Ordering online vs local

8 years ago

With a plumber's discount from source like Ferguson's will you save that much vs Internet sourcing...

I am thinking the tax is the main difference unless you hit special sale online that could be extra savings.

I would be buying two single hole vanity faucetsw/drain assemblies, a wall mounted shower head (multi-function) w/valve plus trim/handle, a hand-held shower head and not sure how it will be installed so might need separate valve but would like to avoid.

Was going to get Delta but no nickle in style I want so now Kohler, Moen, Speakman are top contenders.

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Comments (9)

enduring
8 years ago
I bought from Ferguson's and happy. The return was a breeze! I got competitive pricing compared with online. I have bought some things online, but really try for the local purchases. I hate the hassle of returning items with shipping.
ck_squared
8 years ago
I like to try to buy local but when the customer service is way better online, despite being online, that's the route I'll take. Did not have a good experience with either Ferguson or another local plumbing supply house so I took my business to faucetdirect.com and all of its sister sites. They were fantastic! Great customer service, competitive pricing, very helpful. I've gone back to them multiple times throughout a kitchen/main floor remodel and now an upstairs/bathrooms remodel.
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It is, but I just felt bad doing that because he was so helpful. He was all ready to ring me up when I told him I wanted to go over the selections with a designer who I was meeting tomorrow. I asked if I could take the list of products with me, but he said no, they don't do that. I then asked if I could photograph it and he said no. When I asked why, he said I could then take it and try to get a better price elsewhere. That's what got me thinking when I went home and plugged in the exact products (which I remembered) and came up with $500 less. $200 is from taxes which I wouldn't have to pay, so they came somewhat close to the internet price. And they were giving me 10% off which is contractor pricing. I asked them if they could go lower since I was buying a lot of lights but they said no. They did allow me to photograph the lights though. Interestingly enough, the price tags make no mention of company. Again I guess they do that to make it harder for the consumer to compare prices elsewhere. I feel if the price differential were like $200 or so that it would be worth it for the help I received, but $500? Then again if everyone did that, they'd be out of business I suppose. So that's the conundrum.
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loves2read
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
We had excellent help and great pricing on some things we bought from Ferguson's for our TX home--but no plumbing. Got 90% of plumbing from Internet pricing.

We are doing this project in a Sarasota FL area and have been to local Ferguson's. Haven't priced with plumber discount.
catbuilder
8 years ago
Both Texas and Florida require you to pay use tax (equivalent to sales tax) on any online purchases, so you won't have any savings there. Assuming that you comply with the law, of course. Aside from that, I hope you don't plan to visit any showrooms just so you can purchase what you see there online.
dbabrams
8 years ago
I've found the local places fairly useless with recommendations. It's so easy to order from Amazon and have it at my door in two days. I've tried to get local places to come close to their pricing and they can't do it. It's not like they're going to do anything after the sale. I admit I will look at Ferguson's, but they don't have everything on the floor I want anyway and I don't waste salespersons time.
loves2read
Original Author
8 years ago
If I put in the FL zip the tax is up to the website's math.
I don't plan to ship to another state and jump through some hoops to avoid tax.
Guess law has changed since my last remodel
cpartist
8 years ago
Loves2read I'm in the Sarasota area too. Wasn't too thrilled with the Ferguson pricing there. I assume you're talking about the 17th street store.
catbuilder
8 years ago
The law hasn't changed, there's just more compliance with it now.
User
8 years ago
There's more compliance because more people were sent surprise tax bills.

Ordering online vs local

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enduring

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enduring

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