replace it for you.

I will show this to my tech guy and in the mean time feel free to use it.

Please keep me posted and let me know if this cracks any further. We are currently awaiting a shipment from our factory but so you know, you have no worry as for as the warranty.

 

[BobS]

I do not think that those cracks are anything to worry about. Basically you do not want it falling apart or so wide that you actually get air leakage.

For what it's worth, I take a little exception to their comments about the BGE warranty. It says and I quote "The Big Green Egg does not extend its warranty to chips or cracks of the exterior glaze, which may have occurred after the EGG® was delivered to the dealer or distributor.

As I said, I do not think that your crack is serious!, but it is clearly more than the exterior glaze, because you can see it on the inside.

It sounds like they are going to be good to work with.

 

[joglander]

I am a BGE owner, but I am not here to sway any opinions of brands, just here to welcome any other members of the ceramic grill club. I am loving it.

+1

 

[zretineo1979]

I too own a BGE All I can say is, Ceramic changed the way I view manhood! It keeps the moisture in, and doesnt cook it out. Get a ceramic grill! It was one of the best investments I have ever made!

 

[brucered]

I too own a BGE All I can say is, Ceramic changed the way I view manhood! It keeps the moisture in, and doesnt cook it out. Get a ceramic grill! It was one of the best investments I have ever made!

looks good...don't forget to post your Grill Porn over here: THIN BLUE SMOKE

and yes, the Kamado (Ceramic) regardless of mfg, changes the way you cook...everthing is turning out much better, much more flavour, easier to control (vs the kettle) and is very fun to cook if you ask me.

 

[Profoodaddict]

Hey fellas, Costco here in Vancouver price dropped the Vision Kamados to $399.94 because they aren't selling. No one really knows what they are and of course the stores with all their clearance on BBQs have implanted into people's heads that it's Halloween next week and BBQ'ing is done for the year. So, remember that Costco will reimburse you for the price drop if your purchase was within 30 days of purchase. I think at this price it is a no brainer to add one alongside my Primo Oval XL. I'd love to have a round kamado as a dedicated pizza and bread oven. The round ceramics evenly cook pizzas better from what I've read.