Bull Previously burnt

Waterboy said:

Welcome to the forum. Overall I think Retc Teq customers are a very satisfied lot. IMHO I think most of the complaints are based on folks expectations.

First, it’s a pellet grill. If you want a strong smoke profile you are going to have to really work for it. Since you had a PB I’m sure you realize that already.

The WiFi complaints typically are either the fact that you need to connect to the 2.4 GHz band (and your phone or tablet must be on the same band/network for set up only). The 2.4 GHz gets you the best signal at long range. Some folks struggle with this for various reasons but once connected the WiFi is solid. Poor WiFi signal on your home network can also be a problem.

Some are concerned about temperatures across the cooking area. On my 700 it’s been minor and I use it to even out cooking thicker/thinner cuts by placing in the appropriate heat zone. I’ve had WAY WORSE temp swings on other grills and smokers.

I bought a cover but my son uses it on his 700 since mine is under a covered patio and his isn’t. He says it’s not been a big deal to take on and off and looks really good when on, but I don’t have any direct experience.

The big thing is Rec Tex’s customer service and the quality of the build. They really want to get you fixed up and want you happy with your grill. If you call and get the recording and don’t leave a message they WILL call you back to see if you need anything. They have a really good product and want a happy customer base.

I’m sure other grill brands can produce excellent cooks but for the money the 700 is tough to beat for quality build and warranty. I like mine enough that I bought one for my son’s 40th Birthmas this past Christmas. He loves it too. I hope this helps.

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Srminosky said:

Previously burned with my last smoker purchase (PB1150). Extremely hesitant on pulling the trigger on bull, searching and lurking I see one offs here and there (WiFi connection, cover tightness etc) it wasn’t until I joined the other grills owners site did I discover the crap I had stepped into.

and that’s what lead me here, problem is I don’t see many complaints..... (if that’s really a problem) the pros and cons on external sites seem one sided, so looking for a no fluff feel before dropping the cash required.

Any feedback you all can offer would be awesome and greatly appreciated!

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Srminosky said:

Wow! Thank you all for your open and honest feedback! It seems like this could very easily be the wind needed back in the sails. Is anyone tracking any president day sales? I hear there is an “insider email”.

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Smoker4 said:

I hear they have great customer service, but I have no idea as my Bull just works.

Had it since mid summer, and run several hundred pounds of pellets through it. Very happy. Yes, the cover could be a bit bigger in a few places. But nothing is perfect.

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sdynak said:

Nothing I have seen yet for e-mail but will let you know if I do.

Yes.. your situation is very similar to mine. I was about to throw in the towel but the 700 reignited my passion. Wife loves it cause I do a lot more meals now.. It is just so fun to cook something on this unit. Kind of hard to explain.. it just works. Makes ya happy.

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CarpeInferi said:

Can't speak to the 700, but when I was looking one of the things that turned me off on Traeger was the material quality. Every single unit I could find in area stores from the $800 units up to the nearly $2000 units all felt cheap. And while the legs and hopper portion of the Bullseye don't feel much better, the cooking portion of the grill feels solid.

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Chris_G said:

Recteq has probably the best customer service out there for a pellet grill. I don't think you will not find any complaints in that department.

The products are solid but have some quirks as mentioned above. There are other grills out there like Grilla Grills. They seem to be solid with good customer service, shorter warranty period, and cost less than Recteq. The downside is NO WiFi. Choose wisely but most importantly....ENJOY!

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Beach Bum said:

I have been using my Bull since June 2020. It truly has been lots of fun. I spent many years limping along with an MES40, which should have been retired years ago. My experiences with MB customer service were awful, which I'm sure comes as no surprise. That being said, my Weber Summit natural gas is a workhorse with ten plus years of heavy use and likely many more left. I keep that one for high temperature and quicker cooks.

I read this forum for months before buying my Recteq. I think the posters here are very honest about their experiences, both good and bad. Mine have been entirely good. The smoker has been flawless, and any failures have been a function of my mistakes, which is all part of the learning curve. The majority of my cooking on the Bull is low and slow. I used Fireblack to seal the smoker lid and smokebox door, which I believe helped with the smoke volume in the unit. Solid temperature control and ease of use were things I heard over and over before buying. They have been true for me.

With your previous unpleasant experience, it makes a lot of sense to give this purchase some serious thought. If you have more questions, this is a good place fire them off. RT will always be there to sell you one, when you are ready. I did not catch a sale but have no regrets with the price I paid.

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Wiesph said:

I had a Green Mountain DB for 10 years before moving to an RT-590. What I love about mine is the temperature being stable across the grates. With the DB I was up to 125 degrees off from side to side and when I had the temp set at 500 degrees it was actually only reading 375 on the grates. It was extremely frustrating. The RT-590 has been rock solid and I love it.

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