I’ve dealt with Home Depot on the business side and they have low prices because they squeeze their suppliers. They have buying power, like Walmart, and get the best deals from suppliers. Mom and Pop shops simply can’t get the same deal. So what do they do? They make claims about the quality of the carpets coming from Home Depot and tell you to trust them because they have been installing for so long. And installation isn’t rocket science…it doesn’t take a PHD to install carpet and certainly not 10 years of experience.

The bottom line is that its a business and those small shops can’t get the same deals from suppliers that Home Depot gets. Because of that, they’ll give you cheaper materials to try to match the home depot prices. If they can give you the same “seconds” at the same price as Home Depot, go for it! I told my mom and pop shop that I don’t care if home depot sells seconds, I’m carpeting a basement have pets and kids, and I WANT seconds if it gets the price down. But they couldn’t match it… instead they just point out how bad home depot is. Put your money where your mouth is- offer the same products at the same prices and that will lend some credibility to claims like Tony’s. Offer us seconds, we’ll take them.

That is an impossibility. The industry makes it impossible to compare carpet from one store to another. From what I can tell, the only places where it’s relatively easy to get the technical specifications on any carpet is at Home Depot or Lowe’s. I have had zero luck getting technical specs outside of these store, doesn’t matter if it’s Empire, Carpet One, or the two local shops I tried. The stores always claim that they would have to call the mill. Really, does it change that frequently? Why don’t they have that information on hand already? None of them get back to me with the proper info either, but phone calls to see if I’m ready to order are in no short supply. One store showed me “Painter’s Pallet” by Mohawk. Google provided some wholesale prices, but nothing in terms of specs.

As an engineer, I’m hung up on knowing the “specs.” Sure, some might not find it that important, but I don’t intend to buy any carpet when I don’t have that info.

That’s why my experience has been frustrating so far. I need just over 1000 sq ft installed and have all the furniture out and have already done the take-up and prep (as I knew I needed to do some sub-floor repairs). Rolling the dice with a HD or Lowe’s installer is not something I care to do and in addition I know I’ll be paying an arm and a leg for labor. It’s plain silly to think that either store will only pay an installer $199 to carpet 1000 sq ft. The cost is buried in the price of the carpet. Since my install is simple (very basic, three seams, existing tacks, no steps, no furniture, no take-up) I would like to limit the cost of install to the basic average of $4 sq yard (that’s the research I’ve done anyways).

HD and Lowe’s won’t break out their hidden labor costs, and the small companies don’t like to pony up carpet specs. It’s a lose, lose for the customer.

Your pathetic lack of English grammar and syntax leaves me with no other conclusion than to simply avoid Empire. I was already leaning that way after I read *every single post here*. However, after your post started with “I love these people on here babbling…” and then continued to devolve, I am left with one question: did you actually think you were performing anything but a disservice to Empire?

Have a nice day. I’m going to get some estimates from “a little guy”, HD and Lowe’s. I won’t even waste my time with Empire. And I have you, HomeImp, to thank!!

The upper hallway was pieced together in three pieces which I was never told would be done. They cut the carpet around the mantel when I specifically asked that it be placed underneath it. There was a gap between the carpet and the mantel. They left a mess in the hallway and never put the furniture back as I was promised. I thought they were taking their tools out to the truck and were coming back in to move the furniture but they just left.

I had a second crew here yesterday to fix the carpet where there was a gap by the mantel. The customer service rep told me they would replace the whole strip since that is where the seam is and they would only need a strip 4′ x 20′ and it was from the same roll so it would match. When the crew got here they said they couldn’t guarantee the color would match and that the seam may not meld well since the carpet had been in place for 3 days. I told him it really hadn’t been walked on in that area and he said it didn’t matter. I didn’t want to take the chance that the color wouldn’t match so they stretched the carpet by the mantel to eliminate the gap. The carpet does look better, however the guy took several gouges out of the oak mantel with the tool he used to tuck the carpet edges back under the trim and the mantel. I called customer service and now they need to send someone out to repair the mantel.

The second crew knew nothing about the carpet in the hallway being replaced so after talking with customer service again yesterday I am now waiting today for yet a third crew to arrive and replace the piecemeal job in the hallway. The customer service rep guaranteed that I would be the first appointment of the day and it is 11:00 and they haven’t arrived. I called the general customer service number to find out where they are. After being on hold she told me that the driver left his phone at home and she couldn’t get in contact with him (how did she know he left his phone at home if he didn’t have a phone to let her know that?). I am tempted if/when they show up to tell them to just go away as I am worried what they might damaged today.

I think it is ridiculous it has taken 3 appointments and things still may not be right. In addition I have to schedule to have a furniture repair company come out to fix the mantel. I would recommend anyone considering new carpet stay away from Empire unless you have a ton of free time to sit around waiting for them to keep coming back, trying to get it right. Needless to say, I will never use Empire again.

On Monday between 8 and 12 I will have someone come to my home and measure. The carpet should be installed before Thanksgiving.

I read a lot about the people who measure the sqft wrong to make a few extra bucks. I am afraid to get ripped off here, however, I will be open minded and watch the guy. Computerized layout sounds really great and there isn’t much room to gauge the customer either. My only concern is that the installers are not done on time and my Thanksgiving will go bad because of not having carpet in the dining room and or the wood flooring isn’t installed in the kitchen and working area of the kitchen. Wish me luck…..

Signed,

Desperately seeking matching carpet.

I need a great price. It’s a lot of carpet.

Contact me @ rcamoore@msn.com if you can give me a great deal.