Avalon Flooring

I previously had a bad installation experience with a nationally advertised competitor who did hardwook flooring, so I knew what questions to ask and what to look for before selecting Avalon Flooring.  I am extremely pleased with the results from Avalon Flooring.
Avalon has a large selection of hardwood flooring, and the salespersons are knowledgabe about the products they sell.  You can instantly see the price per square foot of any product they sell, and then they give you a basic installation cost giving you a rough estimate of the total cost.  The next step is to send a technician to your house to measure and work up a more detailed price quote.  After this, they provide a cost breakdown of required materials and labor.  This includes removal and disposal of old flooring, the number of boxes of flooring material needed (which includes an overage for waste), transition pieces, patch, glue, shoe molding, etc.  Everything is broken down and itemized so there are no surprises.  I like to know what I am paying for and it is OK that the total installed price is a little more than double the cost of the flooring material itself.  In my case, because it is a glue-down installation, the glue is quite expensive and adds a little more than $1.00 per square foot.  The bottom line is that when you see the itemized list of materials and labor, you can immediately see what makes up the cost and decide for youself if you want to purchase your flooring from them.  Other vendors will not give you that breakdown, and you do not know what you are getting for your money.
To me, looking to find the lowest cost is not nearly as important as looking to find quality workmanship.  Everyone hopes for and expects quality workmanship.  No matter where you go, the salesperson will promise you that.  I can tell you from first hand experience that there are contractors out there that do not do a good job.  It is easy to get a poorly installed floor no matter how much you spend or how much you are promised.  I looked up flooring contractors on BBB.com and found that Avalon Flooring not only had an A+ rating, but very few complaints of any kind over the past three years.  If you look up some of the nationally advertised competitors, you may see more than 1,000 complaints in the same service area over the same time period.
Avalon cares about quality, and my flooring installer did a fantastic job.  You can see from start to finish when a contractor performs his craft in a meticoulous manner to do it right, rather than to rush through it just to make a quick buck.  Avalon assured me that they use exclusive certified hardwood installers to do their work and I am very happy with the result

My initial visit was pleasant with the salesperson that came forward to assist me.  I selected 3 or 4 patterns of
in-stock runners.  I took pictures of them.  The installer was scheduled to come to my home to measure the linear feet needed.  I sent the pictures to a niece and we decided on the one runner.  I returned to the Avalon Showroom in Egg Harbor Twp., NJ. June 1, 2013.  The person that served me previously had to leave on an emergency.  The person who came to me made me feel that he was not happy to take her place.  I discussed the patterns that I had previously taken pictures.  I pointed to the one of my choice.  It did not have price ticket, but my picture showed that it was $9.99 per linear foot.  He stated that was an error.  He went over to another runner took the card with the price $15.99 per linear foot and inserted it into the slot for the pattern that I had selected.  I questioned him and hesitated about making the purchase, but I was anxious to get the job done since this is a summer home and my time spent here is short.  He scheduled the installation after having me pay 80% of the total.  I was given a receipt for the total job without details.  He stated that I would get that later.  The installer would write the details.  They sent out a different installer because their usual installer was not working that week.  The installer they sent was very capable and personable.  Because of the pattern of the carpet I chose he was not able to do what they call a turnaround at the landing which I learned later they were charging me $225.00.  I was very disappointed.  I suggested some thing else that he might do which he did capably.  It only required 6 linear inches and replacing the border.  So I had 7 LF and 3 inches left over which they credited me for, but insisted that I pay the $225.00 for a turnaround.  I had to call for a detailed receipt.  When I questioned  my initial salesperson about items I did not understand she blamed it on a computer program.  The store the manager instructed me to ask for her or the salesperson when I returned the remnant for credit.  She did not speak to me or acknowledge me.  Two other women were respectful and concerned about my having to wait.  I would not have had such a bad experience if the initial installer took the time to learn what pattern that I chose and adjusted his measurements.  And the manager should acquire  more personable relations with troubled customers.  Overall my experience was unpleasant due to the employee handling of the situation, except for Ted, the installer.