downpayment for flooring replacement

Closed Thread
Thread Tools
  #16  
Old 01-31-2023, 08:54 AM
sswitenki sswitenki is offline
Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 55
Thanks: 40
Thanked 19 Times in 14 Posts
Default

No special orders. I was just totally taken by surprise that 50% down was required. I have read so many threads saying never pay money down. I don’t want to use a credit card with any possibility that work will not be completed by the time we get the statement. We always pay CC in full every month. No interest payments ever. Once the bill is paid can’t imagine being able to contest that charge and get money back. I know Roberto’s is reputable but it just makes me nervous
  #17  
Old 01-31-2023, 09:07 AM
mikreb mikreb is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 101
Thanks: 4
Thanked 146 Times in 55 Posts
Default

Roberto's and Great Lakes are not Home Depot. They do not stock a lot of flooring so if you want it ordered you pay in advance.
  #18  
Old 01-31-2023, 09:16 AM
Bay Kid's Avatar
Bay Kid Bay Kid is offline
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: The Villages and the Northern Neck on the Chesapeake Bay, VA.
Posts: 5,401
Thanks: 1,627
Thanked 3,093 Times in 1,328 Posts
Default

Royal Palm didn't charge me for my floors until the great job was done.
  #19  
Old 01-31-2023, 09:26 AM
villagetinker's Avatar
villagetinker villagetinker is offline
Sage
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Village of Pinellas
Posts: 9,585
Thanks: 2
Thanked 5,996 Times in 2,197 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sswitenki View Post
No special orders. I was just totally taken by surprise that 50% down was required. I have read so many threads saying never pay money down. I don’t want to use a credit card with any possibility that work will not be completed by the time we get the statement. We always pay CC in full every month. No interest payments ever. Once the bill is paid can’t imagine being able to contest that charge and get money back. I know Roberto’s is reputable but it just makes me nervous
I also, pay CC in full each month, and I have never had a problem getting a refund. I call, explain the situation, the CC typically issues an immediate hold on the payment to the company, and if the CC agrees, issues a credit on the following months bill. You can call your CC and ask what their exact procedure is. The only way you have any leverage is to use a CC, so I would definitely go that way in this case.
Good luck with your project.
__________________
Pennsylvania, for 60+ years, most recently, Allentown, now TV.
  #20  
Old 01-31-2023, 09:31 AM
Kenswing's Avatar
Kenswing Kenswing is offline
Sage
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: We're Here!
Posts: 7,593
Thanks: 1,487
Thanked 5,397 Times in 2,255 Posts
Default

If it’s a well established company with a good reputation I don’t have a problem paying a deposit for a custom job. Cool Breeze did four customized motorized roller shades for our lanai. If I would have backed out after they made them they would have been stuck holding the bag. In cases like that I feel it’s appropriate to pay a deposit.
__________________
Birthdays Are Good For You. Statistics Show the More That You Have The Longer You Will Live..

We've Got Plenty Of Youth.. What We Need Is a Fountain Of SMART!

Last edited by Kenswing; 01-31-2023 at 09:37 AM.
  #21  
Old 01-31-2023, 10:04 AM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is offline
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 13,947
Thanks: 2,274
Thanked 13,417 Times in 5,108 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenswing View Post
If it’s a well established company with a good reputation I don’t have a problem paying a deposit for a custom job. Cool Breeze did four customized motorized roller shades for our lanai. If I would have backed out after they made them they would have been stuck holding the bag. In cases like that I feel it’s appropriate to pay a deposit.
I agree, but you can protect yourself by using a credit card. You have 60 days from the statement date where the charge first appears to dispute a charge. That is Federal law. If a contractor will not accept a credit card, I would find another contractor.
  #22  
Old 01-31-2023, 04:01 PM
RICH1 RICH1 is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: South
Posts: 1,279
Thanks: 3,255
Thanked 1,296 Times in 557 Posts
Default

NO, Remember you are the owner, they are on wheels! How hard would it be to get your 50% back if they bolt or do an inferior job! Don’t be intimidated
  #23  
Old 01-31-2023, 07:23 PM
gatorbill1 gatorbill1 is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Upstate NY, So Fla, Louisiana, So Fla, Santiago and now Bonnybrook
Posts: 575
Thanks: 141
Thanked 847 Times in 250 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by sswitenki View Post
we just received an estimate to replace all flooring in our house as well as removal of popcorn ceiling. The estimate states a 50% downpayment is required before they will schedule work or place any order. Is this standard practice?
run run run run run run run run
  #24  
Old 01-31-2023, 07:35 PM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is offline
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 13,947
Thanks: 2,274
Thanked 13,417 Times in 5,108 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mikreb View Post
Roberto's and Great Lakes are not Home Depot. They do not stock a lot of flooring so if you want it ordered you pay in advance.
Not true. Never pay in advance.
  #25  
Old 01-31-2023, 08:22 PM
Altavia Altavia is online now
Sage
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 3,281
Thanks: 1,412
Thanked 2,689 Times in 1,205 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123 View Post
Not true. Never pay in advance.
When's the last time you had a flooring job estimated?
  #26  
Old 01-31-2023, 08:47 PM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is offline
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 13,947
Thanks: 2,274
Thanked 13,417 Times in 5,108 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Altavia View Post
When's the last time you had a flooring job estimated?
It's been awhile, but I have done a lot of projects, and I have never paid a deposit to a contractor for flooring or other materials unless they were delivered to my house and I paid the supplier directly for them, and I owned them. Also, to me, it makes no sense to order a special fancy product that cannot be returned. Why not just go with standard materials? I'm not that picky.
  #27  
Old 01-31-2023, 10:07 PM
Altavia Altavia is online now
Sage
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 3,281
Thanks: 1,412
Thanked 2,689 Times in 1,205 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123 View Post
It's been awhile, but I have done a lot of projects, and I have never paid a deposit to a contractor for flooring or other materials unless they were delivered to my house and I paid the supplier directly for them, and I owned them. Also, to me, it makes no sense to order a special fancy product that cannot be returned. Why not just go with standard materials? I'm not that picky.
I don't disagree.

But things have changed with labor shortages and many materials in short supply or no longer available.
Closed Thread

Tags
downpayment, flooring, estimate, 50%, required

Thread Tools

You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:55 PM.