"Jeffrey J. Kosowsky" wrote in message

- Any tricks on how best to get "contractor discounts" from the local
suppy house?

Register as a business, get the proper tax ID number and do the reporting
required by licensed businesses. Some suppliers require a minimum purchase
per order or per year to qualify.
I can take you to places that will not even let you in the showroom unless
you are a contractor or are with a contractor.

- How big are the discounts typically to their parallel off-the-street
retail (not list) price?

Varies from 10% to 40% Can vary with volume also.


- Is the discount typically the same for plumbing vs. electrical
vs. building materials vs. gardening/landscaping, etc.?
No


- What about for "finished" fixtures (e.g., lamps, fawcetts,
cabinets) vs. basic materials (e.g., wire, pipe, lumber)?

Varies Use the spell checker. Its "faucet"