[X]
Write ReviewJump to 
28
Helpful
Votes
Votes
Empire Carpet Complaint - Free estimate! Beware, nothing in life is free!! - Free in home estimate for carpet and installation
Free in home estimate for carpet and installation - Complaint
FLORIDA -- So I set up an appointment for a FREE estimate on carpet and installation. The scheduled time window was from 3 to 5 pm. The salesperson came at about 4:30. He looked around, took some measurements and asked some questions. He went to his car and brought in 4 samples. That's it. When I asked about price he steered clear of answering. When I asked about manufactures, again he avoided answering. I knew only one of the samples was near what I could afford. still he quoted two. I asked about the manufacturer and price, again he danced around answering the questions. Finally I get a quote. That's what I was waiting for. Still no manufacturer. Then he proceeds to tell me that it's a free estimate, but for his time because he did come out here...He saw my face, slightly appalled I imagine, and said "let me start over. Forget I said That." Like I am really going to forget that he said that. He wanted a fifty dollar deposit. But all I wanted was an estimate. I rushed out the door to make it to my new house on time, assuming he may have done the same. I don't live there yet, because I need Carpet, so I didn't have a way to do a deposit. He goes outside to call his boss. Of course I eavesdropped the best I could without getting up. He comes back in and says his boss will let me do it with no deposit and knocked $261 off estimate. Why not give me that price to begin with? I'm still a little confused as to why I needed to place a deposit on estimated work, while I planned on still looking around. Then it comes, what day do you want to install it? I was placing an order. Since "I am not ready to decide yet" was not an acceptable, I let him proceed. If he wants to waste my time, I can waste his. It's now 6 pm. I'm hungry, I had errands to still do and I'm falling behind schedule. I decided to let him do whatever he was trying to do.
As I read the paper, I find after 3 days, I am in a binding contract that if I do cancel I am responsible to pay 15% of the estimated price. I had him write on the contract that I can cancel without penalty any time before the day of installation. Still I proceeded. After all the paper work was done and he was collecting his 4 samples and briefcase I asked again who is the manufacturer? "Oh, I don't know." wow. I looked at him..."Let me look it up." Finally "SHAW" When I went home and researched the carpet he pushed my way and no where does it say the KEEPSAKE II is a Shaw carpet, In fact I can't find it any where. Needless to say I cancelled the VERY NEXT DAY. All it cost me was a few minutes on the phone and a postage stamp. If only my estimate was that simple.
As I read the paper, I find after 3 days, I am in a binding contract that if I do cancel I am responsible to pay 15% of the estimated price. I had him write on the contract that I can cancel without penalty any time before the day of installation. Still I proceeded. After all the paper work was done and he was collecting his 4 samples and briefcase I asked again who is the manufacturer? "Oh, I don't know." wow. I looked at him..."Let me look it up." Finally "SHAW" When I went home and researched the carpet he pushed my way and no where does it say the KEEPSAKE II is a Shaw carpet, In fact I can't find it any where. Needless to say I cancelled the VERY NEXT DAY. All it cost me was a few minutes on the phone and a postage stamp. If only my estimate was that simple.
Company Response:
Thank you for bringing your sales experience to our attention. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused you. We are dedicated to service and satisfaction; please contact us at 800-588-2300 to assist you.
Comments:
Posted by bluediamond98 on 2010-10-12:
Have you tried Lowes Crazy J?
Posted by Skye on 2010-10-12:
True, nothing in life is free. The moment he began to avoid your questions, you of showed him to the door, and politely said, thank you for your free estimate, I'll be in touch. End of story. You don't owe him anything, but he is going to do whatever he can to make a sale. You are the adult, you are in control. Please have some dinner and enjoy the rest of your evening.
Posted by dan gordon on 2010-10-13:
I worked in wholesale floorcovering for 20 yrs. There are only two mfcts Mohawk or Shaw. Empire does not employ salespeople. They hire 'independent contractors' who can negotiate their own pricing. They operate as high pressure one stop close type procedures. Ridiculous advertising etc etc. Do you really think you buy one room and get two rooms free??? Go to a local place, not a box store. Empires markups are probably some of the highest in the industry. No low price comparison since everything is private labeled anyway.
Posted by chrissiann on 2010-10-30:
This type of scheme: offering something free, avoiding questions, "talking to boss on phone" and then "knocking down the price," pushing for quick order -- these are ALL tricks of unreputable businesses. Too often "businesses" that engage in these types of techniques are fly-by-night scams that bait-n-switch, are evasive and pressure the victim for an order/cash quickly because they know they will not be around very long. They are trying to maximize their profits as quickly as possible - without delivering - before they change "company" name and start the scheme again under a different name. Avoid this "company" at all costs. And be able to recognize them again when they are under a different name.
Posted by imperial357 on 2010-11-02:
Empire carpet is a catch 22! Avoid them at all cost I had similar situation with these clowns but cancelled everything because they keep changing the work order! Beware ALL dont used them. They are crooks!
Posted by imperial357 on 2010-11-02:
Share the info- :) Every industry has them. And in the carpet industry, we have a lot of them - those "less than respectable" people selling the product. There are more than a few scams, tricks and deceptions that take place in this industry. There are probably many that we don't even know about. But we will make you aware of the ones we do know. EMPIRE LOL.
Bait and Switch "Empire"
The carpet industry practically invented this one. If you haven't heard of this scam, you probably live on another planet. So for all of you aliens from another world, here's how it works.
All carpet manufacturers have sample books or "deck boards" as they are referred to. These books may have one large carpet sample on the front, and all of the colors in smaller samples inside the book. Some books may have two, three or even four large samples on the front.
When there is more than one sample on the front of the book, each one is usually a different thickness or "quality". Usually these qualities differ only in thickness, and sometimes there is not much difference that you can see or feel. But there is always a difference in cost.
The scam is simple. Let's say a carpet sample book has three samples on the front - A, B and C. C is the thickest one. You are so excited about buying your new carpet that you don't thoroughly read the contract. What happened is, you picked out C. The salesman wrote B on the contract, but charged you for C. He was fully aware of what he was doing.
Or, he will write C on the contract, but send out B, gambling that you probably won't notice the difference
Bait and Switch "Empire"
The carpet industry practically invented this one. If you haven't heard of this scam, you probably live on another planet. So for all of you aliens from another world, here's how it works.
All carpet manufacturers have sample books or "deck boards" as they are referred to. These books may have one large carpet sample on the front, and all of the colors in smaller samples inside the book. Some books may have two, three or even four large samples on the front.
When there is more than one sample on the front of the book, each one is usually a different thickness or "quality". Usually these qualities differ only in thickness, and sometimes there is not much difference that you can see or feel. But there is always a difference in cost.
The scam is simple. Let's say a carpet sample book has three samples on the front - A, B and C. C is the thickest one. You are so excited about buying your new carpet that you don't thoroughly read the contract. What happened is, you picked out C. The salesman wrote B on the contract, but charged you for C. He was fully aware of what he was doing.
Or, he will write C on the contract, but send out B, gambling that you probably won't notice the difference
Posted by agindc on 2010-11-13:
I had these crooks come to my apartment in DC once. The salesperson proceeded the very same way yours did. He avoided answering the very same questions. This "calling my boss" is a bunch of bull crap! Be aware everybody! They have no ethics!
Note: All comments are reviewed by a moderator before being published. Please be sure to read our guidelines before commenting.
Company Reps: Post your company response!
