1633 S. Missouri Ave Clearwater,  FL  33756 Ph:  727-441-3900 Fax: 813-472-9059

Caveat emptor:  "Let the buyer beware":

The Whole House Scam:

This involves attracting you to the store by offering a "whole house" carpet installation for one very low price.  Don't be taken in, as any logic will let you properly conclude that the dealer is making up the labor cost loss by overpricing the cost of the carpet and pad. There is no free lunch; talented craftsmen do NOT work for free or minimum wage. Also, when you read the "fine print" of these programs, there are lots of extra charges, however you won't find out until they come out to your home... (charging you a fee to measure)!

This type of advertising is more often seen in the large chain stores and BIG BOX stores. For example, HD and Lowes lead the customer into purchasing their "special pad" - up to $8.00/sq yd. This $7.00 to $8.00 / yd includes installation of the pad also. (Maybe this is how they justify charging so much for their pad!)  What this means is that the mind-boggling "$39.00 Install" is really JUST FOR THE CARPET!  Furthermore, there are numerous heavy charges for moving any furniture, pulling up the old carpet and pad, haul-away and disposal of the old carpet and pad, and even more extras for metals, tack strip, and/or thresholds. Combine this with the fact that HD and Lowes must hire installers from companies that pay their installers the absolute LOWEST wages, and you can see that they may even be making money on their labor.

Installation is Free:

It may not show up on the invoice.... however installation is obviously built into the price of the carpet.

The Private Label Scam:

Not really a "scam" but more of a marketing ploy to prevent the consumer from shopping around, using the old "apples to apples" comparison technique. Its kind of like buying a mattress --- you can find the exact same mattress under 10 different "names" depending on where you shop. In the case of carpet, the most prevalent use of "private labels" is found in the the BIG BOX retailers, and large buying group chain stores. Private labeling is now so prolific, that most larger carpet dealers use some sort of private labeling to keep true comparison shopping to a bare minimum.

Guaranteed Lowest Price Scam:

This ploy is used by many of the larger retailers who want you to think their price is the lowest. The gimmick is to say that if you can find the same exact carpet elsewhere at a lower price, "we'll meet or beat that price by 5%". Of course you cannot find the "SAME" carpet elsewhere because the retailer has it "private labeled". Therefore, the only place you will find the same named carpet is at a branch or division of the same chain!

Buy a Room, Get Two More Rooms for Free:

This scam brings a new meaning to the word "unethical".   Since this is highly impossible, the salesperson sells you one room of carpet for the price of three rooms!  (Obviously, this price does NOT include installation)!

60% OFF SALE:

60% off of an Over-inflated price is NOT a sale!

I Can Buy it Wholesale:

We all know a friend of a friend who can get almost anything at a cheap price. Most of us know  know there is no free lunch. I'd be cautious of anyone selling you anything at a price that appears too good to be true. If the most important part of your buying process is price, you are doomed to be taken. If the carpet is that inexpensive, it may either be "second quality" (off shade or defective)... or "numerous small rolls" of different dye lots (which results in extra seams)... or "slightly used" (recently installed and removed from a home)... or it is "paper-thin" and "transparent"!  That's right... I've actually seen transparent (see-through) carpet!  Think about it.... if these companies sold flooring at wholesale prices... they would have no income and of course they would be out of business!

Of course we're Licensed & Insured:

All salespeople will mention that the company they represent is licensed and insured.  Yes, they probably do have a license to do business and they probably do have insurance in case their store burns down.  However, do you know if they have the required "contractor's" license necessary to do the work?  Believe it or not.... some do and some don't!!!  Carpet Barn & More, Inc. has a Finish Carpentry License and a Tile & Marble Specialty Contractors License, required by the "Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board (PCCLB)".  Lic. #'s C-10611 & C-10612.  It's always in YOUR best interest to hire a licensed contractor!

"GOOD, OLD FASHIONED HONESTY... 
IS CARPET BARN & MORE'S POLICY"!

THE RESULT:  
Happy Customers with No Complaints.