So, we took lots of local advice and went to our local in-town small carpeting business. Loved the guys. Trusted them. Know they'd do a great job. When the quote came in, I was a little shocked... but honestly didn't know what to expect.
We decided to get a second quote to compare. So, to be easy on us, I called Mr. 1-800-588-blah blah blah that we hear so much on TV.
I HATE their practice. Absolutely hate it. The gentleman came in and measured, took our selection and gave us an estimate. Literally $1200 more than the first quote from the local company. So, Mike and I exchanged glances and said, "Well, thank you for coming in... we'll be back in touch once we've made up our mind"... fully expecting to go back to company #1.
The guy said, "What can I do to make this happen tonight?" Ugh... crap... he wasn't going to be easy to show the door. And I am not a bold "get out" sort-of-person. So Mike explained that we were looking to compare quotes and we already had a much lower price quoted. The man laughed. Yes. Laughed... as if we were suddenly playing games with HIM. (Don't most people get multiple quotes before plunking down thousands of dollars??) That ticked me off.
But... he then said if we could wait a few weeks, he could probably get us in on a builder's deal and that would be a few dozen bucks cheaper than the quote from the local company. We hesitated.
So, he "called his boss" to question him about the "manager's special". He hangs up and gives a brand new number. $2000 less than his first quote! No kidding. TWO GRAND less... not far from 50% off the original quote. Mike and I dropped our jaws. What a freaking game this was! We just wanted a number... not to play games. Have I ever mentioned how much I HATE the whole idea of haggling for deals. China gift-buying did not suit me well... it totally stresses me out.
However, we are honestly in a situation where money rules. Regardless of reputation or quality of product (both were builder grade and seemed quite similar), our decision had to be ruled by $$$ only. So, since this new company did come in at $800 less than the local company, we went with them. It kills me to have done so. I hate it. Hopefully the service and installation go smoothly. Oh... and they could do it next day. (Proving the whole, get-you-in-with-the-next-builders-purchase thing was a scam.) We opted for March 20 to give us more decluttering time.
The local company didn't blame us for taking the other offer... and we did tell them that if we ever need new carpeting and plan to live in that house, we will absolutely be back.
Ugh. Just dealing with a company like this gives me the chills. I hate the whole haggling crap. They came in hoping to make an extra cool two thousand dollars off of a bunch of naive shoppers. That just ticks me off.
I'll keep you informed on how the installation goes.
1 comment:
I saw you put this (in abreviated version) on Facebook and didn't quite read it all. Reading it now I can see why you were so upset. I am totally with you. I would much rather use the local, honest business person. But since you are spending lots on a new house already, I don't blame you for going with the better price. It is frustrating and annoying to hear the games companies play though.
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