New carpets - local shop or national chain?

A.Penny.Saved

cattie wrote: »

But as every experienced flooring/carpet tradesperson knows, when large manufacturers make carpets they are given a Range Name, such as Cormar's New Oakland. What Carpetright often do is change the name of the Range & have stickers on the back of the samples showing the the maker's details etc, but the name of the range of carpet will not be the maker's original as sold in independent stores, but the one that Carpetright have assigned to it.

This is done to make it more difficult for you to do a price comparison with other stores for the particular carpet you are interested in. There is a website that flooring trades people frequent where they can often tell you the manufacture's range name for the carpet once they know the who the manufacturer is & the range name that Carpetright have assigned to that particular carpet.

cattie wrote: »

Just do proper homework before buying a carpet to ensure you are getting the very best deal you can before buying by shopping around before making a decision.

I and others in this thread would love to. Are you willing & able to provide the name of the website so we can check for ourselves?

adandem wrote: »

Which website is it please? I am looking for Cormar New Oakland or Home Counties.

:T

Amontylado wrote: »

Hi Cattie - do you actually know the name of that website you mentioned or have you only heard tell of it? Are there any flooring trades people reading this forum who could let us know the name of the site please? It would be very useful. Many thanks.

:T

lackingwedge

When I was sourcing carpet for my property around this time two years ago, I remember coming across a carpet fitters forum where this was discussed. I'll try and find it.

lackingwedge

Try this site:

http://www.flooringadviceforum.com/forums/textile-carpet-forum.15/

jellie

I used a local independent for my last carpets but only because Carpet Right didn't have what I wanted.

They have their own fitters and whilst their work was very good, I wouldn't want them back again. So just because fitters are employed by the showroom, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll get a better service.

A.Penny.Saved

lackingwedge wrote: »

Try this site:

http://www.flooringadviceforum.com/forums/textile-carpet-forum.15/

Thank you. Everyone who wanted to know the link now has something which does look like it has the wanted information.

The thread in question

flimf

I went to my local carpet firm yesterday, VERY helpful, they new we were on a budget so even offered us the 'landlord rolls' of carpet, super cheap-o ones! We settled for a slightly pricier carpet and it came to £450 to fit and supply to very large rooms in our new home

Feeling_Blue

It isn't correct to say that Carpetright are able to buy in bulk cheaper than most independents. Most independents belong to buying groups with more members than Carpetright have stores. 99 times out of 100, your local store will be cheaper than Carpetright on a like for like quote. That said you do have the confidence of buying from a long established chain with them.

Feeling_Blue

xyz123 wrote: »

When we bought our house two years ago. we changed carpet in 4 rooms. We looked in many local places. Most wanted to charge a fortune for carpet. Most annoyingly three of our local ones wanted to charge a surcharge of £2 per metre simply for me buying underlay online and not from them. We in the end went with national chain and absolutely no problem at all.






Was the £2 because you wanted them to fit it? Many people are surprised when shops ask for money to fit their own underlay. They expect it for free, when they've already taken some of the shops profit away by buying online.

wallbash

your local store will be cheaper than Carpetright on a like for like quote.

Suggest you do your own research and NOT take this advice at face value.

Feeling_Blue

I agree you should do your own research. The difference between a fitter for John Lewis and a fitter from Carpetright is that whilst it may be true they fit for both, if the fitter makes an error at Carpetright, the fitter is liable. At John Lewis they will cover it.
The example of the Heinz beans is not a good one. Carpetright work on big margins to cover there overheads, independent shops do not have to do that.
I agree you should get a quote from both and look at the difference in costs between the ancillary products such as gripper, underlay and door bars before making up your mind.