In our area there are several Best Buy stores with Pacific Sales inside. All have adequate high end appliance selections. We spoke with sales persons in different locations; it seems every one is quite knowledgeable and experienced. The price on the closed out models are incredible. An individual Pacific Sales Store 30 miles from us carrying tons of high end appliances, Viking, Wolf, Thermador, Subzero, gaggenau..etc. When we are ready for kitchen appliances, we would definitely look at their selections. The store is our go to place for plumbing fixtures. The prices on high end fixtures, toilets, and sinks are so much better than FergusonâÂÂs. Some are priced lower than internet prices. The woman we dealt with is extremely knowledgeable and responsive. They do special order too.

I feel a certain moral obligation to buy from local salespeople if they are particularly helpful, even if I can save a little money elsewhere. And I generally believe in the "shop local" ethic...I like to support the Mom and Pops when I can. For my last kitchen, I bought most everything from one dealer who took time to really educate me about my choices. However, he really did not believe in the Vent-A-Hood technology and did not want to sell me one. Kind of amazing! So, I ordered one through US Appliance and it was a completely satisfactory experience. I would have bought from them again for the kitchen in my new house, but surprisingly, the local dealer gave me better prices. And they will be my local service provider, so I am happy to start a relationship with them.

I live in the Fraser Valley and am, in the next few months, after extensive research using this forum and other venues, going to be buying appliances for a new build. Now that the dollar is almost at par(I got $98 US for $100 CDN at the bank), shopping across the line sure is attractive, since our appliance prices have not dropped to keep in line with US prices...I'm hoping that will change shortly(that may be wistful thinking). Last August my husband and I went to a Mariners game and stopped at a Seattle appliance store by the field(Direct Buying Service). At the time I was fired up to buy a Blue Star. The manager told me that one in four of them needed tweaking right out of the box, and that the problem with customers that had bought things from his store to bring across the line was that it was difficult for the servicemen to receive financial compensation for work done from Blue Star, as it was work done in another country. Now, I'm not sure if that would be the case with Wolf or Asko(a dishwasher I'm quite interested in as well), but I would be worried about hassles with warranty service work that might need to be done. That and as Braytonak pointed out, you should check with customs and see how much duty you will end up having to pay on everything and see if the price differential is worth the hassle.

Range: The Wolf AG and Culinarian are about the same amount of money. $400 more if you want a color for the Culinarian. The Culinarian is based on the Capital Precision. This range has an excellent reputation;first rate. Some of the previous models did not have a first rate reputation. Then again Wolf has had to recall ovens in the past for being dangerous. Wall Oven: IMO 1)Gaggenau 2)Miele 3)Wolf. Love love love the side opening door on the Gagg. Also has an air catalyst that cleans air before exiting to your kitchen. So no grease from your wall oven gets to your cabs or ceiling. No smells either. This can be good when cooking fish;) or bad when baking cookies :( . Also no flavor transfer so you can bake multiple items if they happen to bake at the same temp. Ability to hold even temperature is second to none. There is no significat differences in MW or warming drawer. The Culinarian self-clean oven comes with a rotis and is Gas. I think this is preferable when using the rotis to roast meats. Dishwasher: Miele. Diamante if you just want it to clean well. The Optima is going to be quiter and more energy/water efficient with sensor dry/sensor clean. Excella has eco sensor and load size sensor which calibrates water/energy consumption further.As you move up the machines get quieter too. Fridge: People here can have takes about reliability,food preservation abilities, temperature maintenence but it seems your difficulites choosing a fridge come down to layout. Only you can figure out which layout works best for you. If you are going with the 42" KA I would rather get the 42 Jenn-Air. The 42" bulit in French Door Jenn Air has the more sophisticated variable speed/capacity compressor plus the diamond cut pro handles. These are my favorite fridge handles. IF you have not opened and closed fridges with these definetly check them out.