For the price, they are excellent smokers. I have the Ranch Hand Coal Smoker and I absolutely love it. The firebox paint on the outside doesn't last long, so don't expose it to the elements, and while the firebox and cook chamber lids close pretty securely, there is a gap between the damper and the firebox side door, where the damper is, that is still there even 100 percent closed...the damper kinda flops. They gave me mine 50 dollars off because of those minor issues, so if you see something out of the blue that doesn't look quite right to you, see what they will knock off for you. Even with its minor quirks, I know my offset inside and out now, and once you learn how to make one run smoothly, it's easy sailing from there.
Now, you could opt for a heavier gauge smoker from a major manufacturer, but I didn't need one-this was a tax return gift to myself last year. The ONLY issues I have had with mine, other than rust on the firebox now that the outside paint has burned off, is the door on the firebox side, where the damper is, falls off-the weld broke that holds the hinge to the door, and you definitely want to get a better charcoal grate. It's a steel plate with 8 slits cut in it.
Speaking of that, the charcoal grate would make a GREAT diffuser plate in the cook chamber. There is already a baffle in place which was a plus for me.
