We were at Sam's Club today and I was amazed at all the
different Stainless Steel grills they offered. There was
one built into an island, complete with chairs and canopy.
There were several free standing types for both LP and
natural gas, drop in units and also a long multiple burner
grill of parties. There was also a SS smoker that seemed to
be pretty interesting, a rolling cabinet with sink and
drawers and also some cabinets intended to be rolled up to a
grill as additional counter area.

You see some of this at Lowe's, Home Depot and Sears, but
the prices are usually about 50% higher than Sam's Club. If
you go to a barbecue store like Barbecue Galore, the prices
for similar items will be 2-3 TIMES as much. When I've
compared, the clerk usually says, "We have better steel."
Humbug! Better stainless steel would contribute about $.02
in additional cost, and frankly, I doubt if their offering
is any better. In most cases, i recognize the grills,
burners etc. as being something right off of the same
assembly line in China as the Sam's versions.

My own thought is that Sam's Club usually targets items sold
by other stores that have the highest markup. Just like
they gut the bread and butter business of mattress stores,
appliance stores, office supply stores and even some
clothing stores, they've now targeted the wildly overpriced
barbecue and grill stores.

On Wed, 31 May 2006 17:01:24 -0700, nobody wrote:

When I've
compared, the clerk usually says, "We have better steel."
Humbug! Better stainless steel would contribute about $.02
in additional cost, and frankly, I doubt if their offering
is any better.

There is a fair price difference between 309 and 304 stainless. That
said, there are non-stainless/non-steel parts; what about their
workmanship/quality? Design ain't a freebie, either.

But of course the biggest thing one gets at a specialty shop is
after-sale support. If you have 'how do I...' questions, Sam's ain't
gonna have any useful answers.

(note that I hold no brief for either--I do a fair bit of shopping at
Wal-Mart, which of course is the owner of Sam's Club.)

--
-denny-
"Do your thoughts call ahead or do they just arrive at your mouth unannounced?"

"It's come as you are, baby."

-over the hedge

If you see one you like at Sam's, buy it. Sam's is the king of
"one-time-deals". Sam's will get products at a discount ( Seller wants
to get his foot in the door, production overruns, out of date items,
etc). When Sam's runs out they order more. Seller says "Sure thing, but
it's going to cost more." Sams says "Stick it. Same price on stick it."
That's why you see good buys, but never see that product again.

nobody wrote:
We were at Sam's Club today and I was amazed at all the different
Stainless Steel grills they offered. There was one built into an
island, complete with chairs and canopy. There were several free
standing types for both LP and natural gas, drop in units and also a
long multiple burner grill of parties. There was also a SS smoker that
seemed to be pretty interesting, a rolling cabinet with sink and drawers
and also some cabinets intended to be rolled up to a grill as additional
counter area.

You see some of this at Lowe's, Home Depot and Sears, but the prices are
usually about 50% higher than Sam's Club. If you go to a barbecue store
like Barbecue Galore, the prices for similar items will be 2-3 TIMES as
much. When I've compared, the clerk usually says, "We have better
steel." Humbug! Better stainless steel would contribute about $.02 in
additional cost, and frankly, I doubt if their offering is any better.
In most cases, i recognize the grills, burners etc. as being something
right off of the same assembly line in China as the Sam's versions.

My own thought is that Sam's Club usually targets items sold by other
stores that have the highest markup. Just like they gut the bread and
butter business of mattress stores, appliance stores, office supply
stores and even some clothing stores, they've now targeted the wildly
overpriced barbecue and grill stores.

Denny Wheeler wrote:
On Wed, 31 May 2006 17:01:24 -0700, nobody wrote:

When I've
compared, the clerk usually says, "We have better steel."
Humbug! Better stainless steel would contribute about $.02
in additional cost, and frankly, I doubt if their offering
is any better.

There is a fair price difference between 309 and 304 stainless. That
said, there are non-stainless/non-steel parts; what about their
workmanship/quality? Design ain't a freebie, either.

Our older 3-burner Sam's Club SS grill was 7 years old when
we moved up to the cabinet model. I had no rust visible,
anywhere. I DID get a "recall notice" from the manufacturer
or distributer about a part that had a sharp edge. They
sent me the replacement part and a glove to protect my
dainty hands. Grin I tossed the replacement part and
spent around ten seconds with my file and corrected the
problem. Mrs. Nonnymus loves the glove, saying it makes me
look like Michael Jackson.

Absolutely true about design. I have a 2- year old Sam's
Club 3-burner cabinet model, and feel that it offers even
heat. It cost just $1100, as I recall. Like the OP, I was
at a dedicated grill selling store and saw what I perceived
as far lesser models for 2-3 times the price.


But of course the biggest thing one gets at a specialty shop is
after-sale support. If you have 'how do I...' questions, Sam's ain't
gonna have any useful answers.

.. . . and when something breaks, you're on your own with the
parts book and an 800 number. That is a good point for
folks who don't fix things themselves. It's worth something
to have an actual dealer for a product. What I do not know
is whether barbecue grill-selling stores are actually
dealers with a parts inventory, or just give you an 800
number to call. I have no experience along that line.


(note that I hold no brief for either--I do a fair bit of shopping at
Wal-Mart, which of course is the owner of Sam's Club.)

--
-denny-

Nonnymus

Denny Wheeler wrote:

On Wed, 31 May 2006 17:01:24 -0700, nobody wrote:

When I've
compared, the clerk usually says, "We have better steel."
Humbug! Better stainless steel would contribute about $.02
in additional cost, and frankly, I doubt if their offering
is any better.

There is a fair price difference between 309 and 304 stainless. That
said, there are non-stainless/non-steel parts; what about their
workmanship/quality? Design ain't a freebie, either.

But of course the biggest thing one gets at a specialty shop is
after-sale support. If you have 'how do I...' questions, Sam's ain't
gonna have any useful answers.

(note that I hold no brief for either--I do a fair bit of shopping at
Wal-Mart, which of course is the owner of Sam's Club.)

--
-denny-
"Do your thoughts call ahead or do they just arrive at your mouth unannounced?"

"It's come as you are, baby."

-over the hedge

===

I bought a Brinkman charcoal grill from Sam's about two years ago, but go to BBQ
Galore whenever I have a question about "how to" this or the other. The guys at
BBQG are very friendly and have provided advice for the same length of time I have
owned the Brinkman. I even asked them how difficult it would be to put my Brinkman
on an island (outside kitchen) and they even drew some sketches of what to do and
simple modifications to my grill.

I also own a New Braunsfels upright smoker (Bandera model), purchased at Home
Depot, and have asked the BBQG guys questions about smoking briskets and other
meats, woods to use, cooking times, etc. and their help has been as if I had bought
it there. I guess how you approach the sales people has a lot to do with how much
info you will get from them.

It also helps that I buy my lump coal from them and some of the other supplies I
use.

Best of both worlds. ;-)

Ray
Austin, TX
===

On Wed, 31 May 2006 17:01:24 -0700, nobody wrote:

When I've
compared, the clerk usually says, "We have better steel."
Humbug! Better stainless steel would contribute about $.02
in additional cost, and frankly, I doubt if their offering
is any better.

There is a fair price difference between 309 and 304 stainless. That
said, there are non-stainless/non-steel parts; what about their
workmanship/quality? Design ain't a freebie, either.

But of course the biggest thing one gets at a specialty shop is
after-sale support. If you have 'how do I...' questions, Sam's ain't
gonna have any useful answers.

(note that I hold no brief for either--I do a fair bit of shopping at
Wal-Mart, which of course is the owner of Sam's Club.)

--
-denny-
"Do your thoughts call ahead or do they just arrive at your mouth
unannounced?"

"It's come as you are, baby."

-over the hedge

===

I bought a Brinkman charcoal grill from Sam's about two years ago, but go
to BBQ
Galore whenever I have a question about "how to" this or the other. The
guys at
BBQG are very friendly and have provided advice for the same length of
time I have
owned the Brinkman. I even asked them how difficult it would be to put my
Brinkman
on an island (outside kitchen) and they even drew some sketches of what to
do and
simple modifications to my grill.

I also own a New Braunsfels upright smoker (Bandera model), purchased at
Home
Depot, and have asked the BBQG guys questions about smoking briskets and
other
meats, woods to use, cooking times, etc. and their help has been as if I
had bought
it there. I guess how you approach the sales people has a lot to do with
how much
info you will get from them.

It also helps that I buy my lump coal from them and some of the other
supplies I
use.

Best of both worlds. ;-)

Ray
Austin, TX
===

Perhaps BBQD dealers are different from city to city, but when I was
shopping and bought a Weber Silver last year, I got a better deal at BBQD
then at HD. The same price, which included porcelain coated grate, and they
through in a Weber cover ($45-50 retail value) I took it home in my pick-up,
but they offered to deliver at no charge. And I liked dealing with the folks
there.

I also looked at the grills at Sams, and at least at that time, wasn't
impressed with anything they had on the floor. I could not determine who
made the ones they had, and they just looked and felt low quality. And
although Sams and Wal-Mart have liberal return policies, I would have been
worried about support on the produce.

Sometimes a few extra bucks, buys a lot of piece of mind.

Larry T

On Fri, 02 Jun 2006 02:51:19 GMT, "Ray S. & Nayda Katzaman"
wrote:

I bought a Brinkman charcoal grill from Sam's about two years ago, but go to BBQ
Galore whenever I have a question about "how to" this or the other. The guys at
BBQG are very friendly and have provided advice for the same length of time I have
owned the Brinkman. I even asked them how difficult it would be to put my Brinkman
on an island (outside kitchen) and they even drew some sketches of what to do and
simple modifications to my grill.

I also own a New Braunsfels upright smoker (Bandera model), purchased at Home
Depot, and have asked the BBQG guys questions about smoking briskets and other
meats, woods to use, cooking times, etc. and their help has been as if I had bought
it there. I guess how you approach the sales people has a lot to do with how much
info you will get from them.

It also helps that I buy my lump coal from them and some of the other supplies I
use.

Up until that last line I was getting ready to growl at you. I
strongly consider the "get advice from local shop, but buy online or
from a chain" very much a 'Just Not Done' thing. But since you do buy
from BBQG, even if not equipment, you're not quite doing that.

--
-denny-
"Do your thoughts call ahead or do they just arrive at your mouth unannounced?"

"It's come as you are, baby."

-over the hedge

Do yourself a favor and forget the Sam's stuff. The ONLY good thing is they
will take them back. I went that route (Sam's) interior of the grill
disintgrated in 18 mos. If you want QUALITY get a weber. Forget the Chinese
porch ornament.
"nobody" wrote in message
news:27qfg.28199$QP4.6751@fed1read12...
We were at Sam's Club today and I was amazed at all the different
Stainless Steel grills they offered. There was one built into an island,
complete with chairs and canopy. There were several free standing types
for both LP and natural gas, drop in units and also a long multiple burner
grill of parties. There was also a SS smoker that seemed to be pretty
interesting, a rolling cabinet with sink and drawers and also some
cabinets intended to be rolled up to a grill as additional counter area.

You see some of this at Lowe's, Home Depot and Sears, but the prices are
usually about 50% higher than Sam's Club. If you go to a barbecue store
like Barbecue Galore, the prices for similar items will be 2-3 TIMES as
much. When I've compared, the clerk usually says, "We have better steel."
Humbug! Better stainless steel would contribute about $.02 in additional
cost, and frankly, I doubt if their offering is any better. In most
cases, i recognize the grills, burners etc. as being something right off
of the same assembly line in China as the Sam's versions.

My own thought is that Sam's Club usually targets items sold by other
stores that have the highest markup. Just like they gut the bread and
butter business of mattress stores, appliance stores, office supply stores
and even some clothing stores, they've now targeted the wildly overpriced
barbecue and grill stores.