Hi everyone,
Now I am a member on all kinds of boards ranging from cars, fishing, engineering, etc... It seems with nearly all "product" related boards it seems like all you read is product horror stories about people needing help with something that went wrong or broke.
It seems this board typcically talks about bad heating elements, door seals, etc...
I realize when the smoker is working there really is nothing to write about. It's kinda like sitting in a doctors office and thinking the entire town must be sick.
So, the question I have is how many people have never had any issues with their smoker?
I am in no way trying to start any propaganda, bash Bradley, or anything malicious. I am just curious to see how many people can chime in to say that they have not had any issues with their smokers.
Thanks in advance.
-Chad-
My BDS 4 rack is almost 5 years old. The heating element is original and working fine. The door seal is original and working fine. The door is original and working fine. The faceplate is original and not cracked. The hinges are original and have not broken off. My BDS still easily heats to 250+. The only mod I made to it is I recently installed a rail sytem so my 4 rack is now an 8 rack. Other than that, all original.
As you stated, generally when something is working as it should you never hear about it but let something go wrong and you hear it loud and often.
I don't think this is a very reliable poll. People have found this forum for two reasons. (1) people who have had problems with the Bradley and went looking for help (2) people who had problems with cooking and recipes and went looking for help. (3) people who stumbled across it or were told by word of mouth. There are many, many, people that have had neither and have never found this place. So I think your data will be skewed.
I for one found this place via a friend, and also had problems. But all my cooking issues were answered by the forum members and all my Bradley problems were handled swiftly by Bradley ( one even after the warranty ended). The heating element issues are behind them. I know there are still some stragglers and if you are one of them it doesn't make you feel any better.
My digital 4 racks is 3 years old and I've had no issues what so ever. Original element,door seal etc. Don't use a PID and have no problem maintaning temps. Love it !! Mind you,I only smoke about once a week.
Jim O
I have quite a few smokes on mine even thought it is less then a year old. But I have never had a problem with any thing on it. To the point I've started modding even though it's still under warranty. I do think the reason you see so many complaints is they come to find help. I also believe that most people never find this site. Probably most the guys who have smoked before using the Bradley find it so easy they don't think they need this site. I know i've told quite a few. Also I'm thankful to be here also!
Quote from: Georgia Chad on December 30, 2011, 07:27:04 AMSo, the question I have is how many people have never had any issues with their smoker?
As others have previously stated, an online forum tends to draw more people with a problem who want to vent or are looking for a way to fix it than the people who are happy with their smoker, car, motorcycle, TV, etc. I always do a search of reviews whenever I'm ready to buy a product that's more than $100 to see what others who have bought it before me have to say. I take into account what I just mentioned.
I have a Bradley six rack and have not had any problems with it. It is about a year and a half old. Best smoker I have ever owned!!
i have had my obs since 2007 and my ownly complaint is the bottom face plate broke , other then that no issues
Quote from: GusRobin on December 30, 2011, 07:41:02 AM
I don't think this is a very reliable poll. People have found this forum for two reasons. (1) people who have had problems with the Bradley and went looking for help (2) people who had problems with cooking and recipes and went looking for help. (3) people who stumbled across it or were told by word of mouth. There are many, many, people that have had neither and have never found this place. So I think your data will be skewed.
I for one found this place via a friend, and also had problems. But all my cooking issues were answered by the forum members and all my Bradley problems were handled swiftly by Bradley ( one even after the warranty ended). The heating element issues are behind them. I know there are still some stragglers and if you are one of them it doesn't make you feel any better.
Hi Gus,
You are absolutely correct about skewed results. I guess I could have mentioned that initially. This really is not intended to be a "scientific" poll, more so a praise to the product(s) and a little evidence that not everyone's smoker has had issues. I don't think contacting and polling everyone who ever bought a BDS is reasonable, so I really only want to hear from people on this board.
To be honest, I almost didnt pull the trigger on my machine after I found this board and saw so many people with issues. But I figured it was no different than most other "product" forums with people generally just looking for help while the people who had everything under control staying quiet in the background (or posting rub recipes ;)).
Anyways, thanks for everyone's feedback so far. Lets keep them coming!
I own (2) stainless steel units and (1) 6-rack unit. I'm also thinking of added another 6-rack unit.
Love my Bradley Smokers.
Personally I think the smoker is great! But I salute the people that make and run this site. I have no idea how much a person would have to spend to get this much education from so many experts and long time smokers. You have a problem they tell you how to fix or mod,you need a recipe they share, Don't know how to cure or smoke they will inform you,Got a cut of meat you dont know they will let you know. Need a friend or a secret Santa this is the place to be. Id give what I payed for my smoker to get all that and it's a one time fee.
Plus Bradley Support sounds A1 from what I know.
4 rack OBS, smoker genertor for my custom built, and 4 OBS heaters used in the custom built.
Not one problem in 4 years
Mine is almost three years old with no problems. The reason I joined this site is because of the excellent help you get on it and the great ideas for trying something different - smoking that is.
I have 4, even the propane and have had 0 problems.
If someone said here you can have 10 new MES if you get away from your Bradley.
WELL
I guess i would be building a fire cuz MES got nothing on Bradley
IMHO Bradley is the best electric smoker out there.
Someone kick me off da box :o
POW !!! your off the box ...my turn on the box, what Rick said X 2
I agree with Gus, but have a third reason people may find this forum. I saw a Bradley in action, and found this forum while researching to decide if I wanted to purchase one, and what other things I can do with my smoker.
When the smoker is working there is plenty to write about, and those posts are the overwhelming majority of the posts. Read what members are doing with their smoker.
I've had my OBS for about 7.5 years, and the only problems I've had were I once knocked it over and it fell 3' to the ground, another time the wind blew the chart it was on and it fell about 6' to the ground, and I've burnt some meat in it a couple of times. :)
i agree with a lot of the post that people serched for this forum because they are having problems....well thats a lot of people...i my self do enjoy my 6 rack dig. but had bad temp swings. had problems not melting the fat because i really had no idea where my temp was. bought a pid and its 1+ or 1- deg. but i feel i should not of had to spend another $150.00 to make the smoker do what bradley said it would. but as i said i do enjoy it and for you who have temp swings buy a pid. i fought it for 2 years and now im happy with the smoker.....other then that no problems.
I have owned my bradley for 2 years and have had zero problems with it. I find when one consumes too much alcohol that is when problems occur such as cant get trays in straight or pressing the right buttons on the control. Other than that seems to be just fine.
Quote from: highlandsmoker on December 31, 2011, 04:42:56 AM
i agree with a lot of the post that people serched for this forum because they are having problems....well thats a lot of people...i my self do enjoy my 6 rack dig. but had bad temp swings. had problems not melting the fat because i really had no idea where my temp was. bought a pid and its 1+ or 1- deg. but i feel i should not of had to spend another $150.00 to make the smoker do what bradley said it would. but as i said i do enjoy it and for you who have temp swings buy a pid. i fought it for 2 years and now im happy with the smoker.....other then that no problems.
I hope you bought an extra PID for your house oven as it has those same big temp swings. Don't take my word for it. Stick a wireless remote thermometer in it and watch the temps. ;)
I to love my Bradley , yes i have replaced the faceplate, but still on the original heating element! did add the PID. wouldn't even think about trying another brand of smoker.
I bought a 4x4 once so I could go threw mud and ditches and rough stuff. It had 16 inch stock tires and stock bumpers. That truck got stuck in more mud holes and hooked those bumpers so many times that they didn't even look recognizable. Then I put a lift kit and 34 inch tires and lockers in the diff's and some heavy duty bumpers that you could hang the truck from their corners. I couldn't get that thing stuck after that. I shouldn't have had to mod it out because it came as a 4x4. I spent a lot of money on it to begin with. But it sure was great after words.
I have a OBS 4 rack, no problems other than routine stuff like cleaning inside the SG. At least you can work on it yourself. Nothing like a '69 GMC as opposed to 2010 Dodge which you can't even recognize the parts under the hood.
no i did not but a extra pid for my oven. i don't make sausage, bologna,snack sticks in my oven. what you have to understand if your bradley does not have temp. swings great for you but mine is 20 to 30 deg off of what the display reads, and no it does not level off as the meat warms. the pid did the trick. all i'm saying is you would think for $500.00 this metal box would have better control.
I've had my 6-rack DBS for about 3 years or so. I've had no problems at all.
Well I have 3 smokes under my belt with my new DBS I got for Christmas.
I was a lurker on this forum since about last October when I started researching what exactly I wanted for christmas, so it wasn't a faliure or anything like that, it was just research and information gathering. No problems yet, but I agree, being a techie person more than a cook, that forums are mainly for complaints and in my general estimation, unless there is an overwhelming consisency with the reviews or complaints you can count on 20 or more good products for every complaint you here.
I read about the Heater elements, but also about how good Badley was about working with owners on the situation, thus why I am a proud owner of my new Bradley DBS 4 Rack
I've had my 4 rack OBS for 1 1/2 years and my only problem has been a cracked face plate. I have not done any mods - yet . I did get a pid for xmas, but still waiting to hook it up and get my first smoke with the pid. Unfortunately, I don't get to smoke as much as I'd like (who does??), but with all the help on this forum, I know I can get some help if I run into trouble or need some good advice.
DBS 4 rack. 2 1/2 years. 1 bad micro switch. Easy fix. It sleeps in my garage covered with a cheap plastic BBQ cover. I never cover the smoke generator. I live about 17 miles from gulf of Mexico. Meaning lots of humidity.
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Quote from: KyNola on December 30, 2011, 07:37:29 AM
My BDS 4 rack is almost 5 years old. The heating element is original and working fine. The door seal is original and working fine. The door is original and working fine. The faceplate is original and not cracked. The hinges are original and have not broken off. My BDS still easily heats to 250+. The only mod I made to it is I recently installed a rail sytem so my 4 rack is now an 8 rack. Other than that, all original.
As you stated, generally when something is working as it should you never hear about it but let something go wrong and you hear it loud and often.
I have also had my BDS 4 rack for going on 6 years, I have made no mods to it and have never experienced a problem, everything is original and working fine, I am seriously considering getting a 6 rack in the near future.