Just purchased 4 large sections of hand rail, balusters and newel posts for our new home. We paid for stainable poplar for our newel posts (8) which was a little more money than just the poplar and they are by no means stainable, It looks like all different colors of wood put together. When I called to questions this problem and others such as big knots in the hard maple hand rails, also to be stained and missing pieces we could not get past the one customer service girl to the man who took our order, No one else would get on the phone ! They were hiding behind the one girl. Shame on you ! You stress that you have top quality materials and workmanship but I am so disappointed with what we received, It is a very good thing that my husband is a general contractor and a VERY good one at that. He made the poor quality that we received look half decent. We spent alot of money on this new home and to have the first thing you see when walking in not look so good, It breaks my heart. If this is American quality I'll buy foreign !