In the States you can sign up at BB&B in stores or on line for coupons and special sales info. The coupons, which arrive regularly by mail and email, are good for 20% off any single item (with a few exceptions, which sometimes the store will ignore. I bought my Breville oven there, using a coupon, although Breville items were listed as excluded on the coupon.) When I am interested in something, such as the dehydrators, I check both BB&B and Amazon on line. Then I visit a BB&B. BB&B stores will order an item that is listed in the on-line inventory if they do not have it in stock. I pay at the store, using a coupon, and the item will be shipped directly to me from some central warehouse. As I said, they will usually forego shipping charges. (I have to negotiate this, and a manager has to clear it.) This makes them competitive with Amazon Prime, and the BB&B customer service and return policy is absolutely super. Hope this is clear. Don't know if Canada BB&Bs offer coupons. (We have driven through Alberta, but in the southern part--as far north as Edmonton, where a good friend used to live. I loved the towns and people. But snow 8 months of the year? BRRRRR.)

I live in Wisconsin where the Nesco is a tradition. I believe it is made here or at least it was, who knows anymore, but it is a great device and I use it all the time. Just realize that it is not all things for everyone and you will be happy with your purchase. I first saw the Nesco in use at a friends house where Mom would cook with it a lot particularly game. So it has a lot of nostalgia for me. I make their chili recipe for the 6 qt a lot adapted a bit to my own tastes and people seem to enjoy it. It's great when it's too hot to use the oven. I own several 6 qt models and a 18 qt size which I use to cook for large family gatherings and for turkey. You'll want to experiment with it before you use it for an important family gathering or you may be disappointed. There is a technique for getting a turkey to brown correctly and if you don't do it right the turkey won't brown and may have a steamed taste. Still good but maybe not what you were looking for. On sale I have seen the 6 qt size selling for $25, buy one and support American industry and get a bargain to boot!

huango - Hats off to you for your fortitude - glad you are willing to go the extra rounds - not settling until you know you have it I just read first sentence re: crawl space - I live in Ct, more than 1/2 of our kit is on an addition/crawl space which was a porch at one time, later enclosed - orig kit was only 10 x 10 - Well many of the designs rendered plumbing in that area. After much consideration I decided against it due to the potential for freezing/cracking pipes - Our remodel started as the result of a flood (steam system auto feeder valve failure) - I was just not willing to take that risk - The only "plumbing" per se is new gas line running to the 36" AG range. Also, I just think the mud area in the kitchen is not a good idea - just my op - OUrs is tiny right off the kit - We have a modest sized home, dh will ask "do you want a bigger house" NO!! my only wishes would be for a larger mud room and a closet in the master bedroom (taken over in a prior reno by master bath) My mud area is complicated by 3 doors (back door, power room door, basement door) + 2 casement openings - the "main" part of the mud area is only 7'3" x 4'8" I can post pics if you like. I just think from many aspects, function, esthetics, form,noise,hygiene, resale - it's just a bad idea to incorporte it into the kit and camouflage it by large appliances - additionally just too many things going on in that space. I think a small walled off, well designed mud area will give you more bang all the way around As w/any design there is give and take - perhaps going back over your must haves, maybe, this is nice list, sweeby test - may help get a fresh look at the design I really wanted cook top and wall ovens - then caved on that for range - My sink by some standards is too far from range, prep sink was rec - I was unwilling to have prep sink due to the crawl space issue. Well, my $.02 for what it's worth - Keep up your great efforts you will get there. Like balancing a ck book - when you get stuck walk away - start fresh later you'll get "unstuck" All the best

cotswolds, I have a 6 quart Nesco, an 18 quart, and access to two more 18 quart versions that belong to my daughters. (Well, one is a GE and one is something else, but they all work fine). We use them all at family functions, mostly to keep food warm. I do use my small one for roasting chicken, baking potatoes, cooking pork for pulled pork, lots of things. The big one might get a ham or turkey if my double ovens are full, but mostly they keep things warm. Au gratin potatoes, sloppy joes, macaroni and cheese, ziti with tomato sauce, meatballs, soup, chili, taco filling, baked beans, pulled pork, chai tea, hot chocolate, mulled cider, all get kept warm in the Nesco without drying out noticeably. I've also used my Nesco as an oven when my old oven quit, baking brownies, muffins and pineapple upside down cake in there, placing the baking pans on the rack. Mine also heats from the side and it's more than 5 years old by.....a lot of years, LOL. None of the roasters I've seen from any of the makers have inserts that require water, and all are electric. I don't care for chafing dishes for larger amounts, they don't seem to stay warm all the way to the edges and I've burned my foot TWICE by trying to remove pans of hot water from chafing dishes. So, for small amounts they work fine, but for big ones, I'll take the Nesco. Annie