Carpet sales tanked so Dalton bureaucrats coined the phrase "de-select" to explain why people don't buy carpet. Then they concocted a bogus survey that says it's all the carpet cleaners fault. Why not tell it like it is? Bad business practices have finally caught up. Here are some reasons for the slump from a study with the actual number of consumer complaints in each category:
Installation ( 314 complaints ... the most ) Shoddy installation is the worst offender. Leading were mis-matches and rude installers who failed to power stretch causing seams to peak. These puckered ridges an inch or more high running down the length of a room not only look bad but are dangerous because they can cause trip and fall accidents.
Carpet sales ( 253 complaints ... a lot ) Delivery schedules gone awry and not delivering warranty papers cause consumer discontent. Fiber blends introduced for economy rather than performance left bad memories. Product substitution and retailers taking deposits after filing bankruptcy caused consumer heartburn. Specification blunders were numerous, too.
Cleaning and maintenance ( 131 complaints ... the least ) Most were do-it-yourself related about watered-down chemicals and malfunctioning equipment. Complaints about professional cleaning firms were nearly all about BS (bait and switch) and rude technicians. None involved equipment, chemicals or methods which makes me doubt the validity of the SOA program.
* Giving a Rug Doctor a Platinum rating won't help. They'll stop "de - selecting" carpet when the entire industry starts treating them right..... starting in Dalton.
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