Online Electrical Wholesalers

[Duncan8943]

Does anyone know of any real online electrical wholesalers that are competitive? Our local wholesaler, Home Depot, and Lowes are typically much less expensive on #12 and #14 NM Cable.

 

[John120/240]

Home Depot & Lowes buy in larger quanitys than your local supply house hence lower prices. I still prefer to patronize the local

supply house when practicle.

 

[Gac66610]

The wholesale shop I frequent, say they base the wire prices on the market price for copper.
Doesn't matter how much they bought when the market was down, if the market price goes up their wire prices go up.

Lowes, Home Depot sell what the have at the price they bought. Even if the market price drops.
That's when the wholesalers can be less expensive.

 

[kwired]

Copper is not exactly light, you might want to see what shipping would cost if you purchase on line.

 

[Ponchik]

my local part shouse is much less expensive on the copper than home depot. But certain items the parts house pricing is through the roof. Some times it does make sense to shop around.

I don't think it will make sense to buy copper online because of the shipping cost.

 

[Duncan8943]

Wire Prices

Wire Prices

My wholesaler says the same thing, their price is based on copper pricing. However, I have typically seen home depot and lowes cheaper. For example on #12, $360 for a 1000' roll at the wholesaler and $280 at lowes or home depot. Using a 10% discount coupon for lowes this will take the price down another $28. Home Depot will beat Lowes pricing by an additional 10%, which is another $25. $53 per roll savings adds up quick.

 

[shepelec]

Around here copper is the same or cheaper at the big box stores. Some other stock is outrageous at the big guys, for example an 1-1/2 emt conn is $6.50, a 2-1/2 is around $7.50, but if you need a 2" connector, well thats gonna set you back $32.50hmy:. The couplings are the same way.:?

The Depot will price match though so if do your home work you wont get ripped off.

 

[ptonsparky]

I use online houses for things that are not readily available in the area. Almost everything else is purchased at wholesalers with "the" big box store coming in at last place.

 

[kwired]

Around here copper is the same or cheaper at the big box stores. Some other stock is outrageous at the big guys, for example an 1-1/2 emt conn is $6.50, a 2-1/2 is around $7.50, but if you need a 2" connector, well thats gonna set you back $32.50hmy:. The couplings are the same way.:?

The Depot will price match though so if do your home work you wont get ripped off.

I always see the big box being less for high volume items, like one gang nail on boxes, residential grade receptacles and switches, and NM cable in sizes 12 and 14, and maybe 10. Some loadcenters are priced pretty well, others are just competetive with supply houses. Most other items are either competitive with supply house or higher. Sometimes you will catch NM cable at just right time and it will be a great deal, but it is for short time just before they increase price when everyone else has already raised their price, same is true when there is a price decline.

 

[Smiley64]

Support your local business they provide for people in your area.

 

[electrimate]

To answer the original question there are two that I have used:

http://dale-electric.com They are a large supply house in N.Y. State. You can call them just like you do your local supply house.

http://platt.com Multi-state supply house throughout much of west and northwest U.S. Online and phone ordering.

 

[petersonra]

we get most of our larger size wire from anixter or industrial wire. much less than any place local.

have not found any place online that has better prices than local suppliers that we have special deals from.

really, unless you are a very tiny outfit, you can usually get some kind of special pricing agreement from your local suppliers. you can also often get special deals for particular projects. sending your guys to the supply house counter is extremely expensive. do the work upfront and you will save a ton of money over the long run.

for switches, outlet boxes, receptacles, Home Depot is much cheaper. go buy a case of each. they are dirt cheap. usually they are about the same price on residential style panel boards as we can get from a supply house.

 

[curt swartz]

for switches, outlet boxes, receptacles, Home Depot is much cheaper. go buy a case of each. they are dirt cheap. usually they are about the same price on residential style panel boards as we can get from a supply house.

I think you need a new supply house. HD is on average 2-3 times the price of what my supply sell outlet boxes for. They are also higher on the other items you list. 14-2 & 12-2 NM cable (Romex) is about the only thing HD is usually less expensive for. My suppliers say HD sale price is supstantially below their cost most of the time.

 

[renosteinke]

The internet is a fine thing, but I -generally- don't see much of a price advantage.

Instead, I see an AVAILABILITY advantage. I can get all sorts of things, readily, from the internet, items not carried locally. For example, the particular strut straps, CAT5e jacks, and ground rod clamps I like are not carried locally.