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Adsos Letter

(19,459 posts)
Thu Jan 5, 2012, 08:48 PM Jan 2012

Lumber Liquidators?

We're getting ready to put down engineered hardwood; I'll be doing it myself, but I'm looking for the best place to get the material. We have a Lumber Liquidators outlet in Berkeley. Has anyone used them before?

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Lumber Liquidators? (Original Post) Adsos Letter Jan 2012 OP
A friend of mine just did a high end redo of her house and was pleased Melissa G Jan 2012 #1
Thanks! If she liked the product and price then the final result would be up to to the installer. Adsos Letter Jan 2012 #3
They're a dependable discounter, but not always the cheapest, even for like quality. Stinky The Clown Jan 2012 #2
What kind of one-store shop? Do you mean a flooring store, or something like Lowes, Home Depot, etc? Adsos Letter Jan 2012 #4
I'm talking about a locally owned materials store Stinky The Clown Jan 2012 #6
Thanks, I appreciate the help. I worked as a painter for 30+ years, so I know plenty of builders. Adsos Letter Jan 2012 #8
brazilian cherry is what my friend did Melissa G Jan 2012 #11
Pick carefully. Check each piece for warpage, cracks, water damage, etc. Do this wherever you buy. Scuba Jan 2012 #5
I appreciate your advice, thanks! Adsos Letter Jan 2012 #9
I had good luck with some 4.5? 5? inch hand-scraped 3/4 inch thick Teak from LL. Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2012 #7
Thanks for posting that pic! Adsos Letter Jan 2012 #10
I think we are going to use the leftover shorts as a back-splash in my friend's cabin in Wisc. Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2012 #13
Lumber Liquidators does have the best prices! LL Chairman Jan 2012 #12
Welcome to the Democratic Underground, Mr. Sullivan Kolesar Jan 2012 #14
Well, THAT is excellent customer service in my book! Melissa G Jan 2012 #15
Whaddya think? Should I follow through? Is it legit? Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2012 #16
A lot of Business owners have google alerts on their companies Melissa G Jan 2012 #17
Like Melissa G said, nothing ventured nothing gained. Adsos Letter Jan 2012 #18
Thanks, Mr. Sullivan, and welcome to DU! Your post certainly makes me want to do business with you. Adsos Letter Jan 2012 #19
I guess I will be doing business with LL in the future also Digit Jan 2012 #20
I like their products and price madokie Jan 2012 #21
I just ripped out carpets and put down laminate from LL, awesome floors at decent price! n/t Mnemosyne Jan 2012 #22
We bought our hardwood ohheckyeah Jan 2012 #23
Do you have a Floor Decor and More in your area? kiva Jan 2012 #24

Melissa G

(10,170 posts)
1. A friend of mine just did a high end redo of her house and was pleased
Thu Jan 5, 2012, 08:50 PM
Jan 2012

with the product and price she got from them. Looked good to me at first glance.

Adsos Letter

(19,459 posts)
3. Thanks! If she liked the product and price then the final result would be up to to the installer.
Thu Jan 5, 2012, 09:08 PM
Jan 2012

In our case, me.

Stinky The Clown

(68,464 posts)
2. They're a dependable discounter, but not always the cheapest, even for like quality.
Thu Jan 5, 2012, 09:02 PM
Jan 2012

I've bought material from them for two renovations. In one case, we bought some laminate which was as good as anyone else's. We paid 50¢ per square foot for it. We also bought some top end maple and paid a fair price, but no bargain. I bought similar maple for another project in the same property and paid less at a local, one-store shop.

Adsos Letter

(19,459 posts)
4. What kind of one-store shop? Do you mean a flooring store, or something like Lowes, Home Depot, etc?
Thu Jan 5, 2012, 09:14 PM
Jan 2012

I'm looking for a top-quality, click-lock, engineered hardwood, with a thick enough surface to make refinishing a possibility; probably Brazilian Cherry, but Acacia or Bamboo are also on the short list.

Stinky The Clown

(68,464 posts)
6. I'm talking about a locally owned materials store
Thu Jan 5, 2012, 09:25 PM
Jan 2012

It was a building supply business owned by one guy and was his only store. He sold doors, windows, kitchen and bath cabinets, fencing, wood and laminate flooring (no vinyl or carpet), some plumbing fixtures, but nothing special, and various moldings, but not an extensive line.

A lot of it was close out or otherwise distressed merchandise and some of it was in very limited quantities, but it was mostly good stuff. Some was great, top shelf stuff.

I look, but never bought, from a place that had similar merchandise, but only sold at weekly auctions, cash and carry. Many local builders go there and buy truckloads of stuff. He also has an extensive appliance scratch and dent room that is cash, not auctions.

These kinds of places are everywhere, but not well known except to the trades. I can't think of a yellow pages category except building materials, but neither of these places are listed there.

Adsos Letter

(19,459 posts)
8. Thanks, I appreciate the help. I worked as a painter for 30+ years, so I know plenty of builders.
Thu Jan 5, 2012, 11:33 PM
Jan 2012

I think I'll ask one of them, as you suggest.

Hassin Bin Sober

(26,721 posts)
7. I had good luck with some 4.5? 5? inch hand-scraped 3/4 inch thick Teak from LL.
Thu Jan 5, 2012, 11:00 PM
Jan 2012

The thing I liked about them was most material was in-stock or at their warehouse/in-transit.

There were quite a few "shorts"..... probably more than advertised. WE were able to bury a bunch under the island and make it look good.

We were probably left over with what amounted to a box of shorts (24inch).

Overall. we were happy wthe experience. Except that they called us while we were installing it to tell us the stuff was on sale for an additional 50 cents off (they had us on their follow up sheet and didn't realize we purchased as it was under a differnt name on the invoice). They wouldn't make an adjustment - I suppose I could have made a stink and MAYBE got some satisfaction. But I had other things to worry about.

I priced out similar higher end floors at Home Depot but the stuff is all special order and they wanted an arm and a leg for shipping - like 5-700 bucks.

Adsos Letter

(19,459 posts)
10. Thanks for posting that pic!
Thu Jan 5, 2012, 11:37 PM
Jan 2012

Looks like you got a nice floor out of it. The % of shorts doesn't sound terrible, and I may be able to come up with a creative use for them.

I appreciate the heads-up about the cost difference due to shipping, something I hadn't factored in the cost!

LL Chairman

(1 post)
12. Lumber Liquidators does have the best prices!
Fri Jan 6, 2012, 08:35 AM
Jan 2012

As Founder/ Chairman of LL I guarantee we have the best prices on quality hardwood flooring. Also to person who said they didn't get the sale price please email me your info and I will make sure you get sale price as our policy states. Thank you. Tom Sullivan. ts lumberliquidators dot com

Melissa G

(10,170 posts)
17. A lot of Business owners have google alerts on their companies
Fri Jan 6, 2012, 11:37 PM
Jan 2012

and staff to monitor. I am a small business owner, but don't have the time or staff to follow up at this level. If a staff person does find something, I always try to make it right or better if I can.

It is likely to be legit and it's easy for you to follow up with an email. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Sounds worth it to me.

Adsos Letter

(19,459 posts)
18. Like Melissa G said, nothing ventured nothing gained.
Fri Jan 6, 2012, 11:58 PM
Jan 2012

Good luck, Hassin Bin Sober! Let us know how it works out for ya'.

Adsos Letter

(19,459 posts)
19. Thanks, Mr. Sullivan, and welcome to DU! Your post certainly makes me want to do business with you.
Sat Jan 7, 2012, 12:03 AM
Jan 2012

As a retiree from a service-oriented business I know how much customers appreciate good customer service. The good will that comes from it is invaluable.

madokie

(51,076 posts)
21. I like their products and price
Sun Jan 15, 2012, 09:02 AM
Jan 2012

Last edited Fri Jan 20, 2012, 08:36 AM - Edit history (1)

I've bought several different kinds of flooring from them over the years and so far I've always felt like I got a good deal. I do my own installs so that gives me some idea as to the quality of the product. You can buy cheap or you can buy high end flooring from them and you can get on their mailing list and pick up some good bargains. Thats what we do, most times I've gotten the flooring I wanted for about half of what it normally sells for by watching their ads and flyer's they send. The last flooring I put down here in our house was bamboo and we simply love it and they had it on sale for 1/2 of what it normally sells for, in fact all the flooring I've put down in here has been sale items from them. I'm watching for them to have cork flooring on sale right now so I can replace the flooring in our kitchen.

ETA: removed just not their politics. If Mr Sullivan is going to join in and post here then maybe, more than likely, I've been wrong about the politics.
my apologies and a big welcome to DU to Mr Tom Sullivan, LLChariman

Peace

kiva

(4,373 posts)
24. Do you have a Floor Decor and More in your area?
Sun Jan 22, 2012, 02:02 PM
Jan 2012

Some of their material was a better price than LL when I was looking last month. http://www.flooranddecoroutlets.com/

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