Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

Smallios t1_j6ax9zl wrote

Reply to comment by harley9779 in LPT: Don't buy anything from Home Depot except nails or screws by Such-Track5369

>All of the items you list come from several different manufacturers and are sold through Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Some brands are cheaper quality, some are better.

No dude, OP is correct. HD and Lowe's have the same exact faucet from the same manufacturer but built with inferior internals; the local plumbing supply house has the same thing but with the internals that were originally engineered for that unit.

11

harley9779 t1_j6az4m1 wrote

Same manufacturer, different part number.

You're not wrong, just lacking context. Most people can't afford, or don't want to pay for quality items. They want what they need for the lowest price possible.

Big box stores cater to these people. They stock the lower quality items. They also stock higher quality items, but either in lesser quantities or by special order.

18

DroolingSlothCarpet t1_j6b3mwv wrote

This is correct. One can purchase high-quality tools at both of those stores and one can purchase budget tools.

Just like a car at a Chevy dealership.

11

GoodAsUsual t1_j6caoyg wrote

I have definitely found this to be true at both Walmart and Costco, and heard lots of logical reasoning for it. I recently started shopping at a big local / non chain hardware store in my area and hand down same brand / selection of products seem to be better quality 10/10 times. Anecdotal for sure, but between the lousy quality of stuff and the lousy / nonexistent help I get, I don’t shop there unless I have to.

4

scottreds2k t1_j6cx5lc wrote

Worked for a plumbing supply house as vp of purchasing for 20 years. Been retired for a year+. Faucets from major brands can have plastic traps, stoppers and more. The complete part numbers are different. Other items have consumer grade specs. Stainless sinks are thinner 22g vs 18g where they have different versions for price. I don't think toilets and china are different. Flush valves and flappers might be, but again, full part numbers are not the same. The AO Smith water heaters are the same, but sold with a different warranty. We didn't do much in tools so I can't comment there.

3