New Mak 2-Star, need help!

[heraldstorm]

glitchy Yeah, sometimes that's just how these things go. I am not happy to see it go. It is a VERY well built cooker, and everything else I've had pales in comparison when looking strictly at build quality. I just can't see spending the next 15 years with the kind of problems I'm having with the smoke and airflow. Thanks, though, for all your help and support!

[glitchy]

heraldstorm That is very disappointing that MAK couldn’t diagnose the issue for you. I wish I lived close as I would have been happy to try to help you fix it. That’s not saying I’m sure I could, but sometimes another set of eyes sees something different. This is such a sad outcome on such as expensive product.

[heraldstorm]

GolfGeezer Thanks for the tips on Blackstone and Camp Chef. I'm also looking at LoCo but that seems a bit spendy for something suspiciously like a Blackstone. I would certainly donate my grill to the Fire Station, but I need to recoup at least some of that money. Thanks again for your advice and support over the past year!

[GolfGeezer]

PS. I have a Blackstone propane griddle and love it. They have a number of models, from 1 burner to 4 burners, combo units with fryer and such. Camp Chef also has nice 4 burner that has both a griddle top and a grill top, so you can switch between depending on your cook.

[GolfGeezer]

heraldstorm While I am very happy with my MAK 2 Star, I feel your pain. I went through a similar adventure with a very high end gasser. It just did not work out for me. I ended up donating it to a local fire station - those guys LOVE bbq and are very happy with it. Here's hoping you find a home for it at the price you are offering.

[heraldstorm]

Hi folks,
First of all, I apologize for abandoning the thread. I know several people were waiting to see how things turned out and to see if that might help inform their decisions. Unfortunately, I have decided to part ways with my MAK, and I'm looking for a buyer. The grill just doesn't perform as I feel a grill should at this price point. I've worked with MAK extensively, and without coming out and saying it in so many words, the system is at a point that they've done all they're willing to do. The grill does get up to and hold temperature at the advertised range, apart from very cool temps (below smoking temp). My problem is, it takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get there. Additionally, the smoke tends to congregate in the pellet hopper, which then condenses, and ruins about 2-3 cups of pellets.
I don't have the time or patience any longer to fiddle around, but I'm sure someone with more patience (and mechanical skill) than I have could get it working better.

Details about the sale:
Grill comes nearly brand new. I have never cooked food on it. It's seen about 30 pounds of pellets burn through it. It's never been dropped, dented, caught on fire, or had any kind of oil or grease introduced. I have extra grill grates, a door panel, and a front shelf with a paper towel holder. Neither the shelf nor the door are attached, as they didn't come with the mounting hardware to attach them, but the whole setup cost me about 3800. I'm letting it go for 1500 if buyer covers shipping. I'll even throw in about 60 lbs of pellets and I'll ship to buyer at my cost. This is the 2 Star model, but not the full stainless steel version. It's in great shape, and it will do well for you if you have patience. Please send me a private message if you're interested.

To those who've followed the saga and lent their support, I'm eternally grateful. To those who would disparage MAK, well, while I don't have much good to say about their product, their company and their employees are absolutely top-notch, and they do themselves, their company, and our Country great honor. They are hard working, caring, and dedicated.

To those who would disparage me, well, walk a few months in my shoes first, and then say what you will.

When you buy something over the internet, sight unseen, you are taking a chance. We all pretty much understand that, and when we make the purchase, we are agreeing to shoulder that risk. Sometimes, hopefully rarely, that doesn't fall in our favor. This one didn't fall in my favor. While I'm not rich, I do well enough, and this loss will hurt but it won't put me behind. I am privileged to live the life I do, work the job I work, and benefit from the support and wisdom of all of you in The Pit.

Mostly, I would like to get this unit to someone that can baby it, tinker with it, and hopefully give it a chance to redeem itself. Again, if you're interested, please send me over a private message, and we'll discuss options.


Now, who out there has a nice propane flat top that they can recommend??

[rickd972]

Thanks glitchy, I know you are correct. Often we also need to weed through the paid endorsements as well so to not get too overly confident.

[glitchy]

If you look hard enough, you will find someone dissatisfied with just about any product you can think of and read terrible things about how the company treated them. I generally try to find a true pattern before I write off something unless I know the 'victim' and their full story personally. MAK's not the only game in town though, there are a lot of other great quality pellet smokers. Most of those also have a thread or two like this on some BBQ forum somewhere if you look hard enough.

[rickd972]

Well; I was down to 3 PGs. I like much about the MAK; but this story has me dropping MAK from consideration. I love a US company, and their owner's desire to help; but clearly some concerns with the electronics side of the business.

[GolfGeezer]

arthrovine There is a profile Settings page under "My Membership" that has a series of check boxes to let the site know what events you want notifications sent to for. I think the one labelled "Mentions you (username) in a post" controls this.

I just sent you a Private Message (PM) about this setting.

[arthrovine]

thanks to both of you for your responses. i have been lurking here as well as the other site for some time and have observed Mak is (almost) universally committed to their customers. Make no mistake, I will become a 2* owner: I’m just trying to finalize my own setup.

(as a new member here, i did not see any notifications via email that you both had replied to my post. i only logged back in and through happenstance saw your responses. Other forums seem to automatically notify via email one when there is a post in the active forum)

Thanks again for the responses

[glitchy]

arthrovine Also, heraldstorm isn’t super active here, which is part of the reason for my response, he hasn’t logged in for over 2 months.

[GolfGeezer]

arthrovine +1 on the above. MAK's support has helped me a number of times over the last 4 years, although my issues have never been that onerous as the one this thread relates. Talking me through configuration issues on the phone and sending me replacement parts without hassle if needed. I trust MAK to stand by their customers and products.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

With you living an hour away, you have a benefit that heradlstorm, glitchy, and myself don't. IF you had a significant issue they couldn't figure out you could get the grill in their hands to get perfect no problem. I live on the other coast so it's not conducive to MAK or myself bringing the grill in. Also you get a significant discount purchasing direct from MAK and picking it up

[glitchy]

arthrovine I am not discounting heraldstorm’s experience at all, but it’s definitely an anomaly for MAK brought about by complications from both sides. Heraldstorm has a job that seemed to be very restrictive for him to work with MAK during support hours and seemed pretty busy himself during the issues which drug things out much longer.

Most of the blame falls on MAK, but from my point of view it was a combination of unfortunate events. They released a new controller, had their operations manager leave, suffered supply shortages (like everyone else), all at the same time. I can tell you MAK will work as hard as anyone to make things right. I had a couple issues with mine and they were resolved quickly and I received follow up communications to make sure things were working correctly afterwards.

I think they rushed out the new controller due to supply issues before they wanted to. ItsAllGoneToTheDogs has a new grill with the same controller and had some issues that have since been resolved.