This location used to operate under Carpet Craft and Sears Flooring but is no longer part of the Sears franchise but ownership has remained the same. I went to get a quote for replacement of kitchen (vinyl) flooring with tile and replacement of living room carpeting with hardwood, including two flights of stairs to be done with hardwood.
The salesman was very professional and easy to deal with, but he is no longer at the store.
The kitchen floor was done in approximately two days. The tradesman was one of those, however, who likes to get in and get out, more interested in completing the job than in the quality of work. This was my opinion and verified by one of the Carpet Craft (Sears Flooring) staff. The only real incident with the kitchen flooring was the butchering of my baseboards. I believe that there was miscommunication between the salesman and the installation crew in that the installer believed that the baseboards were not going to be re-used so he took no care in the removal. I can understand an honest mistake but Carpet Craft took no responsibility for the error relying on the contract provision that they were not responsible for the baseboards. However, that provision is there in the event of accidental breakage die to brittleness from age, not negligence of the tradesman.
The hardwood was delivered a few days in advance of the installation in order to acclimatize the hardwood. Installation day rolls around and here now is a MAJOR problem. It seems the estimator did not bother to check what was underneath the carpet and allowed me to select a regular style hardwood (nail installation). I learned later that the fact that my living room is partially below grade should have tipped off the estimator that I would need engineered hardwood for a glue-down installation. The company missed this despite the fact that their entire business is flooring.
A different hardwood needs to be ordered and the stuff that has been sitting in my house needs to go back. Of course, keep in mind that my living room has been cleared of furniture and the carpet stripped so now I have no "living" room for a considerable time due to Carpet Craft's error.
The salesman advises that he has a replacement product that he can order and not to worry, it is engineered hardwood and can be installed when it finally arrives. I asked the salesman to verify that the replacement hardwood was Canadian and he assured me that it was Canadian. Sure enough, upon delivery, in rolls the U.S. hardwood. The salesman is then quick to blame someone else about this error, saying he was told it was Canadian.
We then go through the same process of the hardwood being delivered a few days prior to installation to acclimatize. Installation day arrives and the installers determine that installation still cannot proceed because the floor is not level and has to be levelled first so that the hardwood can be placed straight.
Once the job was finished, I was left without mouldings between various rooms. I was given a lot of inaccurate information, being told that the mouldings were ordered and ready for pick-up by the installer but the installer verified that he had no instructions to pick up mouldings. The last straw was when I was given a delivery date and appointment time but nobody bothered to call or show up for the scheduled appointment. Given the delays with the flooring, I have no idea why the mouldings were't sitting, just waiting to be installed.
These are the major problems I encountered but the worst part was Carpet Craft's unwillingness to resolve any issues despite numerous phone calls. Once they were paid in full, that was it. I was only able to get some small element of satisfaction after I placed a chargeback for part of the payment. Carpet Craft then has the audacity to send a collection company after me for a chargeback, instead of trying to resolve some minor issues and such is the way they treat customers.
The work that should have been completed within a week took six months and was a very disappointing experience and stressful time.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $12,000.00
- What could this company do to improve their services?
- The company should honour its promises and correct mistakes instead of antagonizing the customer.
- Any advice to offer fellow homeowners facing a similar project?
- Do not pay in full until the project is completed to your satisfaction. Try & get personal referrals if possible. If not, look for lots of reviews of the same company on Homestars and similar sites.