Whether you consider yourself an expert pitmaster or just a weekend warrior, if you’ve ever been involved in barbecue, you know the name, Weber.
This grill brand has long been considered a picture of quality and a leader in the barbecue grill industry.
Whether it’s gas, charcoal, wood-smoking, or a flat cooktop, Weber Grills have always been a staple in the argument for the best.
However, Weber grills can also be expensive.
Why does a Weber Grill drive such a high price?
Why Are Weber Grills So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons)
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1. A Guarantee
You get a 10-year part and warranty program when purchasing a Weber Grill.
This includes the repair of the unit and any component that goes into this repair.
If anything happens that compromises its grilling perfection after you bring your grill home, Weber will cover the parts and the cost of repairing the unit.
That’s a large amount of confidence to have in your product.
However, this confidence isn’t misplaced.
Weber is known for creating an extremely high-quality barbecuing unit.
Some of their models are known to last for decades—some even 20 and 30 years.
That’s almost unheard of in the grilling industry.
If they malfunction, the parts are easy to come by and relatively easy to fix.
Most retail outlets have additional features available and will even do the repairs for you.
If you can’t find a big-box store to handle it for you, any store that specializes in grills certainly will.
This assumes you can’t locate the original store you purchased the grill from.
Considering the high price of these grills, this is something you should be aware of.
2. A Popular Brand Name
You’re not just paying for the unit itself when you pay for a Weber Grill.
You’re paying for the name “Weber Grill.”
When you say it in the average American household, it rings bells.
There aren’t many people who don’t know what a Weber Grill is.
Weber started a trend in the grilling industry.
Their first significant design was a simple prototype known as the kettle grill.
As simple as it was, this little grill would revolutionize the grilling world.
At the time of its release, the only grills available had an open-top design.
If the wind blew, you could get dust and dirt all over your food, but they were also prone to flareups, leaving you with burnt meat.
The simple enclosed design from Weber eliminated multiple problems for grillers around the country.
Because of its history, Weber remains the most popular brand in the grilling industry.
The design mentioned above came out in 1952.
Since then, grilling has become more high-tech, and the designs are more intricate.
There are also many more names in the hat when it comes to manufacturers.
Believe it or not, there are people out there who still own the original 1952 kettle-style by Weber.
It has become an entire sub-niche in the grilling industry.
The brand has had some stiff competition over the years and a lot of newcomers looking to reinvent the wheel.
However, the team at Weber has ensured the name holds value and is a significant reason their units still fetch a pretty penny.
3. The Highest-Quality Components
Weber is known for producing great-tasting food.
They’re also known for creating a grill that is very durable.
Regardless of the grilling medium (charcoal, propane, etc.), each of their units is created from high-quality stainless steel and durable components.
They also put each of their grills through rigorous testing before it is released to the public.
Behind the scenes, the makers at Weber ensure the grills they create stand up to the test of time.
Additionally, manufacturers use data to improve newer generations of grills they release to ensure top quality.
Before the grill ends up on your porch, it’s been tested against rusting, denting, and any other joint damage the outdoor elements can bring.
Weber even takes their manufacturing a step further than stainless steel.
Some of their models even use cast iron in their design.
The lack of rust brings another element to any griller who owns a Weber.
You can grill year-round and use these bad boys in the snow if you’re hardcore.
4. Engineering Marvels
You would have difficulty finding a grill as well-engineered as a Weber.
There are plenty of grills in existence that are more high-tech than a Weber.
You probably can find plenty of grills that are bigger than most Weber grills.
However, additional bells and whistles don’t always equal the best final product.
Weber has and continues to manufacture all its products with two essential elements: durability and functionality.
Since they released the simple-yet-effective kettle-style grill in 1952, Weber has always made it a point to release easy grills for the user.
They don’t have a fancy igniter or wood-burning electric compartment.
There’s no precision electric knob to control your smoker to the most precise degree.
What you will get with a Weber is a grill that makes it easy to go from A to B.
All of the releases from these grilling geniuses contain easy-to-follow instructions for assembly, and they’re even easier to use.
The team at Weber focuses on things that matter the most when they design a grill.
Instead of placing attention on fancy lights or ignition switches, they spend time testing to ensure a release is going to feel suitable for the user.
The number one priority is releasing a product that will produce the highest-quality food.
Things like air circulation and a cooking area that distributes heat evenly are what you’ll find on the agenda of Weber’s production team—and these are the things that matter most.
5. Energy Efficient
Here’s something you probably wouldn’t expect to see from a company that makes its living by releasing smoke into the air.
Weber boasts a line of more energy-efficient products, leading to easier cooking for you and a better outcome when the food is complete.
How exactly does a grill company make its products more energy efficient?
It’s not as complicated as you think.
Earlier, we stated that most Weber Grills are crafted from stainless steel.
The inside portion of the grill—the actual rack and grates—is fashioned out of cast iron.
Cast iron does a much better job of containing heat.
This energy efficiency is magnified ten-fold if you have a Weber Grill that incorporates cast iron into the exterior design.
When your grill holds its heat for longer than usual, you aren’t spending as much money on propane or charcoal.
You can use lower temperatures to heat your food because none of the heat is escaping.
Besides the energy efficiency, cast iron provides a much better surface to cook your food on.
Because of how it holds its heat, you get a pretty set of grill marks on your food, which is any expert grill master’s trademark.
6. Weber Innovation
Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch, Touch-N-Go Gas Ignition System, Black
Weber is also an innovative brand.
Just because they focus on releasing a simple grill design that’s easy to use doesn’t mean they’re not creative with their plans.
They must rely on cutting-edge designs because they release models made for charcoal, wood smoke, and propane, and they release multiple cooktops.
The team at Weber has never been a group to lock itself inside of a box with no room for growth.
Over the years, grilling has evolved substantially.
What started as the tiny kettle grill in 1952 that took a fistful of charcoal has grown into a multi-million-dollar global brand with hundreds of different offerings.
Weber’s innovation has allowed them to create a product for all types of grillers.
They have simple grills similar to the kettle-style if you’re a basic weekend warrior.
Maybe you prefer the convenience of cooking with propane.
Some people live and die by wood and smoke.
Regardless of how you choose to prepare your food, Weber strives to keep itself flexible and accommodate grillers of every discipline.
This is a stark difference from other companies that focus on one type of grill and claim it’s the only way to cook.
Weber has refused to wear a single hat, which has kept their prices a bit more expensive.
However, it’s also kept them competitive as the years roll on.
7. Unmatched Customer Support
If you own a Weber Grill, you’re also paying for the unmatched customer support they provide.
What we’re talking about goes well beyond the warranty.
Sure, the 10-year guarantee is a huge selling point.
However, Weber has an extensive phone and online support system.
They’re available to provide you with any service you could imagine.
If you’re having technical difficulties, you always have an answer.
They’re a phone call away if you need to know where the closest location is to buy replacement parts.
Even if you want tips for the best ways to use your Weber Grill, their customer support team is at your service.
It isn’t easy to find this level of support and care in any industry.
However, this level of attention doesn’t come easy, and it’s certainly not cheap.
Weber employs a sizeable staff of phone and online agents to maintain this network, which is factored into the cost of all the products they sell.
8. Superior Performance
When it comes to Weber Grills, you’re paying for superior performance.
We’re not just talking about durability or innovative parts.
We’re talking picture-perfect results when you grill your food.
If you read online reviews regarding a Weber, you’ll find plenty of entries from first-time Weber users who are mesmerized.
A large majority of the first-time user stories are highly positive, and once a user buys a Weber, they’re hooked for life.
All of the research put into the design of their grills are combined with the quality parts we mentioned earlier to deliver a grill that produces some of the finest grilled items known to man.
The evenly distributed heat and airflow allow all of the products cooked on the grill to come off with a perfect sear and a uniform temperature.
Assuming you know the basics about cooking on a grill, you won’t get pieces of meat that come off with one side well-done and the other medium-rare.
You also don’t have to worry about flare-ups that burn your food or a lack of heat that undercooks your food.
Creating a product that performs this high costs money, and the technical level is exceptionally high.
Any new product release requires months of testing in a controlled environment.
These costs add up quickly and are then passed on to the consumer.
9. Long-Term Ownership
You do invest a higher amount upfront for a Weber Grill.
However, this money goes further when you compare it to a grill that might be cheaper on the front end.
For example, you pay $500 for a Weber Grill, then you turn around and pay $400 for Brand X.
Your Brand X grill doesn’t stand up to the element.
You might have to make a repair or two, plus the cost of additional propane or charcoal because it’s not as energy-efficient, and you’re lucky to get five years out of it.
On the other hand, you have your Weber Grill, which requires a minimal purchase of additional items.
The energy efficiency allows you to save extra money over the long term.
You might not even have to make any repairs.
When it’s all said and done, you get 15 years out of the Weber.
Now, which grill makes more sense when it comes to long-term ownership?
The initial $500 with Weber would provide more bang for your buck.
The manufacturers at Weber are aware of the fact that because of the long-term factor, they can charge top dollar for their products.
However, this is a perfect example of getting what you pay for.
Even though the initial investment is higher, we’d consider it money well spent if you’re purchasing a Weber.
10. Something For Everyone And Comparison To Other Brands
The final reason (or reasons) that Weber is so expensive is that they provide something for everyone compared to other brands.
Most other grill manufacturers specialize in one specific type of product.
You have Traeger, which does electric smokers.
Then you have Big Green Egg.
When we’re talking about grill manufacturers, you get one of two things:
- A company that’s great at producing one type of grill.
- A company that produces multiple versions of mediocre grills.
Weber somehow manages to walk the fine line between both.
Their team can create a product line with dozens of different models that accommodate grillers of all types.
Because of their versatility, they can cater to a broader audience, which fetches the brand a much higher dollar figure at the end of the day.
There’s a significant amount of cost that goes into producing several types of products of high quality.
Being a jack of all trades means having everything you need to manufacture each different model.
Essentially, Weber has to be four or five companies in one.
The components required to manufacture electric grills are entirely different than those of charcoal.
A smoker has an entirely different makeup than a flat-top grill.
All these different combinations require an investment that accommodates production.
Once again, this cost is passed on to the consumer.
Are Weber Grills Worth The Money?
After examining all of the points in this article, we think it’s safe to assume you would agree that Weber is, in fact, worth the money.
However, one essential element goes into our belief in the fact that Weber is worth it.
There are no components on their grills that are a waste of money.
What do we mean by this?
You won’t find any components on a Weber Grill that don’t have something to do with superior cooking quality.
When you buy a Weber, you’re not paying for fancy bells and whistles that are solely pleasing to the eye.
Like we said earlier, you can find more high-tech grills.
You can even find grills that are better looking than Weber.
However, you’ll have difficulty finding a grill that competes with Weber’s performance.
The durability is another huge deciding factor in this decision.
When you buy a Weber, you’re making an investment netting you quality grill ownership for AT LEAST the next 10 years.
That’s at a minimum.
This is what’s guaranteed by the makers.
However, you can be sure that you’re likely getting a grill that lasts 15 to 20 years, assuming you don’t run over it with a car.
In the world of grills, smokers, and barbecues, this kind of lifespan is almost unheard of.
We can safely say that the price of a Weber is warranted.
The post Why Are Weber Grills So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons) appeared first on The Cold Wire.
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