Empire Today

I should have read the reviews before contacting them. On May 9th, 2024 a representative from Empire Today (Primal Rathod 832-866-4826) came by my home for a scheduled appointment. He brought several carpet samples with him. I agreed to a carpet that match a color in my hardwood floors. The product, Allure-Facinate, is brown-gold and shown in the attached contract. That carpet was to be installed in the stairway and updaters, corridors, as well as the upstairs media room. The contract price, which included a second carpet type to be installed in a bedroom, was $4500, paid in advance. When the installers arrived on Monday May 13th, I noticed a much lighter product and brought it to the attention of the crew chief. He assured me that it was the correct carpet and that once installed it would be darker under home lighting conditions instead of the direct sun. I believed him and allowed him to proceed. Exhibit 1 is a comparison of what I ordered and what was installed. I complained again and the installer contacted the head office and I briefly spoke to someone who said the salesman should have told me that the actual color of the carpet might be slightly different from the sample. You can see from Exhibit 1 that there is a dramatic difference between what I ordered and what was installed. When the installer was finished, he asked me to sign the install completion certificate. He explained that it just covered the installation and had would not impact my claim about the color of my project so I signed. I contacted my the salesperson who agreed that there was a substantial difference after seeing the difference (see text message. I offered to accept a price discount because I did not want to go through a full day install again but nothing is being done. I believe that, because of my age, they just assume that I'm going to just let this go. I am requesting replacement of the carpet with something resembling the color of the carpet I ordered. One week later and still no one has had the courtesy to call. I have reported them to the BBB, FTA, and the TX Attorney General's office. Buyer Beware!

This is a horrible company. They are crooked, untrustworthy, and unprofessional. This is a big turd with sprinkles on it trying to pass as a cupcake.

The installers did a good job on the floor but somehow bent the mechanism for a recliner when they moved it out to the garage. The mechanism could not be repaired and needed to be replaced for $500. Empire offered only $150. See the picture below, the footrest is twisted and it won't sit up straight. That was unsatisfactory, but here is where I started wondering if I got a good deal or not. The installers left 4 1/2 boxes of the flooring and a lot of molding. I called to see what the deal was; did I pay for the surplus, did they want it back, or buy/credit it back to me. They said I hadn't paid for it; Empire just sends extra to ensure they have enough. Something isn't right. I don't trust them. The original quote was for $7,000. I offered $6,000, and they said OK. Now I wonder if I should have paid them much less. Beware of Empire.

Disgusted, they were hard to deal with, because the salesman who came was drunk, they did a wrong measurement. unprofessional.

I one has contacted us

Dealing with these quys was more painful than dealing with the sleaziest car dealer. Like car dealers, the salesman has to check in with his manager to negotiate a price. Although he quoted a price of $5000, he wrote up the contract for $10,000 and then wrote on the contract that a change order would be submitted to lower the price to $5000. He said that the computer program would not let him enter the sale price and that the only way to get the lower price was to enter a change order. However, when they called to arrange for installation, they said that I would owe $10,000. After calling several people and threatening to cancel the order, I was told that the price would be the original $5000. The installers failed to arrive on the scheduled day, but did arrange to reschedule for the following week. They promised that I would be first on the list for that day, but they didn't arrive until the afternoon. When the installer arrived he again wanted to charge me $10,000. We again had to call several people and I showed him the original contract and paid the remainder of the $5000. The installation went well except that, while I was told it would be done in one day, it ended up taking two days. Since the work was finished I have gotten several calls from the company telling me that I still owe them an additional $5000. They tell me they have no record of the $5000 price quoted to me. I can understand why there might have been confusion about the price once but after I'd asked them to correct it several times and they agreed to do so, I don't understand why it hasn't been corrected yet.

the estimator never showed or called the first day. They gave a 3hr window and never showed. scheduled for the following day. The estimator was pleasant and friendly. His quote though was above 30K. That was more the 15K above previous quotes. After my remarks to him he placed a call and was able to lower his price. I firmly believe they are taking advantage of people trying to recover from Harvey. I will never try and use thier services again. Very dissapointed

We had to cancel service after giving them 600 down payment because they refused to honor our original agreement.

Great at every level.

Beautifully.

Sales person very professional. The only downside is that she gave two prices, buy it today or several hundred more if you order later. Also she could not provide a breakdown of materials and labor. After several phone calls and requests for this breakdown, we were told that they only provide an overall price. With this in mind, and feeling there were some deceptions in play, we decided to cancel the contract.

They did a good job. They were on time.

The folks they hire for installation did a great job. The organization and planning went terribly. The work order I signed had a Friday as both the start date, and estimated completion date, for all 3 flooring jobs. When that Friday rolled around, the crew that came to take care of the laminate and LVT came to tell me they weren't given a diagram, and they concluded they didn't have enough supplies to do the LVT job. I talked to their manager about rescheduling that service, and came to find out the carpet job wasn't scheduled to start until Saturday. The sales rep, and clearly the work order, had my carpet installation scheduled to start Friday. I ended up sticking with that schedule and not cancelling since I received a discount (another saving grace), but then of course the carpet installers didn't show up early enough to finish their work, so they had to come back on Sunday. I also had to call Empire since the LVT installer never showed and I come to find out there was an emergency and they had to reschedule the LVT installation for Monday. So a project I was initially told would all be done on Friday lasted until Monday.

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I completed the online form for a carpet installation.  I needed the installation in two homes, but I couldn't indicate this on the form so I contacted their customer service.  She completed the information for me and said it would be  up to the installer but shouldn't be a problem.  On the day that they were supposed to arrive, I had not received a confirmation so I called them.  The rep I spoke with told me that I had not asked for a confirmation (which I thought that I had) and when I asked about the second property she said the first rep did not enter the information in the right area, so they didn't know if the technician could do that or not. They said that the technician reviews the information, so I said surely he saw it somewhere on the form.  Anyhow, the rep contacted the technician and was informed that he was with a customer and couldn't ask about the other property but would be at my other location within a half hour.  So I rushed out the door to make sure that I was there in case he arrived early.  As I was driving there, I received a call.  When I pulled into the other property I called back only to find out that the technician was going to now arrive 30 minutes OUTSIDE my 2 hour window.  I was upset that I had rushed over since the other property.  I asked if they could check if he would be able to do both estimates and then after they contacted him they told me he was having car trouble and wouldn't be able to come at all.  They offered me $50 to reschedule, but I explained I was angry and couldn't answer them at the moment.  A few days later I was called and when I relayed the circumstances to the rep, she apologized and offered $150 to reschedule and offered a new technician.  I agreed.  I also asked for a call before they were arriving so I could make sure I was at the right address for them.  I came home early to meet them and waited.  About 30 minutes before the end of my window, I contacted customer service.  They reached out to the technician and he was across town and wasn't sure when he would make it there.  I, admittedly, was furious and told the rep to check the notes on my account.  He said he was aware and apologized and asked if I wanted the technician to come or to reschedule.  I told him I knew I would never reschedule.  I said that the tech could call me when he was on his way and I would let him know if I wanted him to come or not because I wasn't going to put the whole evening on hold for him.  The next call I received was that the tech was outside my property which was about 8:30 that night.  So I rushed over there and met with him.  He explained to me that he had informed him manager before our time window that he was across town and that his manager needed to send someone else.  He even showed me the text messages to prove it.  I felt bad for him and explained that I understand it wasn't his fault and I was just upset with the lack of respect for our time that his company seemed to have.  We came back to my other property and he showed samples.  I explained to him the other property was to be a rental property and I didn't want to put high quality carpet in there.  He of course showed me the high quality carpet.  Then the next highest quality carpet.  Then the sales tactics.  What a deal, I won't charge you sales tax and it will save you a ton even though before I showed you the price per month without that.  He even calculated like 400 sqft of waste, which talking to other carpet people seemed like a high amount to them and they said average was 10%.  I told him that I needed him to email me the quote so that we could compare them and that my husband and I needed to pray and discuss the options.  He pulled the, your best price will be today, tactic.  Then when I was firm in my decision he decided to show me the builder's grade option that I asked for in the beginning.  I still stuck with our decision to have the quote emailed and to wait for an answer.  I even confirmed that he had my email address and he said yes.  His body language showed that he was either tired (which he told us he lives on the same side of town of the job that he came from which is about an hour plus away, and at this point it was around 10pm) or just mad that I didn't say yes to the high quality carpet and be done with it.  Oh, and the contract.  He kept trying to get me just to sign the contract.  He told me that I could cancel anytime before the installation.  I asked to see the contract.  It is an Empire specific form which states I have 3 days from the above date to cancel.  He said that it says that, but really it is anytime and they don't fill out the above date.  I told him if that is the case, then it should say what he says because it wasn't a generic form and Empire should put I can cancel anytime before installation because he could put any date in there at anytime.  I was not comfortable with that, so I repeated myself that we would just take the emailed quote. I guess after that he was done because he got up and packed his stuff up. He turned and walked to the door.  I never heard him say anything like thank you, good bye, nothing.  My daughter even made the comment that I must've made him mad because his face when we left.  A few days passed and I still hadn't seen his quote.  I contacted the customer service rep and explained to her the circumstances.  She contacted the technician.  She didn't seem to care about the quality of care that we received. Then she told me that the tech didn't have the ability to email from his tablet and that she could just tell me what I needed to know and did I want to schedule an installation.  I told her I didn't believe that the information was going to do me any good because I saw no reason that I would be needing their services.  BEWARE!

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Installation no problem. Finance: Approved with Synchrony Bank Fl. Bank sent Credit Card. I cancelled card and was told that once Empire sends bill then I would get monthly statement (billing). I did not want CC since it is temptation. I did not know that this was the way this bank operates. Wanted Installment loan. After Empire sent bill to bank it was rejected. Rec'd call from Lauren Baker, rude and a non people person. I could not discuss with her. She would not listen; kept telling me this, that, whatever and I could not discuss with her. Wrote letters to VP Accounting, Collections, Sales, HR. Cust Svc, outside sales on situation and financing. The officers of the company ignore my letters as if I am no one just a number. Wrote these people many letters at my cost. Empire could care less if they lose a customer. If Ms Baker would have listened situation could have been cleared up. I have asked that Ms. Baker be released from employment. In a letter to the Chairman of the Board today October 14, 2014, since no one of position will contact me (President or Vice Presidents and ndash; 4 of them) requesting he fire Ms. Baker and return my $1300.00 due to the problems Empire has created.

Rep came out to give me estimate on flooring. Rep refused to give me price per sq. ft. on any of the product, and gave me alot of double talk. When estimate was much higher than I had anticipated, I told him I would get other estimates and give him a call when/if I wanted them to do the work. He slammed his books shut, and and was ANGRY. Didn't leave me a card, I had to ASK for the estimate sheet, and he slammed my front door on his way out.

Very rude and unprofessional.

I never even received a quote? salesperson spoke to me like dirt and left location?

Their reviews were favorable. They seemed very knowledgeable and their price was reasonable.

The sales person, Harrison, was nice enough. He was punctual and kind. The pricing, however, was the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. $18,000.00! This was with their supposed "full house" promo where you buy a couple rooms and get some product (but not labor) free. I immediately said NO. The salesman then called someone and came back with another bid of $14,000.00. NO. When I relayed these bids to my realtor she literally shrieked! Even if they tried to come back with a lower bid, I would not consider using this company. Talk about a rip off!