"Harvey Van Sickle" wrote in message
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On 05 Oct 2004, Ric wrote


"Al Reynolds" wrote in message
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"Ric" wrote in message
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But if I let them fit it they will charge me!

How much? My gripper and underlay *fitted* in my
lounge/diner was cheaper than I could source it myself.

Really? We did enquire at the carpet place and it appeared that
their cheapest quality stuff (which the bloke actually refused to
recommend - presumably becuase he wanted to sell us a dearer one)

Well, also probably because he's right to tell you to avoid the bottom-
line stuff... (I think we'd all agree that underlay can make or
break carpet: cruddy stuff can make even good carpet seem cheap 'n'
nasty.)

Agreed, but I was never going to get an honest answer from the man - he was
a smooth talking salesman and I could tell I had no chance of reasoning with
him.

Out of curiousity, where were you buying this from? The price
comparisons I've done over the years seem to suggest the big-name
places have cheap "headline" (per square metre) prices, but that their
underlay, grippers and threshold bars are dear. I guess that's how
they make it work, but personally I'd rather be quoted a realistic
price for both, rather than "one low + one inflated".

CarpetRight - and I agree with everything you say!

(FWIW, we've used a local specialist firm for the past two big jobs at
our house; whilst his carpet initially seemed expensive, the total
cost -- with really good underlay -- was either the same or less than
we'd been quoted at the edge-of-town sheds.)

I would do well in future to follow your example but at the moment I have
this carpet coming on Saturday and still need to get the grippers and
underlay down!