how to patch berber carpet... NOT!

rusty baker · May 5, 2010, 07:17 PM

I've had one call for a patch or restretch in the last 2 years. Chiropractor office, seven patches, some as large as 18" x 3 '. Bid it $100 and I was too high.

ortiz34 · May 5, 2010, 07:27 PM

rusty baker said

I've had one call for a patch or restretch in the last 2 years. Chiropractor office, seven patches, some as large as 18" x 3 '. Bid it $100 and I was too high.

can't win them all
especially with this guy around!

mcurrin · May 5, 2010, 07:48 PM

I have been avoiding this thread as much as possible. First let me say that the videos do show an improvement in the carpet. Basically the tech did make the carpet look better. However I would stand with the installers on this board. Also "A life time guarantee"??? Many years ago I testified in court against an installer that guaranteed his work for life. He lost.

Never the less, welcome to this board. There is a lot of experience and knowledge to be had here. Just overlook the critizism and learn.

Mike

Barry Carlton · May 5, 2010, 11:40 PM

I made fliers and gave them to every property management co I could find last spring specializing in carpet repairs.....I did 4-5 right off the bat and have a couple of regular customers now.

I marketed the KG and before and after pics for the claims, owners, and courts.

ortiz34 · May 6, 2010, 04:41 AM

barrycarlton said

I made fliers and gave them to every property management co I could find last spring specializing in carpet repairs.....I did 4-5 right off the bat and have a couple of regular customers now.

I marketed the KG and before and after pics for the claims, owners, and courts.

hence my theory that you can't live on patches financially and have crews or contractors working for you too

good for you in getting leads though

Peter Kodner · May 6, 2010, 08:46 AM

I too have avoided entering this fray but it does seem Details has been needlessly slammed by most here. His veracity has been rudely questioned without anyone have the experience he states he has. He may well be a prevaricator (we probably can never know) but he has obviously carved a niche no one here has pursued on their own. I find it a bit irritating to read the derision when none but Barry have ever attempted to do what he is doing, namely market direct to end user for an expedient fix of a problem. There is a place for the cheap and simple repair in our business. Not every customer wants to try to make gold out of straw but just want it better/safer than it is.

It would seem we have quite a group of folks cursing the darkness instead of lighting one candle...

PS It is with some chagrin I write this as I was one of the first to ridicule the original video. Hearing the video creators side of it has change my attitude. I say to detail, while I might not do things the way you do, if it is working for your and you are providing a legitimate service, go for it and ignore the naysayers (which your last post indicates you have done)! I would encourage you to stick around here as most of our barks are far worse than the bites and there truly is a tremendous amount of knowledge freely given away.

Peter Kodner · May 6, 2010, 09:01 AM

One other comment related to this: Our flagship account when I started in the family business as a sales/project manager (1975) was using woven commercial goods stretched in in all of their facilities (they had at least one building in virtually every city in the state of Illinois, although we only serviced a 100 mile radius from Chicago). We regularly had 2-3 mechanics at various facilities doing repairs. This equated to a pretty large source of income at a very high return rate and in fact was some of the highest margin work we ever did.

rgfloor · May 6, 2010, 11:08 AM

Youi should quickly learn that you do not go on an internet forum to be patted on the back! I think everyone here has been spanked once or so over something (except CP).

With that said we can be a little harsh, (deal with it!!) and probably need to tone it down on the new guys, at least till they get their feet wet.

I believe Perry made a living from repairs when he first left the retailers. He was the "Wrinkle King of Austin".

Bill Watson · May 6, 2010, 11:45 AM

I was in the Seattle are during a pretty severe recession in the early 70s.
Severe enough, that work had slowed to the point that huge numbers of the What we called "California Water Can Kings" left the state. (No offense to anyone here

).
Work was slow enough that the guys who were left, had to go out and beat the brush to find work.
My favorite tactic was to walk into a flooring establishment, and ask if they had any outstanding repairs. The response was frequently positive.
It was one of the easiest ways to get an in with a company, and almost always got me yardage after just a few repairs. Many were burn/tear patches along with seam repairs and restretches, and good money.

cproader · May 6, 2010, 08:06 PM

I think everyone here has been spanked once or so over something (except CP).

.................:coffe e:

how to patch berber carpet... NOT!

"how to patch berber carpet... NOT!," in the Floorcovering Video Collection forum, begins: "I've had one call for a patch or restretch in the last 2 years. Chiropractor office, seven patches, some as ..."