Is the inside top stainless? I heard it is not and eventually rusts out, then it is toast. I just want to know what brand to watch for and which ones to avoid. Someone earlier said to avoid the ones sold at Sams Club. Gold Metal is sold at Sams Club. ???

Trying to keep track ...

Great Northern = avoid, steel roof that rusts
Gold Medal = ok, stainless steel roof
Paragon = ok, stainless steel roof
Paramount = avoid, steel roof that rusts

Is this correct?

Corrected.

So is 4 oz model 2404SC all stainless including the roof and other interior metal components? It only mentions that the kettle is stainless. I notice that it is made in China.

By the blue top, do you mean the 6 oz model 2085CLC for a few hundred more (including cart)? Same question - stainless roof interior and metal components? I notice that this one says made in the USA

I'm just trying to figure this all out.

Thanks for the reply. I understand the "you get what you pay for" and that's the entire reason why I keep asking questions. If I read between the lines correctly, it sounds like the blue version is a "good" and the smaller red "funpop" version is an "avoid" ... correct ??? Or is the red funpop version all stainless and aluminum too?

Also, looking at the pricing on Sam's club ... the blue with cart separate is $785. Together as a package it is $808. Anyone know why? Usually the grouped package is cheaper. Just trying to understand. I might buy a popper for my wife for her birthday next month and I'm trying to do my due diligence research. She loves popcorn and once said she would like one of these.

Okay, I'll look into that. Thanks for the advice and recommendations!

I might be buying a popper tonight for my wife for her birthday. Would a 4 oz popper pop enough popcorn to fill one of the large buckets of popcorn that you see at theaters in the USA? Or would that be more of the 6oz popper size? Just trying to get a grasp on 4 oz vs 6 oz?

Thanks! 4 oz is out then. I'll look at the 8 oz and 6 oz, but shoot for the 8 oz if it is reasonable.

Thanks for the tips ... I'll see what Detroit Popcorn Company deals are in a couple of hours.

Things must have changed. No package deals to offer me. They wouldn't even match the sale prices on their website - well they did on the cart though after I was about to leave. I thought a package deal in the store would be cheaper. I bought it anyway because my wife's birthday is Friday and IOU's don't go over too well (from past experience). She should be surprised.

The online sale prices are cheaper here. The regular online price is cheaper too, so they told me. Shipping likely makes it more expensive though.

I got her an IM last year for her birthday (a week ahead) - made a trip of it going down to NC to get it. She DOES want an AS and/or DI ... sounds like a win-win to offer that IOU too. One of those might turn into a Christmas present. A TH was her Christmas present last year. After I told her how much it was, that was my Christmas present too ... I was cool with that! Sounds like a tradition I want to continue.

Not as happy as when I got her a pinball machine, but she was still real happy with it. Her favorite snack.

Thanks to all that helped me with this purchase. Much appreciated!

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vid1900 - What do you recommend for spreading the Ghee onto the popcorn for single batches. My wife wants some sort of a pump or spray, but the recommendation a few posts up for the mist sprayer she does not like (because of all the repetitive cleaning and that the manufacturer does not recommend using it that way). We need something easy to clean or just be able to store until the next use.

My dog loves the popcorn machine and hangs out there when it is popping just for that reason.

I was going to buy a 6 or 8 oz popper, but landed up with a 4 oz. Glad I did and saved "some" money to be applied to other things. There are 3 of us and with 4 oz of popped corn, we each get 2 snack size bowls and is plenty for us. If we have a party, we will just start a second batch right away. We were told buy a local "Detroit Popcorn Company" that we could still pop an 6 oz batch in the 4 oz machine if we wanted to with no problem, but advised against trying a 8 oz batch.