Buying carpet: online vs. in store

l0ki12

Hi everyone

We're looking to freshen up our carpets at our flat and have found some nice (if expensive) stuff that looks like it should do the job.

Buying in store will push us a few hundred quid over budget but I've found some of the carpets we like with a good reduction online. I understand we would need to arrange our own fitters doing it this way as well as all the usual underlay etc (we hope to re-use the old grippers). It is really tempting to order now and get the carpet we like for £300 instead of £500+ (I have calculated and added the VAT).

Has anyone done it this way and is it a genuine saving? To me it seems like an obvious way to make it cheaper but I'm obviously wary of getting stung later on when we come to arrange for someone to fit the carpet.

Any advice/experience welcome!

Hintza

Are you sure the £500 doesn't include fitting? Have you a carprt fitter arranged?

At least if you buy from the shop and have them fit it, if there are any problems in the future they will sort it (and not pass the buck).

l0ki12

Hintza wrote: »

Are you sure the £500 doesn't include fitting? Have you a carprt fitter arranged?

The figures I'm quoting are the raw figures for the carpet itself.

Holo11

My sister, mother and mother's friend have all purchased carpet online rather than paying the insane store prices. the NICF (National Institute of Carpet Fitters) have plenty of fitters who won't charge you over the odds.

I've just bought some grass for my garden...artificial stuff that again saves tonnes on store prices so to be honest from experience I would say shop around and grab yourself a deal out of store. Can even get some decent deals on eBay and pretty much everyone who's anyone will send you free samples first anyway if you're worried.

Hope that helps!

daveyjp

Find an independent outlet and ask them to price match.

ljt504

I went into SCS today and saw the same Carpet I bought online for £13.99 a meter, on the website I got it from it was £7.99. And in SCS it was on a special offer down from £19.99 as well! So I doubt they could price match such a big further discount. Online they have no costs like in the stores so it's always the way to go for the cheapest price.

alhermette

When I bought carpet recently I found a decent online price and took it to a local independant shop. Whilst they couldn't quite match the price they took it seriously and immediately gave me their best price.

I ended up going with them because they then had full responsability for the job. If you buy online and get an independant fitter you can end up in a hole if there is anything wrong with the carpet, particularly if a fault only becomes apparent after it is down. In my case the width of carpet was critical and there is a natural tolerance in what the manufacturers supply. The shop spoke with the manufacturer to ensure that they didn't get a piece that was at the smaller end of the tolerance and they took the responsability for it fitting. as it was over £1000 worth of carpet that was important to me.

What I did do though was get the underlay online and fitted it myself. That can make huge savings as the shops charge through the nose for the stuff and it really isn't difficult to fit yourself. I saved myself around £400 by doing that.

Leif

Our local shop is cheaper than the big name chains, on a per square meter basis, and they include fitting in the price. I'd rather go with a local shop that has a good reputation. Locals tell me they are very good, so I hope they are, as I will get carpet from them for the whole house.

jayship

Am looking for carpets and would like to know reliable online suppliers for delivery to the greater London area. Please advise.

fannyanna

alhermette wrote: »

What I did do though was get the underlay online and fitted it myself. That can make huge savings as the shops charge through the nose for the stuff and it really isn't difficult to fit yourself. I saved myself around £400 by doing that.

I'm thinking of doing this.

Are you able to give me some information on the company / underlay that you used?

A.Penny.Saved

I have this site bookmarked. I think it has been mentioned before on this forum. Search to find the threads.
http://www.tradepriced.co.uk/