Weber is perhaps one of the most well-knowngrill brands. In fact, for many people, the brand name Weber is synonymous withgrilling.
Their charcoal grills — while not strikinglyunique in their design — are very recognizable. I mean, they were born from a buoy.They have garnered a great deal of brand loyalty throughout the years, to thepoint that some customers refuse to buy any other brand.
Their high-quality grills can be found onpatios and in backyards all across the United States, regardless of incomelevel. Admittedly, that’s part of Weber’s appeal: no matter what your budget isor what type of fuel you want to use to cook your food, you can find ahigh-quality grill that suits your needs.
But now that Weber is making their products overseas — atleast in part — some people have started asking us if the quality is still upto par. They often ask if we still think that Weber grills are worth the priceyou pay for them, particularly the higher end models.
Like many other questions, this one doesn’thave a cut-and-dry, black-or-white answer. It’s largely about your own personalpreferences and budgetary considerations.
Where are Weber Grills Made?
First and foremost, there’s the discussion of whetheror not Weber grills are still made in the U.S. — and of course, the answerthere isn’t cut-and-dry either.
A simple Google search inquiring about whereWeber grills are made will show you multiple sites insisting that Weber grillsare made in America, as they always have been. You’ll read about the richhistory of the company, their dedication to American workers, and the pridethey take in quality assurance.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with any of these statements. TheWeber brand does have a rich history— their infamous kettle grill came out in 1952. The company is very proud oftheir Illinois roots, and has a significant positive impact on the localcommunity.
The confusion stems from more recent strategicdecisions that have shifted some ofWeber’s production line overseas. While a large portion of their manufacturingis done in the United States, someparts are sourced globally. Weber says as much on their own website, thelanguage reading Made in the Heart ofAmerica with U.S. and globally sourced products.
While it’s difficult to say exactly whatpercentage of their grill pieces are manufactured in the U.S. versus globally,we know that many of the metal components including hoods are manufactured inIllinois.
Parts and components like valves, knobs andignition are manufactured from third party suppliers and then imported back tothe U.S., where they’re assembled into the final product. The assembly wouldtake place at the main headquarters in Illinois.
Running production in this way would allowWeber to save money by utilizing foreign labor, but would also allow them tokeep the Made in America label.
However, this tactic has gotten them into abit of legal trouble. A class action lawsuit was filed at one pointbecause consumers claimed that the Made in America label could not be appliedif their products were not, in fact, Made in America.
The lawsuit alleged that components of thecharcoal grate and separator were made in China and Taiwan. The results of thislawsuit meant that Weber had to use language specifying that components oftheir grills may be made overseas.
There isn’t a grill manufacturer on planet earththat makes 100% of the components of their grills. Many components like valves, ignition, spark generators, wires, etc aremost likely be globally sourced. We feel Weber got called out because they are knownworld-wide.
Was My Weber Made in the United States?
To be safe, the Weber website states thatparts can be sourced globally on their homepage. This statement covers allproducts they manufacture, as opposed to pinpointing which products exactly arebeing partially manufactured overseas.
Furthermore, websites may not always be up todate, so a blanket statement like this is simply easier. Really, doing anythingless opens them up to the possibility of further legal action.
The lawsuit covers a period of time datingback to grills sold as early as 2007. While we don’t know exactly when Weberbegan manufacturing overseas, it may be best to assume that any grill soldafter 2007 has at least been partially made outside the U.S.
For many years, the Spirit Grill was the onlyproduct completely manufactured overseas. Now, since Weber was sold, the SummitGrill, Genesis II with a closed cabinet and some of the Charcoal Grills aremanufactured in the US with globally sourced parts … of course.
Is it Difficult to Get WeberReplacement Parts?
No, it is not difficult getting replacementparts. That the beauty of purchasing a Weber! We’ve discussed that one of thebenefits of purchasing an American-made grill is that it’s much easierto find replacement parts when you need them. But, at least with Weber, you arepurchasing a product from a company with a long-standing US presence, not justa private label branded grill. You will get product support since they are areal manufacturer.
This manufacturing of parts overseas has ledto major delays in getting some Weber products like Flavorizer bars and burners from Weberheadquarters in Illinois. Our changing environment over the past year has ledto increased demand, shortages in raw materials and parts as well as logisticaldelays.
The hugest drawback, we see, is the minimumorder quantities Weber faces especially when purchasing parts for older grills.If the MOQ is too high, they have begun to discontinue parts, especially on old grills.
The good news with Weber replacement parts isthat they are shipped from theheadquarters in Illinois. Even if they’re made overseas, they’re still going tobe sent to the assembly plant, where they’ll be stored for regular productionand dispersed as needed to retailers and customers across the country.
If you need help finding the right replacementparts for your Weber grill, we can help you do so.
If you’re not even sure which kind of Weber grill you have (andtherefore don’t know what replacement parts to order), we can help you withthat, too.
Are Weber Grills Worth It?
The short answer to whether or not Weber grills are worth the money is an absolute yes. Especially if you are shopping foryour grill in a big box store.
Like any other kind of significant purchase,it’s normal to ask yourself if Weber grills are worth the cost. We believe theyare simply because of the company's history, quality, warranty and availability of parts.
For example, you buy a $200 private labelgrill at a big box store and after 2 years, it’s falling apart, there is nowarranty and you cannot find parts. If you purchase a Spirit II series grill witha 10 year top to bottom warranty for just over $500, you would have to spend$1000 and purchase 5 of the same $200 grill to equal the 10 year top to bottomwarranty. So, in the long run it’s a better buy. “Spend it now, or spend morelater.”
Buying a grill is no different than buying anappliance for your home. It’s an investment just like your dishwasher —something that you recognize has a finite lifespan, but one you hope will last for a long time.
In short: you’re trying to get as much bangfor your buck as possible. Aren’t we all?
NOTE : The mostimportant bit of information we can provide before purchasing a Weber Grill is be100% sure of your gas type. They DO NOT allow converting of theirgrills. There is no Genuine Weber conversion kit . This is a liability arenamany grill brands are looking to not engage in. If you are not sure, the safestbet is always LP as you can always buy a bottle of gas. You may not be able tohave natural gas pipe to your home.
We believe no matter which Weber series you purchase;they are worth every bit of their price tag in Warranty and Parts!
Weber has a variety of grills available intheir product line. They essentially have 3 main gas grill lines : Summit(which is the top of the line), Genesis (the most popular) and Spirit.
Weber gas grills come in both natural gas andpropane varieties. Their price range is higher than Weber charcoal grills, butgiven the complexity of gas grills and the physical size of them, one shouldexpect them to be more expensive.
The least expensive Weber gas grill we sell atBBQ Depot is about $1,650.00 — the Weber S-420 Summit Propane Grill with a SearBurner (it also comes in a natural gas variety). The S-420 is afreestanding grill that packs plenty of features to make it worth the price:
- 4 Stainless steel burners (538square inches of cooking space, 112 square inches of warming rack space)
- 48,800 BTU-per-hour input
- 12,000 BTU-per-hour inputflush-mounted side burner
- Snap-Jet™ Individual burnerignition system
- Stainless Steel cooking grates
- Stainless steel Flavorizer bars
- 3/8 inch or 9.5mm diameterstainless steel rod cooking grates
- 6 Tool Holders
- Center-mounted internalthermometer
- Enclosed cart with stainless steeldoors and chrome plated cast-aluminum handles and accent-colored painted sideand rear panels
- Accent-colored painted steel frame
- Lighted control knobs
- 2 Stainless steel work surfaces(one on either side of the grilling surface)
- Enclosed tank storage area andprecision fuel gauge
- 2 Heavy-duty front locking casters
- 2 Heavy-duty back swivel casters
The top of the line Weber grill comes in both propane and natural gas varieties and costs about$2,999.00. It’s the S-670 Summit with a Sear Burner, Rotisserie, and SideBurner. The S-670 comes with all of the above features, with the addition ofthe following:
- 6 Stainless steel burners (624square inches of cooking space, 145 square inches of warming rack space)
- 60,000 BTU-per-hour input
- 12,000 BTU-per-hour inputflush-mounted side burner
- 8,000 BTU-per-hour smoker burnerand stainless-steel smoker box
- 10,600 BTU-per-hour infraredrear-mounted rotisserie burner
- Tuck-Away rotisserie system withflip-up motor and separate spit and fork storage in the enclosed cart
- 10,600 BTU-per-hour input searburner
- 2 Grill Out handle light
If a gas grill is not your thing, you may wantto consider one of Weber’s Charcoal Grills. Weber charcoal grills start atabout $120.00, but can cost as much as $500.00 if you’re getting specialfinishes or accessories. For example, if you want their infamous kettle grill(typically a freestanding grill with no frills) but need some sort of workingsurface, you can purchase your Weber grill in a cart.
In the end, you’re the one who will be usingthe grill. Therefore, you must weigh your budgetary restrictions with thefeatures each model will provide. But remember… you can get pretty much anypart you need for your Weber Grill and that is a huge plus especially withCharcoal Grills.
Regardless of the fact that Weber is havingsome of their components overseas, Weber is still an American company (that you can call and get great customer service) withquality checks in place. Quality is a critical aspect of their business, sothey’re incentivized to make sure their grills maintain the high standardsthey’ve set for themselves, and that their customers have come to expect.
We wouldn’t steer anyone away from Webersimply because some of their components are being made in China and Taiwan.Weber is still a reputable company and that is a big plus especially whenpurchasing a grill at a big box store.
If you are considering Weber, but not 100percent sure yet, you also may want to look at Napoleon. They are essentiallythe Weber of Canada. They are family owned and have incredible warranties ontheir gas grills. The Rogue line of Napoleon Grills is manufactured overseasbut the Prestige and Prestige Pro is manufactured in Canada with some importedparts including valves. The Prestige andPrestige Pro offer lifetime warranties on burners, cooking grates, hood andfirebox. You definitely get more bang for your buck with Napoleon. For example,if you compare the Genesis II 435 to the Prestige 500 RSIB, both grills have 4main burners. The Prestige has a rotisserie backburner which can only be foundon the Summit Grills. Both grills have a “sear” station but with that, the prestigehas a true infrared sear burner which doubles as a side burner. The Genesissear burner is actually a 9,000 BTU tube burner. If you are looking at the Summitbe sure to compare it to the Prestige Pro. The biggest difference between thesebrands is the warranty. Again, we want to re-iterate, be sure of your gas typebefore purchasing. Both of these brands do not permit gas conversions.
If you are looking for a workhorse grill, then checkoutMHP. It does not have all the bells and whistles but boy can it grill a steak!
Are You Ready to Buy a New Grill?
Choosing a grill can be an overwhelmingprospect, but with the right people guiding you, making a decision can feelless daunting. We’ve helped countless customers find solutions that fit theirneeds over the years, and we’re confident we can help you, too.
BBQ Depot initially began as a propane sellerdecades ago, and we’ve since expanded the business to include grills,replacement parts, and outdoor kitchens. At this point, we consider ourselvesbarbecue experts.
No matter what type of grill you’re lookingfor, we’re sure we can help you.
If you’re ready to place an order, or if youhave questions, we’d love to hear from you. If you live near our showroom, youcan stop in — we’re open six days a week. Alternatively, you can call us at(877)-983-0451 or email us. We look forward to speaking with yousoon!
by Tracy Hollander
