I have had an electric refrigerator style smoker for many years. It generated heat by a 500 w halogen bulb and a bit of heat from a puck burner that generated the smoke. After the expensive smoke generator broke the second time and grease had ruined the controls, which were on the bottom of the unit-right in harms way, I still tried to use it by adapting with a regulated heating element. This made for good temperature control but then the door decided to fall off. Finally I had had enough and ran across this awesome unit which I think will outlast me. Even if I need a new heating element or control one day, they are very modestly priced since there is no computer involved a good deal. I checked out those replacement prices first thing on the web site. The price depends on what size smoker you have. What is this unit you may ask? It is a sleeper unit out there called the Smokin-it. I had snubbed it for a couple of weeks looking at the other similar high priced units .Then when I decided to give it a glance, I was impressed ! It weighs on the heavy side at around 100 lbs for the model #3 but the shipping was a modest $86. I paid $499 for the smokin-it model 3. I just am very happy with the construction and there are no sharp edges anywhere. The shelves are the strength like out of a household oven and the smoker box is well made too. I especially like the slide in drip pan and the thought out sloped floor inside to drain the grease into the pan. Also there is a channel sealed on both ends under the door to drain grease into that same pan. I really liked that because my other electric would always drain at the door. You know how sneaky that grease is. Anyway, I will be putting 2 chickens on today and will let ya'll know how they turn out. I have seasoned the smokin-it as recommended to get rid of any manufacturing smells. judy
