Who's Your Supplier and Why

 Whether we are a DIYer trying to get materials and tools for a home project or a professional contractor doing work for customers, we all need to buy (or rent) tools and materials to get the job done.  We have a great variety of options for this.

There are physical stores like Ace, Home Depot, Harbor Freight, or even Lowe's (I guess) and many others like them.  Then there are online-everything options like Amazon. Also, there are the online website and app options for stores like Home Depot and the others listed above that will even deliver to your location.

For contractors,  another option is supply houses.  Some let anyone buy there but most want you to be a registered or licensed contractor.  

Which are we getting our stuff at?  It depends.

For, a one man operation, I personally,  absolutely, and utterly HATE shopping.  I despise and loathe the entire process.  So if I have the plan-ahead time, I'll always prefer the online options first.  But which one's? 

Believe it or don't,  I always try the store app/websites first.  Just like in-person shopping, the stores limit the options to a handful, usually with their target market's scope and scale in mind.  It leads to easier buying due to pre-vetted products and brands they hope you trust them to have available.

I prefer online because I don't want to physically go into the store if I can avoid it.  So I get it delivered, hopefully and usually for free these days.  I have a Pro account at multiple stores because I am a contractor and I'll get what perks I can if it helps me get better products and materials to use for customers and make my job easier and maybe even more profitable. 

I do use about three or four local or national supply houses occasionally.  These mostly for specialty or uncommon or higher quality items.

Then, I use Amazon.   Amazon is great for competitive pricing BUT!  Nothing is pre-vetted for you.  You're in the jungle baby.  It's ALL on you to search, compare, check ratings and reviews, etc...  It can be very time consuming.

Lastly, for me, it's actually (BLECH!), physically,  walking into a store.  Once again, if I can use the app/website and pre-pay to have them pick it and have it at the counter or a locker for me, I'll go that route.  Especially if I need it the same day or the next morning. 

Then there's the "Dammit!" shopping that I need an item or part or whatever right now or on the way and I just have to go in and find it. Last and certainly least desirable.   Fight the crowd, walk the incredibly painful concrete floors, hunt and search through questionably organized departments and shelves.  

I'm a professional maintenance and handyman services contractor.   I am in no means, in any way, a personal shopper.  My customers get billed a one hour minimum to have me go out shopping for items on their behalf.  That's if I'm willing to do it at all.  Which is uncommon.  If there's an element of person preference involved and no immediate need, they can order and have it shipped. Or go to the store themselves.

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