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lucik77

what's ok to buy online (fixtures, appliances, etc.)?

lucik77
13 years ago

I need to buy everything for our kitchen remodel from tile to cabinets to appliances.

From your experience, in the list below, what is ok to buy online and what may be problematic?

Did you buy it online to find something specific or to get better pricing?

Also, if you purchased something online and had a good experience, could you mention what site you have used?

Thank you very much!

Here is the list:

1. Appliances:

1a. range

1b. range hood

1c. dishwasher

1d. microwave

2. sink

3. faucets

4. tile (floor, backsplash, etc.)

5. granite counter top

6. lighting

Thank you!

Comments (19)

  • chocolatetruffle
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I got my faucet (Delta Linden pullout in Venetian Bronze) from faucetdirect.com. I paid $206 with free shipping. MSRP was $333, I believe.

    You don't mention cabinet pulls, but I got mine online as well. I got uppers (glass amber knobs by Amerock) from coolknobsandpulls.com and lowers (ORB "Napa" pulls) from Overstock. I also spent about $30 getting various samples, because I need to see them in person before deciding. HD and Lowes just didn't have that big a selection, at least not compared to what you can find online.

  • hellonasty
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I got my faucet and matching soap dispenser from faucetdirect.com (Jado Coriander Pullout). They were both in stock and had free shipping. They arrived about a week to ten days after I placed the order. I haven't had them installed yet but they look great and I saved *a lot* of money over the MSRP.

    I just placed my under cabinet lights order at lightingdirect.com, today.

  • plllog
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Some of it depends on how good your local stores are. I live in an urban area near a lot of competition. The local independent stores have better prices than online (or same--one of them is also a major online retailer), plus showrooms, service, repair, etc. The opposite might be true in other areas. Even with that, the plumbing fixture store doesn't carry Kohler faucets because of policy disagreements, so I bought my Karbon at faucetdirect.com. There's a national chain, upscale plumbing fixtures store who do carry it, but they were so rude there I wouldn't buy a rubber spacer from them, and Faucet Direct are so nice! And they're pretty local to me too. I got my sink grids from them too.

    I found my knobs and pulls online, and ordered them e-mail from the artisan. That was a lovely experience.

    It gets harder when you're talking about finishes. Things like tiles. People have done it, but either you're not picky, or you do a lot of mailing back and forth checking colors, etc. And with anything bigger or heavier than what can go by post/UPS, doing returns, etc., can be problematic.

    I rejected my hood on delivery twice, and in the warehouse once more. They made it wrong the first time (installed the duct hole on the wrong side), and scratched it up when they remade it, and didn't do a good job fixing it the first time they went after the scratches. Finally, my GC and I went to the Modern Aire factory to inspect it before I finally accepted it (I can tell where the scratches were, but at least they're gone now). That's one of the great things about buying local. You can do that.

    I got a small induction cooktop from Europe. I bought it through a kitchen agent in England, who FedEx'd it. It really should have been double boxed. All the parts were there, but the box was pretty destroyed and there were a couple of mars in the stainless frame. If I were buying this locally, I'd expect the frame to be perfect. Getting this special unit all this way, arranging for the wire transfer, then having to redo it because of a transmission problem. ... I'm thrilled to have it, tiny cosmetic flaws and all, but have to explain to every workman who sees it that I know about it and it's okay, and I'm not going to blame it on him, and that I'm not going to throw a hissy fit over it. I don't blame them for covering themselves, but I live in the land of hissy fits and they just have a hard time understanding that I'm not going to raise the roof having it pointed out. Tiny dings you can only see if you're right on top of them.

    With the custom order and custom ship, there was no thinking about a reship. The best I could have gotten would probably have been $10 from FedEx for the trouble. A metal specialist might even have be able to fix it.

    So with all that, the local reps from the appliance company gave me the Germany installation instructions rather than the England ones, and I had to get help from the Electrical Forum to get the wiring right.

    Anyway, that's the kind of thing you face when you get appliances online, especially if they're "special". A range that you can just plug in (attach gas hose to bib, whatever) and push into place, should be well crated, and you should inspect it for damage before you accept delivery. Anything that you need a qualified installer for, a specialty wiring, or whatever, adds a layer of complexity, so adds a layer of things that can go wrong.

  • alwaysfixin
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    The only things on your list that I would not/have not ordered online are granite and tile. For granite, you MUST personally go to the stone yard and pick your slab. Even if you know the name of the granite you want (and most of us don't know until we see a bunch of them at stone yards), the slabs vary hugely. I also think you need to see tile in person before buying, and I have found tile salespeople to be a great deal of help.

    Here's what I've bought online for our kitchen:

    Kraus Faucet and matching soap dispenser - Expressdecor.com (offered free shipping and extra 10%-off coupon). Was also going to order the Kraus stainless steel 30" single-bowl sink with it, but ended up choosing a Silgranit sink instead, which is sold at a different website. Very pleased with faucet purchase from expressdecor.com.

    Blanco Blancoprecis Silgranit sink - Homeandstone.com. Great price, free shipping, very well-packed, speedy delivery.

    Juno 5" ceiling cans ICR housing - Sears online had best price, shipped very quickly.

    Juno recessed cans trim, and Juno Undercabinet lighting - Electricsuppliesonline.com. Some of the items were on backorder and took a while, but we weren't in a big rush, and we eventually received everything. Very good prices.

    Disposal - we were going to order our Insinkerator Cover Control (batch feed) disposal from faucetdirect.com. But we were in Home Depot one day, and there it was, sitting on the shelf, so we bought it right then at Home Depot, but faucetdirect is well-reviewed on this forum.

    Dishwasher and microwave - Homeeverything.com. Free shipping, great prices, Authorized Dealer for a great selection of manufacturers. Items arrived perfectly. I posted about this online appliance purchase on the Appliances Forum.

    HTH.

  • lucik77
    Original Author
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Wonderful advice - thank you everyone!

    To summarize for others like myself, the following sites were recommended so far:
    faucetdirect.com (faucets)
    coolknobsandpulls.com (knobs, etc)
    lightingdirect.com (lights)
    Expressdecor.com (sink, faucet)
    Homeandstone.com (sink, faucet)
    Electricsuppliesonline.com (under cabinet lighting)
    Homeeverything.com (dishwasher and microwave)

  • rexem
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I think this is where we got our ventahood excalibur which offered free shipping. I had no problems.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Universal

  • User
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I purchased my Blanco sink from faucetdirect.com - Fast, free shipping.

    Hansgrohe HighArc faucet and soap dispenser bought locally through Pacific Sales only because of a nice sale. I was going to purchase them from faucetdirect also but saved $125 with Pacific Sales.

    I've also purchased cabinet hardware samples online, through wwhardware.com. Haven't made my final decision yet.

    My Blumotion soft close mechanisms for my cupboard doors will be purchased from wwhardware.com as well.

    LED undercabinet, dimmable lighting strips and cords bought from photonier.com. They're in Taiwan and you have to email to purchase but the salesman made it so easy and shipped them to us in 4 days! You do have to buy each part individually as opposed to buying a kit. We bought everything from them but the transformer which we'll probably buy from environmentallights.com.

  • allnewappliances
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I have ordered online - garbage disposal, air switch, extended flange, hot water dispenser, hot water tank....and ordered everything at either Faucetdirect.com or Homedepot.com. I haven't installed them yet, but all of the items came within 1 week.

  • Newyorking
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I purchased my bathroom fixtures and Elkay sink from qualitybath.com and nationalbuildersupply.com
    Lighting from ylighting.com
    Door hardware from handlesets.com
    Wolf oven from eBay

    I would buy from all of them again. However, the biggest challenge with online is that if they don't have an item in stock it can take forever, and they don't follow up so you have to keep calling to follow up. For example, ylighting.com does not keep stock - they are middlemen and manufacturers send the package directly. I did not receive the package or any information and kept following up with Ylighting.com. Their customer service was good, but it takes a long time. I cancelled a portion of my orders with a few of these sites and placed them with a local place. Its best to call and see if they have the item in stock and how long it would take to receive.

    I think that you can order fixtures, hardware, lighting, and appliances online because the brands do not change and you know what you are getting. For granite and tiles, you really need to see them in-person especially because one particular type of granite may have so many variations. Same for tile especially if the tile is made of stone.

    It is also better to buy some high-end items locally especially if you need after-sales service or warranties. I placed an order for appliances with a local store even though it was more expensive because I bought high-end items and for me safety and reliability is better. If tomorrow some appliances stop working, where will I go? At least locally I can go to the store and yell at the top of my voice driving away customers if they don't do anything about it (lol). I bought only the oven online because I never use it.

  • builderbob_2010
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I bought awesome cabinets from kitchenplace.com. That website has the most cabinet information I could find, great on-line design, very well made. I shopped hard and they came out on top. Not the cheapest, though.

    I also bought a Franke sink/faucet which is awesome (cant remember where I got it) and a microwave from BestBuy.com which was low priced.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchenplace

  • marcy96
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I bought my Zephyr chimney hood online from US Appliances, Franke Farmhouse sink from homeandstone, knobs and pulls from knobs4less. I had no problems with any of them.

  • lucik77
    Original Author
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thank you so much for your feedback! Here is the latest summary:

    US Appliances.com (Zephyr chimney hood)
    homeandstone.com (Franke Farmhouse sink)
    knobs4less.com (knobs and pulls)
    kitchenplace.com (kitchen cabinets)
    qualitybath.com and nationalbuildersupply.com (bathroom fixtures and Elkay sink)
    ylighting.com (Lighting )
    handlesets.com (Door hardware)
    eBay.com (oven)
    photonier.com (LED undercabinet, dimmable lighting strips and cords)
    faucetdirect.com (garbage disposal, air switch, extended flange, hot water dispenser, hot water tank)
    + last summary:
    faucetdirect.com (faucets)
    coolknobsandpulls.com (knobs, etc)
    lightingdirect.com (lights)
    Expressdecor.com (sink, faucet)
    Homeandstone.com (sink, faucet)
    Electricsuppliesonline.com (under cabinet lighting)
    Homeeverything.com (dishwasher and microwave)

    Thanks again!

  • shipshape
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I bought everything online except cabinets and floor tile. Dishwasher, sink, faucet, cooktop, Wilsonart laminate countertop, light fixtures. In most cases I got free shipping and no sales tax. I used the same sites already mentioned. Very satisfied.

  • dyno
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I used Home Perfect for Panasonic bathroom fans and a couple of faucets.

    Also used A&H Turf for bathroom towel holders. Good prices and delivery was ok though some items were backordered. No issues otherwise.

    http://ahturf.com/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=445

    Lots of people use irawoods.com, especially for Grohe fixtures.

  • lucik77
    Original Author
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thank you so much everyone!!!

  • annie1956
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Though I did not go "high end" like many on the list - by shopping around I was able to save $3000 and find the following online (and get delivered/no problems within a week)
    -GE Profile 30" Convection Single/Double Oven
    -GE Profile 30" Cooktop
    Warehouse Discount Center
    -GE Profile Dishwasher
    -Broan 36" Elite Island Range Hood
    Appliances Connection
    -LG French Door Refrigerator
    Quality Matters

    When we reno'd our master bath a couple of years ago I ordered just about everything (including jacquizzi/air tub) online as well.

    Annie

    -

  • melissastar
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I've puchased lighting with no problems from lightinguniverse.com, lampsplus.com, barnlightingelectric.com and of course, from Rejuvenation.com...couldn't live without them.

  • pinch_me
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    If I am not the queen of bargain hunters, I certainly belong in her court.

    Range hood
    http://appliancebestbuys.com/index.asp?PageAction=LOGIN

    Whitehause firclay sink www.bluebath.com

    faucets ebay

    gas range Sears

    antique light fixtures eBay

  • gillycat
    13 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    i got a towel ring and toilet roll holder for the nearby powder room from

    1stoplighting.com

    they seem to be affiliated with a few other sites

    The towel ring was back ordered and they kept me up to date with it's status. the availability date kept changing.
    I know it was legit as no-one had this towel ring in stock.
    It did finally arrive
    as a follow up I was in the rooom last week and the toilet roll seemed to be at an angle. Seems the toilet roll holder is faulty.
    i emailed them to ask for the manufacturer's contact to see what could be done (I didn't dream there would be a warranty on that!)
    they emailed me back that they have set up a replacement from the manufacturers.
    a day later i rec an email saying the manufacturer does not want the damaged one back & to destroy it.
    I am still waiting for the delivery but so far i am impressed.