Gretings, Anyone have good, bad or indifferent experiences
w/Lumber Liquidators or Bellawood flooring?
Thanks, Fishslayer7
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Replies
They are like the HD of flooring.
Poor service (or non-existant serevice)
Poor product - remember the name implies the background - they liquidate lumber - the seconds and culls from the real flooring guys. It is fine quality for those who can't recognize the difference between #1 select and a cabin grade without being told.
They do not keep promises. If they have what you want, you can see it, touch it, like it, and load it, then you canbuy it, but don't even dream about a special order or listening to "We'll have that in on thursday"
Most of their places are small and dirty, and deliveries have been known to sit outdoors for a couple of days
Their Bellawood prefinished material does have an extremely hard wear finish on it! I wish I could do that hard of a finish on site,
But is looks like it was applied with a dirty wetmop instead of a brush, spray or roller. I've seen it with application marks running cross the grain and all manner of dust, lint, cat hairs etc stuck in the finish.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
I do business with a place just like that .
I look at everything which takes time before I buy it . Ive told them I cant tell them how much Ill buy but Ill buy what ever I pick. If I roll in on a rainy day and they are slow it normally works out well.
To do business with a place like that you have to learn how and understand the name like you said.
I think some people expect too much from them. I would not shop there on a custom house and have quality expectations. If the task matches them them then they are a wonderful place to shop. I can buy arch shingles there for the same price as three tab at the lumber yard and suspect get several more years service from a rental. They make cheap houses sell too . I buy me entry floor material from them. At least the flooring in the same box matches and will make a small entry. I dont have a problem with carpet pad there and save a 1.00 per yard. I on the other hand havent been able to buy carpet there. I can buy a bathroom floor and so on.
Tim
I use it occasionally; got some sitting at a not-so-picky client's (with rambunctious boys and a psycho dog) to install next week or so, whenever they clear the rooms!. Piffin is right (of course!); go there, pick it, and take it home.
Don't order it, call on the phone, or expect much service. get some extra "extra" for picking thru. In this case, I got 345 sq. ft. of pre-finished 3/4" T&G oak for $2.48 sq. ft.; still plan to put odd bits in a hall closet. Client loves the carmel color; everything should be fine. My "Real" flooring place nearby was more like $4.95 for nicer material.
Forrest
I picked up about 400 sq ft of unfinished 3/4" white oak there about a year ago. Didn't need any "service", so I can't really comment on that (except to say there were 8 customers and only one guy working the desk and one guy in the warehouse.) I bought from stock, paid, backed the truck up to the dock, loaded and left. The quality was fine -- maybe more shorts than customary, but not a bunch. The price was great -- about 1/3 what I could have paid locally from other outlets. Worked for me. Based on the other replys, YMMV, but it depends a lot on what your needs are.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
I went into the store in S. Hackensack after a rainstorm once and there was 12" of standing water in the back warehouse. The store manager didn't seem to think it was a problem and thought I was being too critical of the flooring that I was picking up, which was partially submerged.
Our friends just went through the nightmare of being told repeatedly that they would have the floor they wanted in stock and that it should be here tommorro. They kept putting them off for over 5 weeks and then told them they would have to wait for the mill to make more. So if they don't have it in stock do not be in a hurry. I think it finally came in two months after they ordered it.
Bought some bamboo flooring from them a couple of years ago and had no problem. Product was same as local flooring suppliers, but about $1.50/sf less.
I've only used Lumber Liquidators once, but I had no trouble with them. I marched in, chose the type I wanted, placed the order and got a phone call a week or two later that it was in and ready to be picked up. They let me take half at a time, so as not to destroy the shocks on my truck.
This was cork flooring, if that makes a difference. Never used their hardwood, engineered, laminate, or prefinished flooring.
Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
Your Friendly Neighborhood Remodelerator
You got good service cuz you gots a hammer by your name."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
Just put in 1100 SF of LL's 3/8 Brazilian Teak in my own house. Went well - looks beautiful!!! Talk about a HARD Wood.. had to use thicker staples than normal. Quality was very good. I am pleased. More important - my wife is delighted.
I've not yet bought from them, but have referred customers to them who want a lower price on wood and usually the price shoppers will end up telling me that's where they want to buy. That's fine with me as long as they understand that their poor service during the sale may be indicative of poor service after.
The store here in Manchester, New Hampshire continually looks like its out of business, with peeling paint on the building, a sagging chain link fence and weeds as big as small trees growing up around it. More than once I've missed the place when trying to locate it.
Also, I've been in there a few times with a customer or just myself and usually unless one has a specific question, no one will come to your aid. I've seen them sit and nearly fall asleep at the counter while four or five people walk around discussing quite audibly their confusion. And as for attitude, I don't know if they beat their help in the backroom or if a scowl is part of the job description, but no matter what time of day I've been in there, they all look like they can't wait to go home and your presence is a major impediment to that goal.
Their stores are dirty, they are understaffed and generally disinterested in whether they sell to you or not. Sort of the hell of customer service. Like any other bargain basement outlet, if you check over what you see, do your own research and don't expect much more then you're fine.
Also, the 'sale' flooring or ultra cheap flooring they advertise on their website is never in stock, not even a piece to touch. Like a mythical world all its own that internet. "No, we ain't got that in stock." and you get a scowl for your impudence to ask such a question.
Come on GB, tell us what's on your mind. Don't hold any of it back.
hey, can't hep it, the words just come out. Sometimes faster than I should let them.
I bought a bundle of regular 3/4" red oak plank flooring for some patching. When I went to install, I noticed about 1/3 of it had black streaks indicating water damage or other problems (bows, splits, etc.). Also a lot of short pieces.
Next bundle from from a big box (either HD or Lowes) was much better, including in overall value.
I did a web search on LL when considering cork and bamboo. Seems like they are generally okay if they have the material in stock at the store you go to, but all bets are off if they have to order. Also, possible issues with bamboo delamination from their manufacturer.
They might be taking the Autozone (car parts) approach to warranties. The car, or house, generally won't be in the same owner's hand long enough to worry about the warranty. Some of the product will be satisfactory, but if there's a complaint, give more of the same quality product until you get lucky or the labor of replacement makes you give up and go to a better product, eating the original cost out of frustration.
---mike...
A review from Rip off .com
RE:LUMBER LIQUIDATORS
When I called to purchase the wood flooring I needed to finish my floor, I spoke with "supervisor" Mark, he assured me he had enough to finish my job, I purchased it on my cc because I was at work but when my worker picked it up, it was damaged. I tried and tried to call Mark back but he would not return my calls.
I finally got hold of him and he said the only stock he had was in Jacksonville Florida but advised I had to pay 89.00 for it to be brought to Orlando. I thought this to be bad business but agreed,I was paying my builder to stay and wait for this shipment that was due to arrive the next day.
I waited for two weeks only to get more damaged products and another freight charge to ship more out to me. My floor was a mess for almost 3 weeks due to this company not working with me whatsoever and then expecting me to have this product shipped to THEM for me to purchase. I will never work with these people again. I also called corporate but of course they didn't care what was going on, it's about the almighty dollar with this company.
No customer satisfaction at all
Betty
oviedo, Florida
U.S.A.
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I have installed a couple of different species. The finish is good. In all cases they had in stock what the customer wanted, so no problem there. The brazilian and bolivian exotic materials had some QC problems with regard to width: there was as much as 1/16" variation, so I had to measure each board before laying. Also had problems with thickness variation, and split/missing tongues. I installed some light colored wood (maple maybe) that was stamped made in Canada, and the pieces fit together perfectly.
"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
I've laid 2 Bella Wood floors that were customer supplied. Very few culls, great finish. Clients had no suppy issues. One order was short, andLL even delivered a couple of bundles from an hor and a half away...seems like a YMMV deal<G> Outside of the gates the trucks were unloadin',
The weather was hot, a-nearly 90 degrees.
The man standin' next to me, his head was exploding,
Well, I was prayin' the pieces wouldn't fall on me.
Their warranty among other things is stated at http://www.lumberliquidators.com/custserv/custserv.jsp?pageName=TermsOn that site it states, "ALL SUCH MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. LUMBER LIQUIDATORS SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND -NON-INFRINGEMENT."
I thought that at lumber liquidators buying their Bella Wood product was a completely different thing. Sure LL has the weird off lots and culls from other places but isn't the bella wood a new, made specifiacally for them product? All reviews I have heard of the Bella Wood product have been positive-except that the boxes are mostly shorts. Why is that? Is there an upmarket version with mostly 'longs'?
Daniel Neuman
Restoring our second Victorian home this time in Alamdea CA. Check out the blog http://www.chezneumansky.blogspot.com/
Oakland CA
Crazy Homeowner-Victorian Restorer
All reviews I have heard of the Bella Wood product have been positive-except that the boxes are mostly shorts. Why is that? Is there an upmarket version with mostly 'longs'?
Few shorts in the box is a great indicator of quality flooring, that's why you won't see it in Bellawood. It takes better QC and higher manufacturing standards ($$) to fill boxes with longs due to sorting out the knots and other flaws present in all wood. The better manufacturers understand that too many shorts also make for poor-looking installations.
Upmarket and LL would seem to be contradictions right from the start. I wouldn't expect filet mignon at McDonalds either. As has been previously stated, LL has its uses just as the big boxes do. If you're looking for better product, it's certainly out there, just not at LL.
Okay now I gotta ask. Where can I go to get good quality flooring? My wife and I really like the Koa or tigerwood Bellawood product from lumber liquidators. Do you know of a source of quality flooring that have interesting woods and the 50yr finish?
Daniel Neuman
Restoring our second Victorian home this time in Alamdea CA. Check out the blog http://www.chezneumansky.blogspot.com/
Oakland CA
Crazy Homeowner-Victorian Restorer
I've used the Lumber Liquidators on 80 with success. Previous posts about customer service are mostly correct but I have found that if you go when they are not particularly busy( 11:00 AM on Tuesday or Wednesday they will let you be more selective on the stock, assuming they have it . I've also purchased excellent unfinished oak flooring from T&T flooring in Oakland. (Ask for the owner Vinnie) This beautiful stuff and only about $.20cents more per sq.ft than LL> IHowever, It arrived with a fairly high moisture content and needed to acclimate for 2-3 weeks.Hope this helps,Paul
WRT customer service. Many many years ago, before I knew much about construction or wood or flooring, I needed some hardwood for a small project I was working on. Not knowing any sources, I pick up the yellow pages (way before google and search engines), find the number for LL and give them a call. Went like this:
Me: Hi, I'm looking for some hardwood lumber for...
LL: We don't sell lumber, we only sell flooring.
Me: But you name says "lumber"...
LL: I just told you, we only sell milled flooring.
Me: OK, can you please tell me...
LL: I'm really busy with many customers now, why don't you come to the store and we'll help you. click
I ended up visiting a couple days later. As others mentioned, took me a while to find the place in the back of an industrial park/warehouse. Once in my visit didn't last more than a minute.
Fair question.
First of all, forget the names LL uses for these products. Their koa is not really koa (I'll post a pic of a real koa table I made if you like) and who knows what the tigerwood might be. Suffice it to say that many of these products are the result of massive deforestation efforts in Brazil and elsewhere. That's why they're cheap.
My advice is to go to a reputable flooring vendor near you who stocks one of the following vendors: Kahrs, Muskoka, Somerset, Teragren, BR-111. If necessary, hit the manufacturers' sites to find the dealers near you.
Given that you're putting this floor in your own home, I suspect you'll want the best experience possible. I just don't see that happening at LL.
Mad: Most flooring dealers and installers will have a showroom and will deal with better manufacturers, like those another poster named. Take the time to scan the yellow pages, give some people a call and check out their products and ask about warranties, etc. Around here flooring dealers/installers are everywhere.
I buy a lot of mine from a local shop that mills their own so I can get spoiled by how many longer lengths sometimes.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I know there are some of those here, but damned if I have the time to hunt them down.
The folks down at Highland Hardwoods near Exeter can hook you up. They have som egood lines of prefinished stuff too.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
http://www.highlandhardwoods.com/
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
http://www.aesampsonandson.com/there we go - got all your running around done for you
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
THankie thankie Mr. Piff, I will be checking them out in my travels. The Maine company looks really enticing too. I have never done a floor refinish or new finish onsite, I'd like to see that done one of these days, when I have a customer willing to pay my flooring man's price. Or, if I ever get around to doing the floors where I live.