The advantage is the relationship, knowledge, and service that a local entity can provide. That has costs, and is worth paying for. Having an impersonal, unknowledgeable corporate cog be your only local contact for such an expensive purchase has it's own costs too. Maybe just not what you expect it to be. Frustration and delays have costs beyond monetary ones. Is Bosch even available at HD? I doubt anyone there has a clue if so. They probably don't have a clue about Profile either.

We have a local appliance store where the staff is so helpful and knowledgeable that there is no comparison with a Home Depot or a Best Buy. They are always my first stop. And generally I have found their prices are comparable to the big box stores anyway. They went out of their way to be helpful in our kitchen reno - for instance, we needed our old fridge moved down to the basement, but wanted it done weeks before the new one was to be delivered. They had their truck swing by when they were in the area just for the purpose of moving the old fridge. For that kind of service, I am happy to pay a premium (and a good tip as well!).

Sophie- Lowes carries Bosch. I just bought one for my son and had it delivered and installed by Lowe's subs. Why? Because EVERYTIME I have had an issue with anything I have bought from them and Home Depot for that matter they have stood behind. They have price matching. At least there is a big name and $$ to stand behind things. When I have gone local and independent it has been a crap shoot. Here today- gone tomorrow.

You can compare by model number.

Example: I went to the Pella store and inquired about a door. I asked what the difference was between their door and the one sold at Lowe's. They said nothing with the door but that they offer better service?? The door was almost half the price!!! Must be some service. I went to Lowe's and bought the door.

I guess it depends what is available locally. I am in a suburb of a small-to-medium-sized city, and there are 2 local appliance stores just within my town and the next town over that have been around for a long time and provide 1000% better information than the salesman-of-the-moment at Home Depot or Best Buy. (We were given horrible advice at BB years ago, luckily they took the product back with a full refund, but if we had started with the folks who knew anything about the products, we could have avoided that). If I expanded my search area to all suburbs, I know I would come up with many more.

As far as standing behind the product once it is delivered (and installed), that is up to the manufacturer. Whether you buy your Bosch from HD, local store, or on line, it will be up to Bosch to honor the warranty and up to local Bosch service folks to fix it appropriately.

By the way many local business will price match also if you ask, even though they don't advertise it. And you are supporting your local economy, which is intangible but valuable.

Don't get me wrong Susan, I think it would be great to support the local economy, which I have, but like I said, it is a crap shoot. If you are lucky enough to find a tried and true local business with great integrity, stellar service, and back up there products, BRAVO I have been left to chasing in circles too many times, and have had better luck with the big box stores. Not arguing just relaying my experiences.

Fair enough Margo. And recently when we needed to replace a microwave, we ended up getting it from PC Richards rather than local store. Kind of hated to do it, we shopped local and got good advice there, but when it came right down to it PC Richards had a great sale on the exact unit we wanted ... local store came close in matching but had more restrictive return policy and we weren't 100% on whether the unit would work with our installation (as it turned out it did). But particularly for big ticket items, local option is still my go-to.

Depends on staff at your local HD too. I have just not found them knowledgeable, I usually feel I know more about the product I am looking at than they do.

A couple other reasons I shop those big box stores. They have deferred (no interest) financing. Usually 6-12 months. I have better leverage if I am not paid in full. When I do pay cash, they offer a 10% Military discount.

I have found the same thing. you have to research, but often you do come out better with the bigger stores in many places and in many items. This has gone on for years. over 35 years ago, my inlaws - from WI, wanted to get us a microwave to heat the baby's bottle. every number i gave her whether big box (before lowes or HD) or more expensive designer was old - 2-3 yrs old! and as costly as her new ones! she finally bought us one that could cook a turkey and i never warmed up to the thing.

I have bought my vcrs and surround system from best buy, and 2 tvs from walmart, all have lasted over 10 years. I bought my computer from a small local, that worked great too. research is all i can say.