Design-Build Package vs. Buying C-Store Equipment Online
Online prices are real, but they price the box, not the store. Here is what a lower sticker price leaves out, and when buying online is the right call.
- Stores Built
- 2,500+Stores Built
- Years in Business
- 24+Years in Business
- First Store Built
- 1996First Store Built
- States Served
- 50States Served
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Quick answer
Buying equipment online works for single replacement items where the space, power and drains already exist. For a new store or a remodel, the sticker price leaves out design, fit, electrical and refrigeration coordination, freight, receiving, installation and who is responsible when something does not fit. A design-build package prices the store as it will be installed.
Online restaurant and retail equipment sellers list prices that are hard to ignore, and for some purchases they are the right choice. For a whole store, the sticker price measures the wrong thing. You are not buying a cooler; you are buying a cooler wall that fits its opening, is fed by the right refrigeration, has power where it needs it and was installed by someone who answers when it does not work.
What the sticker price leaves out
| Cost | Buying item by item | Designed and installed package |
|---|---|---|
| Design and fit | Owner checks every dimension | Equipment selected to fit the plan |
| Electrical and refrigeration layouts | Drawn from cut sheets, often after ordering | Drawn from the package before ordering |
| Freight and delivery | Per order, often liftgate or curbside only | Coordinated for the project |
| Receiving and storage | Owner or contractor | Part of the delivery plan |
| Installation | Separate trades per item | Installed as one package |
| Walk-in refrigeration | Box, system and installer often from different sources | Designed as one system |
| When something doesn't fit | Owner's problem; returns and restocking fees | The designer's problem |
When buying online is the right call
- A like-for-like replacement where the opening, power and drain already exist.
- Small wares and light equipment that need no installation.
- A single piece you have an installer lined up for.
If you are replacing one reach-in cooler in a working store, buying it online may be the best value.
When a package costs less
- A new store or a major remodel. Dozens of pieces of equipment have to agree with each other and with the building.
- Walk-in coolers, freezers and beer caves. The box, the refrigeration system and the installation have to be designed together, with refrigeration calculations and power requirements.
- Food service. The hood, sinks, cooking equipment and refrigeration all affect the building.
- Cooler walls with display doors. The door count, the box depth and the shelving behind them have to match.
These are the items where a fit problem means construction, not a return label.
Mixing the two
You do not have to choose one route for everything. Many owners buy small wares and some light equipment themselves and use a designed package for refrigeration, display doors, shelving, counters and food service. Tell us what you already own or plan to buy and we will design around it.
What a JayComp package includes
We select and arrange the equipment, draw the framing, electrical and refrigeration layouts from it, and design the walk-ins, cabinets and shelving. Then we deliver and install it. We install the lines we carry directly, including Heatcraft and Russell refrigeration, Anthony and Styleline display doors, Madix shelving and Hussmann cases.
To compare honestly, ask for our package quote and price the same list online including freight, delivery, installation and refrigeration work. See what to send for a quote.
How a JayComp project runs
The same eight steps on every store, from the first drawing to installed equipment. See the full service overview.
- 1Floor plan design
- 2Equipment packages
- 3Framing layout
- 4Electrical layout
- 5Walk-in coolers and freezers
- 6Cabinets and shelving
- 7Color and graphics
- 8Store delivery package
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to buy equipment online?
When does buying online make sense?
Can I buy some equipment myself and have you design around it?
What about used equipment?
Planning guides
Related services
- Design-build vs. architectThe real question is who makes sure the equipment fits the plan. Here is how the two routes compare, and why many store projects end up using both.
- First-time store ownersYour first store is the one where a design mistake costs the most. We walk new owners through the plan, the equipment and the install as one project, so nothing is ordered before it fits.
- Remodel vs. new buildThe building you have is either an asset or a constraint. These are the questions that decide which, before you spend on either route.
- What to send for a quoteA good quote starts with good information. Here is what to send us, what our quote covers, and how to compare it fairly with another firm's.
Planning a store? Start with a conversation.
2,500+ stores built since 1996, from Ravia, Oklahoma to all 50 states. Call (877) 843-0183 or send the form.
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