Carpets....where to buy from?

[Forgottentreasure]

Hello,

Not a very exciting post but wondering if anyone can help.

Stressed first time buyer here. I'm moving half way up the country and need to get new carpets in the house im moving too. I've heard that buying from local carpet shops will be more cost effective than big carpet stores like Tapi and Flooring Superstore. But I don't have the time (or energy) to do a day's trip to visit a local store near where I'm moving. If I visit a local store here I would then have to find a fitter up north and it makes things complicated. The local carpet stores where I'm moving don't seem to send out samples either so would have to visit which just isn't possible right now.

I'm basically just trying to make my life as easy can it can be understand the circumstances. And wondered if people had experiences with the big carpet stores, if thats the route im going to go? Are any of them better than others? Or all pretty much of the same?

Thanks for any help!

I heard the same, that it was better to go local. I went to a couple of shops and they were really expensive and didn't really have what I wanted.

I found the carpet I wanted on Flooring Superstore, then I found it cheaper elsewhere and they price matched. I think it was free delivery which is why I went with them. I also bought a large remnant a lot cheaper. I think I saved in all, about £400.

I then bought the underlay and grips online and found a carpet fitter on Gumtree. However I think Flooring Superstore can recommend fitters.

I was really happy with their customer service. I had no idea about carpet and spent ages discussing what I wanted on the phone. I also bought some vinyl which had some marks on it and they exchanged it no problem.

I noticed last week when looking at samples in shops that the manufacturers themselves put “contact us for up to five samples” on their in-store samples.

Could a local shop talk you through your needs and show you examples on zoom, then you order samples from the manufacturer?

Shop around btw. The brisk, rude shop were quoting 25% more than the old fashioned, genteel and less flashy carpet man five doors down when we looked last weekend.

Hi,

There's nothing wrong with going to the big stores if that works better for you. I work as an interior designer and often end up buying carpets from carpet right which is now under Tapi I believe.

The big stores will have installers everywhere in the country and you can order samples easily online. I would just order your samples from the big stores and then picking the nearest showroom and buying through them. In that case it will be easy to fix any problems if you have any.

However if you do get samples from a big store you can always send the name and colour to a smaller local carpet shop and they might have the same carpets and they might also be willing to price match the big company. Local carpet shops will also have their own installers.

Good Luck.

Roughly where are you?

Onlinecarpets.co.uk for samples, you can also buy from them if you can find a local fitter.

I wouldn’t touch Tapi with a bargepole though. The mark ups are massive. Absolute rip
off.

I would choose a carpet local to where you are now and then just ask a company local to the house to supply and fit it. If you buy a brand like Cormar or similar you can then buy it anywhere.

We are in process of buying from online carpets at the moment and using our own fitter. But I viewed the carpets in the flesh at a local overpriced retailer.

Tapi have huge markups and are one of the most expensive out there just like CarpetRight were. Independent shops are a good bet if you can find one local. I prefer online shopping and did this for carpets as well, find a website that sends samples. I got mine from from www.UnitedCarpets.co.uk and https://carpets-online.co.uk as I was after a specific thick carpet.

We used Tapi and were very happy with them, both service and price.

We've always used our local independent carpet shop and had great service. Last time, we took home several samples and then the guy came to the house on his way home with a load more that he'd found that he thought might be suitable. Fitting has always been a smooth process and we've never been asked to move any furniture - they've always done everything.

We needed to carpet virtually a whole house recently and also felt we didn’t know where to start. To our great relief, an acquaintance recommended a local independent firm and we went with them - they were brilliant, couldn’t recommend more highly. This was in the NW. Roughly whereabouts are you, @Forgottentreasure ?