Tiles - Differences between hardware store / specialty store?

Our question is, however, how is the higher quality defined, do you also get it for less high-quality? Appearance is irrelevant at first.

Expensive does not have to be more valuable, but usually, more valuable is more expensive because the production is more elaborate.
What belongs to quality, among other things, I wrote in #4.
Besides, the quantity comes to mind. Mass-produced goods are cheaper, often sold in hardware stores. Some consciously do not want mass-produced goods, therefore they pay less for different goods, even if they may look the same to some.

One would now think, because obviously expensive = high quality, that this floor is high quality. In fact, the exact opposite is the case. The floor is a big mess. Looks great, everyone who sees it the first time says "Wooooow". The fact that we constantly have to remove some stains, have splinters in our feet, etc., of course only we know.

Sorry, natural products simply have such a property. Quality is not always easy to maintain. Rather the opposite: the feel is great, but maintenance effort and nature are enormously disadvantageous. This is also the case with an art print//oil painting, wooden door//plastic door, natural stone, porcelain stoneware tile, etc.
Plastic is simply easier to maintain but not more valuable compared to natural products. However, plastic can be more elaborately designed, so it can be twice as expensive as cheap plastic.
You could have had your parquet cheaper with expensive laminate, but then there would have been no praise from visitors; with cheap laminate, you would now be upset about wear.

To be honest, this is hard for us to judge. Especially since you don’t see them side by side.

Then it doesn’t matter anyway if you yourselves don’t recognize it.
As already said: there are people who see such things immediately and choose the "rarity" among the tiles for themselves, like to adorn themselves with it, but can also enjoy the difference themselves.

Sorry, natural materials just have such properties. Quality is not always easy to maintain. Rather the opposite: the feel is great, but the maintenance effort and nature are enormously disadvantageous. This is also the case with an art print//oil painting, wooden door//plastic door, natural stone, porcelain stoneware tiles, etc. Plastic is simply easier to maintain, but not as valuable compared to natural products. However, plastic can be more elaborately designed, so it can be twice as expensive as cheap plastic.

That’s why we are laying real wood parquet again in the new house. But this time one that is definitely worth its price of about €100/sqm. Unlike the crappy floor now, which cost much more and is not even remotely worth the money. When comparing wood floors and non-wood floors, one can certainly explain the cost differences much more easily than with porcelain stoneware. From the outside, as a layperson, it’s all just stone at first glance.

I find terms like "cheap" and "expensive" always very vague. There is a lot in between, and you define for yourself when something is cheap and when it is expensive. For our needs, I would rather use the term "good value." Something is worth its price. That can be a lot or a little.

Partly, "quality" tiles also have better slip and abrasion resistance, more beautiful grain, and with some luck, you can still get replacement tiles with the same batch even after a few years. DIY store tiles can already differ after one week (with the next delivery).

The idea is to choose something in the tile trade, possibly together with the installer, then place an order that includes the previously selected tiles as well as the required quantity (determined by the installer) and, of course, the costs for the installation. When the time comes, the installer goes, gets the tiles (or whenever) and brings them to the construction site when he starts work. This way we wouldn’t have anything in stock and, from our point of view, he also has to take responsibility for any damage during transport, etc.

The wholesaler delivers the stuff punctually and on schedule. And the trade also gives you a guarantee that what is delivered will be as ordered— for example, if you sample half a year earlier and the manufacturer discontinues it. They also cover damages. You won’t get that from a hardware store, which delivers your stuff as soon as possible. If the tile should no longer be available shortly before installation, there’s just a shrug and “take a look, we got this tile on offer this week, it looks pretty similar.”

And why should the installer take responsibility for warranty during transport from the hardware store? He doesn't have control over that; with the trade, he knows the person personally.

We recently looked around extensively both in specialty stores and in the market and felt the tile surface (might sound crazy but a tile has to feel pleasant to me) and we found our favorite. You might find it somewhere else at a completely different price; ours were delivered directly from Italy to the house, totally easy. My focus would absolutely be on liking the tile and there are plenty of options in the affordable range if you look a bit. I agree with , it is individual and you have to like the tile.

We got our bathroom tiles from a tile studio and they were also installed by their tiler. Our kitchen tiles, on the other hand, are from a DIY store for under €20/sqm (porcelain stoneware), also installed by the same tiler. He said the quality was good. So I don’t see why we should have bought more expensive ones, except for reasons that mentioned regarding pattern repetitions or similar.