Call this number for Costco Countertops: 1-877-483-6226. If you are not a member and they ask you can tell them you would be willing to join in order to purchase your countertops through them, but you want to find out if it would be worthwhile first. If you are already a member, great. Tell them you want to find out if countertops are available in your area. They will have the sales person for the company that does Costco's counters in your area call you. He/She can give you an idea of the cost of granite, Corian or Zodiac Quartz in your area throught them. If you are interested after that, they will come to your Condo, bring all the samples and colors to choose from, measure, and give you a firm quote at no charge. Then if you decide to use them, you actually pay Costco in advance and Costco pays them when the job is done. The other least expsensive way I found was to find out who the local builders and tradesmen use. Sometimes a smaller shop and sometimes not, but if it is a smaller shop, they will often give you a better price than you can get elsewhere. It might be more than they get from the tradesmen but less than what the tradesmen would charge you. I also found going through a local lumbar mart that caters to the trades netted me a quote about 700.00 less than what I was quoted by a large company and it is the same large company that does it for the lumbar mart! They just don't mark it up any where near as much. Let us know how you make out. Sue

I'm sorry to jump in, but never did this before & not sure how to post, etc., but I'm desperate for help on the counter top subject. Please, any specific name suggestions of countertops or photos for our custom kitchen cabinets of cherry wood with a burgundy/cranbery custom mixed stain. I am having a very hard time visualizing what color counter top would go best. I was hoping for a formal look and also still need to choose the floor (unsure of whether wood-look laminate or ceramic). I'd like to pick the countertop 1st and then the floor. Note: Kitchen is only 10 X 12. Recently we went to view a large slab of Silestone quartz in Stellar Rose (which my husband & I THOUGHT we loved) at "Vangura's world-class fabricating facility" which we were very impressed with. However, much to our dismay, we both ended up hating the Stellar Rose! I was originally concerned that the mirror flecks would look too "disco-ish", however after viewing, it was the rose blotches that were horrendous! The sample we had looked NOTHING like the actual piece. We were grateful that we made the 90 minute trip to the facility, and were spared a $6000 mistake! However, now after 4 months of research & decision making, weÂre right back at square one, searching for our "perfect" choice again. We were certain we wanted quartz, but after seeing all the beautiful slabs, we are considering granite. Ultimately found 1 slab of granite we love, and a few possibilities. The problem is that Vangura assigns their own names & faxes info directly to our Kitchen Designer for the price quote. 1 we loved was named "Marrone 8000 South America Brazil 8010 TGB". It was consistent pattern of grey, black, silver white (very iridescent). The problem is we were not allowed to photograph them or buy a sample, etc. and I already cannot remember exactly what the Marrone 8000 looks exactly like & cannot comparison shop not knowing its actual names. Does any one have any idea how we can find out its "real" name to comparison shop? Also are considering Uba Tuba (which obviously they kept itÂs name), but am afraid that the darker color will show every streak & fingerprints, etc. Finally, after, reading all the horror stories about granite staining, cracking, clouding, being doctored, to seal or not seal, etc. I dont know if quartz is better, but now am afraid of quartz "pooling"!!! Sorry this is so long but any help will be greatly appreciated!

Buying granite from Costco is like buying a roof installation from Home Depot. They just act as a middle-man (or woman as the case may be) and take a slice of the pie. Go to the source. Somewhere within an hours drive of your house there is an area with 5-10 granite sellers. They'll have slabs to look at, and they cut them. Skip the big fancy showrooms (they pay for those off the backs of their customers, just like the fancy kitchen designers do). You want as few people involved as possible between you and what you're buying. When I selected our cabinet maker, I picked the shop where the guys selling me the cabinets was also designing the layout, making the cabinets, delivering them and installing. Two guys - both of whom actually made the cabinets, delivered and installed. No 'designer' with a big diamond ring and a fancy car. Oh, and the questions about installation price and picking your slab would easily be answered by the sales person standing there in the exit line at Costco. Probably bringing their granite in from China. Not a joke.

Thanks so much for all of the information My biggest concern is that in as much as I am wheelchair bound I can't even take a countertop measurement myself and after 2 phone calls to Costco's " My Countertop " + 2 emails to their subcontractor in a month's time......I have given up on Costco and don't want to use a subcontractor who obviously has so little interest in doing a countertop for me I just want somebody in Suffolk/Nassau County who will do a good job installing my countertop. I am not looking to " nickel & dime " anyone on price but I don't want to get anyone who will " nickel & dime " me either. I would love to find somebody who will do the entire job well ( including removing & discarding old countertop & sink and installing new countertop & sink ) I would also like to find someone who is willing to come to my house...take professional measurements ...discuss my options to me....make suggestions if needed and show me various samples I don't think that's too much to ask and I hope that there is a good fabricator out there who could do it all for me which I will gladly pay for