Interesting perspective, but I'm not entirely convinced the extra legwork always pays off. I recently tried sourcing lighting fixtures from a smaller supplier for a bathroom reno, and while the customer service was indeed friendlier, the price difference wasn't significant enough to justify the extra effort. Plus, I ended up having to wait longer for delivery because they didn't have everything in stock.
I guess it really depends on your priorities—if you're after something specific or unique, smaller suppliers might be worth exploring. But if your main goal is trimming expenses and keeping things straightforward, sticking with larger retailers might actually save you more in terms of time and convenience. Has anyone else had similar experiences? I'm curious if my experience was just an outlier...
I've had similar experiences myself—sometimes smaller suppliers can be hit or miss. Still, I think there's value beyond just price, especially if sustainability or supporting local businesses matters to you. But yeah, convenience is definitely a factor worth considering...
"Still, I think there's value beyond just price, especially if sustainability or supporting local businesses matters to you."
Totally get where you're coming from, but honestly, sometimes the sustainability angle with smaller suppliers isn't always clear-cut. I've had a few projects where local suppliers sourced materials from pretty far away, kinda defeating the purpose. Convenience aside, have you found a reliable way to verify their sustainability claims? I've been burned before, so I'm always a bit skeptical now...
Yeah, I've run into that issue too—local doesn't always mean eco-friendly. I usually try to ask directly about their sourcing or certifications, but even then, it can feel a bit vague. One supplier I used had this whole "green" branding going on, but when I dug deeper, turns out their materials traveled halfway across the globe. Makes me wonder... is there any certification or standard you've found that's actually reliable for checking sustainability claims?
"Makes me wonder... is there any certification or standard you've found that's actually reliable for checking sustainability claims?"
Honestly, even certifications can be hit-or-miss. I've seen FSC-certified lumber sourced from overseas, and shipping alone cancels out some eco benefits. Sometimes common sense beats labels—like salvaging materials locally when possible.
