Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

When I first got my Demeyere smoker, I was thrilled. It worked very well, my smoked salmon was amazing, not to mention beef and chicken. But then, as I was smoking something, I kept hearing loud banging noises from it. I finally realized, the bottom heat shield was coming loose from the pan. It completely fell apart. I was very upset, because it had become an item I used very regularly. But it was still under warranty, so after quite a lot of searching - the company turned out to be difficult to find - I was able to contact Demeyere and explain the situation. They asked me to take photographs of the unit and email to them. That seemed reasonable enough, so I complied. I did not expect the response I got back, however. They told me that, from the photos, they had determined that I had overheated the smoker to the point that it had melted, and the warranty was therefore void. First, I doubt that a kitchen stove would get hot enough to melt this thing, even if I HAD put it on high and left it there, which I didn't. And how can you tell this had happened from a photograph? Certainly, nothing looked melted. But they refused further communication. So, a $100 item went to the trash, and I purchased a different smoker, which I love. And as it isn't a bunch of pieces welded together as in the Demeyere, it's not going to fall apart. It really is a shame, because before it fell apart, and the subsequent experience with the company, I would have given it five stars.