ᐅ Do you buy from a local building supply store or order online?
Created on: 13 May 2017 14:18
M
Mizit
We are generally not the type of people who need or want to watch every penny, and we understand the difference between cheap and affordable. I also see several advantages in buying something locally, where I can potentially go back to the store, make a complaint if needed, and have a contact person standing right in front of me—compared to ordering something from websites and possibly regretting it later because I tried to save a little and ended up receiving low-quality goods.
However, the budget is of course not unlimited, and where it makes sense, we want or need to save money. And this seems possible at first glance for all the products you want to install or lay.
Especially with doors, the price difference between what I have seen in local specialized stores and doors sold online seems huge. These websites even look reputable and have many reviews. It makes you wonder if it is justified to pay four times as much for a door at the local timber merchant when the product description indicates that the products should essentially be the same…
The same applies to flooring. Prices online for similar wear layers and wood types appear to be completely different from local prices, which seem significantly higher in some cases.
Now we are already considering whether we should order doors online or possibly also three new important windows online and then find someone through MyHammer to install them…
What are your experiences with online versus local shopping?
However, the budget is of course not unlimited, and where it makes sense, we want or need to save money. And this seems possible at first glance for all the products you want to install or lay.
Especially with doors, the price difference between what I have seen in local specialized stores and doors sold online seems huge. These websites even look reputable and have many reviews. It makes you wonder if it is justified to pay four times as much for a door at the local timber merchant when the product description indicates that the products should essentially be the same…
The same applies to flooring. Prices online for similar wear layers and wood types appear to be completely different from local prices, which seem significantly higher in some cases.
Now we are already considering whether we should order doors online or possibly also three new important windows online and then find someone through MyHammer to install them…
What are your experiences with online versus local shopping?
C
Changeling27 Jul 2018 01:07Grantlhaua schrieb:
We hired all the tradespeople based in the village. We simply know them personally and are even friends with some, so I can occasionally buy a part online that, for example, the heating technician installs on site as an extra service. In that case, it didn’t matter if the tradesperson was 500€ (about $540) more expensive than someone located 40km (25 miles) away, because I know they’ll be there in two minutes if there’s any problem with the heating, roof, etc.500€ (about $540) is a lot of money for us. When I calculate how long I have to work to actually earn 500€ (after all expenses!) as profit, I’d rather save and hire someone from the neighboring village—40km (25 miles) is not far, I consider it completely local.
I’m not willing to pay extra just for “in case something happens.” I find that just as pointless as all those thousands of insurance policies you get pushed on you—unnecessarily expensive and in the end, you gain nothing. If something serious does happen, they usually don’t have time anyway.
Grantlhaua schrieb:
I would never buy windows and doors online. Always buy fixed components locally; relatively easily removable items (fixtures, kitchen appliances, etc.) might be okay to buy online.That doesn’t make sense to me, whether it’s permanently installed or not. I buy branded products that are identical in quality everywhere, from the best supplier (for example, specific door models). The quality doesn’t vary here. I’m happy to have a local professional install them, as long as they don’t charge 500€ (about $540) more than their competitor. Items that can’t be purchased as complete units (e.g., custom-made furniture, interior fittings, masonry, etc.)—I would absolutely choose someone local for those. But that’s not what this thread is about.
Today I had to vent my frustration about the local specialist retailers again.
I need two glass or wood panels for a lowboard and a sideboard, measuring 2.4m x 0.40m (7 ft 10 in x 1 ft 4 in) and 1.6m x 0.4m (5 ft 3 in x 1 ft 4 in) in anthracite.
So, at the wood specialty store, they said no, they don’t have them in that size...
Then I went to a carpenter who was very helpful and gave me a sample catalog, but the price was around 400 euros+.
At the home improvement store, it’s 44 euros per square meter for CPL boards plus edge banding at 4.99 euros per meter.
My favorite option is glass, so this morning I called a glazier. Their initial response was that for 1–2 square meters, they don’t set up a machine, and it would be expensive, around 300 euros per panel plus transport, etc.
So I resorted to a Google search.
I found a company in Berlin offering 8mm (0.3 inch) toughened safety glass with polished edges and beveling for 310 euros for both panels. Delivery to us is 25 euros. Lead time is 3–4 weeks, or for a 35% surcharge, delivery within 2 days.
At this point, the specialist retailers really shouldn’t be surprised.
I’m no longer supporting any of them.
PS: If anyone has any tips, please share.
I need two glass or wood panels for a lowboard and a sideboard, measuring 2.4m x 0.40m (7 ft 10 in x 1 ft 4 in) and 1.6m x 0.4m (5 ft 3 in x 1 ft 4 in) in anthracite.
So, at the wood specialty store, they said no, they don’t have them in that size...
Then I went to a carpenter who was very helpful and gave me a sample catalog, but the price was around 400 euros+.
At the home improvement store, it’s 44 euros per square meter for CPL boards plus edge banding at 4.99 euros per meter.
My favorite option is glass, so this morning I called a glazier. Their initial response was that for 1–2 square meters, they don’t set up a machine, and it would be expensive, around 300 euros per panel plus transport, etc.
So I resorted to a Google search.
I found a company in Berlin offering 8mm (0.3 inch) toughened safety glass with polished edges and beveling for 310 euros for both panels. Delivery to us is 25 euros. Lead time is 3–4 weeks, or for a 35% surcharge, delivery within 2 days.
At this point, the specialist retailers really shouldn’t be surprised.
I’m no longer supporting any of them.
PS: If anyone has any tips, please share.
N
neubau20192 Sep 2019 18:31Zaba12 schrieb:
But the front door comes from a very good online supplier. Here I know that I get selection and quality at a “normal price.” I definitely save around €2000-3000 only on the aluminum front door. Which online supplier is that?
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