I got most of my plumbing fixtures from eBay (Delta Victorian ORB for master bath, a Ginger shower curtain rod when builder cheap flanges didn't fit b/t tub surround and window trim) and Home Depot (American standard toilet with Everclean surface, Hansgrohe hand shower to replace cheap shower head builder put in).

Are you locked into using a certain vendor? Is builder giving you an allowance? It just does not make sense that you would pay more - big builders get discounts if they order a lot from certain vendors/manufacturers. Our modular company only offered certain options though, and I found that at least for the Delta faucets, towel bars I could get better prices on eBay. I also picked up matching Delta mirrors and shelf from Lowes on clearance, Pegasus faucet for PR and one sink for master bath on clearance at Home Depot (matching sink on eBay). If you keep your eyes open you can find bargains.

See if your builder will work with you if you buy online, at big-box stores, or eBay. Some won't warranty fixtures you buy yourself (not a problem for us since we are finishing master bath and PR ourselves).

I'm also slowly replacing the builder grade lighting - he gave me an allowance right away for incorrectly installed bathroom lighting (brass when I ordered chrome for the one finished bath, and nothing for master bath) and outdoor coach lights. Again, check online.

Sounds like the plumber may be getting a piece of the mark up, and the supplier is trying to protect his cut. They do that for him, and he brings all his business to that supplier.

I don't think the process is illegal, as long as he treats the parts as retail sales on his taxes, but it sure does smell.

Why would you care what your builder would think if you told his crappy vendor what you thought of their customer service??? Your builder should care what YOU think of his vendor. Are you locked into using that particular vendor? Not to digress, but that is why (among a myriad of other concerns), at no point, should anyone ever enter into a contract where you are coerced into using a certain vendor! You could sign something that provides preferential pricing if you use the builder's recommended supplier, but a contract that forces your hand is not a contract with which I want to be associated.

Good luck. Hopefully you are able to show your displeasure by taking your cash elsewhere. I have never heard anything so stupid as telling a customer that because they are BUILDING (a whole house) they have to pay more than someone who is off the street (and probably buying one showerhead).

Our builder gave us a list of his vendors and told us anything that we don't get from his vendors we can pay out of pocket and get a credit from him at the end. So we can go else where and we probably will. Who knows what kind of credit we are going to get back for buying it out of our own pocket. I was just curious too see if anyone else had these rude vendors pulling this crazyness of telling us we have to pay more for building a house then the average joe. Not only did the crazy vender tell us we had to pay more she told us nothing would be warrantied in our house if we didn't buy from her. We are now hoping to find some online deals.
Julie

Not only did the crazy vender tell us we had to pay more she told us nothing would be warrantied in our house if we didn't buy from her.

That is insane.

We have been buying fixtures and appliances from online vendors, so far with zero problems. The builder credits us for our out of pocket costs.

Tell the builder what she said about the warranty, since he said you could buy stuff and he'd credit you at the end. Then find out how much your "allowance" or credit is and go shopping!

The modular company's warranty is a joke (they refer us to manufacturer and in the case of my bathroom vanity that was factory installed manufacturer doesn't want to deal with us). Our plumber (I GC'd the excavation, foundation, well, septic, HVAC and remaining plumbing and electrical - mostly hookups in basement - as well as all finish work (flooring, painting, etc.) myself) said he wouldn't warrant anything the factory supplied or installed, or anything I bought and had him install, but since Delta has such good customer service (I've had Delta faucets in old house) this is not a problem for us.

Oh, BTW, I managed to get unlimited 10% discount when I opened my Home Depot card. Usually it's limited to the first $2000 but since I was buying almost $20,000 worth of stuff the store manager gave me 10% everything I ordered that first day - saved me an additional $1700 or so. Now I'm thinking of opening a contractor card (you don't have to be licensed) so I can save 10% each time. Contractors can't get the deferred financing (usually 6 months, sometimes they run 12 months no interest on purchases over $299), when we built I took the 10% off *and* got 12 months no interest on over $17,000 initial purchase.

Just have all the different departments (I bought doors, windows, insulation, installed carpet, special order tile, hardwoods, etc.) put orders on "Will call" and ring everything up at the front register (actually, the customer service desk is best for a large order) to get it to count as the first (discounted) purchase. If you order, say, carpet, and have it rung up in flooring dept then that's it, you won't get the discount on anything else when you go to the next department or the front register.

I'm on a first name basis with practically everybody working at my local HD now - I've practically lived there for the past 2 years. They greet me by name as soon as I walk in the door.

Always do your homework. Builder's warranties are often a slice of bologna. Delta faucets carry a lifetime parts and finish warranty for the original purchaser. No builder's warranty will be needed for that. I am sure that other brands for different parts of your home are the same.