Buy tiles in advance / Your ideas & suggestions

Hello everyone,

after extensive inspections and samples, we have now finally decided on our desired tile.

We have now been offered these sensationally cheap by an online retailer (reputable site) and are now wondering whether we should buy them now and then store them with us until the time comes. Time horizon approx. 6 months.
Do we have to/should we discuss this with the tiler in advance?

Quantity: approx. 160 sqm
Format: 20x120

What do you think? Securing the price through a deposit will probably not work, as it is an online retailer. Looking forward to your feedback.

Ps. Other retailers as well as local dealers sell this identical tile sometimes 3 times as expensive.

You should definitely discuss this with the tiler, especially regarding the quantity to order (waste, baseboards). Also, you need to store them somewhere (large-format tiles are heavy too). Generally, I wonder why the online retailer can offer them so cheaply, while the specialist store charges three times as much. Or is there maybe a catch?

Storage is not a problem since we have a large warehouse. It is definitely sensible to discuss this with the tiler. Thank you for the information. No catch. Exactly the same tiles. I find it quite cheeky to obscure manufacturers on tiles here and sometimes charge three times as much for them.

I also often find the price differences between the internet and local stores quite steep. I also often order cheaply online when I specifically look for something (e.g. basement tiles without having seen them beforehand). However, I do not find it fair to take samples and seek advice in the stores, and then buy the tiles online.

I also often find the price differences between the internet and local stores quite steep. I often order cheaply online when I am specifically looking for something (e.g., cellar tiles without having seen them beforehand). However, I do not think it is fair to sample the tiles in stores, i.e., to use the consultation service, and then buy the tiles on the internet.

In some respects, I do agree with you, of course, but I also do not find a price markup of up to 300% fair. Brick-and-mortar retailers should partly understand that such markups are no longer justifiable nowadays. I am happy to pay “a bit” more, no question.

I find it pretty cheeky to obscure the manufacturers of tiles here and sometimes charge three times as much for them

"Funny" story about this, 3 days old: We sampled "anonymized" tiles, and even when asked, they didn't want to tell us the manufacturer and series of these tiles. When preparing the offer, the employee then read the coding wrong, so the wrong tile was ordered and installed by the tiler. Now everything is coming out again