Donna, Smokette or Super Smoker Elite series?

Jason,

Click on the links on the left, in the yellow, and scroll to the bottom. This is going to replace the current Smokette series and will be 18 inches wide plus have the new digital controllers. Yeah!!!

As much as the co-cook and I loved our smokette[and now our sons] that should answer all the questions for the folks that wanted a little more size and control-without going commercial.

Wow...
I am not sure of my reaction. I have been talking to Cookshack for the past month telling them that while I wanted the Amerique, the price was a little high for my current budget. I made the decision to buy an 008. When I made the ordered my smoker three weeks ago, I was told that it would ship this week. I got an email last week notifying me that my smoker would ship today.
If I had known that the Elite was coming out the same week my OO8 was being shipped, I would have liked to have known that.
I have sent an email to Cookshack asking if my 008 did ship today.
What do you all think? My instincts (as well as my wallet) are that while I wish I had been informed, I am probably better off not getting the first wave of Elites as they work through new model issues.

Just noticed this.
As you all know the 008 has the following heating element:
4.2 amps, 120v Single Phase, 500w heating element

The new Elite series Smokette has the following:
7 amps, 120v Single Phase, 750w heating element

Remember that you have 30 days. Satisfaction guaranteed. If you want the Elite, call CS ASAP and explain it to them. I'd be very surprised if they didn't work with you. They want happy customers.

Looks like there's a lot more information up there from when I posted this earlier today. Looks like a cool lineup Cookshack!

I was in the same boat, my 009 had been in the works for a few weeks, I ordered it on the 22nd, and it came this afternoon. I was jazzed, and had comtemplated all my options and finances and came up with the the 009. Anyhow I noticed the thread and saw the New Smokette. I was a little bugged myself. But I called CS and we discussed the new model(s). The Elite which is on the CS site is 14X18 as opposed to 14X14. The heating element is larger, and it has the temp control and probe. The Essential, which was on the site earlier, but I cannot find it now, is similiar to the Elite in size, but lacks the temp probe. You can set a target temp, and it will give you the internal reading of the smoker. This essential is closer priced to the 008/009. I could send mine back, pay the shipping, and get an Essential in exchange, plus I'd pay the shipping back to me. I thought about it and I'm going to hold what I got. If the 009 was good enough for me yesterday, it'll be good enough for me tomorrow.

Interesting offerings. The Super Smoker Elite fills the gap for folks who want a little more real estate (i.e. room to stretch out) but don't want to go Amerique. The extra room comes in particularly handy for all of the rib hounds out there, as you have a better chance of laying two racks of rib flat on one shelf rather than one diagonally.

For Donna (or whoever takes care of it at CS): the coding is a little bit off on the Elite pages, as the text goes outside of the box when I used Firefox 3.0.5 and IE 7.0 (both had the same problem).

Sorry for the confusion -- I was adding the products to the store yesterday and the only way to test it was live on the site. Everything is pretty much straightened out today.

If you recently purchased an SM008, SM009, SM050, or SM055 and wish to upgrade to one of these new models, call Karen Hoogendoorn at 1-800-423-0698. We will be glad to work with you.

We think these new models rock! We will be adding accessories to the website soon, so keep coming back.

We are aware of the issue of the text hanging off the right side of the page, and the webboys are looking at it right now.

Please contact us at 1-800-423-0698 or sales@cookshack.com if you have any questions.

Ditto on the readability problems with Firefox.

But also.... someone should take a careful editing look at all the new pages. On the super smoker page, although the text says the new shelf size is 14 x 18, down in the specs section, it still says they are 14 x 14. I didn't check other pages.

I guess my only sorrow for the new series is that it increases the price of the 'entry level' above what a lot of folks want to pay. I was hoping to get my daughter to buy an 008 next summer but that may be out of the question now. Or did I miss something?

Maybe I can scratch up a used one somewhere.

I have somehow been designated to add all the new smokers to the website. Let me know if you see a need for corrections -- I depend on the eagle-eyed forum members!

You can see the entire lineup here:

http://www.cookshack.com/smokers-for-home-use

To get the cheapest one, look at the Smokette Essentials model in black. It is $525 which is quite close to the entry level 008 you spoke of which was $499. Plus, you get digital temp readout, albeit, minus the meat probe. However, the base 008 has neither!

Of course for some of us veterans,we have the original classic,that set the standard by Donna's family for 1/2 century.

My boys just sent in a pix of our original,cooking a load of butts for Christmas party,up at the cattle ranch.

About 5*,windchill below zero,ice everywhere.

Everybody loved them,and they just looked out the window to check them.

Ahhh,bbq and Cookshack.

So good they didn't even need that gallon of CS mild sauce.

I had a very nice conversation with CS this afternoon and decided to stick with the 008 that was shipped out to me yesterday. As always, Karen from CS could not have been nicer. I already built a mobile cart enclosure that is built to fit the 008. I would have to gut that cart and start all over which I really didn't want to do...expecially since I just finished building the darn cart !!
I will post pictures of the 008 in the cart when I get my smoker.
Thanks to everyone, especially CS, for walking me through this issue.

I have been asked if the new smokers replace the "old" 008, 009, 050, and 055. The answer is yes. The older models are no longer on the website (although there are a few instances of them left, I am tracking them down and changing them.) They are being removed from inventory, although of course we will still have support, parts, accessories, and so on for them.

how long do you think it will be from order to ship on these I may need to get one.

Ok, I will probably get clobbered for this...but. I need to start by saying I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, CS and my 09! Great products great company. I had been considering upgrading and purchasing a 055(super smoker). I am not so sure now. If my math is correct, and it always is, the old SS had 980 square inches of cooking area, 5 shelves. The new elite series has 756 and 3 shelves. I am guessing we will have to give up some cooking space to allow for the cost of the new electornic controller?
I thought I would purchase an old model maybe used. When I called CS they told me they didn't take trade-ins. Only in the commercial models. Again, I'm not complaining, I just wondering if the electronic controller is worth the trade???
I hope to get lots of input on this one.
d

Did you ask tham if you could still buy the 009 or 055 maby at some point thay may offer the 009 as a classic who knows? I"m a little sad mi self to see the thing go byby.

Yes and no. Yes I asked, and no there arn't any.
It looks like the Charcoal store still has some. But I was wanting the CS folks to take the door off and ship it in 2 boxes to get it under the APO weight limit.
Yes, a very sad day......