Alan,
why do you recommend locally owned Carpet Dealers?
I
answer thousands of carpet questions every year, many emails are from homeowners who
are unhappy with the carpet they purchased from a national carpet retailer.
These include
-
Home
Improvement Warehouses
-
National
Carpet Franchises
-
1-800
Shop-at-Home Retailers
Homeowners
write to me hoping I can help them get
their carpet problems resolved. They are often upset or angry about they way
they are being treated. Unfortunately for most homeowners, it's already too late and
the damage has been done. When they email me they
often say something like...
"Every
time I call the store to ask for help they say they will call me
right back... but they never do! Or they say...
"I've
been calling and trying to get someone from the company to come out and take
a look at my carpet problem for more than a month!"
Even
if someone does show up to see what you are complaining about they may not
be willing to accept any responsibility. They will likely blame you for not
taking proper care of your carpet. If you have kids or pets, they may blame
them for causing the problem. If you had your carpet cleaned recently, they
may blame the carpet cleaning company for creating the problem. They might
even blame your vacuum for being too powerful. No matter what they say, most
consumers are not prepared for the hoops they must jump through in order to
get anyone to do anything about the carpet problem. It can takes months to
get a remedy, if you get a remedy at all.
The
3 most common carpet complaints.
1.
Bad Installation
Most
of the time, consumers end up having an installation problem. It's hard to
get qualified installation these days, especially when you buy from a
"big box" carpet retailer. They farm out all their installations
to subcontractors, some good, some not so good. When carpet is installed
improperly the carpet will start to
wrinkle, ripple or buckle in the main walkways, on stairs and hallways. To fix the
problem, the furniture needs to be moved out again and the carpet needs to
be re-stretched. Unfortunately most installation warranties expire after one
year, so if you don't call and get it resolved within the first year you
will have to pay to have the carpet restretched. Bad installation can easily cost you
hundreds in repair and re-stretch fees and potentially reduce the life span of your carpet.
2.
Defective Carpet
Sometimes
homeowners end up with a defective carpet. Usually it is a appearance issue
where the color is lighter here and darker over there. Sometimes tufts are
coming loose or the backing is defective. In this case, a representative
from the carpet manufacturer will need to see your carpet and determine if you qualify for
any adjustment or correction. This means you might get a partial in-store credit to have a portion of the carpet replaced. If you are lucky enough
to get any credit at all you may still be responsible for paying for
furniture moving and installation of the replacement carpet. Take another day
off work, move furniture around and wait around for the installers to show
up. Be prepared: The replacement carpet may not quite match your
existing carpet.
3.
Low Quality Carpet
The
worst thing that can go wrong is when your carpet mats down. The tufts were
once soft, upright and fluffy. Now they are laying down flat as a pancake
and look worn out. You can clean, rake or vacuum all you want but nothing
will bring them back to life, ever!. This means you have bought a poor
quality carpet, likely made from a Polyester, or a P.E.T. Polyester fiber.
You have been charged big money for cheapo carpet! Carpets made with these
cheap and non-resilient fibers are prone to matting and crushing and there
is no warranty coverage for it. When this happens, it's game over for you.
When you call to complain and get nowhere, your blood pressure may rise to
new heights!
Have
You Read Your Carpet Warranty?
It
amazes me to know how few actually read the manufacturer's carpet warranty.
It certainly is an eye opener! Carpet warranties are worded in such a way
that it practically takes an act of congress to substantiate a valid claim.
Homeowners are required to follow strict care and maintenance procedures or
the warranty will be voided. This includes periodic cleanings, proper stain
removal techniques, and selecting a carpet that is suitable for your
application. Simply put, you have to make sure you select a carpet that is
designed to handle your level of foot traffic. If you don't, they will say
you have abused your carpet and the warranty is null and void.
Why
Buy From a Reputable, "Locally Owned" Carpet Dealer?
Even
if you do have a problem or concern, you
won't get the runaround from a reputable, family-run carpet
dealer. They can't afford to have any unsatisfied customers. These are your
neighbors who have built their longstanding business and reputation based on honesty,
integrity and word-of-mouth advertising. They provide first-class service
and have a vested interest in your community. They hire and train local
people and pay their fair share of state and local taxes to help support
your schools, maintain your roads and so much more. They stand behind their products
& workmanship and will help you every step of the way from
start to finish to make sure you are completely satisfied with your
purchase!
To
see
who I recommend near you, select your state below...
