“My kitchen contractor (unbeknownst to me) priced our countertop quartz/quartzite based on knockoffs manufactured in China.”

First of all, quartz and quartzite are not interchangeable. Quartzite is real stone...from the earth. Quartz is an engineered product...it’s quartz dust mixed with plastic resins.

Secondly, if your contractor is trying to pass off Chinese made counters, as Caesarstone, and pay a premium for the imitation, it’s time to find another contractor.

There are many Estone (engineered stone) companies to consider. Caesarstone is just one. Cambria, Silestone, LG Viatera, Hanstone, and MSI, are the major players. They all use the same Breton technology.

A question to ask is, why is the contractor pushing this Chinese product? Quite frankly, he sounds untrustworthy.

There were two price options, one for quartz, one for quartzite. They told me that the Chinese product is cheaper because the environmental regulations/restrictions are weaker there, so they can charge less here. They also claimed that most homes use Chinese quartz because it is otherwise cost-prohibitive for most people. I also have a suspicion that there could be lots of bait and switch (i.e. show a branded product, charge for it, and install the knockoff). I am wondering whether anyone has had a good experience with Chinese quartz, or whether this is a huge red flag?

“They also claimed that most homes use Chinese quartz because it is otherwise cost-prohibitive for most people.”

If “they” are making this statement about “most homes” in the US, that is outright untrue. Don’t believe it. You are being sold a bill of goods. The names I gave you in my previous post...that’s what is going into homes in the US, with Cambria at #1.

Sigh. I'm guessing this is where they built in their margins.

If they quoted you the 5141 then I would demand they get you the Ceasarstone 5141 at the price they quoted you! Unless of course you don't want it. I would then ask for a credit for the amount of the stone they were trying to charge you for and then you go elsewhere.

They are completely being dishonest and need to be called out on it.

I am sure Ceasarstone would not be happy to find out that some builder is doing a bait and switch using their product!

Chinese Quartz brands tend to use a higher percentage of resin than most American companies in order to save on the amount of quartz they use in each slab. American Quartz Brand Cambria uses 93% crushed quartz and 7% resin. Chinese Quartz Brands have upwards of 30% resin in their slabs.

And don't confuse quartzite with quartz. Quartzite (as mentioned) is a stone and not crushed quartz and resin.

I would highly recommend that you demand to see the whole slab and not just a sample. As that little sample won't give you a complete idea of what the pattern will look like and you may find yourself disappointed in your selection no matter what the brand or where it came from. We've seen that happen here many times. And make sure you see the template on the slab and sign-off on it. As this contractor sounds like you could end up with more problems...

“There were two price options, one for quartz, one for quartzite.”

Something is missing in the translation. Idk if it’s your name mixup or theirs. Are you saying you got a written quote that said “quartzite”? Which quartzite was it and what did it look like? As Darbuka said, quartzite is a completely different product from man-made Quartz. Quartzite is a stone, mined from the ground. Just like marble or granite is mined from the ground. Were you also looking at stone slabs like quartzite along with the Quartz counters? Quartz and quartzite would be quite different looks from each other. Quartzite is also very expensive, and needs a fabricator experienced with how hard it is to cut.

Tough as it is to hear, you need to start over with a new contractor. There isn’t one thing in your description so far that is in this contractor’s favor, or says anything other than this job will be a mess. If this is what he’s like now, just wait until he installs, ohno.

There are plenty of US made quartz products so no need to go with cheaper Chinese inferior product. I recently purchased quartz and was offered both choices and also told of the resin/quartz makeup.

"Chinese Quartz brands tend to use a higher percentage of resin than most American companies in order to save on the amount of quartz they use in each slab. American Quartz Brand Cambria uses 93% crushed quartz and 7% resin. Chinese Quartz Brands have upwards of 30% resin in their slabs."

This is absolutely 100% crap. It's all the same stuff, Breton or not. It's all 66% quartz and 33% resin (plastic) by volume, not by weight which is irrelevant, Cambria included. You will not hear Cambria dispute me on this, I promise.

My read is that they were considering both quartz and quartzite, so they got quotes for both. Then they decided on the quartz.

As mentioned above I would have to see the whole slab before I signed off on anything. Even with the major brands veining can look fake and artificial on some styles. I would imagine with the cheaper stuff they are less skilled with that aspect of it. I’ve seen pure white used a lot and was fine in the off brands