Your Assistance -- What do you like / don't like about the Cookshack Websites?

quote:

What do you like about the Cookshack Website

We like Smokin; we like Smokin...

Acariii

Several times a week I meander around this forum, and I have to tell ya...I think this forum is a class act and I tip my toque blanc (chef's hat) to Stuart & the folks at Smokeshack for providing the UBB board, and to you Smokin', for keep it fun, organized and interesting.

Each week I bookmark probably 10 Q related web sites, and so far I have to say (not to blow smoke up your butt ) that this is my favorite place to poke around. As someone mentioned a few weeks ago, it's become more of a gathering of good friends than simply an exchange of information.

Speaking as someone who's been in foodservice for nearly 30 years, I gotta say that I'm extremely impressed as the fact that anyone who purchases a CS smoker, and spends less than an hour searching this forum, is capable of turning out Q comparable to that produced by professional teams.

I also like the fact that this forum isn't about selling more smokers. Stuart, by now you know well that most of the folks who happen by here either own, or are about to own a Cookshack smoker. Once tried, they become the most pro-active sales team you could ever hope for.

Keep up the great work and THANK YOU for all your hard work!

Smokin I like it just the way it is by allowing use to speek freely about your product and the instant response we can get from all the members.
We have ordered spices,wood,cook books @ cover for my smokette. Without any problems.
I read the forum every day without fail. Just keep up all the great work!!!
Thank you, Jimbo

What I like about the regular website are the features like recipe archives, pictures of the products, and the "101" series.

As for the forum, well, what's not to like? I prefer 'Snitz Forums' to UBB, but that's just me. I really like the interactivity, and the tolerance that the more experienced owners show to us rookies.

Can't really say there's anything I DON'T like about the website. I do, however, wish that there were more. I'd love to see a picture gallery with more detailed pics of the cookers, both new and in use. Pics of the staff there so we can see who we're writing to and dealing with there. A good link directory would be really nice, as would a library of cooking techniques, y'know?

I could probably come up with more, but I have to say that even if nothing changed, COOKSHACK.COM would still be a great site.

-joe

PS - If you need any help, let me know! I'd love to have a part in it.

I appreciate those comments, but the "soul" of the forum is true the sum of all the members (including the Famous Lurkers)

What are some of the things, as a Cookshack owner you would like?

More pictures?
More recipes?
Instant Chat Features?
Know who is online at that time?

What kind of information is missing about your Cookshack?

If your a lurker, how can we bring you out into the open?

Thanks again for your support and kind words!

Smokin and the gang at CS

Smokin',

More pictures and recipes would be great, but I'm not so sure about a "Who's online" or IM feature. It would probably be quite a lot of work to create or set up, and after the novelty wears off the utilization would probably not live up to the hopes, y'know? As it is, the forum's registration process captures a person's IM info, but it doesn't appear that many are actually taking advantage of this.

Maybe setting up an info page containing the names, locations and IM (AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, MSN, Bravenet) info can be created as an 'Ask An Owner' section or something. That way, owners-to-be could get instant product testimonials , new owners can get immediate info from experienced owners (I've got a butt in right now - how do I...?), and experienced owners could run ideas past each other in near real-time - among other things. This could take care of the 'instant chat' and "who's online now" items...???

Sounds like you're thinking in terms of building a 'Community' type of website, huh?

Ideas...just looking for ideas. I think we already have a community. I'm just looking for ways to serve the community better. I've done a lot of these projects and don't constrain myself by what technology is out there. I'm the idea man here at CS if you haven't figured that out. You wouldn't even believe some of them...

I'm more interested in "what do we want" eventually, even the technology will catch up to what we want.

Keep the comments coming

Smokin'

Smokin,

I would like to see an explanation of the abbreviations (IMHO, LOL, etc.) in the Faq. I have figured them out by now but when I was new to the forum it took awhile before I relized what some of them meant. Also it might be an idea to make the word Faq more prominent and or a banner that requests people new to the forum to read the Faq.

Another thing if it can be done is to put a automatic spell checker on the post a reply.

Just some ideas,

Charlie

Smokin: Here's an idea. You might create a department or category called R & D. (Research and Development.) What's up at CS. Not just available products, but what innovations are in the works; what's been tried; what are some technical challenges. Some of it is very interesting from an engineering point of view.
Maybe?
Seems like I've seen you and Stuart and maybe Donna responding to hardware issues. How to vent surplus water vapor from a CS unit, for example. Maybe you could "archive" some of what is happening, and then, in the same site, invite people to squawk about new needs. How to modify a CS 55 for the new space station, and so on.
Just a thought. Maybe not even 2 cents worth. Acarriii.

How 'bout this for an idea to monitor Lurkers, adding a counter for each post? I know that a ton of people look at this site so it would be interesting to see how many people hit this site and posts. Other than more pictures, I enjoy this site on a daily basis and really enjoy my Cookshack on the weekends.

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I like Charlie's ideal of a spell checker!

I'm like the little boy, when ask by his teacher to spell "DOG."

He stated "C A T", but I mean DOG.

Here comes a (former) lurker.

I'm new to Cookshack, just bought mine about a week ago (a Smokette from Cabella's). I started out with an ECB (charcoal Brinkman), but found it was too much work. I've been using a EECB (Electric Brinkman) for several years, and gotten my technique down pretty good.

Last year, I moved "up" to a gas Brinkman, and was extremely disappointed. Thought it would give me better temperature control than my electric. All I got was more fluctuations. Since I have a lot more appetitive for barbeque than I have time, it just wasn't practical for me.

When I started thinking about a new one, I stumbled on the Cookshack site. My first thought was that it was 'way more than I wanted to spend, even for a Smokette. I discovered that Cabella's had both the Cookshack and the Bradley – which was the same price, but a lot bigger -- in stock.

So I had to decide whether I wanted to spend that much and, if so, which one.

After lurking around the forum, I decided the Cookshack was the only way to go, and after just a week, I am so glad I made that decision.

BTW, I am CEO of a marketing firm, and we have a web development division that has done some sites for some pretty big Fortune 500 companies, and while I have some comments on the Cookshack site (like the copy on the various models that's all the same, so I still don't know what the difference is between a Model 50 and a 55, besides $200), I can tell you (from personal experience) that the Forum is one of the most effective marketing tools I've seen at any web site.

It got me to become a Cookshack owner, for which I am VERY GRATEFUL.

Also, when I first registered, I got a nice e-mail from Donna, which is a great personal touch.

I've also introduced one of our people (a neophyte to barbecue who just bought his first electric) to the Forum, and now he's considering moving up to a Cookshack, too. (If I can hold him off until I'm ready to move up a model or two, maybe I can sell him my well-seasoned Smokette.)

In terms of the web site, I would like to see more recipes and guidance (perhaps things gleaned from the Forum, but saved, filed and organized as Recipes and Tips), and love seeing pictures of what other people are doing. Maybe some features of some of the people behind the posts, including some pics of them too.

But as far as the Forum goes, it is a GREAT community that is also a GREAT sales tool for a GREAT product.

My congratulations and appreciation to everyone who helped make it what it is.

Appreciate any and all feedback,

Feel free to drop me an email direct and we can discuss any ideas off-line if you prefer.

We want to include a lot more "how to's" and that information grows as our forums members ask questions and provide answers. Make sure you check out my 101 links (which are intended to be a how to). Just click on the link at the top of the page: smokin' okie barbecue guide, and it will take you to my guide page where i have links to the 101's.

[EMAIL]cookshackwebupdate@thebbqzone.com [/EMAIL]

thanks again for the info.

Okie, I would like it if I didn't have to scroll thru messages I've already read. On another forum I frequent, I have a choice to view just unread messages.

To Wild Willy: Congrats on your decision! I won my Smokette and couldn't be happier. My spouse and I are building on a piece of property we bought and we plan to have a cinder block building for processing foods with Cookshacks plumbed in. I'm sold, Mister!

And JD! My Mule Man! Did you hear about the dyslexic, insomniac, philosopher? He stayed up all night wondering if there was a dog...

Andi,

This forum uses a feature to help. Look at the first page when you visit. Notice the light bulbs on the left? They'll be yellow if there are new messages.

then, inside a particular forum, the folders will also be yellow for items added since your last visit.

Does that help?

Smokin'

It helps a little, but you still have to scroll. I use the "todays active topics" thing with good results. Also, I like the e-mail notification thing on my other forum. Let's me know when someone has posted to me.

Other than that, I love this forum and have made some good friends and learned a lot. I am proud to be a member. Wild Willy's post made me swell with pride! Ya'd think I owned stock in the company! LOL!

PS, Mr. Okie Fenokie Moderator! You are always getting on us for going off-topic, but I see FOOTBALL talk is allowed! Wassupwidat? Football, but not hunting? Golf, but not hunting? Ya ever try and smoke a football or a golf ball? LOLOLOL!

Hi All-

Just got back from a 10 day vacation in Nantucket and had a good time but longed for my BBQ, and this forum. The Yankees up there are good at frying fish, but don't know a damn thing about proper BBQ cooking!

I really enjoy this forum. Smokin is terrific and very helpful, and it is nice to see posts from the management of Cookshack in reply to posts here.

I find it a little difficult to keep up with new posts on the many sub-forums here. I am used to a BBQ forum where all posts are in one forum, and this format takes some getting used to? It seems easier to skim through one large forum for new posts then it is to check the subforums here for new posts or topics?

A suggestion for improvement might be to alert us by E-mail when we make a posting to replies to our posts.

Maybe I missed it, but an icon to indicate that a picture is included with a post would be nice. Also, when I finally got around to using some of the other BBB Code items, I found that I had to go back and forth from another post to my potential new post to include quotes from one to the other. Did I miss something about doing this an easier way? And, using Instant Gremlins is difficult if you want to include them after sentences or paragraphs if you do not do it on the fly (you can't go back and add any except at the end of your post?). It may be that this is the nature of the beast, but I thought that I would mention these little nits that I picked.

Smokin, you might make another "101" area on maintaining our Cookshack devices. How to clean the different models, and how to protect the finish (especially the black steel surfaces) would be appreciated.


Even if his forum stays like it is, it is a fun and informative site related to using our CS products.

Oh, don't worry:

1. Any changes will only be improvements.

2. Won't happen anytime soon, too many things on the plate (like about 6 or 7 How-To series).

Keep 'em coming, it takes a while to plan any potential changes.

Smokin'

Smokin, good to see Bobby Que back. Hope the Maine lobsters made up for the lack of BBQ. Bobby hints at something that can be controversial, IMHO. I have spent some time on the KC Forum. 2500 persons. CS has 743 as of tonight.

Bobby says:

quote:

. I am used to a BBQ forum where all posts are in one forum, and this format takes some getting used to?

That's how the KC forum works.

What I am wondering is, can the CS forum get tooooooooooooo big? Becoming impersonal in the process. I'm not an expert, and there are people out there who could answer the question.

Why controversial? Because, if true, then you've got to suggest to Stuart & co. that they shouldn't sell anymore CS units.

That would make you real popular, no?

Only partly kidding. Very interesting situation. It's a great group. Can it stay the same? (Do you have the energy to do what you're doing for even more devoted friends?!!!!) Acarriii

Smokin, I’ve got an idea for your new and improved forum. Working title might be “M.D. Que.” I got this notion from this very forum. A few weeks ago, there was launched a diabetics thread. Remember? Amazing. Most moving (amusing?) spontaneous confessional I ever saw. Every third CS Forum member is a diabetic. Tom Brokaw has this theme going, “Home of the Brave.” You should send him that thread. Some brave Americans. “Doc says I got high cholesterol and one foot in the grave and got to shut down my barbecue pit. Ain’t no way! They don’t call this smoker “The Widowmaker” for nothing.” Courageous, dedicated people of the type that made this country great. So, I was thinking that you could set up a whole “department” in the new forum, and call it “The Clinic,” or “End of the Line,” or “The Doctor Is In”…something cute. In that section you would have stuff about:
BBQ and diabetes;
BBQ and cholesterol;
BBQ and obesity;
Smoke inhalation;
How to ventilate Andi’s garage so she survives the winter;
What to do for your mucous membranes after you eat Tom’s habanero chilies.

See where I’m going? Lot’s to work with here.
And, you could discuss the new CS-50 TM (=treadmill). That puppy comes with built-in aerobic equipment. You can actually build up a calorie deficit in the time it takes to get your butt over the plateau.
What do you think? Acarriii

Keep them coming, all comments count.

I'm a frequent visitor at bbqsearch, been there for over 3 years now and I don't like that style of forum. If you were around this forum 6 months ago, that's what we had and it's real difficult to find anything (their search doesn't work, regards of what they've tried).

Football is allowed because I'm the moderator and I'm the one getting picked on, and even when we're off topic, I don't delete the posts (unless Florida starts winning too much) and I have to be nice to all the Florida folks because they're GREAT on this forum and I have to let them have their fun.

And I'm just trying to figure out how to find stuff because as this forum grows bigger, i want people to find answers if they're already posted out there (so i don't have to repeat and repeat and ....)

and AC, you have a key point that is #1 on my list.

Regardless of how big it "gets" don't ever lose the spirit of this forum -- ever. If one comment through the time it has been up and when I receive feedback, that's what people love and we won't lose sight of that.

Thanks and fire away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're listening.

Sheesh...Go Bills!

Don't worry Smokin'. Bein' #1 in the PRE-SEASON polls means about as much as bein a virgin bride . . . while it's nice, it don't tend to last long!