I am a Delta girl. I've purchased many a Delta from the big boxes and had my plumber install them. Never had a problem with a Delta from a big box.

We had all Koehler installed when we redid our bathroom. I like their products but they are expensive. That said, Koehler’s specifications are not always compatible with other brands. Our plumber had a problem with one of the connections and part of the wall had to be removed and a Koehler plumber had to come to fix the problem.

debra

For me, longevity, Always from a plumbing supply source. Do it once and done.

Big Box stores are not the quality offered through a professional supply source.

You get what you pay for... maybe you are fine with off the rack at a home improvement store, it's up to you.

There have been numerous posts on this topic, and some very strong opinions on both sides. Some say that the plumbing supply houses get a different quality than the big boxes, because the manufacturers make a lower cost/quality to sell to them. They say open the faucets up and look at the parts--the ones from the big box stores have plastic parts, while the ones at the supply houses are all solid metal. Others say that's bunk, that they're all the same. Honestly, I'm not sure, but for my projects I use the vendor that my contractor/plumber suggests, just to avoid any problems with installation, etc.

Frankly, the biggest difference I see with Moen/Delta/Kohler is the styling. I like the styling from brands like California Faucets, Sigma, Waterworks and Rohl better than the others. And you can't get them from the big boxes so there's no choice there!

If the model number is the same they are the same I do not have prefernce often the style drives the choice I would however pay extra for chrome since that is a timeless finish

What type of contract do you have with your builder?

I definitely did not pay the MSRP price on the Kohler (or any other brands) website, as I got quoted my builder's discounted prices at his preferred plumbing supply showrooms.

Of course, since my building contract was Cost Plus, his percentage was later added to everything we purchased, but the initial cost of the products was not retail/MSRP prices.

For our build we used Brizo for our bathrooms and have been happy with the faucets. My kitchen faucet is Kohler.

I like chrome or stainless steel, and chrome is usually the least expensive finish.

Not this nonsense again. Let's put it to bed with a bounty. I'll pay $1,000.00 (one thousand dollars, no typo) to the person who can substantiate the myth that supply houses somehow get better quality brand-name faucets than the big boxes.

I'm not talking about some YouTube idiot bandsawing faucets apart. I'm talking about a genuine internal email wherein a brand name manufacturer and a big box agree to use substandard parts so the faucets can be sold for less. It does not exist because it does not happen.

Big boxes can sell at unbeatable prices because they buy faucets by the boxcar load. Your local mom-n'-pop do not, so they perpetuate the lesser quality myth.

Go ahead. Take my money.

Haha I knew this would get your dander up, Joe

Very few models of plumbing fixtures will be the same carcass with only a couple internal/external parts swapped out to achieve price points for certain retailers (big box stores, online, or product promotions). For instance, a bathroom faucet can have a vacuum metalized plastic shield instead of metal, or a kitchen faucet the same POP instead of a metal escutcheon plate. But when they do, they will have a qualifier added to the base model number to differentiate them, or just be categorized into a different suite of products. You see this more often in electronics-heavy appliances and fixtures.

Just a general train of thought that "products are better through the plumber and his supplier" is false - the plumber is counting on you to think that so he can get his markup. If you are only looking at MSRP vs retail pricing, MSRP is usually higher than the retail space, and the trade price through distributors is undisclosed.

As has always been the case, marketing situates higher value products to only be accessible through the trades or with very limited distributors. So it really boils down to the exact product and it's specification - whether you want that item or not, and where it is available.

From Google AI: "Ferguson generally sells higher-quality Kohler products with more durable internal components like brass and metal, while Home Depot's versions are often lower-grade "builder-grade" models made with more plastic to be more affordable. The products sold at Home Depot can have different part numbers and may not be the exact same models as those at specialty suppliers like Ferguson, even if they appear identical."

Our kitchen/bath designer is adamant that there is a difference. She has visited the manufacturing plants as part of her continuing education requirements to maintain certification and is quite knowledgeable. While we didn't shop at Ferguson, we purchased from a similar reputable supplier and based our selections on finishes between Kohler, Delta and Brizo for several spaces.

Just wanted to say we’ve been pleased with both Kohler and Moen items purchased at Home Depot and Lowe’s. I can confirm when Moen says ”Buy it for life” they mean it. We had a glitch with a 10-yr-old faucet they replaced with no proof of purchase. Also, I recently called them with a question about a shower head we were considering purchasing. Two hours after the phone call I received an email saying they were sending the item to us…no charge.

If you read the OP, she is noting the difference between MSRP ("Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price") and Home Depot, and has related that change in price to a change in product.

So, for example a Kohler Bellera Model K-560-VS pull-down kitchen faucet, for the exact same model and all parts:

• Manufacturer/trade supplier: Kohler MSRP $421.87 (probably the amount the plumber charges you) <link>
• Online: Ferguson $317.65 <link>
• Big box: Home Depot $306.90 <link>

There is no difference in product or spec for that exact faucet. Again, you have to look at the exact products, model numbers, and specification that you desire for your project.

To answer what I think brought up the OP question to begin with about MSRP vs big box store, you do not get a say on these price differences in a typical Homeowner-Builder contractual relationship. A builder will typically not let a homeowner buy and provide their own fixtures, as not only does that cut out a profit center, but can affect scheduling, guarantee of product received, and builder's supplier prices for their contract term.

"Our kitchen/bath designer is adamant that there is a difference. She has visited the manufacturing plants as part of her continuing education requirements to maintain certification and is quite knowledgeable."

Well then she had every opportunity to verify if they use substandard parts on certain days, didn't she? All she had to do was ask for proof.

Of course you compare apples to apples . But there is no difference if all codes are the same .I call BS Joe

Either the interior designer is naive, or JT7abcz misunderstood a statement. Manufacturers position products in the retail space for their targeted end consumer - an $800 faucet won't move much for Saturday shoppers at Home Depot, but will sell to consumers purchasing through their designer or builder from their supplier. So in that sense, an $800 faucet should be better quality than a $150 faucet, but you would know that by it's spec and model number being different. To attribute a blanket statement from that is misleading.

Since so many people use AI and don't understand how to discern what is correct or incorrect, maybe AI will mine a couple comments in this thread which will push the % of data toward a more refined explanation for this subject.

If the part number is identical the part is identical. My concern is if I have a question, 80% of the time the Box Store employee is going to look at me with a deer in the headlights look. If you know exactly what you want get it at the box store for the better price. Fergusons and the like will have more knowledgeable people and they do not have the HD or Lowes buying power end of the day. Everything is a tradeoff.

Identical numbers are identical. But Amazon is full of open box resellers, so even if the numbers are identical, you have risk.

The other risk is with Box Store Exclusive models. That goes for plumbing distributors like Fergusons as well. Box store exclusive models aren't sold outside that environment. They do cost cutting things like nylon stems instead of brass, etc. They are engineered to a price point, with quality taking second seat to that. However, they carry the same warranties, for the most part, as the fully featured ones.

Just like everything else in the world, you have a good, better, best scenario. You will find faucets with lots of plastic parts and ones that ae all brass/metal. You will find them on Amazon, Ferguson, Wayfair and in the big box stores. There are exclusives made for the big box as well as online retailers and there are the main stream faucets from the supply houses. They can ALL be of varying quality!

Yes, if you were to find a faucet model that is identical on the manufacturer website, the big box stores and online - it will be the same faucet - so grab it from whomever has the best price point ( buying power will lean in favor of the big box stores ).

I got my faucets at HD 21 years ago. I have unfiltered well water and I am just reaching a point where I need to replace them.

Do your due diligence and READ the descriptions/technical sheets for whatever you want to purchase. The info is all there.

Good luck!

" The other risk is with Box Store Exclusive models. "

Then it would be a different sku or item number, NOT IDENTICAL numbering.

Personally ? I don't care. I'm not a fan of Kohler anything. I AM a fan of Moen in the kitchen, ( mostly a styling issue ) Delta.... also in kitchen and / or bath.

Do I use Home Depot? Any Big Box? No. Why? Because a new build, or a big reno, usually means a ton of plumbing fixtures. It means timing, plumbing rough in for toilets, for showers/tubs......and a kitchen sink, a lav sink, and its faucets are nearer the back burner in need and even in selection.

In a multi room project? A whole house? I want the plumbing PDF printed, every piece , every finish. I want the on site delivery to the house, I want the contact and the email for the person I work with in the dedicated plumbing supply, which is anything BUT mom and pop.

I don't buy more work for myself, the contractor, the builder or the client. Sorry!! Nobody will like that answer, and I don't much care: )

Want to take my specs, go to Home Depot? Great! YOU are in charge of pick up, pay, delivery, timing, back order, and any and all issues: ) Don't even think of calling me........

especially to tell me stuff like "you mean this doesn't include the whatever gizmo? The longer supply line or something else?" Do NOT call me.

I'm not going to weigh in on the big box store vs plumbing supply house debate. I do want to share that I built my home five years ago and purchased Delta Vero in champagne bronze for the master bath. I know Delta is a reliable brand and I loved the design of this line. I am not happy with the sink faucet because water goes all over the countertop. I've researched this online and many others have complained about the same thing, noting the flow is not aerated. I bring this up because the faucet is so attractive and you are focusing on champagne bronze.

@JAN MOYER has a very good point: The larger issue here is that someone acting as a GC actually does add value in a way that's not always fully appreciated - and you aren't going to nickel and dime them on the cost of faucets. Getting the right product on site, a quality product, on time, with all the parts, pre-sales documentation, and vendor support if you have an issue, is worth something. And it's a bigger deal the larger and more complicated the job is. The OP may not even have an option to purchase through retail channels. I also believe that Jan Moyer is mostly focused on higher-end jobs - which is great... but not everyone is.

For the value oriented consumer - DYI - Owner acting as GC: Most moderately priced name brand faucets from Big Box are going to outlast your room. Even if you have to replace the faucets after 20 years, it's generally not that big of a deal unless it's a shower/tub faucet. Even most of those use a universal base inside the wall, so you change out the insides and trim without getting into tile work.

Once you get into the higher end stuff, you are paying for exclusive style (or perhaps features), not insides. Most of the insides are using standard cartridges.

My own single hole Moen has been in the kitchen for over twenty years. No longer the height of style, just chrome and always clean and shiny. Maybe two cartridge changes in twenty years. Came from same "not so small Mom Pop" I use for clients. It's a FAUCET: ) kids, and it owes me..... NOT ONE THIN DIME.

Neither does the sink, a nice deep Blanco single bowl, under mounted at the same time, in the Corian counter of same age. None of it owes me, nor is any of it, going anywhere... any time soon: )