I have heard/read that there is a difference in the part quality, etc when purchasing faucets and plumbing parts from a showroom vs big box retailers vs online. Even if they are the same manufacturer part number? Are the big box and online parts less durable/made of cheaper components that the showroom stuff? Or is this just builders and plumbers telling us this to get us to purchase at higher prices from the showroom? I can't seem to get a straight answer from an unbiased source.

My experience as a DIY homeowner is this: the big box stores do indeed sell cheaper versions of the same MODELS but they really are different part numbers.
You don't have to buy showroom fixtures when you can get the same ones online for less.

The expert plumbers will be here soon to yay or nay this.

Im curious to see what the other plumbers have to say about this. We get our product directly through our suppliers and it is always top notch. I have seen the same product that home owners purchased at big box stores, or online that were most certainly not of the same standard. Possibly different manufacturing locations? Im extremely interested in finding answers on this. Mark, do you have any input on this?

Hi guys!

From my observations in my area, a moen faucet is the same at home improvement stores as well as at plumbing supply stores. The parts are the same for the same model number faucets, but a home improvement store may have a particular model manufactured for them that is a "cheaper version", but looks the same (will have a different model number... ;).

Basically, a symmons, kohler, delta, moen (as mentioned), and an american standard and any other national brand name faucet will be the same between stores, but the home improvement stores also tend to sell their own faucets/valves... pegausus from home depot comes to mind, price pfister is also another cheap brand... and these should be avoided.

In my experience, if you compare model number to model number of a national name brand between wholesaler and home improvement stores the parts and the warranty (lifetime in most cases today) are exactly the same! I would figure the same holds for faucets purchased online... model number to model number comparison.

You can definitely purchase a poor quality faucet online nowadays.. all kinds of names to choose from.

Mark

I agree, Mark, model numbers are very important in these instances. One simple letter or number difference can mean a completely different item, or quality. I also know for a fact that there are many poor quality items out there when it comes to plumbing. This is another argument towards buying from an actuall plumbing company. Any plumbing contractor worth his/her salt will carry only high quality fixtures, etc, and will stand behind them.

One difference I see between plumbing supply house and big box stores are with Kohler toilets. Normally with same name on them (example: Wellworth Toilet). The Wellworth in a supply house and a big box store have different model numbers, one reason I suspect is in a supply house the bowl and tank come in two boxes and in a big box store the bowl and tank come in one box together. I have also seen a diffence in the ballcock and flapper assemby between a supply house and big box store toilet, a kohler toilet ballcock will be in the supply house model and a fluidmaster in the big box store model, but they are basically the same ballcock , both are made by Fluidmaster. If the savings are worth it I would not worry about buying a Name brand from a big box store. Certain brands are made for big box stores only, I would stay away from these.