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How to Buy a Quality Drawer Slide at the Best Price
You’ve selected your flooring, your cabinets, your appliances: the face of your home or office is complete, but what lies under the surface is just as important – and even more so because it helps maintain the use and appearance of what is visible. Quality drawer slides are essential because they both enhance the performance of your drawers and extend their useful life, which saves you money. Many people do not give slides a second thought, but there are so many different varieties, styles, and brands that it can be overwhelming when you are actually confronted with the choices. Here are some tips for getting the best drawer slide at the best price.
Setting a budget is important; when shopping for slides, make sure you get the best that you can afford. Quality is not always measured in money, but some of the best slides do cost a bit more than the “budget” versions. This is because the materials and construction tend to be sturdier and more durable. When you buy a pair of slides, think about what you want them to do and how long you want them to last. Spending a bit more initially may actually save you money because you will not have to replace the slide system. Some, like models by Blum, last as long as the drawer itself.
Beyond price, slides also differ based on factors such as weight capacity, material, mountings, and extension. For instance, if you have a wooden drawer that will be used for silverware, you might choose a lightweight, center-mount slide that extends either ¾ or fully. If you have a drawer in which you are going to store heavy tools, an industrial, full extension heavy-duty slide, like those from the Accuride 9301 series, will provide the needed weight capacity. Determine what your drawer will be used for and, again, buy the best that your budget allows.
After the basics, decide on features. Those who thought a slide was a slide will be surprised to learn that many systems have extra features that add to the performance and convenience. You can find slides that feature advanced shock absorption or self-cleaning ball retainers. To use Blum as an example once again: you can find slides that have Blumotion, an innovative feature that moderates drawer closing speeds and provides superior, quiet operation.
All of these features and models can be easily found – but can they be easily found for a good price? A customer not only needs quality, he needs performance that is reliable and a product that is durable. To find this, go to the best hardware store around: the internet. This makes it incredibly easy to compare prices on different models.
A good vendor will offer comprehensive information on their products, excellent customer service, same day shipping when possible, volume pricing, and a reasonable return policy. And, of course, good prices. Because online retailers can reach a much broader market, they can often offer products for much less than a brick-and-mortar store. You may not only find the best heavy duty slides you need within your budget, and but you may be able to upgrade and still stay on budget.
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