Cost includes the overhead of packaging, inventory, returns, etc. So it'd generally be cheaper to buy a complete assembled unit retail. Trying to think of exce

Cost includes the overhead of packaging, inventory, returns, etc. So it'd generally be cheaper to buy a complete assembled unit retail. Trying to think of exceptions... Can't think of any. Maybe the Sears & Robuck kit houses? My father bought us a kit computer. An off the shlef equiv unit would have been cheaper. We paid extra for the priviledge of self assembly.