[mr48chev]

That is just wrong.

In a previous job it was my task to order parts for a large food (apple sauce and juices) processing plant. If I didn't have a local source or know the source I needed to go to I would call the manufacture and ask who I should buy their product through. Some sold direct but most went though their tried and true distributors. Calling the distributor I'd get the same thing, some sold direct and some only sold though their vendors in certain areas. Often as not, the local vendor was one of my regular vendors who didn't have that product on their line sheet but could easily get it.

My wonderment is why the so called "bulder" didn't contact you in the first place to either see if he could buy direct or find out who you suggested he buy through. My WAG is that he was used to getting what he thought was a serious discount though Specialty Suspension on their products and thought he could get the same discount on your setup and they found out that they didn't have room to buy it and sell it to him at their profit level so they slung him along.