Geobrick
Member
I learned first a few years ago that Home Depot sometimes sell inferior versions of certain items which are seemingly the same part as what you'd get at a plumbing supply store but small differences in the model numbers prove otherwise. I include a couple of examples at the end but my reason for posting this is about a Kohler Pennington oval sink (like the one I recently posted about with the chip at the drain).
Kohler's website lists the Pennington model number as K-2196-4-0 but the one Home Depot sells in their stores is K-R2196-4 (there's an "R" added). That may just mean it's packaged for retail sale but my past experience suggests to me it could mean something more. Does anyone know if there is a real difference?
Here are 2 past experiences I had related to part differences at Home Depot:
1) A BrassCraft 1/4 Turn Angle Ball Stop valve which seemed to be all brass (and for the most part was) had a plastic stem and ball inside the body of the valve. The model number for the all brass version is "KTCR19X C" the part Home Depot carries (with the plastic inside) is "G2CR19X C1". It barley cost any more to buy the all brass part from a plumbing supply store.
2) 5 months ago, I tried to buy the all brass Orbit Hose Quick Connects at home depot. At the store the two pieces are bound together with a plastic tie so I wasn't able to separate them but when I got it home, it was obvious by its weight that the male part was not brass (it was probably aluminum). I later bought the same part from a plumbing supply place and the difference was clear. Home Depot has since corrected their website and now have both a "Pro" version that is all brass and an aluminum version. This could have been Orbit's fault since the two pieces were packaged together and only the male part wasn't brass. Maybe the people packaging them messed up.
Kohler's website lists the Pennington model number as K-2196-4-0 but the one Home Depot sells in their stores is K-R2196-4 (there's an "R" added). That may just mean it's packaged for retail sale but my past experience suggests to me it could mean something more. Does anyone know if there is a real difference?
Here are 2 past experiences I had related to part differences at Home Depot:
1) A BrassCraft 1/4 Turn Angle Ball Stop valve which seemed to be all brass (and for the most part was) had a plastic stem and ball inside the body of the valve. The model number for the all brass version is "KTCR19X C" the part Home Depot carries (with the plastic inside) is "G2CR19X C1". It barley cost any more to buy the all brass part from a plumbing supply store.
2) 5 months ago, I tried to buy the all brass Orbit Hose Quick Connects at home depot. At the store the two pieces are bound together with a plastic tie so I wasn't able to separate them but when I got it home, it was obvious by its weight that the male part was not brass (it was probably aluminum). I later bought the same part from a plumbing supply place and the difference was clear. Home Depot has since corrected their website and now have both a "Pro" version that is all brass and an aluminum version. This could have been Orbit's fault since the two pieces were packaged together and only the male part wasn't brass. Maybe the people packaging them messed up.
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