What never ceases to amaze me is how things can be completely obvious but still dependent on you knowing the “rules.” The problem is figuring out if you know the rules or if the rules have changed.
That was Then, This is Now
I remember very clearly, after my sister and I moved into our first house together, shopping at Menard’s for home improvement supplies. That regional big box store had many things for upgrading our 1950s bungalow for the 1990s. On one visit, we met a pro who clued us in on a plumbing tip – the fixtures may look the same, but generally a plumber has access to better faucets. Because I would be hiring all plumbing installation, I was glad to know that letting the plumber hook us up (pun intended) was a good route to take.
Fast forward to 2025 and a kitchen faucet in a 1990s house that would barely stop dripping. Deciding it was time to fix it, I contacted a plumber. When making the appointment, I asked if they would be able to fix a single-handle faucet and, if not, would they be able to help me get a replacement. Alas, it was only after the plumber disassembled my faucet, discovered it had a cartridge he had never seen, and had no idea where/when he would find a replacement that I heard the punch line – they don’t supply faucets, but they can get them from the store for you at a cost. I asked about the mark-up amount; he answered 3.5%. I thought that was pretty good, until I saw the estimate and discovered the mark-up was 350%. Now, without a working kitchen sink, I had to immediately jump online and order a faucet as in-store pick-up from a big box store, so I could get back onto their schedule! He had been afraid to touch the shut-off value under the sink (and did not have the correct replacement), but he did manage to cobble together the old faucet, which I coaxed from a steady stream to a fast trip, so at least I didn’t have to keep the water shut off to the whole house until the faucet was replaced the next day.
Working the Problem
Did I know the rules? According to the internet, it’s still reasonable to assume that plumbers have better plumbing supplies than big box stores, so perhaps that is still a rule in most locations. But here in Oklahoma, now I know that I will always shop before someone disassembles something I need! I’ll even look for a plumbing supply store instead of a big box, when it’s not a rush situation.