"Pete C." wrote in message
...

RBM wrote:

wrote in message
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I'm finishing my basement, and I'm about to do the electrical rough-in
work. Are places like Home Depot and Lowes a rip off when it come to
buying things like romex wire, outlets, and lighting fixtures? Should
I head to a specialized electrical supply store instead?

I'm sure it varies from area to area. The most common supplies MAY be
slightly cheaper at HD, but I'd make a list and check with local
electrical
supply houses as well

It depends on what you need. I found that the local supply house was
cheaper on things like conduit bodies and boxes of EMT connectors and
about the same on wire.

I found that 'Depot beat everyone on special order Square D QO parts by
a significant amount. For a 125A 32 space QO load center, a 125A 2 pole
QO breaker to feed that panel, a surge breaker and a QO generator
interlock kit, 'Depot beat both Lowe's and the supply house by more than
$100 on the order.

And of course when you find you're short a part or two on a weekend
evening, the big boxes win since they are open and you can get what you
need and continue the project.


Must be Murphy's law, but I have 4 HD's and 1 Lowes within 15 miles of my
house, and when I need a part, any part at an off hour, I spin around, guess
at which one to go to, and almost always find they don't have it. No, I
don't waste time trying to call first anymore, as no dept ever picks up the
phone. I do find that if I go online and get a HD - SKU # off the website,
the CS person that answers the phone will look it up and check store stock.
Much as they frustrate the hell out of me, I'd rather have them then not. If
for nothing else, they keep hardware prices competitive