Why does nobody talk about how bad those big box store 'custom' countertops are?

I was at a friend's remodel in Denver last weekend and saw the granite they got from one of those home center places. Looked fine at first, but up close the miter joint on the corner was gapped and the backsplash had a chip they tried to hide with wax. I did kitchen counters for 15 years before I retired, and this stuff wouldn't have passed in my crew. Everyone I tell says 'oh but it's cheaper and convenient' but I've seen enough callbacks to know you get what you pay for. Have you guys seen similar issues?

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blake_williams4d ago

Used to be all about getting the cheapest option possible, thought it was just as good. Then I helped a buddy install one of those prefab granite tops from a big box store last year and the whole experience was a nightmare. The slabs had hairline cracks that were filled with color matched epoxy, looked okay from a distance but up close it was super obvious. Real dealbreaker for me was when we went to cut it and the stone basically crumbled at the seam, never had that happen with proper stone from a real supplier. You're totally right, that convenience factor is a trap and most people just don't notice the flaws until they've already paid up.