Something we’ve seen in the plumbing supply industry post-Covid is a significant increase in product lead times. We’ve heard it’s a lack of labor and a shortage of components. We’ve also heard it’s related to shipping issues.
Regardless, it now takes significantly longer to get in many special-order items, especially bath and kitchen faucets. For example, I have a Kohler faucet on order for a nice custom home. It has been 11 months now and I still do not have it nor a date it should ship. It is definitely an exception, but the 60- to 120-day time frame is common on a surprising number of faucets.
So, how do you plan around a situation like this? It is extremely challenging. Our team tells customers to get all product on site before starting a project. We’ve all seen people wait until the last minute to order high-end faucet products and then the job comes to a grinding halt while waiting on one or more pieces of faucet hardware.
If you check with us ahead of time, we can generally get accurate lead times on most of our faucet lines. Then you would be able to prepare better for your upcoming project. You cannot really be prepared too much, but you can certainly be prepared too little.
It is important to note that this is not just limited to faucets or plumbing. We have also seen extended lead times on toilets, sinks and tubs, though it is usually not as serious as faucets. However, the problems discussed concerning plumbing can also extend to countertops, flooring, appliances, lighting and cabinetry. Your building contractor should be able to help you, or a sales professional in the appropriate business.
Sadly, we see customers visit our showrooms and they have not prepared, and their plumber needs hardware in a week or less. We do stock a good selection of faucets, however, we do not stock any of the higher end, more unique faucets. Those are the long lead time type and if you only have a week, they will not be available that fast.
Our goal is to help you to get the faucet you want when you want it. Sometimes we are just presented with obstacles we cannot overcome. If you can start early, it is good to visit the websites of manufacturers you like. You can send a list of items you like (through our web contact form) and we can price them and check availability. This way if something has a long lead time you could switch to something different.
Once you place an order, we can hold it for up to 60 days after it is complete. We also offer delivery service at $15 per delivery.
I think one day things will get easier. For now, we will take action to help you out and try and keep the fun factor involved in your plumbing fixtures. We have showrooms in Hot Springs, Ark., North Little Rock, Ark., and Memphis, Tenn. Please let us help you on your next plumbing project!
Written by: Alan Donahue, Showroom Manager