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Original poster

How to buy carpet in lockdown send help!

23 replies

Carpetdrought · 06/03/2021 08:53

I’ve been without carpet now on our stairs and ds room since October due to building work which went into lockdown. Can someone please tell me how on Earth I’m supposed to be able to buy a carpet in lockdown?!?!???
I’m going insane. I booked an ‘in store appointment’ with tapi only for them to call me when I was on route saying they could only sell them over the phone. THE PHONE. I can’t buy a carpet over the phone!!!!!

Tell me I’m not the only one losing the plot over this.

OP posts:

badpuma · 06/03/2021 08:57

John Lewis were doing virtual fitting appointments when they look at the room and tell you what to measure. Difficult without being able to check colours of carpet though.

IeatPotNoodles · 06/03/2021 09:03

I bought carpet from Tapi last year and the service was absolutely shocking, I would not use them again under any circumstances.
I have a local carpet/flooring company coming today to measure up the baby's room and bring samples. I'm sure there will be other local companies operating like this? He will be all masked up etc.
Hope you manage to find something!

Iamanaubergine · 06/03/2021 09:06

We contacted a local company. Told them how much we wanted to spend, what colour we wanted and where the carpet was for. They dropped off a few samples to our house which was great as we got to see them in situ. When we’d picked one we rang them up with our choice and two weeks later it was fitted and we’re very happy with it.

Try a smaller local company if you can.

beela · 06/03/2021 09:07

We always use our local independent carpet shop.

We phoned and he said he could do everything apart from let us into the shop! We went over and chatted to him in the car park, described what we wanted and he lent us some sample books to take home and then he came over to measure up our rooms the following week. Much easier than I imagined it would be.

DingoWings · 06/03/2021 09:11

Is't it strange that you can have builders / decorators in, but it's so hard to buy a carpet!

I have been looking online for curtain fabric and keep sending off for samples; so far they've all been very different to what I was expecting and I think I will wait til I can visit John Lewis in person.

Maybe you could find somewhere - an independent carpet shop? - who will come to measure in a socially distanced way and then bring you samples to fit your colour and price parameters. It depends if you just want a "mid-range grey carpet" - or if you want to look at and carefully consider every shade of grey; if the latter you might decide to wait until the shops open.

Original poster

Carpetdrought · 06/03/2021 09:37

I managed to get into a local company the day before lockdown who came and measured and I picked carpets but they tried to charge us £800 fitting and & £1900 product JUST for the loft room floor which we managed to get the exact same product, fitted for 800£ total through our builder. Needless to say I won’t purchase the carpet through them for thoroughly taking the piss out of us. We live on an ‘affluent’ road so I think they just assumed we’d pay it. (Note, not affluent, small three bed cottage).

OP posts:

Original poster

Carpetdrought · 06/03/2021 09:38

I’m pro lockdown total rule keeper but I don’t understand how I can go to Nero and buy a croissant but I can’t go to a booked appointment in an empty carpet shop.

OP posts:

EvilOnion · 06/03/2021 09:42

We moved during lockdown last year and had to get a house load of flooring/carpets online. We used onlinecarpets and can't fault them for price (low/mid price budget), quality or delivery.

We ordered samples and then bought what we liked. A local trader fitted them for us.

lunar1 · 06/03/2021 09:43

A local company came out to my house to measure up bringing samples with them. I had to keep all windows and doors open and they wore masks, shoe covers and gloves. I wore a mask too and sent the children to the garden.

Original poster

Carpetdrought · 06/03/2021 09:44

@EvilOnion did you book the fitter independently? I hadn’t considered that

OP posts:

cindyloohoo · 06/03/2021 09:57

Maybe it depends on the area you live in, because I'm having carpets fitted next week from tapi. They came to measure up with some samples to show me, although I already pretty much knew what I wanted as I'd ordered lots of free samples on-line. Then it's taken two weeks for the carpet to arrive and there to be a fitter free. Costing £200 to fit, and they are tapi fitters doing the entirety of our upstairs in a big four bed house.
Carpet right were unable to come and measure, our local independent is actually closed and we were so desperate that we just went with whoever could get here and measure. Tapi seem okay, not great but not awful!

EvilOnion · 06/03/2021 10:23

Yes, I asked around for recommendations and checked our local "Trusted Trades" page on Facebook then booked based on that.

Proudboomer · 06/03/2021 11:40

I have had both a polymer floor and carpet fitted during lockdown. Two separate independent fitters.
The carper man I have used before so I just messaged him over Facebook told him what I was looking for and he sent around sample books for me to choose and took measurements.Fitted a week later in an hour and a half so I just left him to get on with it and stayed in another room.
The polymer man was recommended by my builder. He gave him a call for me and told him what I wanted and he bought around his samples for my final choice and measurements. With all the floor prep that was two days fitting. Bit more difficult to avoid but mainly I stayed in another room out the way.
Carpet was stairs and landing. Polymer was kitchen, dining room, downstairs bathroom and hallway.

LittleOverwhelmed · 06/03/2021 13:19

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

RaggieDolls · 07/03/2021 09:28

Carpetright are offering home visits. They bring samples etc.

We didn't particularly feel we needed a home visit because we measured ourselves and knew we wanted a particular brand of 'pet proof' carpet. They dragged the samples over to the front door for us to look at. Staff are in the stores.

LittleOverwhelmed · 07/03/2021 09:36

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Dilbertian · 07/03/2021 09:40

@beela

We always use our local independent carpet shop.

Exactly our experience.

We always use this particular independent. First couple of times e got quotes from him, John Lewis and one of the big carpet specialists. The independent was higher quality and better range and better service, and cheaper than the others. Surprised me about JL, TBH, and even if they had matched the price, they didn't have the carpet we wanted.

ConstanceGracy · 08/03/2021 10:49

Luckily we booked our new carpet just before this lockdown but we then had to choose wood floor .
Carpet right let us make an appointment and he came to the door of the store with the samples we had chosen online so we were able to pick one from there .
Fitting is still going ahead (booked in for next Tuesday) and someone is coming to measure on Saturday to double check (carpet was ordered for a different house that fell through) , so measuring and fitting is still going ahead .
Carpet right have been great, we’ve always used them .

RaggieDolls · 09/03/2021 18:12

@ConstanceGracy

Luckily we booked our new carpet just before this lockdown but we then had to choose wood floor . Carpet right let us make an appointment and he came to the door of the store with the samples we had chosen online so we were able to pick one from there . Fitting is still going ahead (booked in for next Tuesday) and someone is coming to measure on Saturday to double check (carpet was ordered for a different house that fell through) , so measuring and fitting is still going ahead . Carpet right have been great, we’ve always used them .

Same here. There aren't any decent independents here. All my friends complain about the independents they have used. CarpetRight sell a brand called Kosset that I've been so happy with over the years. Stain proof, pet proof etc.

The carpets I did get from an independent have been shredded by the cat!

SwatchIt · 10/03/2021 15:06

Ordered samples, measured myself and then fitter came. But then it was a square room 😂

Only issue is we now have to get carpet for stairs and landing and it sure how to measure that! Any advice anyone?? Although I’ll have a google later.

Hadalifeonce · 10/03/2021 15:08

Speak to a small carpet supplier or shop, they may well be able to drop off pattern books for you to look at and choose.

Haven't RTFT, but this is how I always choose carpets, Covid or not.

Fleurchamp · 10/03/2021 17:42

We have arranged with a local shop to drop round samples - they are going to drop them off, leave them for 24 hours and then come and measure.

Whatdoesitsayaboutyou · 10/03/2021 17:54

I've just ordered a carpet this week with a local independent retailer.
I discussed in detail over the phone exactly what I wanted so she could narrow it down, they brought out one book of carpets and I decided on the carpet in one room while masked carpet fitter measured up I then passed the book back to him with the name of the carpet I wanted so we weren't in the same room for long. They then rang when back at the shop with calculations and discussed underlay/grippers etc and a final price. When they come to fit they've asked I stay in a separate part of the house and open windows before they come.

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