Nearly every commercial furniture and lighting company, plus mainstream vendors such as Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, Ballard Design, Pier 1, Lamps Plus, etc. 105 is a minimum off that you will get.

interesting, did you go that route and what percentages did you get?

thanks

just google "designer discount" with whatever company you are interested in.

knoll... most offer designer discount. some require a tax ID though.

i'll throw out a few we've gotten over the years:

bulthaup - not much right now. at best, 10%. the thing to watch for them is when they remodel a showroom - they generally sell the existing show kitchens for a substantial (and in some cases very substantial) discount. i walked away with a 5'x5'high island 'block' a few years ago, with a warming tray and a brand new 4k+ gaggenau oven for 400.

knoll and herman miller won't do direct discounts. their local reps will - you just have to push hard. hm - we've gotten a standard 40 off, but could push a bit more. knoll - 30-40 off depending on the piece. also, the more your company specs their products, the more love they're going to show.

we bought a few humanscale chairs when we last moved - the liberty ones. 80% off list. we went directly through them.

home depot will let you set up a contractor's account, which would give 10% off.

miele and gaggenau both have generous discounts - roughly 50% the last time i checked.

really, a lot depends on the item you're looking for. if it's super new/super expensive, the less the discount. if it's a stock eames plywood chair or aeron, you're much more likely to get something better.

Pella Windows = 40%

Schluter Systems Products = 40% (per local rep)

Local paint retailer gives me almost 50% off of any TK Product paints - Benjamin Moore, etc.

archie - how do you get the discount at a mainstream vendor like Crate and Barrel? With the $$$ my wife spends there we could save quite a bit.

aqua, not only will you need to provide a tax id, you might need to bring your interior designer. I tried at Restoration Hardware and a designer tile place. At both, the sales rep said I didn't qualify because I was an architect, not an interior designer. I assured them I worked alongside interior designers and have specified my fair share of tile, faucets and light fixtures. They said I should bring one of the interior designers with me to make the purchase. I decided against the purchases for other reasons, so didn't pursue.

aqua, not only will you need to provide a tax id, you might need to bring your interior designer. I tried at Restoration Hardware and a designer tile place. At both, the sales rep said I didn't qualify because I was an architect, not an interior designer. I assured them I worked alongside interior designers and have specified my fair share of tile, faucets and light fixtures. They said I should bring one of the interior designers with me to make the purchase. I decided against the purchases for other reasons, so didn't pursue.

I was trying to get a discount on expanko brand cork flooring and the most the rep would give up was about 20%...guess I'll be going to lumber liquidators!