Need some advice on the faulty performance of the controller of my BLUE BLAZING series ANALOG ELECTRIC VERTICAL SMOKER (3-SERIES). Wife bought it approximately 13 months ago on Amazon and it hasn't worked correctly yet. It's my first electric smoker and first Pit Boss product. So far I'm not satisfied. We bought it in April of last year and I started contacting Pit Boss customer service in May and have gotten the run around since. Any advice would be appreciated.
Poor experience with Pit Boss Vertical Smoker and Worse experience with Customer Service.
- Thread starter Hog
- Start date
Edchad
Well-known member
Hello there. I see you’re somewhere in Ga. I’m up in the N Ga mountains myself. Hate to see a neighbor having problems. And don’t know if I can help any but could you kinda tell us what the problem is with it?
I have two Bosses myself but both are digital, and also have an analog unit as well. Up front my analog unit is a different brand but I did have some issues that I wound up handling myself Because I couldn’t seem to get anywhere with that company either. I think most of the analogs are probably similar? Ive only contacted PB customer service once myself.
I see you kinda hanging out there and man I know how that can be. I might be able to offer some advice if I knew exactly what the problem is with the controller.
Thanks for reaching out. Im just north of Columbus. The main thing is the digital controller is inconsistent. The initial problems were two fold: 1) The temperature fluctuating 25 to 30 above and below the set temp. And 2) the temperature was 15 to 20 degree from an analog temp guage. Within the last couple of months I used it to smoke some chicken. The heat shut off after I started it three consecutive times and then after it finally maintained the desired temp the temperature shot up to 400 degrees and would not come back down. I ended up turning it off and unplugging the unit to reset it and was finally able to finish smoking the chicken. The highest the temperature the unit would maintain after resetting was 200 degrees. I have determined that the heating controller is a lemon and Pit Boss' customer service is in name only. I will NEVER buy a Pit Boss product again, Period. I guess I need to build or purchase another heating controller or just throw it out and buy a quality unit. Anyway, thats where I'm at with the smoker and thanks again for any advice you can provide.
Edchad
Well-known member
Holy smokes. It certainly does sound like a bad controller. And I’m pretty disappointed they haven’t worked with you.
I mentioned I’d only contacted them once myself. And I hate t say this but I got one acknowledgment that I had filed a problem and nada afterwards.
I don’t know how you were communicating with them. I was doing so online. Mine was a much smaller issue but still I was and still am a bit perturbed about it. Were you phoning with them or email or how. If you don’t mind me asking.
I thought doing so online there would be a record which there is but seems they just dropped it.
I was hoping it may be something myself or someone else might could help with if we knew what it was. But I think you’re right in your diagnosis.
Its wierd. I’ve seen several on here that have had controller issues and seemed to be taken care of pretty well. I think most of those were done over the phone.
like I said my issue is minor compared to yours and I am just living with it. But mine is at least functioning. Man I don’t blame you a bit for being upset. That’s a major issue. If you we’re dealing with them online or email maybe try the phone route? If that’s what you’re doing I don’t know what to say.
As far as real problems like your controller I thought they were handling those pretty well. Mine was more of a performance issue that many others have And it seems to be just part of this style smoker. I didn’t know that when I contacted them. Maybe they thought I was just a complainer.
I hope somebody from PB sees this and addresses the issue. I can’t believe after all the bad controllers they’ve swapped out they’re dodging yours.
Man I’m sorry I can’t help but maybe this will get someone’s attention or some of the older members in here might have some input. Good luck and hey keep us posted. Either way.
Ed
Mike From R.I.
Well-known member
877 303 3134 option 2 I always had good luck with PB customer service.
I feel your pain. Right after I seasoned mine the board went out but I called them. They sent me a new board plus three different types of rubs.
Thank you, I will call them today.
I have emailed and called. I received two email replies which got me nowhere and had one person on the phone and he stated the fluctuation of 50 degrees above and below set temperature was normal.
Can you take a photo of your controller so we know which one you are referring to? There are several different ones. The best thing to do is tell them it quit altogether and they'll prob send a new one
I sure will, I will post one tomorrow.
Guineabear
Well-known member
Sad. My experience with PB customer service has been completely positive. They 1sr sent me a temperature probe and now have a controller on back order. Due to the shipping crisis I've been waiting over 2 months. Each time I've called they have been helpful but can't do a whole lot other than apologize. Best part is that all, so fa, speak good English. Hope your problem gets solved. Thankful that I have a 2nd smoker to use.
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