We had a service person out this morning to look at our Bluestar oven door. After a 15 second inspection (a.k.a. opening it once) he told us that it was supposed to work this way, and even called the flopping open a "feature." I have used another Bluestar and the door did not do this, nor did the door on this oven do this when first installed. So, apparently, it's a late-appearing "feature." My incredulity (and sarcasm) stems from several facts, not the least of which that this is the exact same service person who told me, 10 months ago now, that the Bluestar's simmer burner was "not designed for a low flame" and that the burners were "made by Wolf, only cheaper"--leaving my house after doing absolutely nothing about adjusting the burners. Eight months and much begging on our part later he returned, with a Bluestar manual this time, and adjusted the burners. But only after we'd proved to Bluestar, via a $40 service call from our gas company, that nothing was wrong with our gas pressure, and under pains that we'd be on the hook for a $250 service call if the service person found it was an "installation error." Also, I know for a fact that this man, the only service person Bluestar has ever sent out, has never seen a Bluestar other than mine. So, the problem--and this is what could pertain to other Bluestar owners, or potential owners--isn't that there aren't service people in our area (we haven't had problems finding multiple service people for other appliances) it's that 1) no one is familiar with this brand and 2) they won't work for what Bluestar pays them. I mention the latter because, when Mr. Bloodgood (former Bluestar service manager) couldn't find anyone other than the one-man company I described above to service my unit, I suggested the company that had fixed, promptly and efficiently, my Gaggeanu steam oven, also under warranty. After not hearing from Bluestar, I called the latter company myself and was told that Bluestar had contacted them but they wouldn't work for Bluestar's rates. I did not ask what they were, nor do I even know if they're unfair, but it does beg the question: How can I, or other potential customers, have any expectation of decent service if Bluestar insists on sending, again and again, people who have no idea what they're doing? It's not surprising, under those circumstances, that I've had dismal service and, therefore, a rather grim view of Bluestar in general. When you send out incompetent people, you really can't expect anything less. (The fact that anything at all was fixed, ever, is actually probably the surprising part.) Oh and, PS, my conversations with Mr. Bloodgood, which ended with the same service man returning last December, were that I had "maligned" this "very capable" service person and that I was "lucky" he was willing to return at all ... I apparently had "maligned" him by telling Mr. Bloodgood, exactly what he'd actually done/said. (The same service man wouldn't service my vent hood because it was on a dimmer, which he said voided the warranty ... Until I went online and pulled up the vent hood specs and photos, that showed the company itself, Prestige, SELLS dimmer switches to run the fan and has them installed that way in EVERY SINGLE advertising photo in their brochure.) Well, back to this morning ... The end result is that we had my one-year-old demonstrate pulling the oven door down on his head and the service person finally deigned to look at it. He tightened (or did something to) the hinges and it seems to be working again, though the service person (for what his opinion is worth) warned us it would probably come loose again with use. So, basically, as long as we don't open the oven door it works, I asked him. He shrugged and left. For us, unfortunately, that describes the Bluestar service experience to date in a nutshell. So, I gotta' agree with "mcmann," not that I have Bluestar's "white glove service," and it does seem like a step in the right direction, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't ensure that you will have actual COMPETENT service, or service at all even, in your area. -Susan W.

Oh I've been checking out all the cooktops! I'm driving everyone on my family (and the appliance stores nuts because I can't make up my mind). Drop in, rangetop, double ovens, Miele, Capital, cheapy, expensive... I love a great deal, and those Miele ovens sure were, but if they don't work, that won't help. mojavean - thanks for the electrical info. I called the power company, talked to an electrician, talked to the Miele store guys... sounds like these older Chef ovens they still have for sale for super cheap, are only 208V OR 240V (sold out of 240V) and that the newer ovens allow you to adjust depending on what your service is. For the older ones you have to match your service. So running too much power into the oven could cause some problems. Same as having not enough power, the oven won't be running at full capacity. The guy at one of the local appliance stores told me 208V was for Canada, so I just took his word for it. I did a little online research and from what I gathered from most of my sources so far, it sounds like it is not a good idea to run a 208V designed appliance at 240V. http://applianceguru.com/forum9/9262.html riverspots... I did look at wolf and dcs, but I've crossed them off my list (can't even remember why as I've gone around in circles so many times). I think the Wolf seemed expensive, was closed burner and I didn't love the look or configuration (I do like the look of the rangetop though). The DSC drop in doesn't put out enough heat, though I like the configuration of having the largest burner in the middle. pvrick and amcook - how's the cleaning on the drop in bluestar? You take off all the grates and burners, then "pop the top?" How much time does this take? And does stuff get baked on inside? How's the stainless steel holding up on the cooktop part? Still look nice? Sounds like Capital may not come out with an open burner drop in for awhile yet. I'm debating the rangetop, but man $$$, should just buy a range at that point! Here is a link that might be useful: more 208v info

The 22k burners have a double row of holes along each spoke. The 15k burner has a single row of holes along each spoke. The simmer burner has only a row of holes in the middle ring, not fanning out along the spokes.

I have a 30" rangetop and will just echo what Hilltop55 has said. Just a few more comments. IF you go to teh BlueStar website there's a video on how to adjust your burners. I did that and my simmer burner is now ultra low. I just made Chinese food last night, and in my mind there is no better home system for Chinese cooking than Bluestar. I took out the grate and the wok just sat down in the burner. I was able to get a sear on everything -- the so called "breath of the wok". Every few months, I put the grates into the oven and turn on the clean setting. This removes a lot of the dirt and grease. But in between, yes it definitely gets greasy and dirty, but you're not eating off of them; you're cooking on them.