Ok. I realize these grills have been commented on a lot, but I have a
pretty focused question. Because I only have about $500 or so to
spend, I'm considering the Grilldome large extra tall stainless steel
model OR the Kamado No. 5 textured. Both have an 18-inch grill and
seem to be made well.

I'd be grateful to hear comments from those who have owned either or
both of these units for a while. How has your grill held up over time?
Do you enjoy cooking on it? Is an 18-inch grill sufficient for large
items like chickens or turkeys?

Please feel free to add any other points. Thanks very much.

Ken Sternberg wrote:

> Ok. I realize these grills have been commented on a lot, but I have a
> pretty focused question. Because I only have about $500 or so to
> spend, I'm considering the Grilldome large extra tall stainless steel
> model OR the Kamado No. 5 textured. Both have an 18-inch grill and
> seem to be made well.
>
> I'd be grateful to hear comments from those who have owned either or
> both of these units for a while. How has your grill held up over time?
> Do you enjoy cooking on it? Is an 18-inch grill sufficient for large
> items like chickens or turkeys?
>
> Please feel free to add any other points. Thanks very much.

An 18 inch would be fine for a couple of chickens or a small turkey.
With $500 you can get both a Weber 22" kettle and a WSM. The $$$ left
over, you can invite us over to be taste testers. I can bring beer too :-)

Happy Q'en,
BBQ

"bbq" > wrote in message
news:YCypc.56513$xw3.3386818@attbi_s04...
>
>
> Ken Sternberg wrote:
>
> > Ok. I realize these grills have been commented on a lot, but I have a
> > pretty focused question. Because I only have about $500 or so to
> > spend, I'm considering the Grilldome large extra tall stainless steel
> > model OR the Kamado No. 5 textured. Both have an 18-inch grill and
> > seem to be made well.
> >
> > I'd be grateful to hear comments from those who have owned either or
> > both of these units for a while. How has your grill held up over time?
> > Do you enjoy cooking on it? Is an 18-inch grill sufficient for large
> > items like chickens or turkeys?
> >
> > Please feel free to add any other points. Thanks very much.
>
> An 18 inch would be fine for a couple of chickens or a small turkey.
> With $500 you can get both a Weber 22" kettle and a WSM. The $$$ left
> over, you can invite us over to be taste testers. I can bring beer too
:-)
>
> Happy Q'en,
> BBQ
I got the upper rack for the bge an can cook more than you might get on a
wsm. in that 18 inch cooker. there may be a bit of difference in a ceramic
cooker and a wsm to boot.
Jack

> I got the upper rack for the bge an can cook more than you might get on a
> wsm. in that 18 inch cooker. there may be a bit of difference in a ceramic
> cooker and a wsm to boot.

1) WSM can be easily modified to increase cooking capacity, and at the price
you can just buy another for more capacity.

2) A ceramic kamado-style cooker is a far superior grill to a WSM, but I'd
be shocked to find anything wood-fired that can control heat better than a
WSM. In a WSM you get the fire going, put the meat in and it runs 225F +/-
5F for half a day. Go play golf and come back to perfect BBQ.

Ken Sternberg wrote:
> Ok. I realize these grills have been commented on a lot, but I have a
> pretty focused question. Because I only have about $500 or so to
> spend, I'm considering the Grilldome large extra tall stainless steel
> model OR the Kamado No. 5 textured. Both have an 18-inch grill and
> seem to be made well.
>
> I'd be grateful to hear comments from those who have owned either or
> both of these units for a while. How has your grill held up over time?
> Do you enjoy cooking on it? Is an 18-inch grill sufficient for large
> items like chickens or turkeys?
>
> Please feel free to add any other points. Thanks very much.

K 5. Period.
I've cooked a 12 pound turkey on my K5, could have been much larger (pictures on
request). A 12 pounder will actually fit in a K3.
With the Kamado, you can get 3 cooking levels.
Kamado has a lifetime warrantee, I haven't needed to use it.
Kamado has a waiting period...you order, then they build it.
Grilldome *might* be available locally, immediately.

BOB

BOB wrote:

> K 5. Period.

Well, I don't know about the Grilldome but I have a K5 and will second
Bob's recommendation.

> I've cooked a 12 pound turkey on my K5, could have been much larger (pictures on
> request).

I did a 16 pounder and there was still lots of room...


> Kamado has a lifetime warrantee, I haven't needed to use it.

I've had two small problems (fire box cracked- a common event and the
unit is still usable- and a knob fell off). Both have been offered to
be repaired, I just haven't gotten around to it. (Waiting for the NJ
center to open to save on shipping.)

> Kamado has a waiting period...you order, then they build it.

I guess I got lucky. I did a lot of research but somehow MISSED the
fact that Kamado has several "sales" a year. I ordered in between the
summer sale and the Xmas sale in mid-September (2002). I was kinda
****ed when I found out I spent $100-200 more UNTIL I found out about
the long waiting periods on sale purchases. I had my K in about a
month, so I was using my K all winter when the people who waited for a
sale, continued to wait. Situation seems to be different now, tho'...

I've had some slight trouble with contacting them on a follow-up
assessory order but nothing out of the ordinary for Twenty-first Century
American customer service. And the "shipping date" on the order didn't
mean "date shipped" (it was during the longshore strike on the West
Coast- which I didn't understand 'cause I was lead to believe the stuff
was US made...).

At least when you get them, you get THEM and not a machine or a game of
phone scrabble. When I ordered, e-mails were simply ignored, tho', and
they pretty much admitted as much on the phone.

On Sun, 16 May 2004 12:52:19 GMT, wrote:

>When I ordered, e-mails were simply ignored, tho', and
>they pretty much admitted as much on the phone.

They also ignore snail mail, in at least one instance.

--
Kevin S. Wilson
Tech Writer at a university somewhere in Idaho
"Who put these fingerprints on my imagination?"

I handled a warranty repair on my K7 completely via email!

(ok and UPS as I had to ship some tile back to them so they could match it).


"Kevin S. Wilson" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 16 May 2004 12:52:19 GMT, wrote:
>
> >When I ordered, e-mails were simply ignored, tho', and
> >they pretty much admitted as much on the phone.
>
> They also ignore snail mail, in at least one instance.
>
> --
> Kevin S. Wilson
> Tech Writer at a university somewhere in Idaho
> "Who put these fingerprints on my imagination?"
>

On Sat, 15 May 2004 21:33:04 -0400, " BOB" >
wrote:

>Kamado has a lifetime warrantee, I haven't needed to use it.

Keep in mind that exercising that warrantee will most likely require
you to pay shipping both ways, and you'll have the extra-special
pleasure of dealing with Kamado's notorious and all-but-non-existent
customer-service department.

--
Kevin S. Wilson
Tech Writer at a university somewhere in Idaho
"Who put these fingerprints on my imagination?"

Kevin S. Wilson wrote

>
>On Sat, 15 May 2004 21:33:04 -0400, " BOB" >
>wrote:
>
>>Kamado has a lifetime warrantee, I haven't needed to use it.
>
>Keep in mind that exercising that warrantee will most likely require
>you to pay shipping both ways, and you'll have the extra-special
>pleasure of dealing with Kamado's notorious and all-but-non-existent
>customer-service department.

I have had to use their "Lifetime waranty" Apparently my original unit was a
bad casting, and it crumbled in a few spots. After calling up and explaining
what happened, and sent a few digital pictures, they replaced the unit without
an argument. The replacement didn't arrive by FedEx overnight, hell it didn't
arrive within 30 days, but it did arrive at no cost out of my pocket. The
replacement is holding up nicely..

KKP

KKPdude wrote:
> Kevin S. Wilson wrote
>
>>
>> On Sat, 15 May 2004 21:33:04 -0400, " BOB" >
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Kamado has a lifetime warrantee, I haven't needed to use it.
>>
>> Keep in mind that exercising that warrantee will most likely require
>> you to pay shipping both ways, and you'll have the extra-special
>> pleasure of dealing with Kamado's notorious and all-but-non-existent
>> customer-service department.
>
> I have had to use their "Lifetime waranty" Apparently my original unit was a
> bad casting, and it crumbled in a few spots. After calling up and explaining
> what happened, and sent a few digital pictures, they replaced the unit without
> an argument. The replacement didn't arrive by FedEx overnight, hell it didn't
> arrive within 30 days, but it did arrive at no cost out of my pocket. The
> replacement is holding up nicely..
>
> KKP

Maybe you have better "people skills" than others?

BOB

"Ken Sternberg" > wrote in message
om...
> Ok. I realize these grills have been commented on a lot, but I have a
> pretty focused question. Because I only have about $500 or so to
> spend, I'm considering the Grilldome large extra tall stainless steel
> model OR the Kamado No. 5 textured. Both have an 18-inch grill and
> seem to be made well.
>
> I'd be grateful to hear comments from those who have owned either or
> both of these units for a while. How has your grill held up over time?
> Do you enjoy cooking on it? Is an 18-inch grill sufficient for large
> items like chickens or turkeys?
>
> Please feel free to add any other points. Thanks very much
..
I've got the 18 1/2 "GD. dont really know about the K except EVERYBODY
complains about coustomer service. I bought my GD from an individual for 50
bucks so I may be biased , but I wouldn't trade mine fer nuthin'.
Jack

Jack Sloan wrote:

> I've got the 18 1/2 "GD. dont really know about the K except EVERYBODY
> complains about coustomer service. I bought my GD from an individual for 50
> bucks so I may be biased , but I wouldn't trade mine fer nuthin'.
> Jack

I've got a K7, and I can tell you their customer service is lacking. My
sister & her husband decided to buy one on my recommendation, and they
actually were unable to contact anyone in person. That's unacceptable.
But the product is top-notch.

cory wrote:
> Jack Sloan wrote:
>
>> I've got the 18 1/2 "GD. dont really know about the K except EVERYBODY
>> complains about coustomer service. I bought my GD from an individual for 50
>> bucks so I may be biased , but I wouldn't trade mine fer nuthin'.
>> Jack
>
> I've got a K7, and I can tell you their customer service is lacking. My
> sister & her husband decided to buy one on my recommendation, and they
> actually were unable to contact anyone in person. That's unacceptable.
> But the product is top-notch.

I'll take exception to the "EVERYBODY complains about coustomer service." Maybe
that should read 'everybody who complains, complains about customer service'.

I'm wondering just how often people who are "unable to contact anyone in person"
actually try. I'm presently putting together a large order for the extruded
coconut charcoal, and have been calling at least once a week to update and to
get updates. If I can't get through, I call back. Maybe some people don't
recognize that there are time zone differences?
On the other hand, I've been promised a call back or 2, and this has never
happened. Maybe it's because I didn't expect it to happen and I called back.

BOB

" BOB" > wrote in message
...
I'll take exception to the "EVERYBODY complains about coustomer service."
Maybe
> that should read 'everybody who complains, complains about customer
service'.

ok, I'll buy that.


> I'm wondering just how often people who are "unable to contact anyone in
person"
> actually try. I'm presently putting together a large order for the
extruded
> coconut charcoal, and have been calling at least once a week to update and
to
> get updates. If I can't get through, I call back. Maybe some people
don't
> recognize that there are time zone differences?
> On the other hand, I've been promised a call back or 2, and this has never
> happened. Maybe it's because I didn't expect it to happen and I called
back.
>
> BOB

Why should anyone have to "try" to get someone to sell them something?
Jack

"Jack Sloan" > wrote in message

> " BOB" > wrote in message
> ...
> I'll take exception to the "EVERYBODY complains about coustomer
> service." Maybe
>> that should read 'everybody who complains, complains about customer
>> service'.
>
> ok, I'll buy that.
>
>
> > I'm wondering just how often people who are "unable to contact
> anyone in person"
>> actually try. I'm presently putting together a large order for the
>> extruded coconut charcoal, and have been calling at least once a
>> week to update and to get updates. If I can't get through, I call
>> back. Maybe some people don't recognize that there are time zone
>> differences?
>> On the other hand, I've been promised a call back or 2, and this has
>> never happened. Maybe it's because I didn't expect it to happen and
>> I called back.
>>
>> BOB
>
> Why should anyone have to "try" to get someone to sell them
> something? Jack

Because they want it and can't get it anywhere else.

JD

BOB wrote:

> cory wrote:
>
>>Jack Sloan wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I've got the 18 1/2 "GD. dont really know about the K except EVERYBODY
>>>complains about coustomer service. I bought my GD from an individual for 50
>>>bucks so I may be biased , but I wouldn't trade mine fer nuthin'.
>>>Jack
>>
>>I've got a K7, and I can tell you their customer service is lacking. My
>>sister & her husband decided to buy one on my recommendation, and they
>>actually were unable to contact anyone in person. That's unacceptable.
>>But the product is top-notch.
>
>
> I'll take exception to the "EVERYBODY complains about coustomer service." Maybe
> that should read 'everybody who complains, complains about customer service'.
>
> I'm wondering just how often people who are "unable to contact anyone in person"
> actually try. I'm presently putting together a large order for the extruded
> coconut charcoal, and have been calling at least once a week to update and to
> get updates. If I can't get through, I call back. Maybe some people don't
> recognize that there are time zone differences?
> On the other hand, I've been promised a call back or 2, and this has never
> happened. Maybe it's because I didn't expect it to happen and I called back.

After she told me she couldn't contact them, I tried myself. I called
every day for a week before a person answered the phone. I had some
questions for her about shipping, which she had to inquire further
about. She never called me back.

BOB wrote:

> cory wrote:
>
>>Jack Sloan wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I've got the 18 1/2 "GD. dont really know about the K except EVERYBODY
>>>complains about coustomer service. I bought my GD from an individual for 50
>>>bucks so I may be biased , but I wouldn't trade mine fer nuthin'.
>>>Jack
>>
>>I've got a K7, and I can tell you their customer service is lacking. My
>>sister & her husband decided to buy one on my recommendation, and they
>>actually were unable to contact anyone in person. That's unacceptable.
>>But the product is top-notch.
>
>
> I'll take exception to the "EVERYBODY complains about coustomer service." Maybe
> that should read 'everybody who complains, complains about customer service'.
>
> I'm wondering just how often people who are "unable to contact anyone in person"
> actually try. I'm presently putting together a large order for the extruded
> coconut charcoal, and have been calling at least once a week to update and to
> get updates. If I can't get through, I call back. Maybe some people don't
> recognize that there are time zone differences?
> On the other hand, I've been promised a call back or 2, and this has never
> happened. Maybe it's because I didn't expect it to happen and I called back.

That, by the way, is precisely what I would call poor customer service.
If I were putting together a "large order" from Amazon, for example, I
would never have to call back to get status. They contact me at every
point in the process. And what precisely is going on that you have to
call them weekly about a *single* order? You're either very forgiving,
or have a blind spot when it comes to the Kamado company.

cory wrote:
> BOB wrote:
>
>> cory wrote:
>>
>>> Jack Sloan wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> I've got the 18 1/2 "GD. dont really know about the K except EVERYBODY
>>>> complains about coustomer service. I bought my GD from an individual for 50
>>>> bucks so I may be biased , but I wouldn't trade mine fer nuthin'.
>>>> Jack
>>>
>>> I've got a K7, and I can tell you their customer service is lacking. My
>>> sister & her husband decided to buy one on my recommendation, and they
>>> actually were unable to contact anyone in person. That's unacceptable.
>>> But the product is top-notch.
>>
>>
>> I'll take exception to the "EVERYBODY complains about coustomer service."
>> Maybe that should read 'everybody who complains, complains about customer
>> service'.
>>
>> I'm wondering just how often people who are "unable to contact anyone in
>> person" actually try. I'm presently putting together a large order for the
>> extruded coconut charcoal, and have been calling at least once a week to
>> update and to get updates. If I can't get through, I call back. Maybe some
>> people don't recognize that there are time zone differences?
>> On the other hand, I've been promised a call back or 2, and this has never
>> happened. Maybe it's because I didn't expect it to happen and I called back.
>
> That, by the way, is precisely what I would call poor customer service.
> If I were putting together a "large order" from Amazon, for example, I
> would never have to call back to get status. They contact me at every
> point in the process. And what precisely is going on that you have to
> call them weekly about a *single* order? You're either very forgiving,
> or have a blind spot when it comes to the Kamado company.

This order is for *MANY* customers, combining the order into *one* shipment in
order to save on shipping costs. Every customer pays his/her own way. I surely
don't want to buy 1500 pounds of charcoal and hold the bill for people that I
don't know, expecting them to pay me later. Pre payment to *me* is also not an
option, since I'm not set up to handle the transactions. It is working exactly
as planned, with people *promising* to buy, but backing out when they have to
pay. What's to prevent these same people from backing out *after* their
charcoal is shipped and me being stuck with their order?

BOB

Alright. I get that Kamado's customer service could use some
polishing. Other than that, how do folks who have used the Grilldome
and Kamado for a year or two like them?

"Ken Sternberg" > wrote in message
om...
> Alright. I get that Kamado's customer service could use some
> polishing. Other than that, how do folks who have used the Grilldome
> and Kamado for a year or two like them?

Could be hard to find somebody who has used both. Although both sides will
prolly claim theirs is better.
It's my bet neither is better or worse.I haven't used a K , but I bet it's
very similar in all phases to my GD. They both offer about the same
features. K makers offer some optional types of grills that GD doesn't have,
but guess what...they'll fit in the GD as well. I've seen both and they look
somewhat similar. the thickness of the clay is very similar...the BGE seems
less thick than the K and GD.The K guys are a tight club.There don't seem to
be as many GD folks out there.The K guys are mostly crockery guys at heart,
so they allow us GDers into the club...kinda. Comparison of the two is kinda
like which pickup is better...Ford or Chevy. I like the Ford.
Jack

In article >,
(Ken Sternberg) wrote:

> Alright. I get that Kamado's customer service could use some
> polishing. Other than that, how do folks who have used the Grilldome
> and Kamado for a year or two like them?

I've had my #5 K since Jan'02. It's the cat's meow and the dog's balls.
FWIW - though, Grilldome was my second choice. At that time they were
the only other ceramic cooker with the option of Stainless Steel
hardware and a choice of colors.

monroe(egg was dead last place after Primo in third)

"Ken Sternberg" > wrote in message
om...
> Alright. I get that Kamado's customer service could use some
> polishing. Other than that, how do folks who have used the Grilldome
> and Kamado for a year or two like them?

"Ken Sternberg" > wrote in message
om...
> Alright. I get that Kamado's customer service could use some
> polishing. Other than that, how do folks who have used the Grilldome
> and Kamado for a year or two like them?

I've had my Grill Dome since mid-September of last year. It is great! No
problems holding temps, no cracking of anything, no spalling (sp?) or
hairline cracks anywhere. I think all ceramic cookers will cook great.
Choose a specific one based on the quality of the product and customer
service. Grill Dome wins hands down, IMHO.

On Sun, 16 May 2004 05:24:37 -0400, " BOB" >
wrote:
>
>I'm wondering just how often people who are "unable to contact anyone in person"
>actually try. I'm presently putting together a large order for the extruded
>coconut charcoal, and have been calling at least once a week to update and to
>get updates. If I can't get through, I call back.

Kamado overcharged my credit card by $160 many, many months ago. I
have called, I have sent e-mail, and I have sent documentation via
snail-mail. In every instance, have either received no answer or have
been routinely ignored.

>Maybe some people don't
>recognize that there are time zone differences?

Now you're grasping at straws.

--
Kevin S. Wilson
Tech Writer at a university somewhere in Idaho
"Who put these fingerprints on my imagination?"

" BOB" > wrote in message
...
> cory wrote:
> > Jack Sloan wrote:
> >
> >> I've got the 18 1/2 "GD. dont really know about the K except EVERYBODY
> >> complains about coustomer service. I bought my GD from an individual
for 50
> >> bucks so I may be biased , but I wouldn't trade mine fer nuthin'.
> >> Jack
> >
> > I've got a K7, and I can tell you their customer service is lacking. My
> > sister & her husband decided to buy one on my recommendation, and they
> > actually were unable to contact anyone in person. That's unacceptable.
> > But the product is top-notch.
>
> I'll take exception to the "EVERYBODY complains about coustomer service."
Maybe
> that should read 'everybody who complains, complains about customer
service'.
>
> I'm wondering just how often people who are "unable to contact anyone in
person"
> actually try. I'm presently putting together a large order for the
extruded
> coconut charcoal, and have been calling at least once a week to update and
to
> get updates. If I can't get through, I call back. Maybe some people
don't
> recognize that there are time zone differences?
> On the other hand, I've been promised a call back or 2, and this has never
> happened. Maybe it's because I didn't expect it to happen and I called
back.
>
> BOB


I have held off contributing to this thread because I needed to refine the
tone of my comments.

Here's my story. I received my K#7 in January, after ordering it in the
July sale. I thought it was ordered in plenty of time to have it here by
Thanksgiving......but I was mistaken. I can live with that....Ks are
complicated things to make, require a lot of components coming together at
once and are thus, diffucult objects to assemble with a disorganised
organization. But, from July until January....geez.

Anyway, when I ordered my K #7, I neglected to order the lower bracket and
a meat hanger. I had a huge cookout for my friend's 65th birthday on the
25th of March, so in mid-February I ordered the lower bracket and meat
hanger from Kamado. This was on a Friday......on Monday I received a phone
call confirming my order and was told that my order would ship the next day.
I was flabbergasted at the wonderful follow-up and secretly scoffed at the
oft-repeated comments about Kamado's dismal customer service.

Three weeks later I, still without my order, called Kamado on a Monday. I
would have left a voice mail, but their voice-mail inbox was full. I called
back the next day, and left a voice-mail (the inbox was not full this time)
explaining my quandry: that I had ordered the items three weeks before and
needed them in about a week.
No one called me back.

BTW, I'm no idiot. I know there's a time difference btween Tex and CA. I
called during business hours.

I called the Monday,the next week, the party was Saturday. I talked to a
woman who told me that my order had been misplaced, there was no record of
my order, that there were problems with the meat hanger jigs and that
delivery by Saturday was hopeless. She even alluded to the fact that
someone in the office was affected by Alzheimer's, to which I should
attribute my bad service.

The date of the party came and went. I made salmon, two briskets and some
ribs. My briskets were not as good as they could have been with a heat
deflector held by a lower bracket.

My lower bracket and meat hanger finally arrived on or about May 5th.

The customer service of Kamado is human and therefore fallible. That is the
best thing that I can say for them.

I will be totally honest and say they are very disorganised, demoralized,
understaffed, under automated (they still do all the orders and billing by
paper only....no computers) and are so caught in the headlights that they
can see out of the hole that they have dug themselves into.

The kindest thing I can say about Kamado, Inc., is that they make wonderful
products. But, if you want something by next Christmas, order now.

John in Austin

"cory" > wrote in message

> Jack Sloan wrote:
>
>> I've got the 18 1/2 "GD. dont really know about the K except
>> EVERYBODY complains about coustomer service. I bought my GD from an
>> individual for 50 bucks so I may be biased , but I wouldn't trade
>> mine fer nuthin'.
>> Jack
>
> I've got a K7, and I can tell you their customer service is lacking.
> My sister & her husband decided to buy one on my recommendation, and
> they actually were unable to contact anyone in person. That's
> unacceptable.
> But the product is top-notch.

Why should their customer service be any good? They sell all the product
they can make without any real competition in their niche market. Customer
service would be an added expense with no bottom line benefits. They don't
give a rip whether your feelings are hurt in the buying experience.

JD

JD wrote:

> "cory" > wrote in message
>
>
>>Jack Sloan wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I've got the 18 1/2 "GD. dont really know about the K except
>>>EVERYBODY complains about coustomer service. I bought my GD from an
>>>individual for 50 bucks so I may be biased , but I wouldn't trade
>>>mine fer nuthin'.
>>>Jack
>>
>>I've got a K7, and I can tell you their customer service is lacking.
>>My sister & her husband decided to buy one on my recommendation, and
>>they actually were unable to contact anyone in person. That's
>>unacceptable.
>>But the product is top-notch.
>
>
> Why should their customer service be any good? They sell all the product
> they can make without any real competition in their niche market. Customer
> service would be an added expense with no bottom line benefits. They don't
> give a rip whether your feelings are hurt in the buying experience.
>
> JD
>
>

You seem to think you have a point? What difference does it make to a
prospective customer *why* the customer service is bad? This was, after
all, a prospective customer considering a future purchase, not an
abstract discussion about the relative merits of Kamado as a company.

"cory" > wrote in message

> JD wrote:
>
>> "cory" > wrote in message
>>
>>
>>> Jack Sloan wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> I've got the 18 1/2 "GD. dont really know about the K except
>>>> EVERYBODY complains about coustomer service. I bought my GD from an
>>>> individual for 50 bucks so I may be biased , but I wouldn't trade
>>>> mine fer nuthin'.
>>>> Jack
>>>
>>> I've got a K7, and I can tell you their customer service is lacking.
>>> My sister & her husband decided to buy one on my recommendation, and
>>> they actually were unable to contact anyone in person. That's
>>> unacceptable.
>>> But the product is top-notch.
>>
>>
>> Why should their customer service be any good? They sell all the
>> product they can make without any real competition in their niche
>> market. Customer service would be an added expense with no bottom
>> line benefits. They don't give a rip whether your feelings are hurt
>> in the buying experience.
>>
>> JD
>>
>>
>
> You seem to think you have a point? What difference does it make to a
> prospective customer *why* the customer service is bad? This was,
> after all, a prospective customer considering a future purchase, not
> an
> abstract discussion about the relative merits of Kamado as a company.

It has nothing to do with the merits of the company. It's as simple as this;
they sell all of their production capacity. They'll probably continue to do
so without the expense of a customer service program. If you're the type who
needs his glutes smooched in the buying process, you'll probably go
elsewhere. If a K is the tool you can't do without, then you'll put up with
the crap. The bottom line is that they don't have to care whether you had a
positive buying experience.

JD

"Ken Sternberg" > wrote in message
om...
> Ok. I realize these grills have been commented on a lot, but I have a
> pretty focused question. Because I only have about $500 or so to
> spend, I'm considering the Grilldome large extra tall stainless steel
> model OR the Kamado No. 5 textured. Both have an 18-inch grill and
> seem to be made well.
>
> I'd be grateful to hear comments from those who have owned either or
> both of these units for a while. How has your grill held up over time?
> Do you enjoy cooking on it? Is an 18-inch grill sufficient for large
> items like chickens or turkeys?
>
> Please feel free to add any other points. Thanks very much.

K is the answer all the way. We were going thru gas grills every 2 or
3yrs tops and have had the best 2 years of bbqing ever since we got our
Kamado. It took 4 mos to get it but was worth every second of wait.
things just taste so GOOOOOOD out of the K. It's easy to operate, and has
a lifetime warrantee on it. Does the Grill Dome have that? Very little
these days does have a lifetime warrantee.
To speak with a live person at Kamado, call about noon Eastern Standard
Time. It worked for me each time I called to add something to our order.
Delivery was as, and when we were told, and at the stated price.

Happy Quing,

Thanks, everyone, for your fine and helpful comments. Sorry that I
wasn't clear in my original message. I didn't think I'd find anyone
who had owned both types of grills. I was hoping for comments from
anyone who has owned either one.

I know Grilldome has stainless parts (one model) and a lifetime
warranty. I can't say I feel like rewarding any company that puts such
a low priority on customer service.

"Ken Sternberg" > wrote in message
om...
> Thanks, everyone, for your fine and helpful comments. Sorry that I
> wasn't clear in my original message. I didn't think I'd find anyone
> who had owned both types of grills. I was hoping for comments from
> anyone who has owned either one.
>
> I know Grilldome has stainless parts (one model) and a lifetime
> warranty. I can't say I feel like rewarding any company that puts such
> a low priority on customer service.

Ken, Are you saying that Grill Dome puts a low priority on customer service?
If so, I think you have been led far astray. They have excellent customer
service. Check their forum out and try to find negative comments on customer
service. You won't find it.

I have a K5. I like it very much. It cooks great. The 18in surface ismore than
adequate, I cooked a 12lb roast beef on it with room to spare. The results are
extraordinary. I highly recommend it.

Ken,
I own a Kamado #5. I ordered it in November 2002 and received it in
April of 2003. I knew up front that it was going to take that long.
I spent about 2 months researching and comparing BGE, Primo,
GrillDome, Imperial Kamado, and Kamado. I decided that Kamado and
GrillDome were my first and second choices. Fortunately, Kamado had a
sale going on that made it cheaper than the GrillDome. I must admit
that Kamado has some great accessories and the design of the draft
door and top are superior (in my opinion) to the GrillDome.

However, I must say that the customer service is a let down. I
ordered a pizza stone that was cracked when I received. No problem, I
called back on the same day I received it and they said they ship the
very next day. 4 months and two phone calls later, I finally received
it. I was upset, but I knew I would have to deal with these types of
issues. Plus, I don't need to contact them very often, so I made this
choice well aware of what I was getting into.

Now that I've had my grill for a while, I must say that I enjoy it and
I feel that it is great. But, as you've heard from the others, they
all grill the same. Sure, one may be thicker than the others, but I
don't think there is much of a difference. If I had it to do all over
again, I would have bought a GrillDome. I don't feel proud
recommending this grill to family/friends when I know they will
probably run into the issues that I and others have run into. That
was a lot of money for me to spend on something and to have my
requests forgotten. But whose to say that GrillDome won't run into
the same issues if their business picks up.

Anthony

(Ken Sternberg) wrote in message . com>...
> Ok. I realize these grills have been commented on a lot, but I have a
> pretty focused question. Because I only have about $500 or so to
> spend, I'm considering the Grilldome large extra tall stainless steel
> model OR the Kamado No. 5 textured. Both have an 18-inch grill and
> seem to be made well.
>
> I'd be grateful to hear comments from those who have owned either or
> both of these units for a while. How has your grill held up over time?
> Do you enjoy cooking on it? Is an 18-inch grill sufficient for large
> items like chickens or turkeys?
>
> Please feel free to add any other points. Thanks very much.

When I mentioned poor customer service I was referring to Kamado and
not rewarding them. I may just go Grilldome.