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Smokin Mike BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 3167 Location: Winston-Salem, NC
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Posted: Aug 10 2015 Post subject: Here's the new Sam's Club Lump Charcoal |
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I was at Sam's Club this morning and noticed this new brand of lump charcoal. Anybody ever use it? Good or bad experience?
 _________________ My current cookers: 80 gallon vertical tank
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necron 99 BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 2594 Location: San Antonio, TX
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Smokin Mike BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 3167 Location: Winston-Salem, NC
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Posted: Aug 10 2015 Post subject: |
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I didn't look at the label very closely. I had a full cart and had to get out of there but plans are to head back sometime this week and get some. I'll see what I can find out. _________________ My current cookers: 80 gallon vertical tank
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Smokin Mike BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 3167 Location: Winston-Salem, NC
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necron 99 BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 2594 Location: San Antonio, TX
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Posted: Aug 14 2015 Post subject: |
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Lookin' forward to your review Mike.
That link to the $20+ a bag Vision Oak Lump review looks oddly familiar . . .
FWIW, I've noticed tha bags of the new Cowboy "Southern Style" lump I looked at in Meijer no longer say product of Mexico. What's up with that? Mexico is definitely south of the USA. what makes their newest lump "Southern Style"?
Cowboy still seems confused.  _________________ Let's hope SoEzzy can ditch his heavy hand on photos in 2016!
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Smokin Mike BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 3167 Location: Winston-Salem, NC
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Posted: Aug 14 2015 Post subject: |
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necron 99 wrote: | That link to the $20+ a bag Vision Oak Lump review looks oddly familiar . . .
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I guess I just got awarded the dumb ass of the day trophy.
In my haste to post the update I failed to recognize that was the same link you posted. I think I got 'Ol timers disease.
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I don't know much about Cowboy. I ditched those guys long ago when they were packaging the kiln dried moldings and lumber parts. _________________ My current cookers: 80 gallon vertical tank
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necron 99 BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 2594 Location: San Antonio, TX
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Posted: Aug 14 2015 Post subject: |
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LOL no worries . . . I call these "pre-Senior Momemnts" when they happen to me
I'm just hoping that Vision didn't pick up Cowboy's prior source of Made in Mexico lump. That was some of the worst stuff I've tried from Mexico. It was a step up from their prior scrap stuff, but not by much.
I have used some good lump (above average) that's come out of Mexico but it's been about 50/50 for my track record there. _________________ Let's hope SoEzzy can ditch his heavy hand on photos in 2016!
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Glenn Newbie
Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 50 Location: Eden Prairie, MN
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Posted: Aug 21 2015 Post subject: |
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I tried a couple bags and wasn't very impressed. I had about 3 lbs of dust and the items that weren't dust were either 1 inch size or logs.
I also tried Carbon del Sur from RD and was VERY impressed. Good sized chunks and consistent in size. I'll go back to that, but not the Vision. _________________ Glenn
Oklahoma Joe's Longhorn
Char-Griller Pro w/ sfb << DOA
Double-Stacked ECB's << DOA
Original ECB << DOA
If I am on fire, this is not a Training exercise (please extinguish).
Last edited by Glenn on Aug 25 2015; edited 2 times in total |
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Smokin Mike BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 3167 Location: Winston-Salem, NC
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Posted: Aug 21 2015 Post subject: |
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Thanks for the update Glenn. I was hoping to dump out a bag this weekend to see what it looks like. I'll post up some pics when I do that. One thing I forgot to mention is the bags were dusty at the store. My hands had fine charcoal all over them and were quite nasty. I've never had that happen in all the years I've been buying lump with anybody else's product. _________________ My current cookers: 80 gallon vertical tank
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necron 99 BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 2594 Location: San Antonio, TX
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Posted: Aug 22 2015 Post subject: |
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I was in the closest Sam's Club to me yesterday. They had some of the Vision lump in stock but not prominently displayed.
A few bags were torn and there was some dust but it didn't coat my hands. I read through all the printing on the bag (I was alone - no wife along on this trip, so I could take my time with this task). I found this is manufactured by Best of the West for Vision printed on the bag. The BOTW mesquite lump Sam's carried at one time was notably less carbonized and lots of dust when I used it.
BOTW had an oak lump in addition to the mesquite lump at one time but I never tried it. Walmart carried it but it had boutique pricing.
http://www.twotreesproducts.com/charcoal/
I agree with Glenn about being impressed with Carbon del Sur lump from Restaurant Depot. I used a bag of that last summer to test it out. When I use up my stash of Frontier lump I'll switch to Carbon del Sur. _________________ Let's hope SoEzzy can ditch his heavy hand on photos in 2016!
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Smokin Mike BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 3167 Location: Winston-Salem, NC
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Posted: Aug 23 2015 Post subject: |
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OMG!!! I have never seen a nastier bag of crap in my life.
Here's what I saw when I first opened the bag. It didn't look good. I have no way of weighing this but note how much room is left in the bag.
Dumped on the table
Some foreign debris
Half charred limbs and sticks
The medium sized stuff
What was left.
I'm digging through my paperwork to see if I can find my receipt. This stuff is going back and I'm going to be sure Sam's Club hears about this. _________________ My current cookers: 80 gallon vertical tank
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necron 99 BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 2594 Location: San Antonio, TX
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Posted: Aug 23 2015 Post subject: |
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Yep brings back memories . . . definitely typical BOTW stuff _________________ Let's hope SoEzzy can ditch his heavy hand on photos in 2016!
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Smokin Mike BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 3167 Location: Winston-Salem, NC
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Posted: Aug 23 2015 Post subject: |
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I took all 4 bags back and grabbed the manager and showed him. He said he would make sure the buyers are aware of this. I'm thinking about sending an email to Vision so they know what's going on. It's got their name on it. I would think they would be concerned as well.
I don't have an RD within 80 miles or so from my home base but I do have an IFH Chef Smart here in town and they have Nature Glo lump and briquettes, that is made by Royal Oak and thank God in the USA. After the Sam's return I went straight there and picked up a few bags of that. It's a little pricier but at least I won't have 10 pounds of dust in the bag.
Nature-Glo 20lb briquettes $11.05
Nature-Glo lump 20 lb $14.49 _________________ My current cookers: 80 gallon vertical tank
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necron 99 BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 2594 Location: San Antonio, TX
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Smokin Mike BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 3167 Location: Winston-Salem, NC
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Posted: Aug 25 2015 Post subject: |
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Update: I had sent Vision a note via their web site about this and I got a response from a couple of their folks this morning, one of them a VP. It sounds like they're taking this seriously and pursuing an investigation. Hopefully they'll be able to get it worked out and get the product back on track. If/when that happens I'll take another look at it. I do like that Sam's club pricing.
EDIT:
7:05PM 8/24/15
Here's an update to the update;
Vision contacted me again and offered to replace and ship direct to me the 4 bags of charcoal. I thought that was a very nice gesture. I responded back and told them that I had already taken the product back to Sam's and received a refund. I did ask that they pursue the quality issue so hopefully we can get our hands on some decent product. I guess time will tell if things get squared away.
Anyway, a shout out to Vision for excellent customer service.  _________________ My current cookers: 80 gallon vertical tank
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Glenn Newbie
Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 50 Location: Eden Prairie, MN
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Posted: Aug 25 2015 Post subject: |
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I also contacted them and received the same offer. I took them up on it to see if what they send is any better. I suspect it will be. The question is, will the stuff at Sam's be any better in the future. Will they pull existing stock? Not likely so it may be a while before any good stuff comes in.
I'll update if/when I receive the replacement charcoal. _________________ Glenn
Oklahoma Joe's Longhorn
Char-Griller Pro w/ sfb << DOA
Double-Stacked ECB's << DOA
Original ECB << DOA
If I am on fire, this is not a Training exercise (please extinguish). |
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Smokin Mike BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 3167 Location: Winston-Salem, NC
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Posted: Aug 25 2015 Post subject: |
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Glenn wrote: | The question is, will the stuff at Sam's be any better in the future. Will they pull existing stock? Not likely so it may be a while before any good stuff comes in.
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Yeah, I'm not holding my hopes very high for a speedy remediation from Sam's. When I returned my 4 bags, the one I had opened they labeled as a defect. The other three, unopened, were going right back into stock. Unless a bunch of people complain about it I doubt it will get pulled.
I hope the replacements you get at least let us know they (distribution) are capable of delivering a good product but despite that I / we have to wait for the retail folks to cycle in the good stuff. The only reason why I'm so engaged with all this is because of the pricing at Sam's. Ten buck$ for 20 lbs. is pretty good and considering how much charcoal we use around here it does make a difference.
Thanks for the update and looking forward to your report. _________________ My current cookers: 80 gallon vertical tank
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necron 99 BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 04 Aug 2007 Posts: 2594 Location: San Antonio, TX
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Posted: Aug 26 2015 Post subject: |
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Smokin Mike wrote: | I do like that Sam's club pricing. |
Me too but finding good quality charcoal at a bargain price has become extremely difficult. Not too long ago most of us would have viewed $0.50 / lb. a boutique price rather than a bargain price.
RO lump is $0.57 / lb. every day here at Menard's, I only buy it when they have their spring sale & rebate at $0.34 / lb. - limit four 8.8 lb. bags. At Walmart it's $0.75 / lb.  _________________ Let's hope SoEzzy can ditch his heavy hand on photos in 2016!
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Glenn Newbie
Joined: 07 Jul 2008 Posts: 50 Location: Eden Prairie, MN
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Posted: Sep 25 2015 Post subject: UPDATE! |
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A quick update...one month to the day after I got the email regarding the replacement, I got shipping notification.
So hopefully we will see if it is any better. _________________ Glenn
Oklahoma Joe's Longhorn
Char-Griller Pro w/ sfb << DOA
Double-Stacked ECB's << DOA
Original ECB << DOA
If I am on fire, this is not a Training exercise (please extinguish). |
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BigOrson BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 2857 Location: Marietta, GA
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Posted: Sep 25 2015 Post subject: |
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I regularly use RO lump and the Kroger and Publix brands of lump in a pinch. I have no argument with any of them. I just have to remember not to wear sandals when I light them up with the weed burner or I get a hot foot from the sparks. |
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