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Common Retail Carpet Scams
If you have bought new carpet successfully in the past, then buying new carpet today might seem like an easy task... But times have changed and choosing new carpet today is not as simple as it once was, even just a few years ago. Why? Unscrupulous carpet retailers have figured out dozens of new ways to scam you out of your hard-earned money. They lure you in with unbelievable offers that sound too good to be true!
But it's not just carpet sales scams you need to be concerned about, you can also be scammed by the carpet salesperson who overcharges you. Even carpet manufacturers may try to take advantage of you by making key product specifications difficult to obtain. The list goes on and on.
There are now many more grades of carpet to choose from, and selecting the right grade of carpet for your needs and goals can be quite difficult and certainly more confusing than in the past.
How Do I Recognize a Carpet Scam?
Selecting New Carpet Wisely...
Not all carpets are created equal. Some carpets are designed for heavy traffic applications and can last for 20 years or more. Other carpets are designed for light traffic duty and might last 3 to 5 years. You have to make wise and informed choices.
You have to be sure that the Carpet and Pad you purchase is designed to handle your unique application. There are many varying grades of carpet and you must choose the right grade of carpet and pad if you want it to last as long as you hope. What Grade of Carpet Should I Select?
Above
is a photo of a display rack at Home Depot. Every carpet on this display is
made of 100% Polyester, which is well-known for matting down in short order.
They don't tell you that. These Polyester carpets are priced between $27.35 and $32.83 per square yard for the carpet only. (pad and installation not included).
For that price you could buy a good quality Nylon Frieze style at a locally-owned carpet dealer.
Buying a carpet made of NYLON instead of a Polyester is a smart move, especially if you want your new carpet to last years longer and want to avoid the common matting and crushing of the pile that carpets made from Polyester fibers are so well known for.
The Polyester Fiber Scam
Carpet manufacturers often print up new brochures that say P.E.T. and Polyester carpets are now new and improved. They have been saying this since the 1950's and will continue to brag about the great benefits of Polyester.
Let me be frank... Polyester is a lousy fiber for the making of carpet. In fact, I think polyester is the absolute worst fiber you could ever choose if you want a carpet that will stand up to medium to heavy foot traffic, be long-lasting, durable and resist matting and crushing of the pile!
Polyester does have some good qualities... It resists fading, it resists stains, and it comes in vibrant colors and it is very soft. The main problem is, the pile "mats down" in a hurry and once it does, it will NEVER return to its like-new appearance, no matter what you do.
In other words, in medium to heavy traffic applications, Polyester will begin to look HORRIBLE very quickly, especially on stairs, down hallways, in front of your couch and along your main walkways!
In low-traffic applications carpet made from Polyester might last a few years longer.
The Polyester Sales Pitch
Uninformed, misinformed, inexperienced or slick carpet salespeople will tell you that the Polyester fiber is now equally durable as NYLON and that Polyester is now somehow manufactured better today then it was in the recent past. This is a BIG FAT LIE!
Maybe they know it, maybe they don't. But don't you believe it. Either way, don't say I didn't warn you! Carpet made from Polyester or P.E.T. Polyester are NOT as durable or as resilient as a carpet made from Nylon.
Want a long lasting and durable carpet? Buy NYLON!
Do not believe their claims about Polyester no matter what they say! Why? They don't stand to make as much profit from NYLON carpets.
Polyester carpets are much cheaper to manufacture. Polyester carpets will mat down and look ugly in just a few short years. Especially in medium to heavy foot traffic applications, on stairs and down hallways.
Learn more Carpet Fibers - Durability
The Free Carpet Installation Scam
Sure, Home Depot and Lowe's both offer low-cost installation at $37.00 or less, but that's just for a basic install and it doesn't cover everything you likely need, so there's usually a hefty fee for the extra stuff you need beyond the "basic" installation, and then they add add on the cost of their over-priced padding.
Consumers often select a carpet for the wrong reasons. A specific color, style or low price is often the determining factor behind their final selection.
This means that you need to have knowledge about carpet fibers and construction specifications. Even if you have this information you need to know how to use it to your advantage. Learn more about Carpet Specifications
Unscrupulous carpet retailers go out of their way to make it appear simple and easy to buy new carpet. They bundle up the carpet, pad and installation into one convenient package deal.
They price the whole kit and caboodle by the "square foot" to make it sound very affordable. They may even offer free products, services or discounted installation to fool you into thinking you are getting a super good deal. How Much Does Carpet Cost?
Carpet Measuring Scams
Some homes are quick and easy to measure while others are more complicated and require a significant amount of time and expertise to measure up accurately. If a carpet salesperson comes to your house to measure, they may not be willing disclose to you exactly how much carpet you actually need.
Some carpet salespeople prefer to keep this information hidden from you so you won't use their measurements to order carpet from another dealer down the street. Although I understand their thinking, I don't think it is right for any salesperson to hide the measuring totals from you.
If you don't know exactly how much material you need,
you will have no way of comparing other proposals.
It also allows them to charge you as much as they want without you knowing the true itemized cost for each of the products and services involved in the deal. This exposes you to a potential carpet scam of over-charging you for material and labor.
Bad Measuring Can Cost You!
If they say you need 100 yards of carpet, then you will also be charged for 100 yards of padding and 100 yards of installation.
That means if the carpet is $20 per yard, and the pad is $6 per yard, and the installation is $8 per yard, then you will be charged $34 X 100 yards = $3400
However if you actually need 91 yards of carpet then you would be charged $34 X 91 yards = $3094
This is a difference of $306.00 You could easily save this amount or more just by getting accurate measurements.
This is just one of many good reasons why you need to get more than just one or two free bids/estimates. How to Measure for Carpet in 4 Simple Steps
Carpet "Bait and Switch" Scams
The
Carpet Bait and switch scam is a simple but easy scam for unscrupulous carpet
dealers to get away with.
Many carpet styles are available in several different grades and it is difficult to tell them apart unless you see them side by side. Most homeowners can't tell the difference between varied face-weights and may never know they have been scammed.
For
example, there may be three face-weights available in a certain carpet style
such as 38, 40 and 42 ounces. The carpet salesperson may show you the 42-ounce
carpet and then deliver the 38-ounce carpet thinking you will never know the
difference. The salesperson then can make more commission on the sale because
the cost is less for the lower face-weight carpet.
There
is only one sure-fire way to guard against this common carpet scam, and that is
to keep the original carpet sample until your new carpet arrives and check them
side by side when they deliver your new carpet.
It's also important to have the exact name of the carpet style and specific face-weight of the carpet you ordered written down on the invoice or bill of sale.
Some
carpet dealers won't let you keep the carpet sample more than a few days, if at
all. They may say that it is their only sample and they need it to show other
potential customers who may be interested in seeing it. If this is the case with
your carpet dealer, you can always take the time to write down all the
information on the carpet sample and compare it to the paperwork that arrives
with the carpet you ordered.
If you are suspicious about any salesperson’s actions or think they may be trying to hide key information from you, then you may want to buy carpet from a different dealer.
No Two Rolls of Carpet are Exactly Alike
Just
so you know, the carpet sample and the actual carpet that the manufacturer
delivers to you may not be exactly the
same.
This
is normal and should be expected. Don't freak out if there are some minor
differences, but if there are obvious differences in the face-weight, color or
texture, you should not allow them to install the carpet until you are
completely satisfied that this is the same carpet that you ordered.
It's
Easy To Forget What You Ordered!
After
looking at dozens of styles and colors many homeowners become dazed and
confused. It's quite common for a homeowner to forget what color or style they
ordered by the time their new carpet actually arrives.
It
may take several weeks for your new carpet to arrive from the mill and
homeowners may not remember what they actually ordered.
This
is why it is very important to write down all the specifications about the
carpet you ordered, the style name, color number, face-weight, and anything else
that is shown on the label.
The
same holds true for the padding you order. You need to know the type, style,
thickness and density of the pad you ordered. That way there can be no confusion
when the actual pad shows up to be installed.
Carpet Installation Scams
It is your job to be sure that the carpet installer is qualified and installs your carpet according to the CRI 105 installation guidelines. You cannot trust the carpet retailer to do this for you. If your carpet is not installed properly it will not last as long as it was intended, you might develop wrinkles and your warranty may be void. How to Verify a Contractor's License
Free Information and Sound Advice?
You can't expect any retail carpet salesperson to fully educate you about how to choose new carpet. First, they don't have enough time to teach you what you really need to know, and second, their advice is not always good advice for your needs and goals. What grade of carpet should I buy?
Unscrupulous carpet salespeople will quickly know if you are a wise shopper or not. If you walk in without a clue they can easily take advantage of your lack of carpet knowledge and potentially sell you an over-priced or inferior-quality carpet that does not meet your needs or goals.
Read all my free articles and information to learn how to choose new carpet like a pro! How To Choose New Carpet Wisely, Save Money Avoid Scams 2021
Truth About Carpet Warranties?
Earlier I said that carpet manufacturers can try to scam you too. Carpet warranties are one way they can scam you...
You should know that virtually all carpet warranties are worded in such a way to make it almost impossible for homeowners to substantiate a valid claim when something goes wrong with your carpet.
Carpet warranties are so confusing because they use words and phrases designed to confuse and confound you. Other than the part that covers obvious manufacturing defects, most carpet warranties are not worth much at all.
Rarely do I see a carpet warranty cover anything other than an obvious manufacturing defect and even then their response is limited and often takes some time and effort (and frustration) for you to get a remedy.
Never buy new carpet based solely on the warranty alone. Buy carpet based on your needs and goals and the manufacturing specifications of the carpet.
Salespeople with Limited Product Knowledge
Just like roofing, siding and replacement windows, floor covering of all types are considered to be a major re-occurring expense for homeowners. When spending thousands on any home improvement you must be sure to select materials that will meet or exceed your needs and goals, and have it all installed correctly.
Consumers are often misinformed, mislead or overcharged when it comes to selecting appropriate carpet or flooring materials.
The main problem is that there are just too many pushy salespeople that are real good at closing the sale but lack product knowledge or have enough hands-on experience.
I think this is especially true with certain shop-at-home retailers like Empire Today. Contracted salespeople have been known to say or do just about anything to close the sale while showing you their products.
They may not know or even care if the products they show you are capable of meeting your needs, goals or lifestyle. They certainly do not care if you can afford the products they offer.
Most carpet salespeople are paid on commission. Commissioned salespeople make no money unless they make a sale, and their hunger to get a paycheck or their greed to make more money can easily cause some salespeople to sacrifice integrity. That means they may tell you exactly what you want to hear even if it is not true, just to convince you to commit to the sale.
My advice? Do not buy anything from pushy or strong-arm salespeople! They will try to wear you down and not take no for an answer! Some homeowners have a hard time saying no. So if you are not ready to buy today, or you are unsure, then you need to say no! I have been confronted by many pushy salespeople in my life and I fully understand how hard it is to say no. You cannot afford to say yes to pushy salespeople.
Say "no thank you" then stand up and escort them to the door. Do not write them a check. Do not agree to buy no matter what they say. Tell them you need to take a few days to think about it and you want to do some comparison shopping. Tell them you want to sleep on it.
Trust me on this, even if they tell you that this is a "Today Only" super special deal and is only valid for today, do not believe them!!! I guarantee you that their price will be lower tomorrow and be even lower next week! After you get them to leave, plan on getting two or three estimates from other locally owned carpet dealers. See Who I Recommend Near You!
Where to Find Carpet Specifications
Some carpet manufacturers will not disclose their product specifications thus preventing consumers from being able to determine the grade or quality level of the carpet in question.
Carpet manufacturers also allow retailers to use private labels, thus changing the name of the style and color to help prevent consumers from comparison shopping.
Then there is the problem with measuring your home for carpet. Obtaining accurate measurements is absolutely essential but only a small percentage of carpet salespeople have truly mastered it. Inaccurate measurements can easily cost a consumer hundreds more than necessary.
Some unscrupulous carpet salespeople will purposely over-measure your home in order to skim hundreds of dollars off the top of your purchase. This is a common scam and is difficult to detect or prove that it was intentional. Read more about Carpet Specifications
How to Get Qualified Carpet Installation
50 years ago, carpet installers were well-trained craftsmen. Not anymore! Today it is getting hard to find well trained and qualified carpet installers.
Most installers today have no formal training whatsoever. They started out as a helper and within six months they bought some carpet tools and put a free advertisement up on Craigslist or in a local newspaper's service directory.
Any carpet layer's helper can buy a set of carpet tools and begin installing carpet without any formal training or apprenticeship.
Many "self-proclaimed" carpet installers are untrained, inexperienced and unqualified to install your carpet. Most homeowners do know how to recognize a mediocre installation job from a great installation job.
You end up finding out about a year or two later when the wrinkles appear. That's also when you discover that your installer has disappeared. Poor quality installation can quickly ruin your carpet and void your carpet warranty. Larger retailers and Big-box carpet sellers have a hard time finding a Qualified Carpet Installer
Home improvement stores have had a lot of bad publicity over the years due to their poor quality carpet installations. They are now offering special deals on their so-called "basic" carpet installations to attract customers and to limit their liability. Even if they say the installation is free, wait until you see the final bill.
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