I know skus of course, but they aren't available online. Are the model numbers enough of an ID - are they slightly different? And is there a reliable online store? I'm thinking of checking Faucets Direct.

Amazon has SKUs

Sku vs ASIN

The plumber uses the local supply store for a number of reasons. if you are ordering on his account, you are also probably getting a discount. Why buy the pieces from a different place than the plumber you trust? We purchased from a plumbing supply store and the prices, on our plumbers account, were below Lowe’s and Home Depot. There were two items the supply store couldn’t get (on backorder) for sure, so our plumber OK’d us buying them online for him, but they were accessories/parts (two handheld elbows).

Box stores commission products made exclusively for them, to a price point. Not a quality point. “Fountain Spring” model 100012345-SS won’t be made to the same standards as “Fountain Splash model 100212345-SS. They won’t carry the same model number, or UPC, which is what some posters are trying to say. SKU is an individual identifier to the retailer. UPC codes are individual product identifiers. Or, the box will do the trick of combing accessories like a soap dispenser as a “set” and use a completely different model number and UPC than the individual, shoppable parts. Those items are made to lesser standards. If the UPC and model number are the same, it’s the same. Period.

But even lesser quality plumbing from upstanding manufacturers can last for years. It becomes a case of, how much quality do you need when even a budget $200 faucet from Lowes that has nylon parts instead of brass will last 30 years, and come with a lifetime warranty. That you may never use, because you’ll be sick of the style long before you have issues with it.

Choreograph is just expensive FRP that acquired a marketing team. The same not pretty thing they use on shop restroom walls and some manufactured homes. You can find much cheaper options anywhere.

I have never seen any evidence that a plumbing product sold at a big box is any less quality than that of the same product sold at a local plumbing supply house. Ever.

We bought from Fergusons and the prices were virtually the same as HD and Lowes with the contractors discount. We mostly used Delta products.

We used Ferguson’s too, with our contractor’s discount. Bought from the Kohler Artifacts collection for the kitchen and master bath. Fabulous faucets; beautiful transitional style. The other bathrooms have Grohe.

As others have posted, if SKU is identical, then product quality is the same but god is in the details.

I am surprised that your plumber/contractor directed you to a supply store that has FEWER options than HD.

I recently finished a remodel and I visited the large plumbing supply stores in my area (Fergusons and Snyder-Diamond) to look at stuff in person. I also looked at stuff on-line especially to check out items recommended by people on this forum.

After I made my selections, I let my GC know what I wanted and they were ordered. The items were ordered from a variety of sources.

In my experience, prices for the stuff I ordered was comparable to what I would have paid on my own because the trade discounts were substantial so even with their contractual markup, I came out ahead.

What no one is addressing is that it really simplifies if your GC orders everything because then he/she is responsible for everything being correct and delivered on schedule. If you order, you take responsibility if the item doesn't work or doesn't arrive on time.

This topic has been beaten to death multiple times on GardenWeb (a simple search will reveal many threads). My view, based on my own experience and that of knowledgeable commenters here is:

1. The products in the big box stores are identical if the product identification numbers are identical. Manufacturers do not risk their reputations by supplying the big box stores with products that have the same numbers but are somehow inferior. But they do carry some budget lines that may only be available in their stores.

2. The prices at big box stores are often lower than plumbing supply places, even with your contractor's discount. But you might do better than both, and have access to a wider selection, if you go to reputable online stores like build.com. For example, I got a Delta bath tub quote from my local supplier and it was $3200, with a six week wait; build.com sold it to me for half that price with free delivery from 1200 miles away in 3 days.

3. If you know what you want, you can often special order it through a big box store and possibly get it cheaper and faster than a local supply house.