In an older thread, I wrote:

Very timely post for me. Last week, I decided on a Whitehaus Metrohaus faucet (as relayed in a recent post). I google-shopped and found the lowest price (~$321) at Home Perfect, and second-lowest (~$352) at Vintage Tub. A casual glance at the google Seller Ratings seemed like a near-wash (4 stars for HP, 4.5 for VT). But I delved a little deeper, and devised a metric: I added up the number of 4+5 star ratings, and divided that by the sum of 1+2 stars. (I figured that 3 is neutral, 1 or 2 is unsatisfactory and 4 or 5 is satisfactory.) The ratio was strikingly different for the two. (I think it was 2.5 for HP and 7 for VT.) I had just had a bad experience with a lowball retailer for my undercabinet lights, and did not want to go through that again, so I decided to use Vintage Tub. Then I noticed that VT has a price-match program; they will match the lowest advertised price on a like item. So I got the faucet from the place with better ratings for the lower price. (BTW, the customer service at VT was excellent, really outstanding.)

Here is the kicker: today the faucet is being advertised at HomePerfect for $346. I guess my timing was pretty good!

Here is a link that might be useful: Internet vendors thread

LOL - I need to hire Angie to be my materials buyer!

Faucet direct.com

I've had good luck with faucetdirect.com too.

I've used faucet direct and lighting direct, in the past 3 months, and found them both very helpful, knowledgeable and to have great selection and prices. I went to one of our local stores first, and was treated so rudely that I'll never go back.

Quality Bath

I just ordered from Faucet Direct so I can agree that they had great prices. Glad to hear people had good experience with them since I was a little nervous ordering my faucet over the internet.

Another plug for faucetdirect.com. I've bought all my Grohe faucets for my kitchen and all my baths there. Excellent prices and customer service. Make sure to look for additional coupon savings on sites like retailmenot.com before you order, right now I see a coupon there for 5% additional off at faucetdirect.

I bought quite a few things besides fauctes from faucet direct. The trick to getting an even better price is to 1. ask them for a lower price (open a chat window), and 2. if you do find it lower elsewhere, tell them that, they will beat that price, and not just by $0.01. I saved a lot with them.

But, sometimes they don't have the lowest price. You do need to use google.

Another plug for faucets direct. My housekeeper broke our Kohler bathroom mirror door off and it was only 18 months old. I called faucets direct to find out exactly when I purchased it and they provided me with another reciept and the direct number to customer service at Kohler while pointing out the hinges have a lifetime warrenty and hence I should not have to pay for door. Excellent customer service!

I used Faucet Direct exclusively. I had a great experience and ordered for 8 bathrooms, laundry, kitchen, basement bar and den bar. I made a mistake and ordered two handles for a shower and a really expensive grohe soap dispenser I decided against. Called them the next day and they were already being processed and they didn't know if they could stop them. After they arrived I got a call from customer service wanting to set up a return for those items. Crazy me with too much on my plate never did it. As we were getting ready to put our house on the market a couple of weeks ago I found them, shoved under the living room sofa. Set up a return online, even though it was way past their return guidelines. Got a return authorization a few hours later and they have been credited.

Can't say enough about Faucet Direct. Even if they were slightly more, I would choose them over others in a heartbeat.

I ditto the suggestion to always google for a coupon for faucet direct. I could usually find one for 5 percent off

One more thing- you can go through ebates.com for large purchases at faucets direct and save 3% more! Just a thought- got back around $60 after two bathroom remodels.

Thanks for all the excellent advice.

quality bath. ordered faucet and pot filler and no problems. good return policy and customer service and of course great pricing

Quick question for everyone who has bought faucets online...did your builder have a problem with this? Here's the problem I'm running into...my husband and I are just about to start building our home. Our builder is basically saying that we need to buy our faucets, sinks, etc. from the plumber he uses. His reasoning for this is that the plumber "needs to cover his overhead" so he will most likely charge more to install things we bought online! He also says that if the faucets I order online don't come with all the necessary parts to install and the plumber has to go track them down, I won't end up saving any money. Does this sound like BS to anyone else?! How should I handle this situation? I know I can save a lot of money by ordering online.

Quality Bath had the best price on my faucet and farmhouse sink. The sink arrived cracked and they replaced with no questions asked (though frankly it was not very well packaged).

Lindsay221, I would tell the builder that you will be buying online and the plumber should charge whatever he charges for that situation. It really should not be an issue for the plumber as long as he knows upfront and that way you know exactly what you are paying and for what.

Thanks, motodetroit :)

Lindsay, It is true that if you order the part and there is a problem with it or additional parts are needed, it's on your dime to deal with it if, for example, he or she needs to make a second trip. If he or she ordered the parts, it is up to him/her to make it right.

I got our kitchen faucet at www.fixturehaus.com and I absolutely love it!