how to patch berber carpet... NOT!

pblnslee · March 13, 2010, 08:34 PM

If you look a little farther on his site he is holding a training session in the middle of May to train new installers for his company. I think it said About $900 to attend the training.

Want to carpool Scott?

kylenelson · March 14, 2010, 09:04 AM

Wow, after browsing the site a bit I am amazed this guy has made a career out of this. You could CLEARLY see every carpet repair in the photos on the website. I guess he set the bar low for potential customers. I mean really, I would feel pretty guilty if someone paid me to do a repair and it was that obvious without it being the carpets fault. Oh well, this guy must be a master of marketing himself to have a business and still be this bad.

GoodHouse · March 16, 2010, 09:54 AM

Everything about that video is definitely awful. Was not even a good patch.

Can't say anything positive about it.

Details · April 18, 2010, 05:05 PM

Jim McClain said

Using a sharp blade was the least of the problems in this video. No seam sealer? No row cutting? No Roller? No pre-cutting (beyond the one side)? No stretching or re-stretching?

It's really a shame there are more videos on how to do something wrong than how to do it right.

Jim

I'm the owner of the company. The sealing of the edges was not shown, nor was any of the stretching. Actually most of the repair was not shown on the recording. The point of the recording was to show customers the before, a little during and after the repair.

The actual repair came out perfect. It's guaranteed for life. We do around a couple of dozen carpet repairs per day. We get called back at most once or twice per year.

We do service areas from coast to coast using local licensed contractors when a license is required by law.

rusty baker · April 18, 2010, 05:30 PM

I don't want to offend you, but I did not see one carpet repair on your website that I would find acceptible.

Jim McClain · April 18, 2010, 05:35 PM

Glad to have you here, Details. I sure hope you weren't one a them people who register but agree to the rules without reading them.

You titled the video "How to patch berber carpet." So why wouldn't you include seam sealing and stretching information in a how-to video? Details??? You think details are so important you named yourself twice, but where are the actual details in your how-to video?

I gotta warn ya: this site has a lot of great flooring professionals. They ain't afraid to pick something apart that looks like it's done wrong or is deceptive. Over the years I've been on flooring forums, I've taken a thrashing a time or 3 myself, and learned a great deal because of it. That video you published didn't look like a good repair, left a lot of info out and I think the work area looked kinda sloppy for a professional How-To/DIY tutorial.

One of the biggest problems with this business is that a lot of consumers of products and services are clueless about quality material and craftsmanship. It's possible to have quite a profitable business even without providing quality. Not saying that's you, but it's possible.

Can you show us a video that does show the steps necessary to do a proper repair?

Jim

Details · April 18, 2010, 06:00 PM

The rigor and honesty of this forum is commendable. I wouldn't have it any other way. (even if I am presently in the hot seat) I'm not here to be defensive so I'll try to answer without defending myself or my methods.

The video is not directed towards professionals. Pros don't need my video. The video is directed towards the average homeowner so that they can see generally what to expect.

I do leave out most of the repair. During this time we did seal the edges.

I didn't precut the entire patch first with this large patch because I find that I can get an absolutely perfect cut the way I do it. What you may not be able to see in the video is that the piece we used to do the patch with was a little creased beforehand. It was a long patch and I didn't want to take any chances.

It takes a little extra time to do it this way but that's okay with me because we are only there to do a couple of patches. All together we spend around 2 hours while patching several places.

There's more than one way to do a repair. I'm sure your way work for you, Mine work for me. We back up our work with a 100% unconditional lifetime labor guarantee, no questions asked.

Ohh the row cutter! Alan has the skill to do without. I wouldn't recommend the average Joe to do it that way.

Details · April 18, 2010, 06:06 PM

The only thing you see is the difference in wear pattern or difference in fading.
The customer is always made well aware beforehand that this will be the case.

Daris Mulkin · April 18, 2010, 06:34 PM

Details~ Welcome to the board. And I commend you for coming on and knowing your are going to get a little heat for the video.

I know a lot of us have never done a video and it takes a sizable amount of time to get it done. Even on the DIY networks it is a skim over of the actual work. As you say 2 hours of work packed into what a 2 minute video?
As you say everybody has their own way, but the main thing is you get the check.

Daris

ortiz34 · May 4, 2010, 08:21 PM

Where in the world do you get multiple patch jobs in a day to make a business out of patches?
I've worked at my store for 15 years ,and it's a here and there type of service call which is honestly, very rare.
We have the guys do them, but if that's all they were doing they'd be living on the streets.

Is this guy an alter pulling our legs? lol

Roland Thompson · May 4, 2010, 08:54 PM

Details, I also will say welcome to TFP. My question is, if like you said you do repairs all over and as many as two or more at the same place, why then would you not invest in the new products out there that make a repair go faster? You have the Kool Guide and the Seamer Down that would make it some much easier.

We all know how fun it is to get the hot iron out on the last corner keeping the tape lined up and not get glue on a corner.
When I walk in with the new systems having no smoke and cooling it right away[ so if te custmer picks at it it is locked in] they say " man that is neat "

Roland Thompson

Details · May 4, 2010, 09:23 PM

Thank you for the welcome. I don't buy any tools anymore. It's been at least two years since I've been on my knees. I hire contractors in different areas, contractors that are big boys with their own tools.

I understand that some guys that do work for me have the Kool Glide. I don't really care so long as they do a good job and I get paid.

At the end of the month I count my money, not how many tools I have.