Almost fell for it...

[Buck Flicks]

At the great State Fair of Texas last week, I stopped at the Traeger booth to see their wares. I had never seen one in person, only heard tales, and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

I was initially drawn to the idea of a true set it and forget it smoker, but a few of the caveats I've heard about Traeger were constantly popping up in my head as the sales rep went through his spiel... not much of a smoke flavor, trouble holding temps steady, too many moving parts breaking down, etc. I almost fell for his spiel when he quoted a price of $239 for the smaller "probe" series cooker. Fortunately my wife was paying attention and realized that was just the first of 3 installments. Immediately, I was out of MCS mode and into "what am I getting into here?" mode. The salesman was pretty slick. He had a good pitch prepared and while he didn't have a special "fair price" he did say he would "Throw in" a bunch of stuff like a bottle of rub, some cheap grill utensils, a cookbook, and a cover.

Currently with my Kettle and SnS, the Traeger didn't offer anything that I couldn't do already, even if it did make it easier. Plus, the Traeger only gets up to 425 and doesn't hold that at all if you open the lid... so burger, steak, pork chop grilling wasn't an option. And I don't have room on my porch or in my garage for multiple grills... so a new cooker would have to supplant my Kettle for easy access cooking and the Kettle would have been relegated to shed storage and only pulled out for big parties.

Then I got home and read some reviews and learned of many reliability issues and decided I had made the correct choice. I probably would have gone for it if I had room, and it didn't cost $700 for the small model.

[CandySueQ]

Did you have fun at the Fair? One of my best jobs ever was working for the State Fair's Exhibit Department.

[Buck Flicks]

Always do... the wife and I love it and go at least once a year. This was our shortest trip so far, but it was raining and the crowd was small so we didn't have to wait for anything. We almost didn't go this year due to schedules and the weather, but we're glad we got it in. My former boss at Six Flags runs the Fair operations now, and I've often considered hitting him up for a job once I retire.

[CandySueQ]

One of my bosses at State Fair was a manager at Six Flags! I doubt if I'd know anyone there now. David in Concessions was the last and that was many, many years ago. I left the year after the sky ride fell. Was a great job!

[LA Pork Butt]

I was at the Texas State Fair, too. I don’t usually succumb to MCS unless it is a gadget, but I always succumb to looking.

[Buck Flicks]

I rarely feel like MCS is sitting on my head, but when I first thought it was going to sell it for $239, I was all in. It didn't take long for me to snap out of it, though. Like you, I'm more prone to gadgets than new cookers. My Kettle does everything I want it to, and I don't feel the need for multiple kettles or other cookers. If I find a good deal on Craigslist or the facebook market for an easy set and forget smoker, I might think about it... otherwise, I'm content.

[Attjack]

What I like about Traeger are their website's recipes. For me personally, I can't see ever see using pellets.

[MBMorgan]

For me personally, I can't see ever see using pellets.

Until recently, I used to say the same thing ... then life happened and, while I'm still getting to know it, I find myself getting happier by the day with my new Grilla pellet pooper.

[Attjack]

Lots of people love them. I would be more likely to go for a stick burner.

[FireMan]

MCS is a condition of more, but, as an experienced Pit dude, to borrow a word from LA Pork Butt, MCS does not succumb to sales slickness. It is an act of calculated acquirement of necessary gear & cookers. That is said with emphasis on "calculated". Much goes into the operation, like how to incorporate wives & other significant peeps to achieve victory. Not to be gender specific, cuz ya just need to flip flop the dudes to dudettes and similarity’s is accomplished. Well done sir Buck Who Flicks. Onward & upward!

[Buck Flicks]

That was one of the other factors for me, FM... I rarely buy without considerable research and slick sales pitch generally drives me away. But his pitch was speaking to my desires, and the price was right (when I though $239 was the whole price.) Actually, my wife was willing to pull the trigger (traeger?) but I shook away the fog and realized that the purchase for the money wasn't right for me.

[vwskirch]

A salesman at Costco... went through the spiel about how great the traeger was.... how i wouldn't have to mess with charcoal, or mess with airvents for heat control, or stay up all night with a brisket on the Weber.. Ijust laughed and told him you just described why i like to bbq in the first place... why would i pay all that money to take away the joy?

[Huskee]

I'm with you. Although i hate the myth of "staying up all night with a brisket." Never dunnit yet, and all of my cookers are naturally aspirated.

[Chief1232]

I personally love my Traeger. Granted, there isn't a ton of smoke flavor that a stick burner will give you, but it is pretty much set it and forget it.

Side note though, I bought mine used. I got a Texas 34 with all of the add on accessories I could ever want for $300... I would look into a used one if you are interested in one, but can't justify the price tag.

[Buck Flicks]

Yeah, at that price, I would probably be in.

[Chief1232]

Check Craigslist! There really isn't much to go wrong with them. And the parts are pretty reasonable

[Attjack]

A salesman at Costco... went through the spiel about how great the traeger was.... how i wouldn't have to mess with charcoal, or mess with airvents for heat control, or stay up all night with a brisket on the Weber.. Ijust laughed and told him you just described why i like to bbq in the first place... why would i pay all that money to take away the joy?

[Bob's BBQ]

Had a VERY attractive women spend about 30 minutes with me at Costco trying to sell me Treager. I'm not sure which one of us was wasting time......

[Buck Flicks]

If you enjoyed yourself, then it wasn't you that was wasting time ;-)

[klflowers]

I bought mine at a music festival here in Chattanooga called Riverbend. I listened to the pitch, walked away, went back and got the guy down to a good price. My better half actually encouraged me - we bought the scout model for the RV, and it is just the right size. Only had it for a few months (bought it before a trip to Fla in June), but it has worked out pretty good.

[Timbo54]

I still use my 12 year old Traeger lil Tex. I like the set it and forget it convenience. I have updated the controller (a must). I added a Big Kahuna smoke generator several years ago with less than positive results. Somewhere, possibly on this forum, I read to put a couple of wood chunks on the heat diffuser plate. Wow, it made a huge improvement. The temp swings aren't bad, I've thought about adding a welding blanket around the cooker during the winter to help keep the temp in. I've also been experimenting with different pellets too.

[smokinfatties]

We have a traeger rep at our local home depot sometimes cooking some half @$$ hot dogs, he tries to get me to engage but not gonna happen...