tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632870522135690545.post1878527662725473355..comments2024-03-10T17:29:45.525-06:00Comments on The Granite Gurus: Why NOT to Purchase Your Granite From a Big Box StoreSteph@TheGraniteGurushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06671867680855126655noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632870522135690545.post-21073100576655189272012-03-16T18:17:13.687-06:002012-03-16T18:17:13.687-06:00Wow Janet, that's a crazy story with your Cori...Wow Janet, that's a crazy story with your Corian. I can't believe they forged your signature!<br />Thanks for sharing!Steph@TheGraniteGurushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06671867680855126655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632870522135690545.post-5318651427748142632012-03-16T10:44:26.814-06:002012-03-16T10:44:26.814-06:00Big Box Stores have their place... Like for 50 gal...Big Box Stores have their place... Like for 50 gallon drums of cheese-puffs! :) <br /><br />We learned really quickly that buying directly from a great fabricator is THE WAY to go. We made the mistake once (and didn't make it again) after the carpeting contractor hired by Lowe's told us that he would have done better on price, had we contacted him directly. Being new to the state, (from California to North Carolina) we didn't know whom in our new city to trust so we went through Lowe's. <br /><br />Buying directly from a fabricator is absolutely the way to go for counter tops. Especially if you only need a small piece of granite or marble since remnant prices CANNOT be beat! <br /><br />Having said that, we did get a great deal on our Corian counter tops through Costco's counter top program. However, the wheels fell off the deal after their vendor/contrator forged my signature on the completion document (saying I was satisfied) they submitted to Costco to get paid. Of course, I did not allow that to stand and fought them every step of the way - Eventualy providing proof to Costco that my signature was forged. In the end, Costco stood behind me and not only made their vendor/contractor come back to take care of all the fabrication/install issues, they also invited me to "name my price" in terms of the refund they would issue for the trouble their vendor caused. <br /><br />In hindsight, I regret not asking for a full refund for the fraud that was attempted; however, not wanting to appear unreasonable, and requesting only $800.00 (on a $3,200 job) lets me rest at night knowing I was the better person!<br /><br />Had I not had Costco to lean on, I don't even want to think about what might have happened had I chosen to work with that contractor on my own... Having said that, I would never buy countertops or cabinets from any of the big-box home improvement stores - I've heard other horror stories like mine but of all the stories I've heard, I remain the only one capable of saying I received monetary compensation for my trouble. <br /><br />Great post (as always!)Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17283941721180439222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632870522135690545.post-31471070299757831412012-03-07T11:10:13.775-07:002012-03-07T11:10:13.775-07:00Thanks Kurt! I didn't even think to mention t...Thanks Kurt! I didn't even think to mention those things.Steph@TheGraniteGurushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06671867680855126655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632870522135690545.post-2586007500959161232012-03-06T15:05:21.143-07:002012-03-06T15:05:21.143-07:00Other reasons for buying from a fabricator: If you...Other reasons for buying from a fabricator: If you only need a modest amount of granite you can dig through a fabricator's remnants and often get a great deal and sometimes even a better granite than you thought you could afford. This can hold true for more than just small pieces as well, when I needed a small kitchen fabricated under a tight budget, my fabricator (MGS!) called their slab supplier to see if they had any orphaned slabs they'd let go cheap [because most kitchens take more than 1 slab of granite and because most stone will have a fair amount of variation from bundle to bundle, a single slab of stone can sit for a while]. Needless to say, they did. <br />Also, when you're buying your granite in a big box store you're probably dealing with someone with little to no experience in actual fabrication. If you want something beyond the basic fabrication and install, they may be in over their head.kurtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632870522135690545.post-2871897054263662052012-03-06T13:16:52.614-07:002012-03-06T13:16:52.614-07:00Interesting post. I really would assume that the ...Interesting post. I really would assume that the big box stores would be less money. Volume is why. Thanks for posting this, I've learned a valuable lesson today!<br />-JudithAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2632870522135690545.post-64493197563871861962012-03-06T12:19:46.659-07:002012-03-06T12:19:46.659-07:00I do flooring and my biggest competitors are the b...I do flooring and my biggest competitors are the big box stores. I don't get it! I can offer better pricing, better quality flooring, more knowledgeable sales staff & a better warranty. Thanks for this article, even though it's about countertops it applies to my company as well and I'll be passing this around.Cindynoreply@blogger.com