I like this hot water pot much better than the previous one I purchased (and returned) from OVERSTOCK, because this one did NOT have a strong plastic odor. Unlike other pots, there is minimal amount of plastic which makes contact with the metal sections that are heated. It boils water quickly and also has a reboil feature which is very helpful when refilling the pot during family gatherings. Also, this pot has four "holding" temperatures: 280, 194, 176 and 140 degrees. I have found that 140 degrees is hotter than needed for most green teas, but coffee drinkers appreciate scalding temperatures on the opposite end of the temperature scale. ;-) Another plus: the water dispenser has a lock/unlock feature to prevent busy-fingered children from accidentally scalding themselves or others. All in all, this is an excellent hot water pot which is well-worth the price (which is higher than some others available on OVERSTOCK) I paid for it.