I really don't want to get into an argument about the details of my communications with Dave Klose. I actually have a lot of opinions about the man and the company that I am refraining from stating because people around here seem to revere him like a deity. If you feel I have wronged him in some unimaginable way, please let me know in PM-land, or encourage the man to reply to this thread or PM me directly. Until then, the fact is that upon reading a thread some where suggesting that I call Dave and talk to him, I did. Monty answered the phone and I asked to speak to Dave, and Monty told me "Dave's not here." I asked if he was delivering pits, since I knew he did that, and Monty said "Nahh. He's never here anymore. He's always Fishing." I didn't know that I had to ask for the man's cell phone number to speak to him. I figured if he wanted people to reach him on his cell phone, Monty would have said "But I can give you his cell phone number if you want to call him." or "What's your number? I'll have him call you back." I did leave my number, but Monty called me back, not Dave. What more should I have to do to speak to a man? I swear I'm not trying to compare Dave Klose to every other pit builder out there, but no one else I called about it ran his business in abstensia. My experience is just one, and I said YMMV, but the man is not perfect.
I really only replied now though because you asked me point blank if I eMailed Dave Klose. I did. I got responses that I felt didn't answer my questions and were incredibly short and non-communacative. It felt like some one else was responding for him. He never said to me "Why don't you gimme a call and I'll talk your ear off about BBQ pits to build what you want." Regardless, this was before I ever called him and I decided he was not a particularly good eMail correspondent. The phone calls with Monty and his sister came later.
I'm sure I did something wrong here. I was probably supposed to insert secret EBCDIC characters into the eMail that will actually get the message to him or turn him into some one who will write long eMails or invite me to call him. Or maybe not every one has the same experiences you have with the man. Really. Don't blame me because this man you hold in such high regard did not make himself available to me like every one thinks he would have. I don't think I've "slammed" the man either. I am reporting my experiences with trying to call him like others have suggested. But again, if you still really think I've done something wrong, please PM me. If any one else is able to have better luck talking to the man than I did, congratulations. I already bought a pit.
dmp