Yeti just released their own re-branded Butter Pat 12" cast iron skillet price at $400. Yeti is notoriously overprices for the vast majority of their products but I feel like this one takes the...
Yeti just released their own re-branded Butter Pat 12" cast iron skillet price at $400. Yeti is notoriously overprices for the vast majority of their products but I feel like this one takes the cake. As someone who cooks on nothing but cast iron, there is no way I would ever purchase a pan that costs over $125, let alone $400. The sad thing about this all is that the pan is now sold out on the Yeti website. What I found even more interesting is that Yeti is purging reviews on their website for the pan. This morning, there were 37 reviews, 36 of them were 1 star reviews due to the outrageous price. Now, there are three reviews, one of which is a 5 star review. I guess people are willing to spend insane amounts of money on just about anything.
This is what I’m curious about too. I know a lot of Yeti fans and a lot of fans of cast iron pans and all of them are mocking Yeti for this one. On the other side of it though, I looked into...
This is what I’m curious about too. I know a lot of Yeti fans and a lot of fans of cast iron pans and all of them are mocking Yeti for this one. On the other side of it though, I looked into Butter Pat and noticed that their pans are also insanely price ($325 for the 12” pan without the Yeti logo), so people are clearly buying them since they’re still in business.
I would just pay $40 for a Lodge, lol. In fact I have a 10in that I got from my dad after he went to a 14 that's perfectly serviceable. But I know somebody's going to pay $400 for a lump of cast iron.
I would just pay $40 for a Lodge, lol. In fact I have a 10in that I got from my dad after he went to a 14 that's perfectly serviceable.
But I know somebody's going to pay $400 for a lump of cast iron.
I have 3 Lodge cast iron, and 1 Lodge carbon steel. All of them cost 1/10th of what this pan would cost, and all of them work fantastically and will last longer than I'll be alive.
I have 3 Lodge cast iron, and 1 Lodge carbon steel. All of them cost 1/10th of what this pan would cost, and all of them work fantastically and will last longer than I'll be alive.
I’ve got a bunch of Lodge pans in various sizes that I use all the time. I think I paid $75 for a bundle of 3 brand new. I even have an old Griswold that I picked up for $15 from a thrift shop. A...
I’ve got a bunch of Lodge pans in various sizes that I use all the time. I think I paid $75 for a bundle of 3 brand new. I even have an old Griswold that I picked up for $15 from a thrift shop. A little re-seasoning and it is in perfect condition. I can’t imagine this $400 Yeti is any lighter, smoother, or better than my old Griswold.
To be fair, you got lucky finding a $15 Griswold. There are plenty of Griswolds that go for well over $400 (albeit, typically the more unique examples), and I would expect that if they were still...
To be fair, you got lucky finding a $15 Griswold. There are plenty of Griswolds that go for well over $400 (albeit, typically the more unique examples), and I would expect that if they were still manufacturing them, they would command a premium much higher than Lodge and closer to the price point of this Yeti.
Lodge makes good cast iron pans for a great price. If you're looking for a new cast iron pan that's solid step above Lodge, with a much smoother surface, you can easily get into the $200-400 range.
I would never pay $400 for a cast iron pan personally, and it does seem that the Yeti brand tacks on an additional premium, but I don't think the price is quite outrageous. It's close, though.
You’d be surprised what you can find at thrift shops or estate sales. Regarding premium cast irons though, Smithey is usually considered one of the higher end cast irons and the No. 12 is $210,...
You’d be surprised what you can find at thrift shops or estate sales. Regarding premium cast irons though, Smithey is usually considered one of the higher end cast irons and the No. 12 is $210, almost half the price of the Yeti. I guess I just don’t see the point in dropping that kind of money on a pan that will cook no better than one that costs $40.
I bought my first cast iron pan a few months ago and was honestly worried I was getting something shitty quality by paying $30 for a 12". As far as I can tell the quality is just fine! Of course...
I bought my first cast iron pan a few months ago and was honestly worried I was getting something shitty quality by paying $30 for a 12".
As far as I can tell the quality is just fine! Of course 12" is also much bigger than I regularly need so I've been meaning to go back and snag an 8" or 9" at some point.
Silly question, but would you include enamel cast iron like Le Creuset in that category? I would love to get cast iron myself but couldn't do it due to the stove top I have. I know there items are...
Silly question, but would you include enamel cast iron like Le Creuset in that category? I would love to get cast iron myself but couldn't do it due to the stove top I have. I know there items are expensive as well but I would need something along those lines. People seem to buy that brand although they are not selling a 12" for $400.
Enameled cast iron (e.g. dutch ovens) is generally more expensive than regular cast iron. It's best to think of them as separate categories entirely. I use a cheaper dutch oven that has held up...
Enameled cast iron (e.g. dutch ovens) is generally more expensive than regular cast iron. It's best to think of them as separate categories entirely. I use a cheaper dutch oven that has held up fine but my friends who have bought Le Creuset have been very complimentary and not regretted their purchase.
Enameled cast iron is generally quite expensive compared to normal cast iron, especially Le Creuset because of the name recognition, but even they don't charge $400 for a 12" pan. Their 11.75 inch...
Enameled cast iron is generally quite expensive compared to normal cast iron, especially Le Creuset because of the name recognition, but even they don't charge $400 for a 12" pan. Their 11.75 inch signature skillet is $250, for instance.
Le Creuset is expensive but generally is high-quality enough to justify the price. I have a round dutch oven, probably the most popular product, and I love it.
Le Creuset has a lifetime warranty, too(as long as you didn’t do something negligent with it). I didn’t even need to buy my oven, the one my mil bought in the 70s is still going strong.
Le Creuset has a lifetime warranty, too(as long as you didn’t do something negligent with it). I didn’t even need to buy my oven, the one my mil bought in the 70s is still going strong.
I have gotten every cast iron pan in my life from thrift stores. I love the fact that people get intimidated by cleaning them, so they give them away >:]
I have gotten every cast iron pan in my life from thrift stores. I love the fact that people get intimidated by cleaning them, so they give them away >:]
One note - you may want to test any cast iron pans you get at thrift stores for lead. People used to melt lead in cast iron for stuff like figuremaking and the cast iron soaks that up and can...
One note - you may want to test any cast iron pans you get at thrift stores for lead.
People used to melt lead in cast iron for stuff like figuremaking and the cast iron soaks that up and can leach it back when you cook food. You can buy test strips online (cast iron lead test strips).
It's wild because there's nothing special about cast iron aside from the season. I even wash mine as needed, which has actually helped me refine the finish and knock off some carbon I built up. I...
It's wild because there's nothing special about cast iron aside from the season. I even wash mine as needed, which has actually helped me refine the finish and knock off some carbon I built up.
I got downvoted on /r/castiron for advising not to soak it, oddly in a thread about how detergent is safe.
Yep, Lodge has been the only cast iron I'll buy. I'm curious as to how this is actually better than Lodge? Is it just that the seasoning is better? They say that you can scrub the hell out of...
Yep, Lodge has been the only cast iron I'll buy. I'm curious as to how this is actually better than Lodge? Is it just that the seasoning is better? They say that you can scrub the hell out of this, whereas you can't exactly do that out of the box on a Lodge pan. They say that the Yeti one is more lightweight - but wouldn't that translate to less heat retention and more uneven heating?
I'm certainly not going to buy one, but I'm curious as to what the actual advantages might be. Yeti and Ozark Trail (walmart) seem to make their tumblers in the same factory. They even take the exact same lids. Their coolers aren't anything special either. So it seems like you're paying for a brand with this company, more than anything.
Modern Lodge pans are cast in sand molds, which leaves a rough texture on the inside. Antique cast iron (and higher end cast iron) is machined down to a smooth surface, which makes it easier to...
Modern Lodge pans are cast in sand molds, which leaves a rough texture on the inside. Antique cast iron (and higher end cast iron) is machined down to a smooth surface, which makes it easier to season and ultimately results in a more non-stick surface.
Yeah, I think the most common method is with a handheld orbital sander with 60-80 grit. I've never personally done it though, so I'd do some Googling first.
Yeah, I think the most common method is with a handheld orbital sander with 60-80 grit. I've never personally done it though, so I'd do some Googling first.
Hmm, I guess it’s either that or do the 100 layers of seasoning like that one dude on /r/castiron lol I’ve been meaning to pick up a 12” since my 10” isn’t big enough for some meals. Maybe I’ll...
Hmm, I guess it’s either that or do the 100 layers of seasoning like that one dude on /r/castiron lol
I’ve been meaning to pick up a 12” since my 10” isn’t big enough for some meals. Maybe I’ll look into it when I do that
How can you tell the bottles are from the same factory? Just out of curiosity. I have some knockoffs that are perfectly serviceable and have convinced me not to buy Yeti.
How can you tell the bottles are from the same factory?
Just out of curiosity. I have some knockoffs that are perfectly serviceable and have convinced me not to buy Yeti.
They look identical in almost every way except for the logo and some details on the lids (eg mag slide for Yeti vs something else for Ozark). This shows a study that was done that indicates the...
They look identical in almost every way except for the logo and some details on the lids (eg mag slide for Yeti vs something else for Ozark). This shows a study that was done that indicates the exact same temperature profile when comparing their ability to hold temperature over time.
If not from the same factory, then someone stole the molds from one to make the other. I usually buy the Ozark tumbler for 1/4 the price as the Yeti and then buy a Yeti lid separately because I like the mag slide.
I'm not sure how many people on here will have the chance, but if you're ever near South Pittsburg, Tennessee do yourself a favor and go visit the Lodge Museum of Cast Iron.
I'm not sure how many people on here will have the chance, but if you're ever near South Pittsburg, Tennessee do yourself a favor and go visit the Lodge Museum of Cast Iron.
How at that price point does it not even have an ergonomic handle? I've seen great prices on skillets at HomeGoods. Thrift stores, yard sales, and swap meets are usually pretty good, too. As for...
How at that price point does it not even have an ergonomic handle?
I've seen great prices on skillets at HomeGoods.
Thrift stores, yard sales, and swap meets are usually pretty good, too.
As for the yeti, fools and their money are soon parted.
I have a 1L Yeti Rambler, and I just looked up how much it was (I received it as a gift) and I was floored. I actually feel a little bit uncomfortable with a water bottle this expensive....
I have a 1L Yeti Rambler, and I just looked up how much it was (I received it as a gift) and I was floored. I actually feel a little bit uncomfortable with a water bottle this expensive.
Considering the cost of cast iron, I figure that the markup on these pans has to be astronomical. I find it hard to believe that people are buying these as anything other than status symbols, which just seem like a completely bizarre status symbol. On top of that, the purging of the reviews seems very suspect, though I would also urge people to consider that one-star review bombs are relatively common, and probably should be purged; the likelihood that someone would purchase this for $400, then leave a one star review because of the price tag seems to be vanishingly small to me, so removing one star reviews from people who have not actually purchased the pan actually seems fair.
Nobody buys a yeti cooler because they're going on a weekend trip and need ice to last. They buy one so they can put a decal on their z71 and wear a trucker hat. They're only buying one to brag...
Nobody buys a yeti cooler because they're going on a weekend trip and need ice to last. They buy one so they can put a decal on their z71 and wear a trucker hat. They're only buying one to brag that they bought one.
This is about double the price of a high quality stamped steel skillet, makes no sense at all... Then I looked at their prices for "used" stuff, and an used ice bucket is roughly 180 dollars,...
This is about double the price of a high quality stamped steel skillet, makes no sense at all...
Then I looked at their prices for "used" stuff, and an used ice bucket is roughly 180 dollars, which is more than a new, well-built, large ice cooler. Is there any particular reason for it to cost that much? Materials? Manufacturing process? Branding?
Probably all of the above. Their stuff is generally at the higher end quality wise and that has a cost but at the same time... how much extra does it really cost to make a cooler or mug better...
Is there any particular reason for it to cost that much? Materials? Manufacturing process? Branding?
Probably all of the above. Their stuff is generally at the higher end quality wise and that has a cost but at the same time... how much extra does it really cost to make a cooler or mug better than average? Not 2 to 5 times the price.
One company, Chilly Moose, makes some coolers that are comparable to Yeti and from what I can gather they're about 2/3 the prices.
I have a Yeti mug ONLY because I can easily buy replacement lids and probably will be able to for a long time. Ya its better than the mug it replaced... Their mugs have also become so popular now that I feel like a basic-man-bitch.
I find Yeti coolers to be too heavy. I have a friend who has one that takes two people to carry when it’s full. I can barley carry it empty. Even their backpack coolers are too heavy for me to...
I find Yeti coolers to be too heavy. I have a friend who has one that takes two people to carry when it’s full. I can barley carry it empty. Even their backpack coolers are too heavy for me to carry around. The build quality of a Yeti is good but I rather buy a cheaper Costco backpack cooler and sprinkle salt on the ice and be able to carry it around by myself for a few hours vs sit it down and look at it for a few hours.
Just realized this is about cast iron. Totally didn’t mean to get off subject. I agree they are over priced compared to similar quality you can find with lodge.
I do have a 40L Yeti cooler that I like but it does get pretty heavy when completely full. It will definitely hold the ice and keep things cold for quite a few days. However, the performance of a...
I do have a 40L Yeti cooler that I like but it does get pretty heavy when completely full. It will definitely hold the ice and keep things cold for quite a few days. However, the performance of a cheaper cooler like RTIC is just as good as a Yeti for a fraction the cost.
I have a rather large RTIC cooler I got for under $200. Supposedly it will only keep ice 80ish% the length of an equal sized Yeti. Bu for about half the cost it's worth the tradeoff. And I can...
I have a rather large RTIC cooler I got for under $200. Supposedly it will only keep ice 80ish% the length of an equal sized Yeti. Bu for about half the cost it's worth the tradeoff. And I can carry the thing by myself full.
The best cast iron pans that I’ve ever had are a 9” and 12” Lodge. They were super cheap. I lightly sanded the surface until it was smooth, seasoned it, and they are better than any Le Creuset...
The best cast iron pans that I’ve ever had are a 9” and 12” Lodge. They were super cheap. I lightly sanded the surface until it was smooth, seasoned it, and they are better than any Le Creuset that I’ve used.
Sanding was a personal preference. I find the Lodge pans a bit rough and feel that the smooth surface lends itself to better performance in the non-stick category. By no means is it necessary, it is just something I do with my pans before I use them. If you’ve seasoned the pan and it is performing well, please don’t ruin all of that by sanding your pans down!
Have you found sanding it down makes it harder to build up a good seasoning? Other than being cheaper to produce, I’ve heard that Lodge doesn’t polish their pans anymore to help make it easier for...
Have you found sanding it down makes it harder to build up a good seasoning? Other than being cheaper to produce, I’ve heard that Lodge doesn’t polish their pans anymore to help make it easier for seasoning to hold. I’ve never tested one way or the other, but my 10” and 12” Lodges are nearly smooth after years of use and a good seasoning base.
I didn’t find it difficult to get it to season at all. After sanding I cycled the pans through the seasoning process 5 times, which brought it to a deep gold/brown color. They are both black now...
I didn’t find it difficult to get it to season at all. After sanding I cycled the pans through the seasoning process 5 times, which brought it to a deep gold/brown color. They are both black now though after just regular use and care.
I know some of the more expensive pans are smooth, so I just decided to give it a go with my 9” and see what happened. I got it for $20 so I wasn’t really worried if I messed it up.
Damn, that's almost twice as much as a Smithey, which is already expensive to begin with. It's clearly a Veblen good though, just like a Smithey. There's no way a non-enameled cast iron can be...
Damn, that's almost twice as much as a Smithey, which is already expensive to begin with. It's clearly a Veblen good though, just like a Smithey. There's no way a non-enameled cast iron can be that expensive to produce, no matter where you source the materials. I have a regular old Lodge (10.25") and I'm very happy with it.
I will say, though, as someone who've used a cheap enameled cast iron before, the expensive ones are worth it.
That's unreal. Maybe an experiment to see just how valuable their brand actually is? I'm thinking like an in-house bet. There's $10 of cast iron there at most, add smelting/casting and finishing,...
That's unreal. Maybe an experiment to see just how valuable their brand actually is? I'm thinking like an in-house bet.
There's $10 of cast iron there at most, add smelting/casting and finishing, shipping, distribution etc and yeah you could justify $100 maybe for a particularly high quality, well finished skillet but even that would be very expensive.
Wait, wait, wait, so they slapped their brand on the Butter Pat "Joan" skillet that cost $345, upped the price $55 and sold out?! I've bought some crazy things before, but there is no way I could...
Wait, wait, wait, so they slapped their brand on the Butter Pat "Joan" skillet that cost $345, upped the price $55 and sold out?!
I've bought some crazy things before, but there is no way I could justify a $400 skillet. That's right up there with gold plating your toilet. They can't make an equivalent pan for half as much? I don't buy it.
Can't the rich start competing to see who can help us peasants the best instead of who has the most things they bought just because it was expensive and popular? :/
Yup, it is literally just the Butter Pat Joan with Yeti stamped into it. Butter Pats are overpriced enough as it is, Yeti charging more Just to have Yeti stamped into it is just even more absurd....
Yup, it is literally just the Butter Pat Joan with Yeti stamped into it. Butter Pats are overpriced enough as it is, Yeti charging more Just to have Yeti stamped into it is just even more absurd. I bet if they put the Yeti name in toilet paper and charged $30 a roll, people would still buy it though.
Yeti just released their own re-branded Butter Pat 12" cast iron skillet price at $400. Yeti is notoriously overprices for the vast majority of their products but I feel like this one takes the cake. As someone who cooks on nothing but cast iron, there is no way I would ever purchase a pan that costs over $125, let alone $400. The sad thing about this all is that the pan is now sold out on the Yeti website. What I found even more interesting is that Yeti is purging reviews on their website for the pan. This morning, there were 37 reviews, 36 of them were 1 star reviews due to the outrageous price. Now, there are three reviews, one of which is a 5 star review. I guess people are willing to spend insane amounts of money on just about anything.
I mean if it’s selling then it’s priced correctly.
Or they're just marketing it by putting a sold out sign for now to drive up the interest.
This is what I’m curious about too. I know a lot of Yeti fans and a lot of fans of cast iron pans and all of them are mocking Yeti for this one. On the other side of it though, I looked into Butter Pat and noticed that their pans are also insanely price ($325 for the 12” pan without the Yeti logo), so people are clearly buying them since they’re still in business.
I would just pay $40 for a Lodge, lol. In fact I have a 10in that I got from my dad after he went to a 14 that's perfectly serviceable.
But I know somebody's going to pay $400 for a lump of cast iron.
I have 3 Lodge cast iron, and 1 Lodge carbon steel. All of them cost 1/10th of what this pan would cost, and all of them work fantastically and will last longer than I'll be alive.
I’ve got a bunch of Lodge pans in various sizes that I use all the time. I think I paid $75 for a bundle of 3 brand new. I even have an old Griswold that I picked up for $15 from a thrift shop. A little re-seasoning and it is in perfect condition. I can’t imagine this $400 Yeti is any lighter, smoother, or better than my old Griswold.
To be fair, you got lucky finding a $15 Griswold. There are plenty of Griswolds that go for well over $400 (albeit, typically the more unique examples), and I would expect that if they were still manufacturing them, they would command a premium much higher than Lodge and closer to the price point of this Yeti.
Lodge makes good cast iron pans for a great price. If you're looking for a new cast iron pan that's solid step above Lodge, with a much smoother surface, you can easily get into the $200-400 range.
I would never pay $400 for a cast iron pan personally, and it does seem that the Yeti brand tacks on an additional premium, but I don't think the price is quite outrageous. It's close, though.
You’d be surprised what you can find at thrift shops or estate sales. Regarding premium cast irons though, Smithey is usually considered one of the higher end cast irons and the No. 12 is $210, almost half the price of the Yeti. I guess I just don’t see the point in dropping that kind of money on a pan that will cook no better than one that costs $40.
I bought my first cast iron pan a few months ago and was honestly worried I was getting something shitty quality by paying $30 for a 12".
As far as I can tell the quality is just fine! Of course 12" is also much bigger than I regularly need so I've been meaning to go back and snag an 8" or 9" at some point.
Silly question, but would you include enamel cast iron like Le Creuset in that category? I would love to get cast iron myself but couldn't do it due to the stove top I have. I know there items are expensive as well but I would need something along those lines. People seem to buy that brand although they are not selling a 12" for $400.
Enameled cast iron (e.g. dutch ovens) is generally more expensive than regular cast iron. It's best to think of them as separate categories entirely. I use a cheaper dutch oven that has held up fine but my friends who have bought Le Creuset have been very complimentary and not regretted their purchase.
Enameled cast iron is generally quite expensive compared to normal cast iron, especially Le Creuset because of the name recognition, but even they don't charge $400 for a 12" pan. Their 11.75 inch signature skillet is $250, for instance.
Le Creuset is expensive but generally is high-quality enough to justify the price. I have a round dutch oven, probably the most popular product, and I love it.
Le Creuset has a lifetime warranty, too(as long as you didn’t do something negligent with it). I didn’t even need to buy my oven, the one my mil bought in the 70s is still going strong.
They're also one of the few, if not only, enameled cast iron not made in China
Staub are still made in France as well. I think that might be the only two.
interestingly their non cast iron stuff is made in china though: https://ovenspot.com/where-is-staub-made/
Yep. So is Creuset’s stainless steel and enamelled stock pots.
I haven’t spent that much on a cast iron pan and I buy Le Creuset. That is a wild price.
I have gotten every cast iron pan in my life from thrift stores. I love the fact that people get intimidated by cleaning them, so they give them away >:]
One note - you may want to test any cast iron pans you get at thrift stores for lead.
People used to melt lead in cast iron for stuff like figuremaking and the cast iron soaks that up and can leach it back when you cook food. You can buy test strips online (cast iron lead test strips).
It's wild because there's nothing special about cast iron aside from the season. I even wash mine as needed, which has actually helped me refine the finish and knock off some carbon I built up.
I got downvoted on /r/castiron for advising not to soak it, oddly in a thread about how detergent is safe.
Ha, me too. The process of cleaning, treating, and seasoning an old, rusted cast iron is incredibly cathartic.
The power of brand name I guess. I'm personally a fan of Lodge which is less than a 10th of the price.
Yep, Lodge has been the only cast iron I'll buy. I'm curious as to how this is actually better than Lodge? Is it just that the seasoning is better? They say that you can scrub the hell out of this, whereas you can't exactly do that out of the box on a Lodge pan. They say that the Yeti one is more lightweight - but wouldn't that translate to less heat retention and more uneven heating?
I'm certainly not going to buy one, but I'm curious as to what the actual advantages might be. Yeti and Ozark Trail (walmart) seem to make their tumblers in the same factory. They even take the exact same lids. Their coolers aren't anything special either. So it seems like you're paying for a brand with this company, more than anything.
Modern Lodge pans are cast in sand molds, which leaves a rough texture on the inside. Antique cast iron (and higher end cast iron) is machined down to a smooth surface, which makes it easier to season and ultimately results in a more non-stick surface.
Could I take a sander to the Lodge for a similar result?
Yeah, I think the most common method is with a handheld orbital sander with 60-80 grit. I've never personally done it though, so I'd do some Googling first.
Hmm, I guess it’s either that or do the 100 layers of seasoning like that one dude on /r/castiron lol
I’ve been meaning to pick up a 12” since my 10” isn’t big enough for some meals. Maybe I’ll look into it when I do that
How can you tell the bottles are from the same factory?
Just out of curiosity. I have some knockoffs that are perfectly serviceable and have convinced me not to buy Yeti.
They look identical in almost every way except for the logo and some details on the lids (eg mag slide for Yeti vs something else for Ozark). This shows a study that was done that indicates the exact same temperature profile when comparing their ability to hold temperature over time.
If not from the same factory, then someone stole the molds from one to make the other. I usually buy the Ozark tumbler for 1/4 the price as the Yeti and then buy a Yeti lid separately because I like the mag slide.
I'm not sure how many people on here will have the chance, but if you're ever near South Pittsburg, Tennessee do yourself a favor and go visit the Lodge Museum of Cast Iron.
How at that price point does it not even have an ergonomic handle?
I've seen great prices on skillets at HomeGoods.
Thrift stores, yard sales, and swap meets are usually pretty good, too.
As for the yeti, fools and their money are soon parted.
I have a 1L Yeti Rambler, and I just looked up how much it was (I received it as a gift) and I was floored. I actually feel a little bit uncomfortable with a water bottle this expensive.
Considering the cost of cast iron, I figure that the markup on these pans has to be astronomical. I find it hard to believe that people are buying these as anything other than status symbols, which just seem like a completely bizarre status symbol. On top of that, the purging of the reviews seems very suspect, though I would also urge people to consider that one-star review bombs are relatively common, and probably should be purged; the likelihood that someone would purchase this for $400, then leave a one star review because of the price tag seems to be vanishingly small to me, so removing one star reviews from people who have not actually purchased the pan actually seems fair.
Nobody buys a yeti cooler because they're going on a weekend trip and need ice to last. They buy one so they can put a decal on their z71 and wear a trucker hat. They're only buying one to brag that they bought one.
This is about double the price of a high quality stamped steel skillet, makes no sense at all...
Then I looked at their prices for "used" stuff, and an used ice bucket is roughly 180 dollars, which is more than a new, well-built, large ice cooler. Is there any particular reason for it to cost that much? Materials? Manufacturing process? Branding?
Probably all of the above. Their stuff is generally at the higher end quality wise and that has a cost but at the same time... how much extra does it really cost to make a cooler or mug better than average? Not 2 to 5 times the price.
One company, Chilly Moose, makes some coolers that are comparable to Yeti and from what I can gather they're about 2/3 the prices.
I have a Yeti mug ONLY because I can easily buy replacement lids and probably will be able to for a long time. Ya its better than the mug it replaced... Their mugs have also become so popular now that I feel like a basic-man-bitch.
I find Yeti coolers to be too heavy. I have a friend who has one that takes two people to carry when it’s full. I can barley carry it empty. Even their backpack coolers are too heavy for me to carry around. The build quality of a Yeti is good but I rather buy a cheaper Costco backpack cooler and sprinkle salt on the ice and be able to carry it around by myself for a few hours vs sit it down and look at it for a few hours.
Just realized this is about cast iron. Totally didn’t mean to get off subject. I agree they are over priced compared to similar quality you can find with lodge.
I do have a 40L Yeti cooler that I like but it does get pretty heavy when completely full. It will definitely hold the ice and keep things cold for quite a few days. However, the performance of a cheaper cooler like RTIC is just as good as a Yeti for a fraction the cost.
I have a rather large RTIC cooler I got for under $200. Supposedly it will only keep ice 80ish% the length of an equal sized Yeti. Bu for about half the cost it's worth the tradeoff. And I can carry the thing by myself full.
The best cast iron pans that I’ve ever had are a 9” and 12” Lodge. They were super cheap. I lightly sanded the surface until it was smooth, seasoned it, and they are better than any Le Creuset that I’ve used.
Sanding was a personal preference. I find the Lodge pans a bit rough and feel that the smooth surface lends itself to better performance in the non-stick category. By no means is it necessary, it is just something I do with my pans before I use them. If you’ve seasoned the pan and it is performing well, please don’t ruin all of that by sanding your pans down!
Have you found sanding it down makes it harder to build up a good seasoning? Other than being cheaper to produce, I’ve heard that Lodge doesn’t polish their pans anymore to help make it easier for seasoning to hold. I’ve never tested one way or the other, but my 10” and 12” Lodges are nearly smooth after years of use and a good seasoning base.
I didn’t find it difficult to get it to season at all. After sanding I cycled the pans through the seasoning process 5 times, which brought it to a deep gold/brown color. They are both black now though after just regular use and care.
I know some of the more expensive pans are smooth, so I just decided to give it a go with my 9” and see what happened. I got it for $20 so I wasn’t really worried if I messed it up.
Damn, that's almost twice as much as a Smithey, which is already expensive to begin with. It's clearly a Veblen good though, just like a Smithey. There's no way a non-enameled cast iron can be that expensive to produce, no matter where you source the materials. I have a regular old Lodge (10.25") and I'm very happy with it.
I will say, though, as someone who've used a cheap enameled cast iron before, the expensive ones are worth it.
That's unreal. Maybe an experiment to see just how valuable their brand actually is? I'm thinking like an in-house bet.
There's $10 of cast iron there at most, add smelting/casting and finishing, shipping, distribution etc and yeah you could justify $100 maybe for a particularly high quality, well finished skillet but even that would be very expensive.
Wait, wait, wait, so they slapped their brand on the Butter Pat "Joan" skillet that cost $345, upped the price $55 and sold out?!
I've bought some crazy things before, but there is no way I could justify a $400 skillet. That's right up there with gold plating your toilet. They can't make an equivalent pan for half as much? I don't buy it.
Can't the rich start competing to see who can help us peasants the best instead of who has the most things they bought just because it was expensive and popular? :/
Yup, it is literally just the Butter Pat Joan with Yeti stamped into it. Butter Pats are overpriced enough as it is, Yeti charging more Just to have Yeti stamped into it is just even more absurd. I bet if they put the Yeti name in toilet paper and charged $30 a roll, people would still buy it though.
But you get box with funny sayings! And stickers! Plural!
When I see "$400" and "cast iron skillet", I want to reach for so many animated gif memes.