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Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: alfonzotan on May 25, 2011, 09:46:07 am

Title: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: alfonzotan on May 25, 2011, 09:46:07 am
I was planning to buy a 4x8 sheet of black Wilsonart from the local Home Depot... went down there yesterday, and found out that the stores don't stock the stuff and have to special-order it.  Okay, the price looked workable ($42), so I placed the order.  Then I found out it would take at least a week to deliver.

So I started checking around, and found out that there's a Wilsonart distribution center not terribly far away from me.  Called them up and got pricing on the same sheet... $28.36, in stock and ready for pick up anytime.  Canceled the Home Depot order, reserved the sheet at Wilsonart, and I'm a happy camper.

To look up distributor locations, check here, and enter your (US) ZIP code in the box on the left:

http://www.wilsonartcontract.com/ (http://www.wilsonartcontract.com/)

Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: rmusick on May 25, 2011, 11:20:51 am
This makes me wonder,  If Home Depot is marking this stuff up that much, how many other things are they marking up?  I thought they were suppose to be cutting Prices? ???
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: HaRuMaN on May 25, 2011, 11:22:53 am
how many other things are they marking up?

Um, everything?  It's a retail store...
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: alfonzotan on May 25, 2011, 11:47:16 am
I generally prefer Lowe's, but there a sheet of laminate is more like $80...
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: Woodshop Flunky on May 25, 2011, 12:32:34 pm
There's a Wilsonart distro center 10 miles from me!   :banghead:

I just picked up my special order sheet of laminate (full price) from Home Depot last weekend!
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: alfonzotan on May 25, 2011, 12:35:54 pm
There's a Wilsonart distro center 10 miles from me!   :banghead:

I just picked up my special order sheet of laminate (full price) from Home Depot last weekend!

If you haven't cut it yet, you may be able to return it... at worst, they'd hit you for a 15% restocking fee (they didn't charge me anything to cancel my order).
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: Woodshop Flunky on May 25, 2011, 01:01:15 pm
Oh, it was cut about 30 minutes after I got it home! :)

I'll just have to remember this next time.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: Vigo on May 25, 2011, 01:26:49 pm
I have a distribution center by me as well. Hrm, I wonder how much their custom design laminate costs?
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: ubermick on May 25, 2011, 08:27:55 pm
Man, I wish I'd seen this sooner - bought SIX sheets of laminate from a local store for $49 plus tax a pop for my cab and my buddy's a couple months ago. Would have been worth it for that. (Nearest place to me is an hour's drive, plus a few bridge tolls)
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: milkit on June 06, 2011, 02:52:07 pm
Man, I wish I'd seen this sooner - bought SIX sheets of laminate from a local store for $49 plus tax a pop for my cab and my buddy's a couple months ago. Would have been worth it for that. (Nearest place to me is an hour's drive, plus a few bridge tolls)

4x8 sheets are $42 at home depot here. i just called

Wilsonart International - Dallas Metro
4051 La Reunion Parkway
Dallas , TX 75212
214-634-2310

listed on that site and they want $1.90 a sq ft, or $60.80 a sheet. wtf?
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: alfonzotan on June 07, 2011, 08:04:44 am
Man, I wish I'd seen this sooner - bought SIX sheets of laminate from a local store for $49 plus tax a pop for my cab and my buddy's a couple months ago. Would have been worth it for that. (Nearest place to me is an hour's drive, plus a few bridge tolls)

4x8 sheets are $42 at home depot here. i just called

Wilsonart International - Dallas Metro
4051 La Reunion Parkway
Dallas , TX 75212
214-634-2310

listed on that site and they want $1.90 a sq ft, or $60.80 a sheet. wtf?

That's nuts.  I bought two sheets the Friday before Memorial Day (Atlanta) for $28 and change each.  Might be worth calling them back and asking specifically for a 4X8 sheet right off the bat.
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: milkit on June 07, 2011, 09:34:44 am
Man, I wish I'd seen this sooner - bought SIX sheets of laminate from a local store for $49 plus tax a pop for my cab and my buddy's a couple months ago. Would have been worth it for that. (Nearest place to me is an hour's drive, plus a few bridge tolls)

4x8 sheets are $42 at home depot here. i just called

Wilsonart International - Dallas Metro
4051 La Reunion Parkway
Dallas , TX 75212
214-634-2310

listed on that site and they want $1.90 a sq ft, or $60.80 a sheet. wtf?

That's nuts.  I bought two sheets the Friday before Memorial Day (Atlanta) for $28 and change each.  Might be worth calling them back and asking specifically for a 4X8 sheet right off the bat.

lady said that was for 4x8 sheets. She asked if I had an account, I said no. Not sure whats up.. I guess ill stick with home depot for now
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: alfonzotan on June 07, 2011, 04:52:15 pm
Man, I wish I'd seen this sooner - bought SIX sheets of laminate from a local store for $49 plus tax a pop for my cab and my buddy's a couple months ago. Would have been worth it for that. (Nearest place to me is an hour's drive, plus a few bridge tolls)

4x8 sheets are $42 at home depot here. i just called

Wilsonart International - Dallas Metro
4051 La Reunion Parkway
Dallas , TX 75212
214-634-2310

listed on that site and they want $1.90 a sq ft, or $60.80 a sheet. wtf?

That's nuts.  I bought two sheets the Friday before Memorial Day (Atlanta) for $28 and change each.  Might be worth calling them back and asking specifically for a 4X8 sheet right off the bat.

lady said that was for 4x8 sheets. She asked if I had an account, I said no. Not sure whats up.. I guess ill stick with home depot for now

That's pretty screwy. 

Try calling their 800 number, and set up a new account.  Just make up a business name.  "Flynn's Arcade" or something.  Then call the DFW office with your brand new account number and place an order...
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: tommyinajar on June 07, 2011, 06:35:40 pm
If no distributors are near by, stop by a local counter top installer and talk to him, if he's nice enough he'll order you some next time he places an order. Maybe at a discount  :)

I'm getting the DK Jr. Wilsonart Citrus Orange, (Close enough) http://www.wilsonartcontract.com/patternavail/patternresults.aspx?patternnumber=10669 (http://www.wilsonartcontract.com/patternavail/patternresults.aspx?patternnumber=10669)

Obligatory links for installation.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=101315.0 (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=101315.0)

http://www.coinopspace.com/forum/topics/howto-install-laminate (http://www.coinopspace.com/forum/topics/howto-install-laminate)

Arcade Repair Tips - Laminating An Arcade Cabinet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1hBA0011eI#)
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: nox771 on June 09, 2011, 02:10:54 am
I've gotten Wilsonart sheets through a countertop place a few times.  They could get me anything I wanted in a couple days or so, but it was definitely not at wholesale prices.  I paid about $50 plus tax for each 4x8 sheet.  I'll probably try the distributor route next time to see if I can get a break there.

Regardless even if you end up going through a place like Home Depot, it may be worthwhile to check out a countertop store for a different reason - they usually have a whole rack of sample tiles (little 2"x3" pieces or such), usually much more extensive than HD if they even have it at all there.  Not only can you check out the colors and textures, but each tile has the order/part number on a sticker on the back.  Once you can specify exactly what you want with that, it is a lot easier to call around and get prices.
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: LiquidFire on June 14, 2011, 09:18:27 am
Anyone who is buying laminate for projects should get the sample 'ring' that has the the complete current line of styles you can get, about 300 chips total. In addition to the color/design, each one has different 'finishes' available like gloss, satin, etc.

Prices vary radically depending on style so quoting any prices without the finish spec is not very useful.

New design possibilities are endless with what can be had in special order laminate. The metal designs make me crazy with ideas.

I wish I had a dist center nearby - but HD prices are the very best I have ever found at a retailer. The ACE dealer near me doubles his cost on every sheet so you have to avoid that math.

If you pretend you are a company, the sample ring is free - or at least I have been able to get one each year that way. They will mail you larger chips free of charge if you just want a few and these are really valuable to help with your decisions.
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: DNA Dan on June 14, 2011, 04:46:43 pm
A lot of the cost is shipping, but it's also highly marked up. I doubt Home Depot is paying $20 something a 4X8 sheet.

ANOTHER TIP: When you get your special order, be sure they open the box and have you inspect it before signing. My first special order came with the edge of the sheet busted up, even though the box was in good shape.
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: DaOld Man on June 14, 2011, 05:24:53 pm
I bought a sheet from Lowes a couple years ago and I think it was around 70 bucks with a one week waiting period.
Thanks for that link, there is a dist. 55 miles from me in Nashville Tn. The lowes is 30 miles from me, so next time I will def. try the dist first.
Title: Re: Heads up on buying Wilsonart laminate...
Post by: LiquidFire on June 14, 2011, 10:01:57 pm
Uh yes, check the merch - I received an order at HD and the color was ONE SHADE from the color I ordered, of course that meant the cl(j)erk copied the number from the next line not the one I had specified. They had no problem with taking it back, but there was no way to prove it was not my fault I realized so I could have been stuck. Now, i don't order without presenting the chip, which has the info on the back.