The Contractor Lock Set Story

TheProfessor · 12-22-2023, 08:08 AM

I was a contractor/builder helper - many years ago. Many years ago.
Addition to a home.

The contractor/builder had a builders/commercial account at a local lumber yard.
The new entry door was secured to addition. But needed a new keyed lock set.
All was going to be a charge to builders commercial account.

So the builder sent me down to local lumber yard. Get a Schlage brass set. Builder was adament. Do not go to retail section and grab a retail clear plastic wrapped as cost is higher at retail. Get the box verson that is located in one of the lumber yard sheds. Charge to buildrs commercial account.
I did go check the retail price. At that time price for retail clear plastic wrapped version was $19.95. This lumber yard did have a retail section.

So I go to contractor counter and ask for the boxed keyed brass Schlage lockset. Get it. Lockset gets installed in new addition entry door.

Month later I ask builder what he was charged for the boxed entry Schlage keyed lockset. I was curious as to how much of a discount a contractor gets.

He showed me the invoice/bill. As a contractor, he was charged $22.95.
This was the exact same lockset that was in the clear plastic retail section that was priced at $19.95.

Now maybe Schlage makes two different locksets that look exactly the same.
Look exactly the same. Yes, they looked exactly the same.

Of course, there could have been a manufacturer price increase. And no one got around to raising the retail price. Or maybe the retail Schlage lockset was purchased earlier from manufacturer/distributor at a lower price.

Why didn't the builder/contractor order the lockset when door was ordered. Could have just been an oversight. As lots of wood, windows, flashiing, shingles etc. was ordered earlier.

12-22-2023, 08:08 AM	#1
TheProfessor Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,069 Thanks: 17 Thanked 333 Times in 200 Posts	The Contractor Lock Set Story I was a contractor/builder helper - many years ago. Many years ago. Addition to a home. The contractor/builder had a builders/commercial account at a local lumber yard. The new entry door was secured to addition. But needed a new keyed lock set. All was going to be a charge to builders commercial account. So the builder sent me down to local lumber yard. Get a Schlage brass set. Builder was adament. Do not go to retail section and grab a retail clear plastic wrapped as cost is higher at retail. Get the box verson that is located in one of the lumber yard sheds. Charge to buildrs commercial account. I did go check the retail price. At that time price for retail clear plastic wrapped version was $19.95. This lumber yard did have a retail section. So I go to contractor counter and ask for the boxed keyed brass Schlage lockset. Get it. Lockset gets installed in new addition entry door. Month later I ask builder what he was charged for the boxed entry Schlage keyed lockset. I was curious as to how much of a discount a contractor gets. He showed me the invoice/bill. As a contractor, he was charged $22.95. This was the exact same lockset that was in the clear plastic retail section that was priced at $19.95. Now maybe Schlage makes two different locksets that look exactly the same. Look exactly the same. Yes, they looked exactly the same. Of course, there could have been a manufacturer price increase. And no one got around to raising the retail price. Or maybe the retail Schlage lockset was purchased earlier from manufacturer/distributor at a lower price. Why didn't the builder/contractor order the lockset when door was ordered. Could have just been an oversight. As lots of wood, windows, flashiing, shingles etc. was ordered earlier.