Online sites we used- Overstock.com IraWoods.com eFaucets.com wayfair.com ebay.com For your toilets, tubs, sinks, faucets, etc. I definitely recommend going to your local kitchen/bath/plumbing showrooms and inquire about what they may have in the back or in a bargain bin. Sometimes you will have to listen to a spiel about the great deals they have out front and ask again about closeouts or things that were ordered wrong, overstocks, etc that they may have in the back before they get the message that you know those pieces exist and you are only interested in those items. We got a top of the line Kohler tub with all the bells and whistles that was a floor model for 10% of retail (yes, 10% so we got a 90% discount). Our kitchen sink was 50% off, our bathroom sinks were purchased for 5-10% of retail (some were 5% and the others were 10%--so a 90-95% discount) & our custom shower fixture setup was 55% off. These deals were all gotten in the showrooms with no haggling at all. The only item that was discounted because it was discontinued was the shower fixture setup, everything else is still current and available today at full retail. Don't forget to check your area Habitat for Humanity Restores too. CEFreeman on the kitchen forums has found some totally awesome deals on brand new current style items in her local store that she posts for everyone to see. Hope this helps!

I've also been quite impressed with ABT. I've bought my range hood there and my frig. The person I've worked with, Megan, always gives me prices cheaper than even on their Web site, but what's really impressed me is the customer service. She was quite patient with all my back and forth over the last few months, and when the items actually shipped I received the tracking number(s) promptly. Actually what *most* impressed me was when I bought my dishwashing detergent. Not only did I get the invoice promptly, and I got an email when they got the delivery notification from UPS. ;)

I had over 1/2 a bucket of Charlie's Soap when they announced an end to free shipping, so I bought another bucket then and there and put it in storage. I probably have enough Charlie's for 5-6-years now. Give them a call or send them an e-mail and ask if they have any bargains/specials, or if they will honor an old coupon? The people at Charlie's Soap are wonderful, so it wouldn't surprise me if they honor the old coupon to keep a customer. I purchased Oxy-Boost to use on our wood deck. We had some left so I used it in the laundry with Charlie's Soap. I noticed everything line-dried was STIFF when I added Oxy-Boost, which is what happens when I have used other oxygen cleaners. -Grainlady

In defense of Breck's: I have actually had very good experiences with them. They always send good specimens to me and the rosebush package of four that I ordered this year came in a large box with all of them every bit as big as average store-bought although they were bare-root. I potted them up immediately. They sent the two phlox I ordered separately but those were very healthy as well. On the other hand: I do usually place my order extremely early and I think they fill the orders in the sequence they receive them. But there are companies out there who send potted-up leafier specimens such as Annie's Annuals and Perennials. Although those are medium. To get giant plants you usually have to go local. Something to consider: Some species are slow growers and some are fast. Fast growers are generally worth buying via mail-order even if you do want instant color. My point being that it is worth looking into whether a plant will rocket skyward or take its sweet time before you dive into the purchase.