My contractor suggested that I could probably get plumbing fixtures cheaper by ordering them online. Just wondering if anyone here has any experience with that. And, any particular internet companies you would recommend.
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I've used eFaucets.com. Great pricing and outstanding service. Good luck.
DIA
Thanks.You felt the pricing was worth doing it this way?
No sales tax, no shipping charges. Further discounts over set purchase totals. You bet!!!DIA
I've recently completed a 6 bedroom 3 bath remodel and found that http://www.faucetdirect.com was great service and selection and better pricing and quality than big boxes. Got my tubs and toilets at local plumbing house, if you're a contractor set up an account, otherwise ask your plumber to let you use his account if he's willing. I got better pricing from them than was available at either of the big box stores and of course people who know what they're talking about. Really have to do lots of research/cost comparisons.
Good luck.
It usually comes down to shipping costs. If you fill in your profile, you might have more luck in getting recommendations for outfits closer to where you live.
For example, if you were looking for a toilet in the Seattle area, I could recommend Terry Love:
http://www.terrylove.com/
Funny thing - Last month my contractor was able to get good prices for new Kohler shower valves, so I went with him, and he had them in hand two days later.
I ran into trouble with a local supplier in the Seattle area about five years ago - it was a fancy American Standard medicine cabinet. It took almost two months and dozen phone calls to get the thing - it appeared to be alternately back-ordered or unavailable. We finally stopped into a home despot, picked the item out of a catalog in the "special items" department, and got it delivered within the week - for about $200 cheaper!!! I declared a one-week moratorium on bad-mouthing the big orange box (long since passed...).
It never hurts to shop your numbers around, especially if you've decided on make/model etc... The problem with plumbing fixtures is that it's hard to get a sense of weight and finish quality from an online picture - yet it's very obvious when you have them in hand.
-t
Okay, put my location in my profile. Atlanta.I have picked out product from a local supplier and have a quote in hand. Unfortunately I don't read their language so I don't know for sure what the items are other than, tub, kitchen sink, etc. I suppose they do that on purpose. I have emailed my contractor to see if he can help me translate.
I have had good experience with Faucet Depot. About half the cost from the local plumbing supply house.<a
Interesting that Terry uses the gates Mansion as an example when McKinstry did all the plumbing, & was supplied from Keller & FNW (AKA Famillian NorthWest).
I didn't work on that job, but had a lot of friends that did.
Ten years ago or so, I wrote a DIY column for our local newspaper. At one time I made mention of the ability to get plumbing fixtures, such as faucets, much cheaper on the internet than at the local, full priced bath boutique. That caused a local plumber to write the paper demanding that I be fired for "taking the food from his children's mouths," since I was suggesting that my readers break up the full price relationship between bath boutiques and plumbers, that is, you pay full price to the plumber for a fixture he got at wholesale from the boutique. I responded by asking him if he'd ever purchased four quarts of oil and a filter at a car parts store instead of taking his car into a dealer for an oil change. Same concept in my mind. Well, I didn't hear from this SOB again after that. Plus, he's not now my plumber when I need one. Just bought a new fixture on line for at least 30% less than what was to be charged downtown. I'm so old, I just haven't the inclination to brag about how much I paid for something anymore, so I'd rather take the lower price.
When I was in business I bought a lot of faucets through ebay. You have to know what you want and what you are buying but I often could buy units at a third of the cost of my normal supplier. DanT
second on the ebay thing, i buy from faucetdiscounters on ebay. i can buy a pull out kitchen fauct sometimes for 10. more than a kit.YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'TMOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THEDUCT TAPE.
I'll second faucet depot. Fast, quick, easy, and cheapest I could find on what i wanted. I did buy 2 faucets somewhere else online, can't remember now. They were about $10-15 cheaper each.
Some of your savings could be eaten up by a plumber charging more to come out and install someone else's product. So watch out for that. But if your builders telling you to do it...
I see no difference buying online than special ordering from the big boxes, which I have done. A heck of a lot cheaper than had I gone to a specialty (boutique) store, and probably cheaper than I gave the make/model to the plumber to get for me.
Its all the nature of the businesses. I do not fault the plumber. These days I find plumbers are just as willing in this economy to install what I bought as its money in their pockets.