So I see KJ has just thrown all of there customers who supported them with iKamand pit controller for KJ under the bus by simply deleting the app so effectively the controller is useless.
$300 up in smoke.
Wow not great service or support of a product. 
Suggestions are out there that it’s really about pushing their connected grills in the future. 
That's taking poor customer service to a whole new level...
It's a common problem with all these connected products. It takes a lot of effort keep upgrading apps and trying to keep them working. Especially when products like phones regularly get operating system updates. It is really annoying for Q's like Kamados that can last for 20 years.
I look at all the tech that is required to keep the new electric cars on the road. It's annoying to not have your app no longer supported on Apple Store or Google play for iKamand. Image ten years later after buying an $90K EV the app to keep your car safe from hackers is no longer upgraded! Even worse when there's nothing wrong with mechanicals!
I only just bought mine in Feb, anyone contacted BBQG about refunds/warranty yet? These iKamands had a 2 year warranty.
Image ten years later after buying an $90K EV the app to keep your car safe from hackers is no longer upgraded!
That's stretching a long bow.
This case sounds like a company that has decided against one of its own products and cared zero for their customers.
That's stretching a long bow.
This case sounds like a company that has decided against one of its own products and cared zero for their customers.
Tesla for example is disabling the radar detection in their cars without the permission of their owners when they’re getting serviced and just relying on the cameras.
Another example is when Ford reprogrammed the turbos in their cars to reduce the power of the engine without getting permission of the owners. Imagine buying a car and a year later you have 15% less power.
A simpler example is upgrading the maps in the inbuilt car GPS. On an older car this can be hard to do or you are charged big dollars for the maps.
I can't say I have any issues with the examples above.
I like the Tesla model. They upgrade and refine features as the software evolves. And there are costs to maintaining some features up to date, such as maps or protection from new types of cyber attacks. I wouldn't expect that to be provided for nothing unless that was the deal at time of sale.
The Kamado example is for me quite different: they sold a hardware/software product, then removed the software component altogether.
Kamado example is for me quite different: they sold a hardware/software product, then removed the software component altogether.
From a software perspective it’s business as usual. I have computer hardware which is useless because of no more driver support from the vendor. Hardware is fine. No software to make it work.
Sethor get onto BBQG and see how you go.
Let us know in here for future reference.
The unbelievable thing is they turned it off on the 4th of July. Imagine how happy users in the USA were 
Cheekily Smartfire are offering a 30% discount to Ikamand users 
12x7 yep it’s difficult to keep up with technology but KJ went there with this product. It’s shortsighted of them to go there without a longer term commitment to their loyal fan base.
Since they have been bought by an investment company they are all about the money now. Aren’t all companies i suppose 
Just calling it out as I reckon it’s poor form that’s all. They went there with a product. Promoted the hell out of it and then screwed everybody who bought it over.
I know we are talking about iKamand. Imagine how you felt buying a new Holden to find out the next day you effectively bought a white elephant the next day when they announced they're closing down.
I've just submitted warranty request via website, said can take up to 14 days to get reply. I have an order to collect from the Osborne Park store so will ask them about it when I pick it up.
Got the reply below-
Hi S****,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Unfortunately the manufacturer (Kamado Joe International) has informed us that this product has been discontinued globally and will no longer function correctly. We are working with them for further information however due to the inconvenience, please come into your local store at your earliest convenience with the product and we will offer a refund.
If this is an instore purchase. please refer to which store did you purchased the item from along with your proof of purchase however if this is an online order, may we ask for the order number that starts with BBQG?
I hope the information above is of an assistance to you.
Again, we sincerely apologise for any inconveniences this caused.
Kind Regards,
| | | E******e Customer Care Team, Barbeques Galore Ltd. Phone 1300 139 867 Building A2, Campus Business Park 350 - 374 Parramatta Road, Homebush NSW, 2140 |
Image ten years later after buying an $90K EV the app to keep your car safe from hackers is no longer upgraded! Even worse when there's nothing wrong with mechanicals!
Mechanicals will be fine, but the batteries are likely at the end of their life, maybe another couple of years at most; whereas an ICE that's been looked after easily has another 10 to 15 years in it. Want to get that life span out of a EV you need to drop $30k on a battery pack for a say 13 year old car, then when you add in the carbon for that new battery pack, the ICE is now the greener option.
And yes, I have a 23 year old NM Pajero which is still completely original but is perfectly fine for the driving I do in it.
whereas an ICE that's been looked after easily has another 10 to 15 years in it
If by looked after you mean replacing lots of oils and other parts on a regular basis with added larger bits like gearboxes and transmissions that become harder and harder to source , then sure. But I didn't know they were free. I don't know why for EVs all costs are factored in while for ice cars they are waved away.
Batteries will continue to improve and by the time they'll be due for replacement I doubt they'll cost anything like 30k. (Tesla's have a 7 year warranty on them)
The total cost of ownership is nuanced and needs to take many specific factors into it for the specific driver and need. EVs are not for everyone (yet), but for some like me they are definitely the better option.
I had a quick look at some iKamand reviews on Amazon and they're not good. It seems in many cases it was a POS. Bad software, poor quality control, terrible support. Any one of these could be a valid reason why it's no longer on sale/supported.
Sethor may have been lucky it's been discontinued as now he can buy something that will last and work.
So I see KJ has just thrown all of there customers who supported them with iKamand pit controller for KJ under the bus by simply deleting the app so effectively the controller is useless.
Seems to me that MiddleBy USA & Australia just don't give a shit about their customers at all.
As I said elsewhere after my dealings with MiddleBy Aust. I will NEVER spend another cent on any of their products again.
There is NO excuse for crap service these days with all the competition out there!!
due to the inconvenience, please come into your local store at your earliest convenience with the product and we will offer a refund.
Good on BBQs Galore for taking such swift action on a problem that's not really their responsibility.
I had a quick look at some iKamand reviews on Amazon and they're not good. It seems in many cases it was a POS. Bad software, poor quality control, terrible support. Any one of these could be a valid reason why it's no longer on sale/supported.
I never had an issue with it, I gather bad reviews were from non tech savvy people.
When I went in I could not get my refund instore so I emailed my purchase details from MyDeal & BBQG sent through refund notification not long after (BBQG was marketplace seller on MyDeal). Got the added bonus of keeping the paperweight.
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