It is true that commercial kitchen supply places beat WS for some things (I got a stainless steel food prep table for about a third the WS price), but I doubt that is true for Boos Block. Boos quotes $86 for the block Albert mentions, in the neighborhood of the WS price. (As I recall, a 2.25" Boos in that size is around $100 or so) Buying countertop might be cheaper, but you typically have to buy more, as Albert notes, and then there's the labor. I also suspect that the Boos quality is pretty hard to best, at anywhere near the price point. Unless you need a lot of block and very particular sizes, Boos or similar looks a good way to go.
On a related note, Boiled Walnut Oil is an excellent and easy finish for the blocks: dries hard and non-sticky, and brings up the wood nicely. John
