Build.com is my hands down choice. I've used them for two bathroom remodels, lighting, and other things. Huge selection, quality items, fast-shipping (e.g., the bathtub I bought was shipped for free from over a thousand miles away and it arrived in two days), great prices (that bathtub was half the price quoted me by the local distributor), the web site has detailed tech specs for almost every item, and they have knowledgeable people to talk to if you need help. And shipping is free for orders over $49. I have ordered dozens of things from them, and never had to return an item, but they do have a generous return window: 60 days for any reason, 90 days for anything that is defective.

For lighting: Pottery Barn, Ballards, Lighting Universe.

For vanities: Pottery Barn, Home Decorators (owned by Home Depot). I just remodeled a bath using a vanity from Home Dec; I was a little hesitant to order from them, but my contractor was very impressed by its quality. HD runs frequent promotions that include a discount and free shipping -- a big deal on a vanity.

For plumbing fixtures, if you are using a plumber, I would go through him/her and ask for brand recommendations. You might pay a little more (maybe not), but the plumber will stand behind it.

Why are you buying everything online? I find it very difficult to buy flooring, for example, without actually seeing it in the room where it will be used.

As somebody who bought a lot online..

Do yourself a favor and buy at least some of these things in brick and mortar stores..

Some things do need to be tried before. like a bathtub

Restocking fee, in case of a return-is huge. You realize they don't keep all these bathtubs in one big hangar, with so many models and all-they usually make them as such and such model is ordered. It's a very heavy thing to be shipped away, and then they have to keep it somewhere.

Some things don't look at all IRL as on the computer screen-not even meaning colors even though colors are the last to look anything similar to what they are, especially with flooring..for example we were about to purchase Kohler Archer sinks and then we saw them in the store by pure chance...the sinks had these ribs, very hard to see on the screen..some people love them, but not me. Was happy I saw it by chance-saved me a big unpleasant surprise

Faucets etc..would recommend Signature Hardware if not their notorious problems with lead inspection..They sell many things though, vanities, sinks, whatnot... and the customer service is relatively impressive. They don't refund your payment method though, you can use your refund for something else in the store.

Lights..went vintage with almost everything.

Whatever was ordered in stores-returned 2 out of 4. Actually returned 3, but one was broken so they sent me a replacement.

It's quite often that just one this tiny detail is missing, and then they have to send you this detail, blah blah.

Individual sellers were already easier and faster. Not to mention cheaper))

Amazon, Wayfair, Build.com-ok for smaller stuff, didn't really try to purchase anything big there

In short-always read these small letters, near every item, on every site

april-

It's easy enough to look at things in person if you need to be reassured or you are worried that there is something important that might be a problem for you...but it doesn't mean you have to buy it locally. For me, reading reviews for an item is sometimes more useful that seeing it up close and personal. If I look at something on Amazon or Build.com and it has lots of good reviews, that's often enough for me, and people often point out things that I might not notice myself. I also tend to go with brand names to lower the risk on big ticket items, but with items like towel hooks or TP holders, etc., which are often hugely overpriced in my opinion, I've found some terrific deals on many sites, including eBay.

We all have different standards. I tend to research stuff pretty completely, and make up my mind. Can't remember the last time I got something and it was different from what I imagined after checking it out online. I didn't even think twice about buying a bathtub online: name brand, great price, good reviews. It showed up and I was entirely happy with it...and it got delivered in a couple of days rather than the 2-3 weeks my local distributor wanted. What I'm saying is that we have all had different experiences, and we should all do what we're comfortable with. For me that means sitting in my underwear at three in the morning and ordering a toilet online... :-)

we also tend to research stuff very thoroughly. and then not to buy locally lol

the bathtub was just the right bathtub; the framing, though, was not..))

etc, etc

also, our house dictated a lot of less available choices. less available=tons of money or time. sometimes both

we bought off e Bay, Craigslist, Etsy a lot as well. Two vanities(out of three; the third was custom), some lights, kitchen hood...etc. etc

a lot of the lights were actually shipped from Europe-still better price than here..shipping and all.

but a light is simpler than square feet upon square feet of handmade tile

or whole house worth of flooring which yes, I had to see there. as tiles, slabs, and other hard finishes blah blah

and I learned a lot-for example chrome finish is always there and available; try to get the same in polished nickel. suddenly-this is out of stock, that is out of stock, this arrives in another three to six weeks..

all the plumbing was done like a puzzle-part from here, part from there. because internet

we saved a lot of money yes

knowing what I know now-I'd better save time

towel things, bars, holders etc-I've not even purchased yet)) I look at them and think. will figure out later-we're finally moving soon..or so it seems haha

I don't like sets, what can I say. Door handles is one thing. The whole shebang for a bathroom-I'd rather take my time.

just sharing my experience-a more or less savvy person's experience-and I'm nothing compared to my husband in that, believe me-during a year and a half of a gut remodel (counting from plans approved, permits obtained, port-a-potty brought..))

needless to say, our GC wasn't happy with us, at all

his other customers are either millionaires, or go for widely available materials

while we had to search the right for us tile for the bathrooms for weeks upon weeks. then ask to customize it-texture, blah blah. then wait...

and yes, it was locally..just the traffic disagrees. One drive to San Diego on weekend-2 hours one way. Same with LA. So easy, but not easy enough.

Lucky are people who just go with what they want. I can want many things; but I need such and such, and not only from aesthetic point of view. I really wanted cement tiles for example-but wasn't going to happen.

On the other hand I'm not picky at all when it comes to appliances for example

But internet is not always the most savvy way (even though I did win that hood on e bay for 100$). The most savvy way-is to find that floor model..))

The GC also told me he never yet saw so many cans of paint in one house.

Well..what can I do, lol. By the way I chose them really fast. They told me "Be ready in three days"-I was ready))

I'm reading reviews like there is no manana-still got one of the mirrors, raving reviews and all-the color differs, the design differs, and the general feel is that I was robbed..

(that's Wayfair; they're usually good. return policy is good as well.

now not every site is good in their return policy. And mirrors are really heavy

I won't even go into everything we had to change/order more because the work was done incorrectly. And it happens too. It's a huge remodel. Some subs are more amazing than the others, lets put it this way.

In the end, I'm also happy with most of the things..especially the ones I chose lol

You know what I'm unhappy with?

With myself.

Should pick all the freaking plumbing in this posh Pirch, while drinking their cappuccino. Paying triple. Would be healthier now.

Of course everybody's different..that's the reason I love to read you guys))

Home is people in it..ultimately speaking.

I wouldn't become that interested in the topic, otherwise.

@aprilneverends, about your lights from Europe, aren't they in 220V? I saw a light I really like but it is sold in Britain, different electric current from us.

so that's why they work here..we don't have enough voltage for them, but they do have enough voltage for us

(everybody who understands electricity-hey, everyone here but me lol!-can you give a normal explanation, unlike ignorant me?)

what I did have problems with -wasn't wiring at all..all the lights were in great shape, working and all..it was- different size canopies(for older boxes, they were smaller before I guess), the cross bars that didn't fit, the sockets that had to be bought in specialty stores, etc. Tiny stuff I never even thought to ask the sellers about-because I had no idea it will be so different. I won't say every light was a problem, no. But we had to work on some. Home Depot and Lowes and other big stores don't sell non-standard bars and sockets...we were able to find the right store, after some research though, They had everything there. Amazing store in Newport Beach.

Then my stubborn DH insisted on redoing all the lights by himself, instead of just paying to the store...)) I was so mad.

I bought lots of vintage lights here too of course.

There is this moment..if it's a seller from here that sells European fixture, and he knows what he sells-expect it to be twice as expensive.

But sometimes people just have something they inherited and they have no idea what is it, and they don't like it as much.

That's how I bought one of my favorite chandeliers ever-70 dollars from Craigslist. Had to drive for an hour, that's true. Was worth it though

Well found out later it's pretty rare Bohemian glass..they want couple thousands for that on sites like 1stdibs..(well 1stdibs is notoriously known for the highest prices ever, so)

I had no idea of course when buying-it was just so cute. I have an affinity for cute. For cute, and for gloomy, lol