I'm sorry, please let me clarify myself ....

In my area, along with also receiving mail and emails from Chinese companies, there are many "so called" Chinese fabricators that are trying to sell granite slabs that are already fabricated at a very low cost. This is mainly what I was referring to when I say, You get what you pay for. However,.......

In terms of the difference in pricing between kitchen design shops verse big box stores, there are many factors and variables that play into this. I can typically beat the "Big Box Store" prices when you are bidding is "Apples to Apples". Here are some other the reasons for buyers to beware:

First, and most important ......... it needs to be an "Apples to Apples" bid. The best way to make sure of this, is to go select your granite slab that you want from the slab yard, then have everyone bid on the same exact thing. This is the only way to do a true bid comparison.

1). Many of the "Big Box Stores" or other stores will list their per square footage price at a very low price. If you also read the fine print, the have disclaimers.

* What is thickness? I have seen some of them post a 2 CM thickness (approx. 3/4" thick) instead of the typically 3 CM (approx. 1-1/4" thickness)?
* Other times..... Does it include the edge detail? Typically not, which it is then an up-charge?
* It doesn't include a back splash, radius corners, clipped corners, overhangs or supports, etc.
* Then is it "Top Grade" or a lesser grade quality stone slab?
* Where and who are they buying there slabs from? Ask who the fabricator is and clarify where the stone is coming from.
* Ask them if you can go physically select your own slab....... typically no, they will not let you. There is a reason for this.
* There are only a select few granite slab colors that they are offering at that price. If you go to a slab yard a select your slab yourself, you will be able to find several slabs that are less expensive than the ones they are offering.
* If there is a big vein running through the slab, will they allow you to strategically place that vein on your counter top where you want it, like on an island? Or will the vein come somewhere that you don't want it to be placed? Will they allow you to work with the fabricator in the layout of your counter tops? Typically, not. This sometimes can make or break the look of your kitchen!
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2). As a full service one-stop-shop kitchen design showroom that sells everything (Except appliances and doors/ window), I'm set up on the best pricing with all of my counter top fabricators. Depending on the volume and what type of store/ showroom you have, each fabricators will qualify and structure what kind pricing scale or level they will sell to your store. I'm on the "Best" price level and get better pricing than many of my competitors in my area. Often a full service kitchen design showroom will get better pricing than some cabinet stores, a flooring stores, or a contractor, or interior designers. So it depends on who you are getting the bids from and what pricing scale they are set up at.

I'm purchase my granite directly from all of my fabricators at the best pricing scale, I'm currently getting the same price level as the "Big Box Stores" do. So it has been easy for me to beat their prices, as long as it is "Apples to Apples" bid and the bid is for the exact same thing and same stone!
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3). Granite and stone slabs come in different grades just like woods. Wood comes in clear, select and rustic. Rustic the least expensive due to the knots and imperfections. The same holds true to granite and stone slabs. In my area, the slab yard distributors and fabricators I deal with typically have three different grades on their stones; Top grade/ Best grade, Medium and Lower grades of stone.

* The Lower grades can have fisher, pit holes or other imperfections that can let water absorb more easily. Many of them have larger pit holes that are filled with epoxy fillers and polished to hide the imperfection. A big RED FLAG, is when you see a 3 CM thickness slab with a fiberglass mesh on back to hold them together. The Medium and Lower grades are sold for many times for hundreds less than the Top Grade granite and stone slabs. Some of the better slab distributors will only sell Top quality stone and don't even offer any of the others.

* Here is an Example of what can happen with a Lower grade stone:
About 5 years ago, I had one of my client who found a granite counter bid at $ 1,115.00 less than my bid, that is a chunk of change. Why? My bid was for Top Grade / best quality granite the other was for the lower grade quality. A little over a year later the epoxy fillers started popping out leaving big gaping holes. There was only a large fisher that she tried sealing several times that water kept seeping through. She had no recourse, since the fabricator had gone out of business. So two years later, she came back to my showroom to replaced her counter tops with a Top Grade granite. This is why I say, Please Buyers Beware!
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I have always recommended to my clients to go select the stone slabs and check out several stone yard distributors in your area. This can be very educational, rely on them and their expertise. They will direct you to the quality and the pricing of each slab. Some of them will have the Radon information also.

Here are some articles regarding Radon that I found interesting:
1). http://solidsurfacealliance.org/G-radioactivity-radon-issues.html
2). http://solidsurfacealliance.org/granite-Radon-issues-page-2.html
3). http://www.trulia.com/blog/BONSAI/2009/05/granite_countertops_and_