I have a different OXO peppermill and I just love it. It has worked perfectly for years. Mine is no longer available at Amazon but I am sure the product you're considering is going to work fabulous if it is made by OXO.

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Grips-32180-Pepper-Mill/dp/B00004U8LT

If were me, just because I've not been happy with OXO quiality in the past, I'd make sure they could be returned just in case.

In 1992, OXO was purchased by GHC aka World Kitchens. Like every other company World Kitchens gets hold of, the quality immediately plummeted. Handles fell off, parts cracked, etc. I stopped buying anything with the OXO name on it. In 2005, OXO was sold to Helen of Troy (who owns Revlon, Vidal Sasson, Dr. Scholl's, etc.). HoT appears to be trying to make the line a little more upscale, so maybe they've gone to back to a higher quality manufacturing.

I totally agree with beanthere about OXO being on a downhill slide and I try not to buy their products anymore.

I would buy and toss one peppermill after another until I bought my William Bounds with the ceramic blades and it's a real keeper. It has far outlasted any of the others I've had, works much better and has three different grinds. I'ts about seven or eight years old and good as new. A little pricy - well worth it.

I've never owned a salt mill.

Beverly

I'm surprised you both have had such negative experiences with the company. Everything I've bought from them (salad spinner, vegetable peeler, pepper mill, apple corer, oyster shucker, cookie scooper, and misc tongs and spatulas) have worked fantastically.

I've had their vegetable peeler for close to 7 years and it's still sharp. Cook's Illustrated has regularly featured OXO products in their top recommendations.

Here is a list of Cook's Illustrated OXO product reviews.
http://www.oxo.com/about_news_archive.jsp

btw GHC aka World Kitchen has not owned OXO since 2004 when it was sold to Helen of Troy Enterprises.

I've used lots of pepper mills over the years. Hands down, the best one I've ever used is this Tom David Unicorn 'Magnum' 9 inch mill (see the link). It's $45 at Amazon; they also have a 6 inch model for $31. Very efficient at grinding, it produces a lot of pepper with just a little effort.

Cook's Illustrated and Alton Brown both chose this one, if I remember correctly.

Here is a link that might be useful: unicorn pepper mill

I have an OXO peeler that I use for carrots, parsnips and butternut squash, it works great. I had an OXO ice cream scoop that the black plastic handle came off after about a month, so I've had both good and bad from them.

I have a William Bounds salt mill and pepper mill, each were purchased at different times at Marshall's and cost less than $15 each. I'm happy with them.

Annie

Well, it wouldn't be anywhere near the first time I haven't agreed with Cook's Illustrated on something. LOL! And, as I said, the quality may have improved after World Kitchens sold them to HoT. I haven't been willing to take a chance even after HoT bought the brand.

William Bounds is consistently good. So is Peugeot, but they are more expensive than WBs.

Those OXO ones look good to me! I like how easy it is to control the grind. I just have a cheap (10 dollars) Old Thompson (Thomas?) pepper mill that works fine... but I use it for cooking only. I don't think it would look good on a table.

I'll tell you what NOT to buy... the Chefn' bunny ear contraptions. You have to squeeze forever and a day to get any amount of salt or pepper out of them. The squeeze mechanism on the first set I had broke within a month. The replacements haven't, but only because I stopped using them. They are hard to fill and somehow moisture got into the salt one and made it ineffective.

I've been pretty happy with my Oxo stuff, the mandoline and salad spinner. A brand I will never buy anything from again is Onieda, total junk! At least the box grater hasn't rusted yet... but after terrible experiences with garlic press, meat mallet, and ice cream scoop, I will steer clear.

Bed, Bath and Beyond does have a return policy (I made sure of that when I bought a 140 dollar iron... didn't want to be stuck with something that didn't live up to its claims, but so far it's OK), so I'd say to try it and see what you think.

Just one thing... be sure to let us know what you get and what you think of it when you decide!

I have the Unicorn that arly posted the link to and I just LOVE it!

The OXO products I have used had mixed results, love my silicone basting brush, hated the paring knife I bought to take on picnics. The upside is BB&B will take returns, just keep your receipt! Good luck with whatever you choose and do let us know how you like it.

Alexa

I have the Unicorn too, and have used it as gifts. It's great! However, the little throwaway pepper grinders from the supermarket are very convenient too. If I'm low on peppercorns from Penzey, I just get the throwaway one. I've also tried Penzey's ground black pepper. Really, really good and now the grinder get used only when I want coarse ground.

I agree, Renee, I disagree with Cook's Illustrated on a regular basis, even more on the food reviews than I do on the equipment.

Of course, taste is completely subjective, so what I like might not be anyone else's favorite. For instance, I love the Peter Pan Honey Roasted Peanut Butter and was so upset when I couldn't get it because of that salmonella recall. Everyone else in my family shook their heads and kept eating their Jif. So, when they do taste tests I ignore them, LOL.

Bobby, I have an Oneida ice cream scoop that's pretty good, although it gets used about twice a year so it's probably not getting the use others might give it. I bought it as a replacement for the OXO.

Annie

We have the Unicorn, based on Cook's Illustrated.

I gave it to DH as a gift one year - the note card said (forgive me, I'm repeating myself, can't resist) - "honey, my gift to you is something long, hard, and it will spice up our life" - this is in front of a bunch of friends at a restaurant heh heh

Its really one of the best things in our kitchen. A light twist and tons of pepper. I think we've owned it at least ten years. Nothing we've bought/made based on CI has let us down.

I bought a pair of OXO kitchen shears, and I just love them !!! I also bought a vegetable peeler, and it is Fantastic !!! I like there stuff. Diana Beaulieu