DIYbanter - View Single Post - Big Box Stores vs Professional Electrical Suppliers

(Doug Miller) wrote:

In article , wrote:

Naturally I checked the most competent suppliers (Lowes and HD) first.
Lowes had non-grounding duplex receptacles in ivory and white and HD
had them only in white. I really wanted brown to conform to all the
other switches and outlets in the house so, thinking of how much
better the "real" electrical suppliers are according to the
"professionals" on this group, I set out to find what I needed.

snip amusing but lengthy tale of woe

Is there a Menards store in your area? (Big box chain similar to Lowes & HD,
but not as widespread.) They typically have a *much* better selection of
offbeat electrical items.

'Fraid not.

Try a different hardware store, too. Got a Do-It-Best or Tru-Value nearby?

The hardware store I mentioned is a Tru-value.

I'm
pretty sure I can lay my hands on a brown two-pin duplex receptacle here
without any trouble, and I can send you one at cost (plus shipping). If you're
interested, my real email address is in my sig below.

I left out that I also tried another three or four hardware stores and
another electrical supply store with similar results. This BTW is NYC
and while we no doubt have a much greater selection of designer
clothes, Broadway level plays, expensive restaurants, and medical
suppliers than the rest of the country but when it comes to the
residential construction business we rank right up (down?) there with
the third world.

Thanks for the offer but I'll keep with the ivory one now that it's
in.