BARGAINS : ULTIMATE PLACE TO GET A HANDLE ON HOUSEHOLD HARDWARE SAVINGS.

Byline: Trisha King & Deborah Newmark

Anyone thinking about upgrading the hardware and fixtures in their homes should check out the prices and selection found at Nor-Mar Sales Co. Inc. With more than 20,000 items in stock, representing at least 1,000 manufacturers, if you can't find a product here, it's probably not made.

If the entry handle set on your front door has seen better days, you'll find brands such as Schlage and Baldwin at discounted prices. For example, a traditional-style handle set made by Baldwin, called Logan, lists at about $294. Bargain shoppers will be happy to hear that Nor-Mar Sales offers the set for $177, or $20 less than at a large warehouse chain store.

The mainstay of business for Nor-Mar Sales comes from supplying builders of tract homes and apartment and commercial buildings. The first time you visit, you might think you've walked into the wrong place. The offices are at the entrance, and the showroom is in back of the building, where customer service is held at a premium. In fact, if you need to buy more than one door set, Nor-Mar Sales will key the locks so that all use one key. What's more, this service is free.

Nor-Mar Sales has done a very nice job of displaying its wares. For instance, rather than looking at boxed door knobs and handles, Nor-Mar Sales has most of them installed in displays so that customers can get a good feel for what they are buying. The same goes for thousands of cabinet knobs, hooks, handles, faucets and just about any other type of household hardware imaginable.

Some of the best medicine cabinets are the Spacecab by Zaca Inc. The warehouse stores don't stock this brand, but Nor-Mar Sales has it at discounted prices. A Zaca rustproof medicine cabinet, with fully adjustable shelves and beveled edge mirror (Model No. 22), that retails for $127.50 was $76.50.

Don't overlook the showroom's bargain table, which has a constantly changing selection. On the day of our visit, solid brass cabinet knobs that can retail for $6 to $10 each were $3.

Through the end of May, Nor-Mar Sales will be offering an additional 5 percent discount on all Zaca Inc. Spacecab medicine cabinets.

Nor-Mar Sales Co. Inc. is at 20835 Nordhoff St. (at De Soto Avenue), Chatsworth; [phone]. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; evening and weekend hours are available by appointment only. MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

Inside info

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