Packaging was superior. No dents or scratches. All the parts came, as advertised. Easy installation. Love center burner. And the child lock is a wonderful feature...especially the BUZZER to alert a parent/caretaker.
My main concerns in choosing a new gas cooktop were overall quality and good functionality, both of which I am very happy with. The controls are solid and grates are a heavy duty cast iron. Nothing feels cheap, and moreover, nothing looks cheap. On the functionality side, I cook a lot, and want to be able to control heat, from a very slow simmer to a big hot pot. Additionally, placement of the controls was important, and those knobs placed in the front means I am not reaching up one side or the other. The added bonus was the safety lock, which gives me an added comfort with my grandchildren in the house. The Cafe series cooktop was a perfect combination of function, quality and price.
I was worried about the reports that the control handles would melt but am happy to state that this hasn't happened yet. The middle burner is convenient and heats up large pots of water quickly. The lighted knobs and the lock alarm creates offers a great degree of safety and assurance.
So happy to have made the decision to go with gas! It's a 5-burner! So efficient! Not at all hard to get used to! And love the extra space! Wish I would have switched sooner!!
After MUCH research we decided on this cooktop, it offered a much "higher end" feel than many other models. I saw many reviews saying how high the grates stood over the range but I wondered, how bad it could be? and we couldn't see a model in person in the store. So, after we ordered it online and installed it... WOW, they are high! We have a microwave above our cooktop and it leaves an unusually small area between them (my stock pot to make a huge pot of sauce barely fits!
It's still beautiful to look at, and I've been happy with the performance, but if you are concerned about space.. you might want to look at other options! I even called GE to see if there was a chance I could buy separate grates with a lower profile but they are not available!