I'm starting my search for tiles from specific manufacturers (not just discount brands) and I'm curious about what kind of discount off the MSRP I should expect when shopping at a brick-and-mortar store. I've noticed that some online retailers often have prices that are 25%-35% lower than the list price. Is it reasonable to expect similar discounts in physical stores, or do they offer price matching?
3 Answers
You won't have to worry about shipping fees with a physical store, which is a definite plus! This can help offset some of the prices you're seeing online.
Typically, you shouldn't expect too much of a discount at local stores. It's a bit like going to Lowe's—usually, those places stick to their prices because they have higher overhead costs compared to online stores. So while online sellers can discount more, brick-and-mortar shops have their reasons for pricing the way they do.
Be really careful with discounts on tiles from any outlet, including physical stores. Some places sell 'seconds' or flawed materials that didn't pass quality control. This means you could end up with defective tiles that you can’t return. It can be fine if you're doing a rental or a flip, but if you're buying for a client, make sure what you get meets quality standards.
Thanks for the heads up! I’m buying for myself, not a client, but I’ll definitely check how the quality is. I was looking at TilesDirect, just so you know.