We've discussed this many times. Yes, urban legend. Here's a trick. Buy same item from Home Depot and from plumbing supply store on the same day. (yes, boxes/numbers. etc must match.) Now return the HD item to the plumbing store and vice versa. Any trouble making the returns? No?

I'll pass on a caution concerning a faucet from the big box stores. It's rare you can find replacement parts from the same place you purchase your faucets anymore, and they generally need to be special ordered. If you are a do-it-yourselfer when it comes to fixing a dripping faucet, you may want to purchase from a place that has replacement parts.

When we moved into our new construction home 7-years ago, after a few days of use the kitchen faucet shot a stream of water all over the place. The builder covered the cost of a plumber and new faucet. The plumber said since replacement parts aren't readily available like they once were, people are stealing what they need from faucets at the store, or buying them, strip out the parts needed and return the faucet for a refund. As it turns out, our faucet was missing a part inside and was probably stripped before purchased. He said it's happening more often than you'd think.

The same plumber had to replace parts on our master bathtub faucet when it developed a drip and had to get the parts at a plumbing supply shop, and they were something completely different than what he'd used before, which is another problem.

I don't think price can fix any and all problems, and about the time you like a particular brand, they get sold to another company and you end up with yet one more plumbing challenge. Hubby asked the design people where he works (he's VP at a cabinet manufacturing company) what brand of kitchen faucets they thought were superior and they all had a different favorite. So there you go.....

-Grainlady

Ellen - This goes back and forth so often that I decided to make a phone call. According to the rep at a major brand, there is often a slightly different model number on the products sold at big box stores, and there IS a difference in construction. The example he gave was a faucet, buy from a plumbing supply house and the drain tailpiece will be metal, at HD it will be plastic. Same goes for some internal parts. That said, both units will be quality products that come with the same lifetime warranty. He said he wouldn't let the difference deter you from buying at a big box store.

If the model number is exactly the same then it's the same product.

As long as you are SURE it's not being made "exclusively" for a big box store, is should be the same.

But many companies now make slightly lower quality, lower price products for big box stores, so do good research. The differences can be subtle but important. There may be a slightly different model number on the box, too, so it's important to pay attention.

For example, Sam's Club may carry the same brands as Walmart, and the items may look the same, but the item at Sam's Club, made specifically for them, may have more attachments, or a bit more power, even if it costs about the same. Plenty of stores now advertise that the product is theirs. exclusively. Same goes for K-Mart and Sears. Faucets are no different.

Sushi, that's what I thought too, but now FOAS & Grainlady are offering a different POV with some hard evidence for back up.

I know about the model numbers -- just a sublety, but enough for a piece of plastic to be inserted. My Kohler Fairfax purchased 11 yrs ago through the kitchen designer certainly held up well. My other question is why it now costs over $300 on Faucets Direct, however some of the models which I'm now exploring are cheaper. Is that due to cheaper materials, Chinese construction or what? Yrs ago we had a KWC faucet that cost quite a bundle, but was a piece of carp. I'm unsure that price equals quality. I'd love everyone to weigh in on that!

Kaismom posted about a problem with a KWC faucet a couple weeks ago; they wanted her to buy a new spray head. That would never happen with Kohler, Delta, Moen, etc.; from experience I can tell you they would have sent out a new part without batting an eyelash. Or a whole new faucet if that particular model was discontinued. Consider the warranty.

What did you buy for your new kitchen?

Delta Touch2O. Couldn't help myself, I'm a germaphobe in the kitchen. I have a misfire once in a while and the kids love playing with it too much, but overall I'm really happy I listened to the recommendations here.

Other observations, it's kind of tall which is great for many tasks but does lend itself to splashing. Could also do without the blue LED indicating the "on" status, though I see the logic behind it.

Oh, and I find myself touching faucet spouts in other people's kitchens and wonder why they don't turn on!

I bought this (link below) 20 years ago on eBay, $15.00?

Still working and never leaked, a couple of months ago, I decided to replace the unit because the chrome finish was kind of all scratched.

The same unit was still available, but $35.00 (including shipping, and no tax).

I only replaced the spray head in two minutes, and did not have to pull out the plumbing to replace the whole unit.

I like the style, so I don't need to spend $150 to $500. And for $35.00 I don't need any warranty.

dcarch

Here is a link that might be useful: faucet

This post was edited by dcarch on Mon, Sep 23, 13 at 18:08

Big box store faucets usually have plastic innards. Plumbing store faucets have brass innards. We looked at both during the rebuilding after Sandy. The plumbing store also stocks parts.

/tricia

Yes, my plumber said the HD stuff has more plastic inside. However, if the model number is exactly the same, I bet they are the same item.

That's the key, Pam, exactly the same number then by law (I believe) they have to be the same.

A for plastic vs brass, I wonder how much of that is perceived quality over actual differences in lifespan. I don't know that answer. The rep I spoke with mentioned the lifetime warranty on both, but of course that's parts, not labor. Parts are a phone call and UPS shipment away either route.

I love my Kohler Karbon and am comfortable that Kohler will have replacement parts available.

If Costco is selling it, that's good enough for me. I rely on quality from Costco. I believe that their volume buying gets the customer way better prices.

I believe that plumbers, generally, are slow to embrace new products and like everyone else, are comfy with with what they know. If a newer product or manufacturer is foreign to them, and has not required much repair work, they may bad mouth that manufacturer.

Toto toilets are newish to most plumbers, for example, and while a terrific product for consumers, plumbers are not fans.

Westsider - you can have my Toto Drake 2. Almost new. I'll even clean it for you. Looks nice. ;-)

One reason plumbers will push the supply house is because they get a discount and can upcharge. And they can in good conscience say they're made with better materials.

Hmmm

Our plumber asks that we purchase our own fixtures wherever we wish - he will install.

/t

FOAS, IMHO, brass is a cast alloy and each piece needs to be cast separately and machine tooled separately, a process which is dimensionally less precise than injection molded plastic parts and much more expensive labor and material-wise. Plastic parts are used in precision long lasting and intricate moving parts such as in your DVD players, high stress gears in appliances, etc.
In any case inside so-call brass faucets, the valves and gaskets are still made of plastic and rubber. Plumbing leaks many times are due to pitting of cast metals, especially if wrong brass alloy is used (dezincification resistant (DZR or DR) brasses are good).

The differences would be the body parts; brass feels heavy and is more impact resistant. Chrome plating is desirable for kitchen utensils, and chrome plating on brass is more durable than on plastic.

dcarch

I agree, dcarch. How many washers have I replaced over and over and over again because I never bought a valve seat grinder?

But - you mention long lasting DVD players. Those I've not stumbled upon yet.

Aw, FOAS, sorry that your Toto has not met your expectations. I have 4 in two different houses and they have been problem free. Also, when I hung out on the bathroom forum, Totos were the favorite. That was back in 2010 or so.

Tricia, sounds like a good plumber. He'll step out of the comfort of Delta/Moen, etc.

I don't know about faucets, but I bought a television at Circuit City once. It had a one year manufacturer's warranty and was a brand name, I think RCA. Anyway, after about 14 months it quit working, I was told that Circuit City didn't cover it, I'd have to go to the manufacturer. That phone call told me to contact the nearest "authorized repair facility" and gave me a phone number. That place told me the thing couldn't be repaired because it was made especially for Circuit City and was cheaper than the normal RCA brands. The guy said they do it all the time for electronics.

As for plastic, I can tell you that the plastic piece in the pull cord recoil mechanism on my roto-tiller lasts exactly one season. Every year I buy a new one, they don't even make a metal one any more. (sigh) The metal one lasted 15 years.

So, my guess, and it's only a guess, is that the faucet I buy from Lowe's/etc. probably isn't the same as the one I get elsewhere. Is the difference big enough to justify the extra money? I guess I don't know that either, but if both have an identical guarantee I'd go with the cheaper one.

Heck, I don't even know what a Toto toilet is, I'm off to look that up!

Annie

Lots of good info here, thanks for weighing in! I spoke with a plumber today who does a lot of kitchen & bath installation and maintenance. He highly recommended the Grohe Lady Lux (either model) . He said that they are well built, and hearty. He was not a fan of the newer Kohler, we didn't discuss Delta or Moen. I've sent him photos and will wait to hear feedback of how to simplify the jungle under my kitchen sink. The mass of lines, wires and equipment is insane!

Toto-- yes, we have them too. I had two that I didn't care for, but when we upgraded to a higher end of the line, they work much, much better! That said, low flow is problematic. I don 't recall having the Drake at all.