Ah, the first etching. Mine was etched within 24 hours, even with me growling like a protective new mom at everyone to be careful. If the contractor put an OJ bottle or something on it, its probably etched. So just know that soon there'll be marks all over it and it won't stand out so much! Did your installers seal the marble (they should have)? If not, get some Miracle Porous Plus or other high-quality penetrating sealer and seal it. That'll help it not to stain, but nothing will prevent etching. You knew that already though, I'm sure! I wash my counters with a neutral pH dish soap (do test your dish soap on a sample piece first!) and warm water. Can we see pictures? I love marble counters!

A lot more folks like the look and idea of marble than are comfortable with living with it -- especially since we aren't used to it in kitchens we've grown up with. We just hear it will etch and stain, so folks become afraid of it. Fear creates a need for something to get rid of the fear. A market is born. They require trained applicators and the market is controlled, so it is more expensive and stays more expensive -- and the salesman is just going tot try to figure out what you want so he can sell it to you. If you are saying you are afraid of marble, it is an option he can present to you. And you're right -- if you come back and complain about the marble, they can tell you that you should have used the Dry Treat. I don't know the other sealer mentioned above, but I would suggest that you don't agree to anything without testing it on a sample of your surface. I really don't feel compelled to suggest anything more than a good quality penetrating sealer. My fabricator used StoneTech and it has been great. Never a stain -- with messy teen boys and a house full of ketchup, tomato sauces, chocolate, chili, lemon juice, vinegars, oils, coffee, tea, and wine. In another thread you said you saw how a seriously etched piece of marble was brought back nearly to its original state with some buffing. You are not likely to have anything nearly that bad in your kitchen. If you were okay with that, I'd stick with that. If not, go to something totally different. If I find that treated tile in the garage, I'll let you know -- but they shouldn't sell anything they can't show you a sample of, especially if it changes the surface of your stone (they say it gives an orange peel" texture to the surface).

I've had great success with aqua mix's sealers choice gold and miracle' 511. These are available almost everywhere (box stores) and are not crazy expensive. I currently have 511 on my French limestone counters in my main residence. No stains in 7 years with only the application upon install. Dry Treat is voodoo in a bottle ,but is $$$ and only available at specialty shops. DuPont's offerings have a solid rep with some of the best tile guys in the industry that I know.

I would check with your installer. He's likely planning on sealing before grouting and may prefer and have experience with a particular product. His install guarantee may be tied to his preferred product. It would be if I were doing that. Good quality check to determine this before install.