Every brand name at Home Depot is a lower quality than the actual brand name for double the price. Like buying Anne Klein dresses at Winners. Horrible quality with a big up-charge for a badly constructed dress with a label POORLY attached to the inside of the garment.

Caveat Emptor. Buyer Beware.

It is actually a lot cheaper. I am not sure I follow?

The "double the price" is the REAL price tag for the REAL name brand. I should have added (of the home Depot tile) in the first sentence. Sorry. Grammar caught me.

If you special order a certain daltile sku from Home Depot (one which they don't stock), will the price also be discounted compared to buying from a Daltile store? Or will it be list price?

Usually the name brand tiles at a big box store are going to contain a percentage of seconds in very carton.

HD can also order huge quantities which would explain why they can give a better price. I don't think they are seconds. they would have to disclose that. They buy in bulk and can give a better price. However, your contractor should also be able to obtain a good price by buying direct from them. His price should be able to beat even HD's price. I do know that the big box stores user lesser quality marble (carrara for example). I believe they import it from China as opposed to higher quality from Italy.

I don't understand the "lower quality" idea and would also like some sources if anyone has any.

To me, it would mean that Daltile would, essentially, have 2 production lines, one for the tile stores and one for big box stores. It makes no sense to me to do that.

Interesting idea and wondering if anyone knows for sure...?

We special ordered Daltile subway tile from HD and it certainly appears to me to be first quality tile. It arrived in good condition and was well priced.

I spoke to a flooring company rep who is very experienced, and she said Big Box stores buy the seconds from Daltile. Hence the lower price. I can not confirm that for sure - but she says the weight is off on one side - it did not pass their specs. I am not 100% sure if she just heard this or was told by a Daltile rep. It seems like an awful lot of seconds to box up -- i am a bit skeptical.

Oh how I wish this "seconds from the big boxes" myth would die. It is usually perpetrated by a local supplier or contractor who can't possibly meet the big box price.

The big boxes get their low prices from negotiating large volume purchases. When the big box rep leaves the Daltile corporate office, he's gotten a price no mom-'n-pop is ever going to see. He did not negotiate a lesser-quality item.