Is “Free Carpet Installation” really free?

You’ve seen the ads from the big national home improvement chains...” free carpet installation”. Sounds like a great deal! But... is it really free? Or is the cost hidden in the total price? I went comparison shopping at our competitors to see if free installation is really free. Let’s break it down.

1. No one works for free. That’s the obvious. Hopefully, you’re getting skilled craftsman or craftswomen. Carpet installation is a skilled trade and they certainly don’t work for free. Most of our installers have been with us for over 20 years. If we don’t trust them to install flooring in our own homes, we won’t hire them to install your flooring.
2. Check the price of the padding you’re REQUIRED to buy for “free installation”. I did. The pad you’re required to buy to get “free installation” was approximately 300% higher than ours for the 7/16 pad and almost 200% higher for the 1⁄2” pad.
3. Compare the price of the carpet and make sure you compare apples to apples. Yes, I found some that were similarly priced, but I also found many that were priced much higher than us, especially for the special-order products you’re required to buy to get free installation. Most of the time, they private label their carpet to make it harder to compare. I’ve had manufacturers admit that they make deals with the Big Box stores, such as making a carpet for them with the same colors and styles as ours, but cut back on the ounce weight of the fiber to reduce the cost.
4. Watch out for hidden costs. They usually charge you a fee to come out and measure your home, which they put towards the purchase price if you buy. If you don’t buy from them, you’re out the money. Great sales pressure tactic. Some charge for things we include, like tack strip and other basic supplies.
5. Make sure you always get a total price with yardage included and use that to compare. Many of our customers are pleasantly surprised when we give them a quote, and our price is much lower, even without the “free installation”. Our store’s mission statement includes honesty and integrity with our customers.

As the old adage goes, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. As a locally owned store, we work hard to make sure we’re always making deals with our manufacturers to provide you the best products and the best prices. We only use the best installers. We’re proud to consistently voted the Best Flooring Store, since the voting began.