Its hard to explain , and no there have been far too many issues it could have been in that time frame. Updates in both product, firmware etc etc. How many other smokers do you list a build date for when you start talking about it?
Pellet cookers are a different animal. Build dates or serial numbers can be important where electronics are involved. So are software, firmware and hardware updates.
I just said it would be easier to look the data up then have me list everything it could be. Then the buyer could make his own call. I wasn't trying to sway him either way.
Understood, but to me deferring to Google has the appearance of Internet-based issues vs. real life issues. Simply taking the time to list what you have experienced rather than what someone else has experienced makes things more credible. I'm not suggesting that you didn't experience the issues (whatever they were), but deferring to Google makes it seem less like personal experience.
The issue I had was people saying there was no problems. To a new guy that is looking for advise I find that pretty underhanded to do. That is not give him both the good, and bad sides of what he was asking about.
It's entirely possible that those folks had no problems. I know quite a few people through here and competitions with Yoder pellet cookers and they have had no major issues (at least that they have discussed).
I started looking at pellets for about a year went to stick burners, and now I have ended up looking at cabinets. I have about 10 to 13 I'm looking at, and now Shirley Fab will also be making them in 16. So I'm in a holding pattern for now.
It's hard to go wrong with a Shirley, but I'm not sure the they have built a cabinet smoker yet. The ones I see on here are all reverse flow offsets with a warming cabinet. If an insulated vertical smoker fits your needs take a look at Spicewine or Humphreys. Both are excellent and both are run by Brethren!