Like a local flooring company. They have supplies unlike Lowe’s.

Well, I actually wouldn't because I'll never again buy carpet, but if I were going to make a big purchase with no guarantee of when it would come, and the company required payment before purchase, I'd check other places.

The wait time is stupid, but I don't think you're in any danger of losing your money just because you have to wait for something you order, that's pretty common nowadays (with Covid being the excuse). Now, as for charging for labor, I don't know. You shouldn't have to pay more than 50% of that until the job is completed to your satisfaction.

Be CERTAIN the sale document CLEARLY makes them responsible for refund to you, upon seller's failure to provide the goods, within what you determine is a 'reasonable' amount of time.

I'd expect it would be stocked with or without your order in 60 days so I'd wait until then and shop around in the meantime.

to get your $$ back in case of a dispute.

A 5% deposit or similar is one thing.

And shop around.

We ordered it 3 weeks ago and paid half (including labor) and will pay the other half when it is completed. We went to an independent flooring store that we have done business with in the past. Not sure how Lowe’s does it, but I would not pay that amount of money up front with no idea of delivery or installation. Take your business elsewhere.

I definitely have shopped around… Independents are also out of product. Frankly, Lowe’s has purchased Stainmaster, and after looking around I concluded their product is superior for my price point. Which is why I decided to order and wait. I may tell Lowe’s to let me know when they have it if they won’t be satisfied with a deposit. Someone there stands to earn a commission, after all….

Especially if you need installation. We bought a dishwasher in May. They were supposed to call about installation. It is September. They still haven't called. We spent too much time trying to get them to fix their problem (going "up the ladder," etc.), figured out an alternative, but it was absurd. It surpassed the COVID excuse level.

They are becoming well-known nationally for not delivering, or for not installing. There are people on Twitter who, in May, were still waiting for something they'd ordered a year before.

We will not make a major purchase there ever again.

demanding payment in full up front when they can’t provide the product with any sort of confidence.