Has anyone here ever dealt with Lumber Liquidators? If so, what was your experience? I’m thinking of suggesting them to my customer for the better prices, but wondering how doing so would reflect on me.
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Replies
Caveat emptor. I have used them twice. Once was brazilian mahogany, very pretty wood, but the quality control was bad, particuylarly the width. The boards varied as much as a strong 1/16" in width, so I had to be careful to get enough of the same size to do each row. Second time was with maple that was milled in canada. Nice stuff, consistent quality.
I have heard that special orders are a problem, cuz they promise delivery date sand then miss by weeks.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
"The boards varied as much as a strong 1/16" in width, so I had to be careful to get enough of the same size"That doesn't surprise me.
I got a load there that had been stored outside in our wet climate under just a tarp. My guy who went to get it said that half their inventory was outdoors.mine had only been there a couple days 'cause it was a special order that was three weeks late coming in, so I had been calling twice a week, getting a machine, and no return calls half the time.
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Do a search, I think most have a negative opinion. I used them once and the small savings was not worth the poorer quality and bad service. I would look elsewhere.
I have purchased flooring there with out problem but as advised it is not going to be without risk. I feel their Pre-finished Bella-wood flooring is the same as you would get from any dealer of Bella-wood but If you get a mixed batch (some flooring 1 year old another newer) you can't be assured you are going to get a great match. and they buy mixed lots and then resell them.Moisture content is another issue you really need to let the stuff sit in the conditioned space it is to be installed in sometimes longer then normal so that it all is of equal moisture content. That alone can account for more then a 1/16th difference in width.
" I feel their Pre-finished Bella-wood flooring is the same as you would get from any dealer of Bella-wood "It is EXACTLY the same as LL is the only dealer of Bella-wood. Bella Wood is a house brand of LL..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I was not sure of that but I have never seen it sold anywhere else. I suppose I should have said the pre-finished flooring at LL is about the same quality as I have seen from other store. Bruce which is sold at HD is about the same as LL's bellawood and you get pieces that I would not install so you have to buy enough extra to allow for the stuff you will reject so I guess how much do you really save if you through away flooring? Even the pieces I refer to are not bad to say they could be used but they just do not look great and are way off in color from rest. So if you really are trying to save a buck you could use them in hidden areas. Hey the old yankee trick of fir in the center of a room that would have a carpet and hard wood only around the edge that would show was done in some very nice homes. So select the best pieces for the most visible areas and use the less the perfect pieces where they will be hidden. So sure I guess it depends on your tolerance of miss-matched boards or defects. You could save some money buying from LL.
"You could save some money buying from LL."And then throw it away on extra labour to make it workable
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that finish on the Bella-wood is very hard and should wear well for something like a beach house or under doggy feet.But evry sample I saw looked like it had been applied with a dirty rag-mop
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I bought 700sf of select unfinished hard maple. I put it down and its great. I don't think that they allow returns after 30 days though. I also remember them having a 15-20% restocking fee in that 30 days. Other than that I'm happy. -h
Thanks for the feedback guys. I think I'll just shop local. Looks like about an equal mix of good and bad reports, and the slight difference in cost isn't worth the risk. Besides, I would rather support my local lumber store (Evanston Lumber in this case).
Peace! ;)--------------------------------------------------------
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Not on topic but my wife went to Northwestern and her aunt lived in Elmwood park , i thought it was very nice there but seemed like it could get very cold.
Sometimes, but the occasional heavy snow is more an issue than the temperature. One can always dress accordingly to keep warm. But when everything is knee deep in snow everything from driving to working outside becomes an extra challenge. Not to mention all the shoveling I have to do, as I maintain a couple of apartment buildings. Yep, I sure am glad to see Spring arrive. =D--------------------------------------------------------
Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at AWorkOfWood.com
One more former Evanston resident here. My mother's family lived there for many years.
I matriculated at Oakton School for a couple of years, then Haven School. The closest I got to attending Northwestern was sneaking into their football games without a ticket, age seven through nine. Got thrown out a few times too. The football games that it, not the town.
;-)
It can be a very frustrating experience, similar to shopping at HD.
service there is in the toilet, product is mediocre at best. It is a bargain shopper's paradise, if you have the time and can do your own deliveries.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
I've gotten unfinished oak from them. It was fine, tho' my impression was that there were a lot of shorts and not many longs. The only real downside was that their service is so bad. I think there were two guys in the building -- one on the sales floor and one in the warehouse -- to deal with about 10 customers, so it took about 3 hours to pick up a load.
Still, it was a significant savings.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
yes I have to agree with you. but anyone who has read my other post knows
I am not one to base where I get my materials on price alone so I do not buy from LL much mostly when it is HO provided and I install it. If I have a choice I choose a local mill here in western MA that mills my hardwood (not pre-finished of course) limited to local wood but I prefer to use materials that are local when ever possible better for local economy and the environment since local equals less fuels used to truck it around. I also buy my Wood for cabinet work there as well.
Edited 4/7/2008 8:25 am ET by MFournier
lumber liquidators has no say over quality control. they buy from any mill that has overstock. comes in on a pallet and goes out the same way. if you know what your looking at in their store you're the only one there that does
service is poor, dont expect any and you will be happy enough
that said I've had good luck buying from them. also you can negotiate any price
they buy from any mill that has overstock
They have a huge in-house plant in Williamsburg."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt