How to measure for carpet

AsknAnswer2

I need some help please to measure for carpets for hall, stairs and landing. I've measured up but don't know how to 'plan' it. If you want the story behind it, it's below. My own measurements are in the last paragraph. Can someone please tell me what size in metres squared that I need?

I'm after a carpet for hall, stairs and landing. I can measure a basic room but have no idea how they work it for hall, stairs and landing so I asked the carpet shop for a home visit; they advertise a free measuring and estimating service. This home measuring and estimating service is supposed to include:

Measuring
Advice on flooring types
Advice on suitability
Advice on underlay/ accessories
Vast range of samples
Provide an estimate

They told me that they don't 'do' samples and advised me to look at their website for carpets. Couldn't tell me why they don't do what their website says they do (samples) Fair enough, done. I've selected a few carpets that I want.

The gent comes out and measures but refused to give me the measurements, (ie what size carpet I need, the m2) so I can't price up. So then I told him what carpets I selected and gave him the price per m2 so that he can give me an estimate there and then. No can do. I've now got to travel to their store to get the estimates. I ask why it's made so difficult, why offer a free measuring and estimating service in the home and not do what their website states. Apparently it's to prevent customers from going elsewhere.

Well initially I had no intention of going elsewhere which is why I asked that specific shop for the service; I've used them before to carpet rooms that I'd measured myself. But now I am going to go elsewhere because they've made it so bloody awkward. I don't want to go into a shop and have the sales patter pushed on me, I wanted a simple 'here's your measurements' so that I can price up myself from their website what carpets are within my budget or an estimate on the ones I like, which they say they offer but don't bloody well follow through on.

Okay here are my measurements that I did myself. The downstairs hall is 7.5 m2, that I can do! The steps are 90cm by 47cm (including up and over) and there are 14 stairs. The upstairs hall is 127cm from wall over nose of first step. From one wall to other is 199cm and from the other wall, it's 214cm. Can anyone please tell me what size of carpet I'd need, please?Thank you.

rustyboy21

I don't feel that they are being particularly awkward.

They have offered you a free service, in which they come out ( at their own expense), measure for you, so you won't end up under or over ordering, given you advice on underlays/floor types/carpets suitable etc. They have overheads to cover ( wages/cars,insurance etc).

If I was in a similar business, I would do exactly the same, why do all the hard work, when someone else will get the business.

I change the names of products I sell instore, so customers cannot go shopping around. Only when they purchase the items and paid their deposit and signed the contract, will I give them the correct names for the products. A lot of retailers are now doing this. I also won't place orders in the customers house, as then there is a cooling off period for signing off trade premises, quite normal also.

He hasn't done anything wrong IMO, he just wants to protect his business, which is legitimate reason for not giving you the sizes.

Also anyone giving you the m2 on here take as a guesstimate, they have not seen any factors which may mean more or less carpet to order ( matching design, direction of weave etc ) He does.

Jaynne

Fair enough with changing product names - though a lot of retailers like John Lewis who "price match" now get special product codes on otherwise identical TVs and other goods so they can back out of their claims.

Frankly though people expect a bit more convenience now-a-days and if there is a free measuring service being made to jump through hoops to actually get a quote makes it pointless. I too would look elsewhere if the retailer made me do that. When we brought our carpets the store we brought from were happy to come out and measure out, though we went into the store to look at the options. They then were happy to leave a sample book with us to pick the right shade and emailed us out a quote including no of m2. We knew we could save a few pounds if we searched around or ordered off the internet but valued how helpful the chap was.

Back to the op, if you know what carpet you want why not just ring a few local dealers up and ask them the cost per m^2 and fitting cost per m^2? Then you can ask the cheapest, best one or two round to quote. I'm sure one won't be as awkward as the people you've had round originally.

AsknAnswer2

He's done plenty wrong because he didn't do what they say they do on their website. It says they bring samples. They don't. It says they give advice. They don't. It says they give estimates. They don't. The only thing he did do was measure. Frankly, they wasted my time. I have complained to customer services who agreed that I did not get the service that I was supposed to get and they will be raising it with the store. I was offered a call back but declined it. I don't do business with people who are incapable of delivering their services as stated in their own terms.

Jaynne, thanks - I rang another carpet shop this afternoon. They came out about an hour ago, measured up and gave me the measurements there and then, no problems. They say they've got some good roll ends that would fit and that would be cheaper for me. They've invited me to their warehouse to go and look at the roll ends to see if there are any I like. What a difference - they made it so easy!