Is lighting less expensive to buy online?

This will be the first official post for my new blog.

The goal of this blog is to help you in your search for new lighting fixtures for you or your client's homes. I know it can be a little overwhelming at times with the never ending amount of choices

I have a little too much residential lighting bouncing around in my head and need to let some thoughts out on a regular basis. This is what I love to do and have chosen to do for the last 10 years and I have opinions, thoughts, concepts, and conclusions that you may or may not agree with but I'd love to share them.

If you have residential  lighting questions about how to buy, where to buy, what to buy, how to find a similar fixture for a more affordable price, etc. Follow me here or send me an email and I'd love to help out when I can.

On to the topic of this post. The question that I am asked most regularly working full time in the field and in a residential lighting showroom is this....

Why not buy all of my lighting fixtures online and save a lot of money? That is a very simple question with a very easy answer.  The answer is that you will sacrifice valuable service and not save any money.

Why? All lighting manufacturers have a set/fixed price referred to as an internet minimum advertised price (IMAP.) Because of IMAP policies, all web based lighting companies are required to list and sell lighting fixtures at a fixed price.

Here is a great example, search google shopping for a popular fixture such as a Kichler Hendrik chandelier #1674NI and you will see that it is listed for $870.00 with some companies offering free shipping and all offering no sales tax.

Here is a link to that search

https://www.google.com/shopping/product/9708378183017131830?q=Kichler+1674NI&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.50723672,d.aWc,pv.xjs.s.en_US.kOth2ObowFc.O&biw=1280&bih=887&tch=1&ech=1&psi=gOcLUt2vL6HJygHf24HgDA.1376511873050.5&sa=X&ei=i-cLUuPxDOm2yAH0w4G4Dg&ved=0CEIQ8gIwAA

Even the all powerful AMAZON abides by IMAP 

Your local brick and mortar lighting showroom that has been in business for 30-40 years is a retail showroom that abides by different regulations and has the ability to not only offer you free shipping but can at their discretion sell to you at a deeper discount than what is available online.

This refers to pricing only and doesn't even begin to factor in additional reasons such as customer service, warranty, the ability to help you size and specify the proper fixtures to fit your needs, and the opportunity to talk directly with a professional who has years of lighting experience.

Now, in fairness, I do have a website and I sell a lot of lighting fixtures online. The goal today was simply to answer the question of whether or not buying online instantly saves you a lot of money. 

Thanks for reading.