Internet Experts

Internet Experts

March 23, 2021
Google
Research Experts
The internet has changed the way we do many things and the way we think. In an age where we all carry some sort of device with lightning-fast speeds, we rely on the world wide web to remember everything for us. There is no need to remember a recipe, just ‘Google’ it, we can organize an event on a social media platform, or find everything we need to know about a flooring product because we went to the Joes Floors site or the I Know It All site. These websites seem like they’re real and from what we read, the content makes sense, or at least in our minds… so, there must be some truth to the knowledge the website has on it… right???
Not quite. Navigating through search engines for this subject and that subject can lead us down rabbit holes on every imaginable subject. We arm ourselves with information from 10 different websites but forget to check the sources or ultimately consult an expert. Don’t get me wrong, research is not a bad thing. However, you can’t believe everything you read on the internet, Abraham Lincoln even said so! When you do research things, jot down your list of questions from what you read and bring them to the experts in the field.
When it comes to flooring, customers approach us with some odd requests at times because ‘they found it on the internet.’ From wanting to acclimate hardwood in a home for weeks on end or using water and vinegar to clean hardwood floors because the ‘experts’ said so. By the way, it’s the moisture reading contents that really dictate when we can install hardwood floors, not acclimating hardwood in a home for 6 months. As for water and vinegar, that combination can ultimately destroy the finish on the hardwood as it can swell or tarnish… just a couple of things that can happen.
One of the most requested lately for flooring is the ‘Really GREAT DEAL I found to buy my hardwood floor online! I’ve read all about it, it’s absolutely perfect for our home, it’s very high end and it’s only .99 cents per square foot… can you install it???” First off, most every retailer will tell you that they will not install your ‘great deal.’ When you find that deal, make sure you ask yourself some questions about that super attractive price:
1. Why would high end hardwood be only .99 cents per square foot?
2. How much will freight be to deliver the material to you?
3. Will the delivery be placed in your home or just left at the curb?
4. How do you get your 1000 SF of hardwood from the curb into your 1st floor, 2nd floor, or maybe 3rd?
5. What happens if there is an issue with the product?
a. How do you return 1000 SF of hardwood?
b. How are claims handled?
c. Who is responsible for the freight charges to return the hardwood?
6. Will you have a designated company representative to help coordinate your ordering and beyond?
7. Most professional installers will not provide an installation warranty on products they didn’t supply because they then lack the care, custody & control if issues arise
8. Lastly, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is…
Sometimes a great deal can go very smoothly, but most of the time it does not. Is it worth the gamble? Don’t be deceived through misguided decisions, talk to the experts who have been in the field of their expertise for years… You never want to the next EPIC FAIL!