Didn't plan on it..flashback to moving day last Friday. The Broil King Offset Smoker would not go up the stairs from the lower deck. Figured it wouldn't make it up the other two flights either. But why? How can this be? How did it get down here in the first place?
Oh that's right, it was unassembled. I schlepped it down pc by pc. At 90 dollars an hour for the move.....no time to take it apart....besides all my tools were packed on the moving trunk. Left the darn thing behind........crap
Oh well, now I can get a new smoker
Not so fast says Wendy. "I don't want BBQ's all over the place. Got to keep the new patio looking nice. So much for my new 800 lb off-set
I have been researching the Akorn for a while and I am not smoking for a crowd anymore
We did get a 10% off coupon from Lowes in our moving mail from USPS. So I grabbed one for 242.00 and got it in the garage....one heavy box my friends.
There is so much to do right now at the new place, I can't be selfish and build it so the next morning we were at Wal-Mart and they have 5 Akorns on clearance for 199.
I call Lowes and ask if they price match. Yes they do, but it has to be the same model number. Now I have noticed there are numerous model numbers for the same identical Akorn in my on-line studies.
So I have found out that Char-Griller sends certain model numbers strictly to Lowes and different ones to Wal-Mart. I am pretty sure Home Depot has their own model number.
All for the same Akorn. So, I get the heavy box back in the Jeep and back it goes to Lowes.
I give them one last chance at customer service. "You sure want to lose 242 bucks when you only have to refund me 43 bucks?" I say. "Has to be the same model number" I am told.
So I get my 242 back and off to Walmart I go for 199. Got the difference so I got the diffuser plate on order.
Char-Griller is pretty crafty. With different model numbers for specific retailers, they get around the price gaurantees.
I don't think this helps Char-Griller out as much as it makes their units more desirable for the big box stores.
On a side note, the Lowes by our house is stocked real nice for us BBQ nuts. They even stock Three Little Pigs rubs.....year round
Well, off to the Clubhouse hot tub........did I mention how heavy that darn box was
