Just a month ago, in the final stretches of a renovation job, the beautiful Kohler Tresham Toilet was installed Friday afternoon. The toilet had been in its box, on a pallet, on the job for over 6 months waiting for its crowning moment. On Monday morning I get the call that the newly installed toilet is leaking onto the polished concrete floor. My crew uninstalls the Tresham for inspection and we find its insides are cracked and crazed (kinda like how old pottery dishes get). It’s not fixable and I must order another one. The exact one. It went like this…
First, I did a routine quick internet check that resulted in none being found. Most suppliers listed it as “OUT OF STOCK” or “Due back in stock, unknown.” I found one that was double the retail price and could be delivered for half that amount, but even if I was willing to pay that price, it’s risky. I have to read all the fine print on returns, receiving damaged goods, etc. No guarantees so I moved on to calling all of my normal plumbing suppliers. It reads like a sitcom.
Call One
ME: Hi, I’m looking for a Kohler Tresham comfort height, one-piece, compact, elongated, 1.28 gpf with aqua piston flush technology, left-hand trip lever, skirted trapway in white toilet, number K-3981-0.
Plumber: Hang on, let me check… No, but I have a Highline, two-piece with a right-hand trip lever in almond.
ME: No, I really need the Tresham. Thank you for checking.
I hang up. Determined.
Call Two
ME: Hi, I’m looking for a Kohler Tresham comfort height, one-piece, compact, elongated, 1.28 gpf with aqua piston flush technology, left-hand trip lever, skirted trap-way in white toilet, number K-3981-0.
Plumber: No. We got nothing like that.
I hang up. Still determined!
Call Three
ME: Hi, I’m looking for a Kohler Tresham comfort height, one-piece, compact, elongated, 1.28 gpf with aqua piston flush technology, left-hand trip lever, skirted trapway in white toilet, number K-3981-0.
Plumber: Laughter. Are you kidding honey? Kohler doesn’t even have any. There might be some on that boat that is stuck in the canal or maybe in one of the thousands of ships behind him.
I hang up. This went on for over an hour. I’m down to calling places that I can drive to within a couple of hours and still nothing, then on my approximate thirtieth call this.
ME: Hi, I’m looking for a Kohler Tresham comfort height, one-piece, compact, elongated, 1.28 gpf with aqua piston flush technology, left-hand trip lever, skirted trapway in white toilet, number K-3981-0.
Plumber: How many do you need?
ME: Sorry? Wait, what did you say? Do you have more than one Tresham?
Plumber: Yes, we have 2, Kohler Tresham comfort height, one-piece, compact, elongated, 1.28 gpf with aqua piston flush technology, left-hand trip lever, skirted trapway in white toilet, number K-3981-0. Would you like it delivered?
ME: Yes, that would be wonderful. When can you deliver it and what is your delivery fee to this zip code?
Plumber: We can deliver it for free tomorrow morning, is that good for you?
I hung up the phone and started singing “I’m winning! yeh! I’m winning!” Perseverance paid off. That is just a sample of the many challenges in completing any interior design job or renovation job. Major thanks to sweet and helpful Jessica at Crawford Supply for having the toilet in stock and helping me with my project.