Used - 2023 Memphis Elite or 2020 Yoder YS640S

[Christobol]

I moved and had to leave my kamado behind, and it's time for a new smoker. I thought I'd give a pellet a try.

My brother loves his 2012 Memphis Pro, and his neighbor loves his Yoder YS640S. Near me, each is for sale, with the Memphis at $1800 and the Yoder $1500. The Yoder seems like a safe and well-known bet.

The Memphis is super nice, with so much cooking space, but the complaints about customer service are concerning. What are your thoughts on the two brands for a used pellet smoker?

Does anyone have really recent experience with Memphis, as in 2025, just in case they had an acquisition hangover that has since been corrected?

[STEbbq]

My understanding is Memphis has continued to decline. I would do the Yoder and not even blink.

[captainlee]

Yoder owner here, purchase the Yoder.

[Draznnl]

Yoder owner here, purchase the Yoder.

Me too.

[Donw]

Yoder

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

Yoder, it's still supported and upgradable. Also, I doubt Memphis would have supported you with a used grill. Yoder doesn't have to either, but I've heard they'll sometimes work with you for trouble shooting or upgrading.

[Sweaty Paul]

I don't know anything about the Memphis rigs. I have a Yoder YS-640 and have upgraded the system to YS-640S. I've had my my Yoder for over 10 years and it is a beast. Have had nothing but good luck with it and I have a number of friends who purchased one too and love theirs as well.

Good luck on your search.

[BBQPhil]

Have a Yoder - going on 10 years and it's been great. Always can reach the company with a question. The paint does eventually flake off and blister, but black high temp paint can easily improve the looks. I did replace the igniter a few years with a new design, but otherwise it continues to work flawlessly.

[Christobol]

Maybe the ratio of Yoder to Memphis owners is really like 10 to 1. My brother loves his Memphis, as do a number of older owners. New owners don't seem to have as much success though.

The Yoder will inherit some residual warranty for other owners, while the Memphis will not pass on any warranty benefits. The Memphis comes with some extra electronics that were replaced under warranty, and turned out not to be the problem when sensors were deemed the issue. The Memphis is still under warranty, and I've considered asking the original owner to continue to be the front person for problems until the warranty expires.

That said... I just want to pay for issues to be fixed in a reasonable amount of time.

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

Memphis moved their production to China AND raised their prices AND lost backward compatibility AND an upgrade path. No one is buying a 2K+ smoker without an upgrade path, quality components, and quality customer support. They're cooked.

[Christobol]

ItsAllGoneToTheDogs what do you mean there isn't an upgrade path? In my brother's case they were able to replace all of his electronics for his 10+ year old Memphis Pro. Or are you saying that they have moved to new parts that simply can't be swapped out?

[ItsAllGoneToTheDogs]

@Chrostobol new parts that can't be swapped out in old.grills (cant turn an old model into a new one), unless thats no longer the case. I haven't followed them in a few years other than seeing the random disappointment discussussion.

[captainlee]

You have to do what you are most comfortable with. At the end of the day they will both get your items cooked. Which one will give you a noticeable difference in your cooks, I'm clueless.

[Skip]

FWIW I bought a New Memphis Pro in 2010 when they were still made in Minnesota. I kept it until 2020 at which time I just wanted something different for the fun of it. I really liked my Memphis and was very happy with it. That all being said Memphis has not gotten very good reviews in recent years which is too bad because I felt they were a premium product. I'd probably lean toward the Yoder for the reasons already stated above but either will cook your food.

[Christobol]

I went with the Yoder... the one here was just too clean. While the Memphis would have been VERY nice, and I could have set up a Raspberry Pi to run it should the control screen die... that's just extra work to integrate it with all of the sensors and motors. But I read that a fair number of people had been having oil fires, especially on the newer models. Even my brother had a fire on his 10 year old one, and I didn't want to deal with that.

[captainlee]

Yea!!!

[WI Bubba]

Can't wait to see the new to you rig in action. I hope you have a long and wonderful relationship with it.

[Christobol]

Can't wait to see the new to you rig in action. I hope you have a long and wonderful relationship with it.

Ha me too! I think I'm going to get an XL Green Egg or other Kamado as well, just because I like the direct fire ability (that's really hot).

I'm sure I'll find recommendations on here for pellets, off to search!