This advice comes from my own experience in sourcing and purchasing high quality renovations materials such as tile, hardwood, laminate and so forth (note how I didn't say carpet as no one in their right mind installs that). For the purpose of this post, we'll go with tile.

This same advice can be used for all sorts of other types of items that are typically sold in quantities and are on the higher end of the price spectrum.

Go Outside

Find the largest local dealership there is and go look through their inventory. Go to a store similar to Ged's Floor Store whose photo I've borrowed for the title image (feel free to go to their store as well if you're in Texas).*

Take the tile samples home, select one, ignore the price. Make sure you are selecting the correct tile for your application (I'll go through how to do this in another post when I have time) and not picking one based on what you saw at some new development open house or at the Home Depot, because you will end up with garbage.

*The reason I've selected this particular image is because it shows the labels that stores place on their products. Typically, if you take that price label and flip it over, it will tell you the exact name and model number of the tile. That's what you need.

Write Down the Name/Model of Tile

Make sure you write it down correctly and don't forget to note down the color and size as well.

Google It

Search through the listings of every flooring store nearby. You should produce at least a dozen results. Either use their websites to send an email or send one the normal way. Your email should looks somewhat like mine, as follows:

Do not sign your full name, provide your phone number or use an email address that has your full name in it in some way. Use initials only. Why? You may wish to go into that store to deal with them in regards to other things or ask them for a second quote directly (obviously speaking to a different employee).

Don't bother asking the big box stores like Home Depot. The chances that they'll carry quality products are minimal and the chances that half your tiles will be cracked are maximum.

Wait

Sit back and wait for the quotes to come in.

Ask for Cash Price

After receiving a whole bunch of prices for the same tile, select the cheapest and go into the store in person. Introduce yourself and all that and ask them if they can do better on their price if you pay cash. They will be stupid to say no, especially if you're buying a large amount. In fact, I don't think I've ever ran into anyone who didn't say yes.

Buy Yourself a Beer (or whatever you like)

You deserved it by saving a ton of money with pretty much close to zero effort.

(Eventually I got that tile for $3 give or take.)

Image Credits

Title image is from Ged's, as discussed above.

All other images are screen shots of my emails and belong to me. The fine artistic efforts of redaction (the black boxes) were done in Paint. No cameras were harmed during this process.