Let's Talk BBQ
FORUM SPONSORS => MAK Grills => Topic started by: MadFoodScientist on April 25, 2018, 06:22:39 PM
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I am getting ready to purchasing a Mak and am curious as to what people think is the best option for purchase. Did you purchase yours direct from Mak or from the dealer? Do you think there are any advantages from buying directly from Mak or do you think there are any advantages from buying from the dealer. I appreciate any and all insight as I decide my choice!
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Buy direct. Let Mak keep all the profit.
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MAK has only 1 current dealer. Big Papa Smokers. I would always prefer to buy direct from MAK. But there may be un-sold leftover stock at previous dealers. Worth a shot. Of course, MAK will support your product, and you can always up-grade to newer features when you wish.
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Honestly you cannot go wrong whether you purchase directly from MAK or from Big Poppa Smokers. Both are top notch companies to deal with. I have never gotten anything less that stellar service from either one!
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Like TentHunteR said, you can't go wrong with either. I just purchased my new Flame Zone for my 2 Star and I bought it from BPS.
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Got mine from BPS, they treated me very well and free shipping from California to the Canadian border to boot :thumbup:
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I bought from a local dealer. Keep the money local.
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I bought from a local dealer. Keep the money local.
I thought there are no local MAK dealers now?
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I bought from a local dealer. Keep the money local.
I thought there are no local MAK dealers now?
That is correct. They are sold direct. The only exception is Big Poppa Smokers. Between the two, I’d go directly through MAK... no question about it :)
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I bought mine from a local dealer.
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Buy direct is my suggestion. MAK will treat you right regardless but it never hurts to establish a personal relationship with the manufacturer. Give Bruce a call and if you have questions he or one of his cohorts will be glad to answer them. Who knows the grill better?
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I bought mine from a local dealer.
They stopped selling through local dealers about a year ago. With the exception of BPS, MAK went with a direct sales business model.
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Call and buy from MAK.
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We went to the factory and picked up our two star. :thumbup:
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Thanks for all the input everyone. I am leaning towards purchasing direct from MAK. I just have to decide which accessories to get now! I am leaning towards the 3/4 upper rack, wifi, and an extra probe. Debating the sear grate and possibly the griddle.
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If they still offer the full upper rack I would get that over anything else.
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Mad Scientist----I think you should purchase two of everything, that way you will be set for any cooking need on your MAK. OKAY THAT WAS A JOKE!
The 3/4 upper is our most popular seller. If you do ribs, our 8 slab rib rack is the cream of the crop. All 304 Stainless. You can always add accessories down the road. We do not charge for shipping, so you will be good to go.
Looking forward to your call and helping you get ready to become a MAD MAK MAN!
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Me BBQ if you offer a 2 for 1 deal- I’ll take two :). I look forward to calling you as well. Thanks for the help!
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Check out my on-going Mak 2 Star review here in the MAK forum sponsor thread. You will see all the great cooks you can do with the griddle and searing grates.
I use my 3/4 grate all the time, when smoking I never use the bottom grates. I use a foil pan for drippings.
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The 3/4 upper is our most popular seller.
Here's my 2¢: The 3/4 allows you to reach the back of the bottom grate a little easier, so if you cook smaller items on the bottom grate, and some larger things up top then it's a great option. HOWEVER... if you're going to be cooking periodically large family gatherings, etc. Go with the FULL upper rack. Trust me on this! Based on 8+ years of cooking on a MAK, that full space is handy for those cooks!
As far as needing to reach the rear of the bottom grate, normally when I need the upper rack I have something large on the bottom, so reaching the bottom rear has rarely ever been an issue.
In fact I'm getting ready to order a second full upper rack for those times when I load the MAK up with chicken for graduation parties, etc. It will make swapping the top & bottom racks half-way through the cook so much easier!
...when smoking I never use the bottom grates. I use a foil pan for drippings.
Smoke, as you continue using your MAK, you may find that changes some as you experiment with different items in different combos.
Some examples:
Chicken/poultry always cooks better on the bottom, hands down (for me at least). The skin just crisps up much better.
Other things such as ribs, pork shoulders, brisket, I've done them both ways numerous times and honestly cannot say that one has worked better than the other, so for us it depends on other circumstances. If I want to catch the drippings, then I tend to go for the top rack with a pan underneath. If I'm adding side dishes then the protein is usually on the bottom rack, which leaves room for adding other things up top later.
Baked goods biscuits, cookies, pies, etc. (higher baking temps); the top rack definitely wins.
Alright so it was more like 4¢ and probably still not worth 2¢! :D
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Well put Tent. :) I really don't smoke chicken anymore. The air-fryer does a better job imho. However with chicken pcs they go on the bottom rack on the sear grates.
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Thanks for all the input everyone. I am leaning towards purchasing direct from MAK. I just have to decide which accessories to get now! I am leaning towards the 3/4 upper rack, wifi, and an extra probe. Debating the sear grate and possibly the griddle.
One thing to consider is that big poppa smoker, I believe, has free shipping, while MAK direct does not. Also fwiw, gets you a head start on some rewards points with BPS
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i think the shipping is free also from MAK.
I ordered mine directly from Bruce "Mr BBQ" and I didn't pay shipping.
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i think the shipping is free also from MAK.
I ordered mine directly from Bruce "Mr BBQ" and I didn't pay shipping.
Yep
Free shipping when purchased directly from MAK. Even though I purchased from them at the factory and it wasn't shipped by a carrier the freight packaging was very well done with no concerns for possible damage short of a truck roll over or a fork lift driver harpooning the box with the fork.
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You said it Dave. They package those MAKs like they mean business!!!
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I got my 2 year old brand new MAK 2 Star from a local high end bbq/patio furniture retailer on clearance. It was before the switch to a single retailer model. I think he still has maybe one or two 2013 1 Star models left on clearance.
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I ordered my Mak today! ;D Now the waiting begins.
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YES!!!! Welcome to the MAK family!!! :)
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I ordered my Mak today! ;D Now the waiting begins.
Which way did you go? BP or direct. Just curious as it makes no difference on how impressed you will be with the product. Congratulations for making a very wise choice.
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I ended up going with Big Poppa. Mainly because they threw in some extra rubs and I figure I can use the BPS points on an additional accessory for my Mak. I ended up getting a full upper shelf, a sear grate, an extra probe, Mak Wifi, and the cord hook. Now I just need to decide what my first cook will be!
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I ended up going with Big Poppa. Mainly because they threw in some extra rubs and I figure I can use the BPS points on an additional accessory for my Mak. I ended up getting a full upper shelf, a sear grate, an extra probe, Mak Wifi, and the cord hook. Now I just need to decide what my first cook will be!
Makes sense! Those points can add up fast when making big ticket purchases. I see in your signature that you have a Louisiana pellet grill? Will you be keeping that, or will the MAK be replacing it? If the MAK will be replacing it, what is it about the Louisiana that didn't meet your needs? Just curious...
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The Mak will replace it. There are a few things combined that had me looking at other pellet grills. I wanted better heat control. I wanted wifi and programmable cooks. I wanted better cold smoking ability (tube smoker in the grill). I wanted a better high heat option. There was some rust on my Louisiana Grill- though I have removed the rust and repainted. The casters do not have locks and I live in a windy area- so the grill was blown off my patio several times- makes me nervous to cook on (I know I could have changed the casters for a lot less money).
I am hoping to sell it- I need to get started on that process.
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The Mak will replace it. There are a few things combined that had me looking at other pellet grills. I wanted better heat control. I wanted wifi and programmable cooks. I wanted better cold smoking ability (tube smoker in the grill). I wanted a better high heat option. There was some rust on my Louisiana Grill- though I have removed the rust and repainted. The casters do not have locks and I live in a windy area- so the grill was blown off my patio several times- makes me nervous to cook on (I know I could have changed the casters for a lot less money).
I am hoping to sell it- I need to get started on that process.
Looking at your list, I'd say you picked the right pellet cooker. You can pretty much check all of those items off the list with your soon to be new MAK :)
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Most pellet grills are top heavy. It never hurts to have a couple bags of pellets sitting on the bottom shelf if they come with one.
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I agree about weighing down the bottom shelf. I stuck some extra bricks on the bottom of mine and still had problems!
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I agree about weighing down the bottom shelf. I stuck some extra bricks on the bottom of mine and still had problems!
Yup, and I was referring to the 40 lb bags :)
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I have a bungee cord that I use to lash my grills to the deck railing.
After the grill is cooled down from cooking, I put the cover on, then put a bungee around the cover - and then another bungee that loops thru that one - and it is connected to the deck railing.
We can have 70+ mph winds here occasionally.
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I purchased my 2 Star from BPS because they offer points bonus on future purchases. I had enough points to buy the front door. Having said that, I will purchase direct from MAK in the future. I live about 25 miles from their factory, so it is a short drive for any instant gratification that I might need.
OTJ
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BPS was extremely fast. I placed the order late Wednesday afternoon and my free rubs and pellets arrived today! I look forward to using them on my new Mak.
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I know I’m late to the party but if you pick up from MAK directly you get some freebies.