Opinions please regarding a 5k purchase.

[vanlassie]

I’m ordering carpet from Lowe’s. Due to whatever reason they are giving out today… the carpet is back ordered. The exact statement is “They’re 60 days out.” I know this probably means “No idea how soon we can get it.” So I have determined it is going to get here when it gets here, even odds whether it’s this year or not. Here’s the issue. Lowe’s wants payment in FULL up front.
Does this sound in any way reasonable? I could pay it, of course. But since they are selling me something they can not say when I will GET… and my educated suspicion that I might never get it “Sorry, it was discontinued!” it seems completely unreasonable to me, and I’m balking.

[kimbutgar]

1. Do you have any other companies you can go to?

Like a local flooring company. They have supplies unlike Lowe’s.

[Rorey]

2. I would shop around

Well, I actually wouldn't because I'll never again buy carpet, but if I were going to make a big purchase with no guarantee of when it would come, and the company required payment before purchase, I'd check other places.

[Wingus Dingus]

3. They'll give you back your money if the order can't be completed.

The wait time is stupid, but I don't think you're in any danger of losing your money just because you have to wait for something you order, that's pretty common nowadays (with Covid being the excuse). Now, as for charging for labor, I don't know. You shouldn't have to pay more than 50% of that until the job is completed to your satisfaction.

[elleng]

4. True, you might never get it.

Be CERTAIN the sale document CLEARLY makes them responsible for refund to you, upon seller's failure to provide the goods, within what you determine is a 'reasonable' amount of time.

[Shermann]

5. Assuming this isn't some sort of custom carpet...

I'd expect it would be stocked with or without your order in 60 days so I'd wait until then and shop around in the meantime.

[alwaysinasnit]

6. If you do pay for it up-front, make sure you use a credit card. This will make it easier for you

to get your $$ back in case of a dispute.

[3Hotdogs]

7. I would't pay it.

A 5% deposit or similar is one thing.

[markie]

8. I'd look elsewhere

[Sherman A1]

9. Tell them No Thanks

And shop around.

[Katinfl]

10. We are getting a flooring job done this week.

We ordered it 3 weeks ago and paid half (including labor) and will pay the other half when it is completed. We went to an independent flooring store that we have done business with in the past. Not sure how Lowe’s does it, but I would not pay that amount of money up front with no idea of delivery or installation. Take your business elsewhere.

[vanlassie]

11. Thanks folks!

I definitely have shopped around… Independents are also out of product. Frankly, Lowe’s has purchased Stainmaster, and after looking around I concluded their product is superior for my price point. Which is why I decided to order and wait. I may tell Lowe’s to let me know when they have it if they won’t be satisfied with a deposit. Someone there stands to earn a commission, after all….

[Lulu KC]

12. I'd be wary of Lowe's

Especially if you need installation. We bought a dishwasher in May. They were supposed to call about installation. It is September. They still haven't called. We spent too much time trying to get them to fix their problem (going "up the ladder," etc.), figured out an alternative, but it was absurd. It surpassed the COVID excuse level.

They are becoming well-known nationally for not delivering, or for not installing. There are people on Twitter who, in May, were still waiting for something they'd ordered a year before.

We will not make a major purchase there ever again.

[vanlassie]

13. Ugh. It's the new normal. They have a lot of nerve

demanding payment in full up front when they can’t provide the product with any sort of confidence.