Most buyers assume a $300 price gap between a showroom shower door and a factory-direct door means thinner glass or lower-quality hardware. It doesn't. This guide breaks down exactly where the money goes in each sales channel — distributor margins, retail...
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Most buyers assume a $300 price gap between a showroom shower door and a factory-direct door means thinner glass or lower-quality hardware. It doesn't. This guide breaks down exactly where the money goes in each sales channel — distributor margins, retail overhead, multi-leg freight, and sales tax — and shows why the same SGCC-certified 10mm glass with 316 stainless hardware costs $650 factory-direct and $950 at a showroom. Covers the three things the sales channel genuinely changes (lead time, in-person experience, return logistics) and the three things it doesn't (glass certification, hardware metallurgy, coating chemistry). Includes a full delivered price comparison for a standard 60-inch frameless sliding door across local showroom, big box retail, and factory-direct channels, plus the five questions to ask any supplier before comparing prices. A practical cost transparency guide for homeowners and contractors planning a bathroom renovation in 2026.
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