Abc Carpet Information Network

Why Don’t Carpet Dealers List Specifications on their Carpet Samples Anymore?

Question:  I’ve tried to take your advice and look for the right Face Weight, Pile Density and Tuft Twist to last 10-15 years.  The only places that I can find who have these specifications listed on their carpet samples are the big box retailers.  The local carpet retailer near me don’t list the carpet specifications on their samples.  The salespeople might know the face weights but often don’t know the Tuft Twist or Pile Density.  The one carpet I’m considering buying that fits in our budget is a Martha Stewart Nylon from Home Depot.  I’m carpeting 288 sq feet (den area with lots of traffic and furniture) and have $1000 budget.  They will install and give memory foam pad for that price.  I’m concerned that density is only 1613 but face weight is 43.6.  Their samples don’t show the Tuft Twist rating either.  Why Don’t All Flooring Retailers List Carpet Specifications on their Carpet Samples? Thanks, Tom

Answer:

Many locally owned carpet dealers do list all or some the carpet specs on their carpet samples, but some do not list any at all. They might think the customer should select their new carpet based on price, color and perhaps a durability rating like Shaw’s PAR Rating System. I firmly believe it’s very important for homeowners to have complete access to all the carpet specifications. It’s the only way to determine the grade or quality level of the carpet in question, and to be able to determine if the carpet would be a good choice based on the homeowners individual needs, goals, lifestyle and budget. Take my Free Carpet Foot Traffic Test to see what grade of carpet may be right for your home.

Not all locally owned dealers are honest and reputable, I am sorry to say, and some carpet salespeople are reluctant take the time to provide their customers with carpet specifications because it can be a “hassle” to do so. The problem is partly due to private labeling, retail competition, and partly due to salesperson laziness. Some carpet retailers simply don’t want you to be able to shop around for the lowest price (comparison shop) so they limit the amount carpet information available to the customer. They may even change the style and color names to make it difficult to comare prices with other local retailers. I think that’s what you may have encountered with your recent local carpet dealer visits.

Here’s what you need to know:

Every locally owned carpet dealer has three ways to locate the carpet specifications you are looking for:

1. They can call the Carpet manufacturer – most carpet mills are happy to fax or email the spec sheet.

2. They can go online to their carpet mill account to find the specs. This may require a store manager to get the info.

3. They can call their carpet mill rep to get the information. Every dealer has the cell phone number to their account rep.

It’s true that the carpet manufacturers are not putting the detailed construction information on their carpet samples like they used to in the past, but any decent carpet salesperson should be willing to get you the information you seek. However, you have to ask for it and be patient enough to wait for the information to be acquired, and it may take a day or two for the salesperson to get it. Most homeowners take several carpet samples home for a few days and narrow their carpet selections down to three or four good choices and then ask for the spec sheets for them all to compare them all side by side. Take your time making your final selection and don’t be afraid to take a week or two to think about it. Never let any salesperson pressure you into buying right now for any reason. It’s common for salespeople to urge you into buying right now by saying the sale will be ending soon or that the current prices are about to increase.

Big Box stores and corporately owned carpet chains have been known to use private labels on their carpet samples to prevent consumers from comparison shopping, but Home Depot and Lowe’s apparently have negotiated with the carpet makers to have some of the carpet specifications shown on their samples and I think they are wise for doing so. It certainly helps them “seem” be more transparent in that area. Unfortunately they may not be as transparent when it comes to providing quality installations and customer service after the sale. From what I have read, many homeowners who have had a carpet complaint of some sort “after the sale” have not been happy with the way they were treated, often having to call numerous times to try to get a remedy, only to find that no one is ready and willing to step up and accept responsibility for the customer complaint at hand. This is another reason why I prefer buying carpet from a local dealer over the big box stores. I firmly believe locally owned carpet retailers have much better customer service before, during and after the sale.

Tom, The Carpet you are considering is a decent quality nylon frieze-style carpet. It looks to me like a 10-year carpet if well cared for and if you have medium foot traffic in your home. It has good face-weight but low pile density (1613) as you know. The pile height is almost one inch (.98) and will contribute to the matting down of the pile over a 10 year period. For a frieze I recommend a pile height of no more than 3/4″ for the best wear and the least amount of matting. The taller the pile height the more prone the carpet is to matting, regardless of what fiber is selected. Carpets made of nylon will always wear better and longer than any other fiber - all other construction specifications being equal. Learn more about Carpet Fibers

The $1000 price tag is reasonable for the 32 yards that you require. Basically you are buying a $20 per yard carpet and paying an additional $10 per yard for the pad and installation combined. I think this is a good choice overall but this carpet will probably not last for 15 years in your application with high foot traffic as you have stated. Personally I would not opt for the memory foam pad, I would choose an 8-pound density Rebond pad. I think there is way too much hype associated with the memory foams and not enough resilient support as a frieze style requires.

Follow-up response:

Thanks a lot Alan!  This was very helpful.  I just got a recommendation of another local dealer that I will go to today.  I will patiently wait for the specs as you mentioned and get spec sheets.  I think I’ll shop around a little more and get a shorter pile height as you suggested.  I’ll look for 3/4 inch nap or shorter!  I hope the dealer I’m going to today is honest and reputable! Tom

Visit my website to learn more about carpet specifications and how to select the right carpet for you… http://www.abccarpets.com

Some carpet salespeople recommend a moisture barrier pad to every customer. Moisture barrier pads are generally more costly than a standard padding and may be suitable in some circumstances. However, I have found that in most situations homeowners are mislead into thinking a moisture barrier pad can do more than they are actually designed to do.

Some claim that a Moisture Barrier pad will prevent spills from soaking into the pad. What benefit does that provide? Do I need that?

What Homeowners Need to Know….

Read more: http://www.howtobuycarpet.com/carpet_padding_moisture_barrier_pad.htm

Order the “Kindle Version” of my Carpet Buying Guide at Amazon.com for only $9.99!

Order the "Kindle Version" of my Carpet Buying Guide at Amazon.com for only $9.99!

©2011 Alan J. Fletcher – Carpet Expert, Consumer Advocate & Webmaster at AbcCarpets.com

If you’ve got friends and relatives coming over for the holidays you might be considering replacing your old worn out carpet. Here are some “insider” tips & tricks to help you choose new carpet wisely, save money and hopefully make sure you have it installed before your holiday guests arrive!

Every year, right after Halloween there is always a hot rush to buy new carpet, but some homeowners end up waiting too long and discover that they can’t get their new carpet installed in time for Christmas and other holiday events.

There are two ways to buy new carpet; Buying “in stock” carpet from local carpet retailer or ordering from a manufacturer’s carpet sample and wait for your new carpet to be shipped on a truck from Dalton Georgia.

Buying “In Stock” Carpet

If you want your new carpet installed fastest, you might want to consider buying carpet that is available locally “in stock” There are always plenty of rolls of carpet readily available for immediate installation at local carpet retailers. The main benefit is that you can have it installed rather quickly and the prices can be quite reasonable.

The downside is that the carpet selection is usually limited to stock on-hand; it can be difficult to determine the grade or quality of the carpet in question; the carpet may be “second grade” goods and there might not be any manufacturer’s warranty coverage.

Ordering New Carpet from the Manufacturer

Every carpet retailer has carpet samples that you can take home and consider for a few days. The benefit of ordering new carpet from the mill is that you are guaranteed to get “first quality” carpet and you will always get the full manufacturer’s warranty. You also have the benefit of selecting the exact grade or quality you require and choose the color and style that you really want.

The downside is that you will have to wait for the carpet to be shipped before you can have it installed. It can take one to four weeks for your carpet to arrive, perhaps longer if the weather is bad or unforeseen problems arise.

If you decide to order from a sample, then you need to make sure you have your home measured accurately and place your order as soon as possible.

To help ensure you get your new carpet installed in time for the holidays:

• If you want your new carpet installed before Thanksgiving, you should place your order no later than October 26th.
• If you want you have your new carpet installed before December 24^th, you should place your order before November 23^th.
• If you want your new carpet installed before January 30^th, you should place your order no later than November 28^th.

Every retailer has a different timeframe for scheduling installations so check with your local dealer as soon as possible. Take the time to do your carpet homework and you will stand the best chance of choosing new carpet wisely, saving money and having your new carpet installed long before your holiday guests arrive!

How to Choose the Right Carpet for YOU!

In order to save the absolute most money possible and get the whole job done correctly from start to finish, you need to make wise & informed choices. I have dozens of pages and articles posted on my website that you can freely access to learn about how to buy new carpet wisely. In order to be completely satisfied with your New Carpet purchase you need to consider all the following and more:

Selecting the Right Carpet

The carpet samples you see at the carpet store may look and feel great, but some carpets will mat down and begin to wear out within a year or two. You can’t tell if a carpet is well-made just by its look or feel. You need to know how to interpret all the various carpet specifications to determine if the carpet will be a suitable choice for you.

The main 4 carpet specifications are: Fiber type; Tuft twist; Face-weight and Pile density. Homeowners need access to complete and accurate product information in order to make wise and informed carpet choices. This information is normally found on a label affixed to the back of every carpet sample. Learn what these specifications mean and how to interpret them on my website.

Good Advice

Homeowners often rely on the advice and suggestions of carpet salespeople. Unfortunately, some carpet retailers hire salespeople who are good at selling, but lack sufficient carpet knowledge and experience. Don’t allow the salesperson to make carpet or padding choices for you.

Selecting the right carpet padding

Selecting the right padding is very important. Padding has three main specifications to consider depending on your needs and goals. It’s important that you select the right type, thickness and density rating that is appropriate to your carpet selection and application. Some pads are better for use on stairs; some are better for basement applications; and it’s important that you meet the carpet manufacturer’s padding requirements or you might void your new carpet warranty.

Where to Shop for Carpet

Depending on where you live, you may have limited choices as to where you can conveniently shop for new carpet for your home. In rural areas, there are usually fewer choices and you may need to drive to a more populated area to have more choices and better options. Not all carpet stores carry the same grade and price point of carpet. Some carpet retailers cater to high end clientele while others cater to apartment owners or “do-it-yourself” customers. Visit a local carpet retailer with a good selection of the styles, quality level and pricing of carpet that you are interested in buying.

Proper Installation

Many carpet stores have a hard time finding qualified carpet installers. Installed wrong, your new carpet can lose half its intended life span. It is your responsibility to make sure your carpet is installed correctly. On my website you can find out how to determine if your installer is properly licensed, bonded and insured to install your carpet in your state, what questions to ask and how to check references. Print out and use my free Carpet Installation Inspection Form and do a thorough walk-through with your carpet installer when he is finished and before he leaves the jobsite.

Visit www.AbcCarpets.com to learn more…

• Take my Free Carpet Foot Traffic Test to learn what grade of carpet you need to buy based on your own personal needs and goals.
• Print out my Free Carpet Shopping Form!
• Print out my Free Carpet Installation Inspection Form
• Have carpet buying questions?  Free email service: “Ask the Carpet Expert”
• Buy from a Reputable Carpet Dealer! See my list of Preferred Carpet Dealers!

That means if you ever have a carpet problem or complaint, you may have a hard time knowing who to contact for a remedy. Homeowners often discover that no one is willing accept responsibility for making things right. 

Read more…

Don’t buy new carpet from unscrupulous carpet retailers, buy from a dealer you can trust! Visit my website at Http://www.abccarpets.com to learn how to buy new carpet wisely!

View Alan’s Preferred Carpet Dealers in a larger map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=202250930593406151839.0004a655a4ed83099ef4a&msa=0

New Carpet is more costly than most homeowners expect. To help you understand how much new carpet and padding will cost you, I’ve created a helpful New Carpet and Pad Pricing Chart.

Homeowners, if you are in the market for new carpet you should first take my free Carpet Foot Traffic Test and then you can cross reference your unique Level of Foot Traffic with the Number of Years you want your New Carpet to Last. 

You will discover what “Grade of Carpet” you need to buy and how much you might need to spend to get the new carpet and padding that will be the best choice for your home.

Don’t be a victim of a carpet scam! Make sure you buy from a reputable Carpet Dealer.

Carpet scams are common! That’s why I’ve created my own special hand-picked list of locally owned and reputable Carpet Dealers that I personally recommend to my readers. Don’t take chances when it comes to buying new carpet or flooring for your home!  See who I recommend near you.

Read my free Carpet Buying Report: 

Today’s New Carpet and Padding Cost Guidelines for Homeowners…

Visit Alan’s Carpet and Pad Pricing Chart

http://www.abccarpets.com/carpet_and_pad_pricing_chart.htm

FYI, if your carpet is still under warranty you must have it professionally cleaned at least once every 18 months or you may void the manufacturers warranty. You don’t want that to happen! Besides, a clean and well maintained carpet will last years longer and it will help reduce those nasty airborn allergens too!

Here is my new list of hand-picked Carpet Cleaning Companies for homeowners. I’ve been building this special list of preferred service providers because of all the carpet cleaning scams we all hear about. The last thing you want is to hire a fly-by-night carpet cleaner who jacks up the price or does a lousy job. Not to mention the possibility of  ruining your carpet or voiding your new carpet warranty.

And don’t forget, it’s important that you only hire a carpet cleaner that is well-trained, reputable  and certified by the IICRC. Don’t hire any carpet cleaner just because they claim to have the lowest price or have a discount coupon that sounds too good to be true!  Visit my website to learn about current Carpet Cleaning Prices.

Do you know a really great carpet cleaning company? Send me their name and contact number!

Looking for a great carpet cleaner? Visit my website and take a look at who I reccommend near you.

Thank You!

Alan Fletcher, Carpet Expert and Consumer Advocate

website: AbcCarpets.com

Email: Alan@AbcCarpets.com

The Complete Carpet Buying Guide on CD-Rom by Alan Fletcher

Participating Carpet Cleaning businesses now offer a free promotional CD-Rom of Alan’s Complete Carpet Buying Guide, a 136-page ebook designed to help consumers choose new carpet wisely, save money and avoid scams. Learn More