Capel Floor Service

I am writing in response to complaint ID #[redacted] submitted by [redacted]. To start with my name is Hap (Jeffery) Capel  and this has nothing to do with my...

father [redacted]. or my brother [redacted]. I take my integrity and quality of work very seriously. The accusation of me giving her a quote of $1800.00 to supply and install 96.33 yards of new carpet w 1/2" 8lb and 17 steps and labor only to install 286 sq. ft. of laminate  with removal and disposal of severely pet urine stained carpet  through out the house and then charging her $2,900.00 is not only false but insulting. She first contacted me on recommendation by a friend of mine in the heating and ac business saying she had gotten a ridiculous quote of $3500.00 labor only to install 1186 sq. ft. of laminate including 17 steps from [redacted] not [redacted]. I made an appointment to meet her and take some measurements. Before going to my appointment I did some quick calculations  1186 sq. ft. laminate labor @ $1.50 per sq. ft. = $1,779.00 and 17 steps @ $100 per step = $1,700.00  for a total of $3,479.00 which was right at the $3,500.00 she was quoted. This is pretty common pricing for this labor. It could be a little more or a little less depending on installer. I doubt this price included removal and disposal of existing carpet, pad and tackstrip and what ever action was going to be taken with the base issue whether it would be removed and replaced or have a 1/4 round installed to existing base. I asked her how much she was paying for the laminate and she told me it was $2,200.00 from [redacted] which would have made her total price $5,700.00 plus demo, base issues and furniture. I told her I thought carpet would be a better and less expensive option and that a family with children worry about them slipping with socks on the steps. I told her she could probably get the carpet, pad and labor and laminate and labor for about the same price as the laminate labor only price she was quoted of $3,500.00 and keep the remaining $2,000 plus for her self. She liked that idea. I told her I didn't think that the difference between laminate and a new light clean carpet would be the deciding factor on a sale and that she might as well keep her money and she agreed. She told me she's an attorney for the state and is being considered for a promotion to an attorney for the Federal Government as soon as her back ground check is done and she was being relocated to Puerto Rico so I have no idea where the " not working" comment came from. I made an appointment to come back and show her some carpet samples and brought a sample book with 4 different qualities in the same color lines. I told her I wouldn't use the [redacted]t grade but didn't find it necessary to use either of the top 2 grades again she agreed and I gave her a verbal quote of $2,149.00 for carpet material and labor including 17 steps and removal and disposal of existing carpet and pad and a quote of $682.00 for install of 286 sq. ft. laminate with removal and disposal of existing carpet, pad and tackstrip. I told her these prices including everything except moving of furniture and she asked how much that would be and I told her $100.00. She agreed to all this and was in a hurry since she had just signed with the Real Estate agent the day before and they wanted the new materials installed before putting the sign up or putting it in MLS. I believe this was partially because of the strong odor of pet urine.  I completed the job the following weekend. And asked for the check of $2,931.00 which is $2,149.00 carpet pad and labor $682 laminate labor and $100.00 for furniture.  She wrote me a check. I thanked and wished her luck with her new opportunity and asked if she wanted a invoice and she first told me that the check would be fine. I told her I would get her one because I believe some of these expenses may be tax deductible if the house was sold. She sent me a text a couple days later saying she wanted invoice. I did forget a couple times because I was starting early and working late. After I forgot she sent me another text saying the carpet was thin and already and falling apart. I sent her an invoice with exactly the same prices I had quoted her and said If there was any questions to feel free to call me. If there's a problem with the carpet I will be more the happy to have the mill inspect it. As for me paying to replace it I don't feel I need to do this or pay for any reinstall. I don't feel I owe her anything. I did exactly what I said would do plus an extra of rehanging base and new tack strip in one of the bedrooms that she had removed and sealed the floor because of excess pet urine. I have been doing this kind of work for over 35 years and have a very good reputation.  I DON'T  take advantage of people. I don't know if there is already damage to the new carpet from one of her 5 cats or 2 dogs that destroyed the original carpet but will be more than happy to call for an inspection from the mill if she would like. I did more than I said I would for the EXACT PRICE I quoted her. She was happy when I left and thanked me.

Review: [redacted] quoted me a price of $1800 for installation of 286 square feet of laminate flooring (materials provided by me) and 900 square feet of carpeting, padding and carpet installation. I originally was going to get laminate upstairs and downstairs, and had gotten a quote of $3,500 from [redacted]. He convinced me that it was more economical to install carpet upstairs, and consumers would prefer it, and gave me the quote of $1800. When he was done installing, he charged me $2900. The carpet is already falling apart. The laminate is fine, because I bought it and picked it up from a different supplier, [redacted], and he had another subcontractor come in to do it. But I am trying to sell the house, which is why I got this done, and the carpet is falling apart after less than a week. I feel like I essentially flushed thousands down the toilet. I am not even sure how to proceed to fix this. I am going to have to go get some carpeting from [redacted] and have someone else install it - that's 900 square feet. This is costing me more than if I had just had the whole house laminated. I got his name through a reference and am pretty upset and shocked about this. I should not have given him payment when he was done but I was a little shocked and not sure how to proceed. At this point I would like a refund for the replacement carpet so that I can have it re-done. I am happy with the laminate - which is only 286 square feet - but very unhappy with the remaining 900 square feet of carpeting. I am moving to another country and not working, I am single and have no spouse to rely on. This is an incredibly bad situation for me.Desired Settlement: I would like to receive the cost of the new carpet and replacement that I will have to get from somewhere else. At the very least, I would like a refund of at least the extra $1,000 he charged me beyond what he said it would cost. When he gave me the estimate, he said the downstairs installation would be $600 (for 268 square feet). (Even that was more than [redacted], but only $100 more and since he was referred to me I went with it). The difference between $2900 and $600 is $2300.

Business

Response:

I am writing in response to complaint ID #[redacted] submitted by [redacted]. To start with my name is Hap (Jeffery) Capel and this has nothing to do with my father [redacted]. or my brother [redacted]. I take my integrity and quality of work very seriously. The accusation of me giving her a quote of $1800.00 to supply and install 96.33 yards of new carpet w 1/2" 8lb and 17 steps and labor only to install 286 sq. ft. of laminate with removal and disposal of severely pet urine stained carpet through out the house and then charging her $2,900.00 is not only false but insulting. She first contacted me on recommendation by a friend of mine in the heating and ac business saying she had gotten a ridiculous quote of $3500.00 labor only to install 1186 sq. ft. of laminate including 17 steps from [redacted] not [redacted]. I made an appointment to meet her and take some measurements. Before going to my appointment I did some quick calculations 1186 sq. ft. laminate labor @ $1.50 per sq. ft. = $1,779.00 and 17 steps @ $100 per step = $1,700.00 for a total of $3,479.00 which was right at the $3,500.00 she was quoted. This is pretty common pricing for this labor. It could be a little more or a little less depending on installer. I doubt this price included removal and disposal of existing carpet, pad and tackstrip and what ever action was going to be taken with the base issue whether it would be removed and replaced or have a 1/4 round installed to existing base. I asked her how much she was paying for the laminate and she told me it was $2,200.00 from [redacted] which would have made her total price $5,700.00 plus demo, base issues and furniture. I told her I thought carpet would be a better and less expensive option and that a family with children worry about them slipping with socks on the steps. I told her she could probably get the carpet, pad and labor and laminate and labor for about the same price as the laminate labor only price she was quoted of $3,500.00 and keep the remaining $2,000 plus for her self. She liked that idea. I told her I didn't think that the difference between laminate and a new light clean carpet would be the deciding factor on a sale and that she might as well keep her money and she agreed. She told me she's an attorney for the state and is being considered for a promotion to an attorney for the Federal Government as soon as her back ground check is done and she was being relocated to Puerto Rico so I have no idea where the " not working" comment came from. I made an appointment to come back and show her some carpet samples and brought a sample book with 4 different qualities in the same color lines. I told her I wouldn't use the [redacted]t grade but didn't find it necessary to use either of the top 2 grades again she agreed and I gave her a verbal quote of $2,149.00 for carpet material and labor including 17 steps and removal and disposal of existing carpet and pad and a quote of $682.00 for install of 286 sq. ft. laminate with removal and disposal of existing carpet, pad and tackstrip. I told her these prices including everything except moving of furniture and she asked how much that would be and I told her $100.00. She agreed to all this and was in a hurry since she had just signed with the Real Estate agent the day before and they wanted the new materials installed before putting the sign up or putting it in MLS. I believe this was partially because of the strong odor of pet urine. I completed the job the following weekend. And asked for the check of $2,931.00 which is $2,149.00 carpet pad and labor $682 laminate labor and $100.00 for furniture. She wrote me a check. I thanked and wished her luck with her new opportunity and asked if she wanted a invoice and she first told me that the check would be fine. I told her I would get her one because I believe some of these expenses may be tax deductible if the house was sold. She sent me a text a couple days later saying she wanted invoice. I did forget a couple times because I was starting early and working late. After I forgot she sent me another text saying the carpet was thin and already and falling apart. I sent her an invoice with exactly the same prices I had quoted her and said If there was any questions to feel free to call me. If there's a problem with the carpet I will be more the happy to have the mill inspect it. As for me paying to replace it I don't feel I need to do this or pay for any reinstall. I don't feel I owe her anything. I did exactly what I said would do plus an extra of rehanging base and new tack strip in one of the bedrooms that she had removed and sealed the floor because of excess pet urine. I have been doing this kind of work for over 35 years and have a very good reputation. I DON'T take advantage of people. I don't know if there is already damage to the new carpet from one of her 5 cats or 2 dogs that destroyed the original carpet but will be more than happy to call for an inspection from the mill if she would like. I did more than I said I would for the EXACT PRICE I quoted her. She was happy when I left and thanked me.