Direct buy is bullshit

[bucket]

We checked into direct buy years ago.

When we ordered tires and found they were more expensive and then I had to pick them up and get someone to install them, we asked for our money back.

It didn't go any furthur than that.

I think costco does kitchens now as well. A friend did counter tops thru costco and was cheaper than the same firm doing it privately.

[bucket]

Sounds alot like FBC

[ry0972]

rafters, floor trusses and 16 to 20' 2x4's and tin for roof came from Prairie Truss/Wizer buildings. Rest of framing lumber and plywood sheeting/subfloor came from Zac's.
I was getting 5/8- 4x12 drywall for $8/sheet and best retail price here was $28(same brand as CO-OP, RONA and J&H)Win-Roc and Ken-Rock were $22 but no retail sales.
Cabinets (Shrock), countertops, electrical, composite decking and railings, insulation,paint, carpet and lino were 1/3 to 2/3 the price up here and usually could get it 2 weeks to a month quicker from Minot.
I add 20% to the U.S. prices to account for taxes, exchange and hassle and the U.S. price can still be 50 to 75% of up here.
Groceries, pet food, cold medicine and some clothing can add up to big savings and fill space in an enclosed trailer.
For most stuff I bought the best/upgrade stuff for same or less than minimum/standard stuff here.

[DogPatch]

so in the future if your local dealer quites handling most of the products that you need, then what?

[ry0972]

DogPatch ?? In the last 15 years how many times have you came out of a store/dealer with what you needed??
In the next 5 you will be lucky to see dealers stocking filters etc.
Most times if there is more than 1 piece/component to an assembly they will be 2 or 3 hours in opposite directions. Or you wait 1 or 2 days to have it shipped from a main warehouse.
As for building materials and such like the discusion is about if I can buy as good or better stuff and save $100-200K for the sake of a week or two total travel time(the family has fun swimming/shopping/siteseeing when they come along).
As linked in the marketplace item above if more people did the same the manufacturers would maybe charge canadian retailers a closer amount to keep them in buisness.
Our Tarkett lino is made in Canada. We paid $0.95 to 1.10/sqft at Menards.
The exact same product SKU, colour grade etc here was $3.45!!! Retailer here claimed it was freight diference!!
1200sqft/roll, about 60 rolls/53' van is 72,000sqft. at $2/sqft price dif, thats $144,000 frieght/load to get lino here from Ontario/Quebec!!!
I think i could make $$$ hauling lino!!!

[bobofthenorth]

Its a new world and the world literally is on our laptop. Just yesterday I ordered an air compressor from Florida because it was less than half the price of the same compressor from the local Ford dealer. That's less than 1/2 price delivered, taxes paid - actually closer to 1/3 the price ($300 vs $800). And probably here faster too because the dealer doesn't stock it anyway. Florida supplier guaranteed 2 day delivery - good luck on that program from the dealer.

Not too long ago I ordered an oddball fuel pump online and it came from England. What do I care where it comes from? We pay to "belong" to Costco because we like buying meat there but I don't entertain any illusions that we save anything - we just like their meat selection. Other than that the only paying I'll ever do at a retailer is on the way out the door.