What brands should I stay away from? What should I consider?

[SlowmotionQue]

..... So thy marked it down $150 but I’m not sold. I’m seen a lot of people online talking about quality issues, wide temp swings, even really uneven temps across the grill grate.

Well, with that statement, you seem to have almost answered the following question.

What do y’all think about the GMG? I can certainly get a larger cooking surface (taller too for turkeys, bee can chickens, etc.) for less money. Features seem to be comparable. Should I pick one up on sale or pass them by?

Absolutely, positively and without a doubt, you should pick one up. Right now.

But only if you're sure that you are ready to join those who are already talking about,..... lets see, how did you put it before??? I forgot.......

Oh yeah. Here we go....

....quality issues, wide temp swings, even really uneven temps across the grill grate.

Are you ready to sign up for that, and pay your $649.00 initiation fee?

Well, if so, then.....Yes, yes.....Definitely, get to it. Jump right in if you're interested in joining that group that you describe above, so that you can post up about all of the grilling real estate that you have this week, and then post up your very own story about the "....quality issues, wide temp swings, even really uneven temps across the grill grate..", next week......after spending $649.00 plus whatever in shipping or anything else that can be tacked on, and that you won't be getting back after your report.

Good luck. But it seems to me, like you've answered your own question.

 

[megabrisket]

Should I pick one up on sale or pass them by?

It sounds like you're on the fence enough to regret it if you do. If you can part $650 now, I'd save for a couple months, do some mroe research, and get something you're more excited to get. I saved for a year for my OG Grilla from Grilla Grills. I did a lot of research before and even during my saving time and I never really wavered on what I was purchasing. I threw a couple of extra add ons at it and my out the door price was $979. That's only $320 more than what you're looking at. I know "only" $320 right? But it's worth saving for a few extra months to get something you'll really like than regret $650! People always ask was good customer service looks like. I joined a FB group for Grilla and the head pit master for the company and the head of marketing and "everything else lol" are both in the group constantly. I saw the head marketing guy, Mark Graham, give out his personal cell phone number on a Sunday afternoon to help a guy out once. Right there in the comments section, on a Sunday. I hadn't purchased yet and had already decided but that was just the assurance I needed that, even IF something went wrong, I'd be well taken care of. There's good customer service, and there's there's GOOD customer service. So far I've loved every second of my grill these last few months and haven't once regretted my purchase! If I were you I'd save and do some more research. :)