Just curious if any of you have ever shopped online for something you just couldn't find anywhere.

If so, have you found these items more costly or reasonable?

The element of cost is always a factor yes but having resources is probably a contractors greatest asset. I have surfed and collected many links ( thanks to all here that contributed) to this end.
I say this due to the level of tech support i get from suppliers vs. direct internet access.
Here's a good 'widget' supplier... http://www.e-barnett.com/
Or U can see what the poco's up to; http://better-investing.org/codata/gmp.html
There's even those 'search' links; http://www.lightsearch.com/

was there anything in particular you were after, or just scopin' out the net overall??

[This message has been edited by sparky (edited 11-15-2001).]

Shopping on line is just like mail order with the exception that you know your credit card is going into a computer hooked to the internet. The problems occur when the web site you are ordering from stores your credit card in an insecure way. Unfortunately there is no way to know what the web site does with your cc info after the order is processed, so it's not easy to be careful.

That said, you can usually find both good and bad deals on anything via mail order or the internet. If you cannot find something locally, then you don't really have much of a choice unless you can make periodic trips to someplace that sells the things you need.

I've had great success with online purchases. The computer I'm writing from was assembled entirely from components and software purchased online at a healthy savings. I've purchased books, music, home electronics and even some cleaning supplies with no problems.

The time line is different, though. I think it helps to be comfortably patient. If something needs to be returned, the time involved triples.

Anything I've purchased Online has resulted in a flood of junk e-mail from the seller, trying to sell me everything under the sun.
Hey, Ross, Welcome!! (rbiro was the guy that helped me out with CA's Title 24 interpretation of bathroom lighting)

http://www.graybar.com/ http://www.homedepot.com/home.html
the Big boys had to do it,,,,so the litle guys all have jumped on;
http://www.jgtemple.com/home.htm
I must say, i DO send many customers shopping for thier own lights on line....
http://www.thelightingplace.org/ http://www.lightolier.com/


[This message has been edited by sparky (edited 11-17-2001).]