does home despot contract with their suppliers for identically labeled but inferior models?

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i am not asking if home despot chooses inferior brands or models to put on in their stores.

i am asking specifically if you get a widget model number #xyz from home depot and another widget model number #xyz from a non-home depot store or direct from the manufacturer, you will find the products are actually different despite the identical labeling and model number.

a carpenter just told us that he tried this with some tool and took them apart and found internal parts made of plastic in the home despot version but metal in the direct-from-the-manufacturer version.


is this true or just a rumor? i have googled and seen others ask the same question but i've not found anything definitive.

tia!



incidentally, i'm no fan of home despot anyway, just wondering if this is one more thing to add to my list. my sense has always been that they stock flimsy crap, but i have nothing to support the idea that identical models are better if purchased elsewhere.