Yep..no way that it is what it appears to be. I sell about 200000 sq ft of laminate per year. That kind of deal just does not exist in a 1st quality. Shaw flooring sells more laminates than those two companies combined and they will not offer deals like that as they would be losing money. Let alone the shipping on containers is big bucks...Now I will say that I can buy truckloads of 2nds from Shaw for cheap and they normally are high grade laminates that you can not tell they are not 1st quality. Usually just off shade slightly and you will not know it. It is proof to me the white boxes in my mind.The marketing dollars is not placed into a box of laminate and the pretty color name does not enter into a cost of manufacturing. It does by not warranting it...that will make a price difference. I'd bet anything that it's 2nd quality that manufacturer boxes up generically and discounts. I;d bet anything the manufacturer will not warranty, you will deal with online people for warranty. Heck, we warrant stuff all the time on our own over the years. laminate 2nds vinyl 2nds carpet 2nds..The manufacturer wraps them differently and the store buys them as is where is. I don't know of an online distributor that buys 50 containers. Even big real Distributors fail to buy in that quantity. Haines only buys 2-5 containers max at a time and they are huge. Same with NRF and they supply laminate to all of northeast usa. 50 containers is actually more than 1000 pallets at about 12-1400 sq ft per pallet. That is 1 and 1/2 million sq ft of laminate from one company and I'll bet they say they have laminates from many many companies. No way Jose...that would be over a one million dollar purchase at wholesale amount just for that purchase. No way. Sorry. But I am sure you got a great deal, no doubt about that.

Thank you :) I do have the samples. It is sooooo hard to picture it on my whole countertop. I ordered another sample of each as to try and visualize it with a larger area. If this doesn't help, I will head to a local building supply store to see if they have a larger sheet in stock to look at.

I got a quote for the Wilsonart HD and it was going to be about $500 not installed...we would have done the work. I wasn't sure how i felt about the texture of the sample, I stared at it on my desk for weeks, then finally decided that I wasn't crazy about it anymore, when the light shines on it you see the plasticy dots that I didnt think looked natural at all (IMO). I have a thread going right now about which granite tile I should pick, I'm ordering from Bedrock Creations. One style is $399 and the other is $549 and I figure about $100 for plywood sub-counter, backboard, thinset, grout and sealer. In the long run, I think it will be better for resale value and it's going to end up being about the same cost...I never would have thought that until I actually drew up my plans and started getting quotes for the tile. I was shocked. Also, Bedrock Creations give you edge options like ogee, beveled and bullnose. The only reason I looked at the Wilsonart from the start was because I wanted the ogee edge. (The other online companies that have these granite tile component systems have a minimum order, in my experience calling around, Bedrock Creations is the only company that doesn't, and they have a 7 day turnaround time) If you want, check out my thread, "not sure which granite to choose...advice?" and i have TONS of pictures posted so you can see the samples and see the ogee edge. thats my .02

Melamine is a plastic -- it's just that there are many types of plastic. The outgassing of formaldehyde (now this isn't a plastic) is far reduced than that outgassed from, say, presswood. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Melamine resin Melamine resin or urea formaldehyde (also shortened to melamine) is a hard, thermosetting plastic material made from melamine and formaldehyde by polymerization. In its butylated form, it is dissolved in n-butanol and xylene. It is then used to cross-link with alkyd, epoxy, acrylic, and polyester resins, used in surface coatings. There are many types, varying from very slow to very fast curing. It was initially discovered by William F. Talbot,[1] who applied to patent it on December 12, 1936.[2] Construction material The principle use of melamine resin is the main constituent of high-pressure laminates, such as Formica and Arborite, and of laminate flooring. Melamine-resin tile wall panels can also be used as whiteboards.[3] Melamine formaldehyde is used in plastic laminate and overlay materials. Formaldehyde is more tightly bound in Melamine Formaldehyde than it is in urea-formaldehyde, reducing emissions. *** I commend you in doing the best you can in going green and helping your little 2-year old. I assume you are also looking into the best products for floor adhesives. You say the concrete in the basement is already poured? I'm wondering if just leaving that floor as is - except for a few area rugs -- could work for you? You could still use the laminate upstairs and save money for other purposes down the road. Laminate, if the right pattern is chosen, can look good, and will stand up to many years of use and abuse.