Why I Quit Being a Carpet Inspector

[Jim Pemberton]

.....and am grateful not to be a carpet cleaner

I got a call from a mill rep looking for a cleaner who could remove a vomit stain from a carpet as a part of a warranty claim.

Who do I like so little as to put this thankless task upon I thought?

With some guilt, I recommended a good fellow that I hoped wouldn't get too hurt by the experience.

I then get a call from the carpet retailer asking if the cleaner "was qualified to get the stain out". I reassured her, but gave her my opinion of what dog vomit with red dye does to acid dyed nylon. She replied (of course) "It has a warranty covering dog vomit, so it should come out" I gave her all the reasons why it might not come out, and why she better not give the cleaner a hard time no matter what happened.

Then she said: "Can I have your cell so that I don't have to go through prompts to get to you, or if my customer wants to talk to you about this?"

I told her: "For free advice, I think you can put up with some prompts"

(I hurried and called the cleaner to warn him of existing expectations and how to cover his backside)

I hold carpet manufacturer's, their reps, carpet stores, and most consumers in equal disdain.

God bless all of you who deal with them because you have to.

Rant over....

 

[Mikey P]

How many new cleaners get approached by protector warranty companies?
They never ask the seasoned vets to help run thier scams...

 

[hogjowl]

I’m more concerned with new cleaners that find this place without adequate warning.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

How many new cleaners get approached by protector warranty companies?
They never ask the seasoned vets to help run thier scams...

I spent some time with a 38 year industry veteran. We discussed the incident, and he reminded me of all of the times early on he did warranty work for DuPont never once got a repeat customer, as well as the debacles with fabric protector warranty calls.

Before any you ask, he has Marty’s deep sense of integrity(sincere compliment, so just accept it Marty), Mikey’s lady killer charm, and Cleanwork’s attention to detail....so he SHOULD have gotten some more work.

But being a “warranty work” cleaner is the equivalent of being a “Workman’s Comp Doctor” so.....

 

[Jim Morrison]

Inconsistencies with installs, retailers that didn't know the difference between nylons and polys led me to take Jeff Bishop's senior carpet inspectors course in Dalton about 10 years ago. Hands down the best course I have taken. A real interesting cross section of students. One guy was at the top of his game doing dye issues / corrections. The mills would fly him all over the US to fix problems. The fellow I sat beside had Asperger's, Jeff had fun keeping him reigned in. The mill tours were awesome, Mohawk, Shaw and a small independent mill where you could get up close and personal with the staff working on the power looms.

I have done a few inspections, it's a case of every picture has a story. I enjoyed the detective work behind the inspections, there is a reason for everything. It's rewarding to explain to people the issues they run in to. Have respect for guys that do Inspections for a living, playing the devils advocate.

 

[Cleanworks]

I spent some time with a 38 year industry veteran. We discussed the incident, and he reminded me of all of the times early on he did warranty work for DuPont never once got a repeat customer, as well as the debacles with fabric protector warranty calls.

Before any you ask, he has Marty’s deep sense of integrity(sincere compliment, so just accept it Marty), Mikey’s lady killer charm, and Cleanwork’s attention to detail....so he SHOULD have gotten some more work.

But being a “warranty work” cleaner is the equivalent of being a “Workman’s Comp Doctor” so.....

I only had one satisfactory outcome with a stainmaster warranty. Customer spilled some Koolaid type of drink. Called the stainmaster warranty number and they gave him enough instructions to screw it up royally. Stainmaster called me as I was the only certified tech in the area and I improved it about 90%. Customer still not happy, so stainmaster recarpeted his lower floor. Steve is still my customer. Most other warranty claims I either refused or there was nothing I could do.

 

[Brian H]

30 some years ago I did inspections for a major retailer in town. If I remember correctly, a lot of the inspections were for benzoyl peroxide issues. People did not want to believe that acne medicine was causing the bleached areas on their carpet. You could walk into the home and in less than 30 seconds identify the problem. Then it was another half hour explaining the issue to the customer. The standard argument was "this didn't happen on my old carpet". It was always unpleasant and the customers were always angry.

There was never any wins in doing those kind of inspections.

 

[Numero Uno]

Lady Killer ?

 

[Rick J]

decades ago, when i was still slightly idealistic.

I purchased some sheet goods for my kitchen. It was from a LARGE at the time members only national flooring distributor, at which I had access.
Now, I really thought they, the sales people would relish some input from me, a small time business person who was out there interacting with their customer after the fact.

So, I brought some information to them about all the different fibers. Characteristics, pros, cons , construction details etc. Gleaned from my various classes. ( some, taught ,I may ad from someone in the Pemberton family) at a local distributor.
Also article from such places as Cleanfax, Installation and Cleaning Specialist.

Naively, I thought they may really care , in order to better serve their customers.

They had no clue about any of this, nor did they care, or want to. !!!

 

[hogjowl]

It’s the same with the mill reps

 

[Dolly Llama]

It was from a LARGE at the time members only national flooring distributor, at which I had access.

ProSource?

they sell cabinets and countertops now too
They're idiots

..L.T.A.

 

[hogjowl]

They should post here then

 

[icleancarpetz]

How many new cleaners get approached by protector warranty companies?
They never ask the seasoned vets to help run thier scams...

Oh wow…is it really a scam¿

I had one call me about 10yrs ago with the promise of rubies gold and diamonds…I’m still waiting on the first job. Guess he lost my number