Disappointing Craftsmanship

For years I've always dealt directly with Cookshack.

Never a problem and GREAT customer service.

I think MOUNTAINMAN has a point. I assume the unit(s) you bought from Amazon carry the standard CS warranty. Have you called them? I have always found them happily willing to discuss problems and correct mistakes.

Bryant - You have let us know of your problem, complete with photos. But you did not mention discussing this with the good folks at Cookshack!  I suggest contacting them regarding your concerns over quality of workmanship. I would also recommend buying direct from CookShack. Like Mountainman and Jay, I have found the folks at CS to be down home pleasant to deal with. 

On another note, I have to state that nothing made by man is going to be 100% perfect 100% of the time.  Also, it may be that the two smokers you received were meant for recycling they were not up to CS quality standards and someone inadvertently packed them for shipping.  Simple human error. Hard to tell.  But don't write them off.  They produce great equipment.

Thank you for your replies gentlemen. I will call Cookshack today to see what they have to say.  I will mention that the SM025 was on sale at Amazon for $649 and after tax was just under $700. I looked again today and it is back to original price of $899. I could not pass up the sale. The 2 smokers delivered were packaged in a Cookshack box and appeared to be direct from the factory. I have a feeling all units are made this way and perhaps I was expecting a little better looking smoker. I'm sure it performs great, but I go for aesthetics too. If I were to have purchased a Masterbuilt or Charbroil for $200 or so, I would expect sub-standard quality.

You have mentioned Cookshack being a great company but I wonder what condition your smokers arrived in? Does the stainless steel shell appear to be warped at the weld points or scorch marks around the hinges? 

Thanks again for your input.

I've owned 3 in stainless, working my way to perfection (for me) a Smokette, Fec-100, FEPG-1000, all purchased from Cookshack.

They all arrived in perfect condition and worked flawlessly.

Hi Bryant, I apologize that you are not happy with the finish of the SM025. The "dents" that you are showing in your pictures are caused by the welding process. We plug weld our hinges in place so that we do not have doors that come off units. In my 30 years here at Cookshack we have never replaced a unit that the door came off, I have talked to plenty of our competitors customers who have had that issue. So, while we are aware that cosmetically it is not the best, we want to make sure that our units work properly for years.

Thanks, Stuart

Bryant posted:

Thank you for your replies gentlemen. I will call Cookshack today to see what they have to say.  I will mention that the SM025 was on sale at Amazon for $649 and after tax was just under $700. I looked again today and it is back to original price of $899. I could not pass up the sale. The 2 smokers delivered were packaged in a Cookshack box and appeared to be direct from the factory. I have a feeling all units are made this way and perhaps I was expecting a little better looking smoker. I'm sure it performs great, but I go for aesthetics too. If I were to have purchased a Masterbuilt or Charbroil for $200 or so, I would expect sub-standard quality.

You have mentioned Cookshack being a great company but I wonder what condition your smokers arrived in? Does the stainless steel shell appear to be warped at the weld points or scorch marks around the hinges? 

Thanks again for your input.

Bryant

i purchased my smoker in April 2012. Perfect condition on the exterior. Same on the interior. There was a little heat discoloration where the door panels were welded together but after a couple of smokes you could not see it. Overall my smoker was in first rate condition. 

Same experience as Sarge, purchased in August 2013.

Again, thank you for your replies and to Stuart from Cookshack. I appreciate your expertise and honesty about your products. Cookshack no doubt has fantastic reviews and I am perhaps a bit picky in appearance. I own a remodeling business and perfection comes with the territory. 

I am new to smoker ownership and wanted the first one to be the best one and to last a long time. I will take all of your comments into consideration.

Thanks again and happy smoking!

Bryant, I certainly understand, for years we have worked to get that bow out of our doors, but in the end we always come back to wanting to make sure the doors will not come off. We are currently looking at some new fasteners that may help, but we always take durability above cosmetic finish.

I hope the smoker gives you many years of great meals if you decide to keep it.

Enjoy!

During my rookie smoking adventure, I had a panic moment when seasoning the smoker.  I had smoke coming out not only from the top ten but the top of the door.  I talked to Stuart on the phone and was schooled in a friendly manner about the doors being more of a compression or pressure seal rather than a gasket, and that this was normal until residue from several smokes filled in the gaps. Also, the smoke had to go over and around the meat so it really did not matter if some seeped through the top of the door; I took that as meaning all was OK.  And it was. I mention this because on this forum as well as a few others I belong to this "leakage" is unexpected and so I pass along my knowledge which I got from Stuart.  If you are already aware of this, please ignore. 

Also, if during one of your early smokes, you hear a sudden loud "BANG" and see lots of smoke, don't panic. Just search here or just ask.

Yes indeed. The harmless belch. 

I too, bought one of the SM025 cookers on Amazon for $650. I could not believe my eyes when I saw that price. Got it home, set it up and am beyond pleased. Looks great and makes great food. On a side note, I wonder why these were marked down so low?

Amazon, as well as Woot, sometimes lowers the price on an item to generate sales which generates comments which generate more sales but back at full retail.  I think!  Great deal on a CS SM025.

Bryant, stop overthinking it. Put some meat in that thing and turn it on. If anxiety is crushing you over a little dent, wait til' you see the seasoning build-up. You'll be cleaning after every smoke. Handmade has blemishes, it's handmade! I've had mine since 2003, works just the same today. Smokin Tex, Chinese knock-off. No comparison. Aesthetics don't make BBQ taste better! Congrat's on a great purchase!