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AIBU?

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Original poster

Rude store manager?! Take my money elsewhere

188 replies

Sellotapeandlime · 28/02/2025 20:08

Hello everyone,

Had a bit of a shit day but I want to know if AIBU.

I have been to three carpet stores and have been comparing quotes and have decided to (of course) go for the cheapest quote. I get there and I'm ready to pay for my deposit. However, the manager said that I need to pay the rest of the money in cash to pay the fitters on the day of the carpet. I told him "no" that I prefer to pay the rest of the money by debit/bank transfer on the day so that I have a digital record of the payment. I said I was happy to put down a higher amount for the deposit- but it would be too much money to cash out and due to the large amount, I prefer to pay the rest of the balance by card.

All of a sudden he got very angry, face red, shaking and said "NO! You pay all of the money upfront or half on the day in cash or nothing at all". I replied to him "Well, I can see that you are angry and I don't feel comfortable with the way you are behaving, so I'm going to leave and look elsewhere. Then he said "Bye!", and I left.

I mean what the hell???? Can anyone please tell me if AIBU?? Was I wrong to request that I would like to pay the rest by card?

Also! I'm now stuck as my only option is to pay for the expensive carpet place who are known to do a very good job but are very expensive. We need to move into our new home within three weeks. What should I do????????

OP posts:
LikeABat · 01/03/2025 09:02

In the past we have paid the fitters by cheque. Is that an option?

sweetpickle2 · 01/03/2025 09:00

I actually think you were rude first. He told you how payment works in their company and you said “no” and then told him how you’ll be paying instead.

Like fine if you don’t want to pay like that but they’re entitled to run their business how they like- arguing the toss is pointless.

BananaBubbless · 01/03/2025 08:58

I’ve used the same independent fitter for 15 years. He always wants as much of it in cash as possible.

outnumbered77 · 01/03/2025 08:54

Just source the carpet you like online yourself and get an independent fitter to fit it?

SnoozingFox · 01/03/2025 08:54

Also - revolutionary idea here - you could ask the fitters to write a receipt? I know, this new fangled pen and paper thing. "Received from Ms X, £240 for fitting lounge carpet". It's called proof of payment.

crossstitchingnana · 01/03/2025 08:43

The local carpet shop I use always asks for a card payment after fitting, 1/2 deposit before hand.

Branleuse · 01/03/2025 08:28

you dont need a digital receipt if they give you a paper receipt that they sign

LaineyCee · 01/03/2025 00:20

Why don’t you buy the cheaper carpet and find someone else to fit it?

Solmum1964 · 01/03/2025 00:14

PrincessofWells · 28/02/2025 20:39

£100.

But if you pay the shop by credit card just for the supply, unless the fitters are employed by the shop you will not be covered by the s75 should they mess up the fitting.

Show quote history

The item has to cost more than £100 but you don't need to pay all of that by credit card to get full protection.
But yes, you're probably right about the fitters not being covered under this.

Original poster
Sellotapeandlime · 28/02/2025 22:36

Ellmau · 28/02/2025 21:25

OP, what will you do if the expensive shop also wants their fitters paid cash?

They don't. I can pay even days after the fitting.

OP posts:
Balloonhearts · 28/02/2025 22:05

I work at a carpet retailer. That's normal.

You're buying made to measure product, they aren't going to cut it and deliver it without you paying upfront for it. Until the order is paid, the supplier doesn't get paid and until they get paid, it doesn't get cut.

Our fitters are also paid separately as they are separate companies. Usually cash as most of them don't carry card machines but the younger, more tech savvy teams do accept bacs payment to business accounts.

The older guys still do hand written receipts, no way are they going to get with the times this close to retirement and as a business, its their choice what tender they accept.

The only orders where customers pay us everything and we pay the fitters, are insurance orders and they are subject to a higher admin charge as its a ballache and takes a good half hour extra per order to process. The company are very strict about no exceptions to this as its the insurance company that pay not the customer.

Original poster
Sellotapeandlime · 28/02/2025 22:01

Well I guess the majority are saying it's the norm for fitters to be paid in cash. So I guess I was in the wrong. I just didn't like his attitude at all and I was worried that if he was like this then imagine what he would be like if I wasn't happy.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sellotapeandlime · 28/02/2025 21:57

Wakeywake · 28/02/2025 21:53

Normal to pay the fitters separately. You could have asked if they take bank transfer for example rather than jumping in with No, I want to pay by card. Regardless, the manager was rude.

Yes, that's what I said. I said I was happy to do a bank transfer and/or pay a higher amount when paying the deposit so I don't take out a lot of cash. He said "no" pay half and the rest in cash.

OP posts:
heartbroken22 · 28/02/2025 21:54

He probably wanted to save via the cash option

Original poster
Sellotapeandlime · 28/02/2025 21:53

OnTheBoardwalk · 28/02/2025 21:26

I had new carpets couple months ago. The only thing I paid the fitters cash for was the metal strips that go under the doors (can’t remember what they are called!)

this was only £10 to £15 quid a strip (is that what they are called?)

if you did have issues with the fitters who would be accountable if you paid cash direct? The carpet shop would say it wasn’t them. Avoid at a higher cost for a better form

That is what I am afraid of.

OP posts:
Wakeywake · 28/02/2025 21:53

Normal to pay the fitters separately. You could have asked if they take bank transfer for example rather than jumping in with No, I want to pay by card. Regardless, the manager was rude.

HÆLTHEPAIN · 28/02/2025 21:50

PrincessofWells · 28/02/2025 20:39

£100.

But if you pay the shop by credit card just for the supply, unless the fitters are employed by the shop you will not be covered by the s75 should they mess up the fitting.

Show quote history

It actually has to be over £100. Even £100.01 would do it.

Whenever we’ve had carpets fitted we have been given an invoice/receipt from the shop that included the cost of fitting with the amount to be paid to the fitter on the day itemised. Once this is paid, regardless of how it’s paid, the receipt from the shop is all you need in terms of consumer rights. Even though the fitters are self employed they are agents of the shop so any issues and the store would be obliged to rectify.

FlutteryButterfly · 28/02/2025 21:48

Potsofpetals · 28/02/2025 20:54

The fitters are self employed. This is their wages.

Do you whip out a card machine to get paid? No? Thought not. Stop being difficult.

Show quote history

All types of self employed trades people do have card machines these days! My husband can use his mobile as one.... so not so daft

FlutteryButterfly · 28/02/2025 21:44

I've very recently had my whole upstairs carpeted ( bar the bathrooms of course 🤪) we paid the fitter separately via bank transfer.

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 28/02/2025 21:42

Never paid cash to carpet fitters, ever.
It's not even about being covered, it's about convenience.
It's absolutely about tax dodging too.

OnTheBoardwalk · 28/02/2025 21:36

Oh I did have my bathroom done last year where I did pay the fitter direct but there was one overall invoice and paid them both by debit card after paying the deposit by credit card in bathroom shop.

There was no issue with this. You don’t get the same protection paying by bank transfer

PassingStranger · 28/02/2025 21:33

My local carpet shop couldn't.make up.their mind when i visited.
One said all the money up front, one said on the day.
Good way to run a business when your not singing from the same hymn sheet.

IDoWhateverItTakes · 28/02/2025 21:31

Sounds like they're not declaring all their earnings and paying taxes at the real rate they're doing business. Hence the lower prices to undercut their competitors...

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 28/02/2025 21:29

Is this the first carpet you’ve ever had fitted? I’ve always had to pay the fitter separately with cash.

OnTheBoardwalk · 28/02/2025 21:26

I had new carpets couple months ago. The only thing I paid the fitters cash for was the metal strips that go under the doors (can’t remember what they are called!)

this was only £10 to £15 quid a strip (is that what they are called?)

if you did have issues with the fitters who would be accountable if you paid cash direct? The carpet shop would say it wasn’t them. Avoid at a higher cost for a better form