Empire Today®

They did very well. It was fast and easy. I would use them again.

WE WERE REPLACING CARPET FOR HEALTH REASONS, AND HAD SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS. THE SALESMAN STATED THAT ALL OF OUR NEEDS WOULD BE MET. THEY STARTED THE JOB 3 DAYS AFTER THE PROMISED START DATE. THEY USEDGLUE, NOT NAILS AS PROMISED IN INSTALLING THE WOOD UPSTAIRS, THE GLUE USED HAS AN ODOR WHICH IS STILL PRESENT. (I HAVE SEVERE A SEVERE BREATHING PROBLEM AND ODOR ARE ONE OF THE TRIGGERS.) TODATE THE JOB IS STILL INCOMPLETE. GLUE WAS LEFT ON THE TOP OF THE WOOD, TRANSITION WOOD PIECES WERE NOT INSTALLED, BULL NOSE PIECES WERE NOT INSTALLED, AND THE TILE WHICH WAS INSTALLED IN OUR ENTRY HAS TWO DIFFERENT FINISHES. WE REQUESTED THE ENTIRE JOB BE REMOVED AND A FULL REFUND. EMPIRE AGREED, HOWEVER THEY WANTED AN UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE. WE WERE CONCERNED THAT IF THEY CAUSED ADDITIONAL DAMAGE OUR HOUSE COULD BE IN SHAMBLES. WE SUBMITTED A REPLACEMENT RELEASE, OUR ATTORNEY APPROVED THE WORDING, AND THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE MODIFIED RELEASE BECAUSE IT CLEARLY STATED THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE THEY CAUSED. THEY REJECTED THE RELEASE WE PREPARED BECAUSE THEIR RELEASE WAS A GENERAL RELEASE PREPARED BY HEIR OUTSIDE COUNSEL, AT A GREAT EXPENSE TO THEM; AND AS SUCH THEY USED IT FOR ALL CASES SIMILAR TO OURS. THEIR LAST COMMUNICATION WITH US WAS THAT THEY COINSIDER THE JOB CLOSED/COMPLETED AND TYHERE WOULD BE NO REFUND UNLESS WE SUITED THEM.. WE HAVE FILED SUIT AND THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED AS AT THIS DATE.,

The rep was very friendly. He arrived on time and explained the process and provided samples. He measured the rooms and the windows to give me an accurate estimate. The price was extremely high -- about 5x higher than a quote I got from a major hardware store for an inferior carpet – even though their price was at a 60% discount, supposedly. The rep calculated all the numbers and gave me a final price, refusing to show me how this figure came together. He said that they find it more helpful to their clients to give an overall number. I do agree that it’s less headache to worry about the specifics, but when you’re trying to compare installation costs, carpet pads, carpet quality, etc, you want to know the basis of the estimate. When I refused to make a decision right then and there, the rep got upset and said that he tried his best to give me a deal. He wanted me to enter into a 6 year contract at 14% Interest. My credit is awesome and this did not seem like a viable option. I don’t want to be in debt for 6 years and pay such a high interest for carpets and window treatments. Further, when I requested the numbers so that I could compare, he refused to give me anything in writing, stating that they don’t provide written estimates. It made me annoyed but I understand. They don’t want you to take their estimate to another company who can, and most likely will, beat the prices by a long shot. UPDATE: I got a phone call from Aryan, the district manager for Empire. He was extremely friendly and professional. He explained to me the reasoning behind the benefit they can pass onto consumers for making a sale that day. I'm impressed. Any company that is concerned enough to reply and call back deserves an A in my book. Unfortunately, the type of shopping and comparing that I wanted to do is not condusive to their business model, so the price still doesn't work for me. However, I do understand the type of clientelle that Empire attracts. It is someone who isn't looking for the headache of shopping around. It's just a one stop shop for someone in a hurry who really doesn't mind coughing up the extra money for the service. I'm extremely impressed with the follow-up to this post. This is definitely a company that deserves a second look.

Tried to set up an estimate for a rather large job. Tried on the net and it wouldn't let me move forward unless i guaranteed all decision makers would be present. I don't want everybody present. I am collecting bids and information. Its not their job to determine how I do mine. I tried to call and service rep was so snotty, wanted so much extraneous information and when I tried to pass on some of the information I was told: and quot; I am just following a script and if you don't want to hear it you can make an estimate onlineand quot;. If they are this difficult and argumentative just to get an estimate.... I would have to be crazy to bring them into my home.

They did a good job. They came at the time we requested. They moved the furniture and cleaned up when they were done. They were courteous and did not fool around. I have no complaints.

The sales experience was kind of like dealing with a used car salesman in that I had to keep pushing them for a lower price. There were a lot of guarantees made about everything being under warranty but during the moving process the floor got dented and it was a hassle to get them to do absolutely anything. Overall I was not that impressed.

We were very pleased with them. They came and gave us an estimate, and were able to do the work the next day, although we chose to schedule it for a little later. They did a great job!

Overall, it was a great experience, we recommend them without hesitation.

They have little selection. Every time I selected a fabric I was told they don't carry it anymore. The quality of the window treatments is extremely poor. I would have been better off going to a blinds store and purchasing aluminum blinds. These were supposed to be flat Roman type blinds, but their idea of flat blind is it doesn't fold and doesn't drape at all when pulled all the way down. I have never seen such a cheap approach to covering the window hardware. They got one of the measurements incorrect, so I am waiting to have them install one of them. Of course, I have to take a day off of work to do this, so I am out even more money. Just awful, but now I am stuck with this. Honestly, I think I could have sourced each window for around 100.00. I had Empire replace carpet with hard wood floors in two rooms and they did a good job. I went with them because of the professionalism with the floor install. Can't say the same for the window treatments.

They did a very nice job! They were professional and clean and completed the job in just one day! I got a lot of compliments from people who have seen the new flooring.

When it comes to stairs you have to really know your trade and they did a good job, we have banisters and they did a very tight clean job. They did it relatively fast. Two people came out, they did it quickly and cleaned up nicely. They are just as they advertise. The next day service was great. My major satisfaction rest with the workers, they knew what they were doing and were really great. If I do more work I will definitely go with them. They are very strong on customer service and will resolve any issues. I used them for my window shutters as well and they did a nice professional job. At first they were not level and they came back right away to fix it. I am sure you could get it cheaper by doing it yourself but the customer was great, if you have any problems they will come out no matter how long after the installation.

The sales rep came to the house on schedule and helped me pick carpet from samples. The installers came on time and worked non stop from 9am to 9pm. This was a difficult job and these guys were great. They couldn't finish, and I had to fly to New York on a midnight flight for a family emergency, and they offered to come back on Sunday during Memorial Day weekend! And they showed up as promised. When does that ever happen? Then carpet looks great, and I would definitely recommend them and use them again.

We were unsure of what carpet we wanted to install in our house when they first came. It was difficult because they had several samples (they said 30,000) in a van- they said that they wouldn't' be able to bring them inside. I suggested that we just go outside and pick. We rummaged through the back of the van and narrowed it down to two books. She brought those into the house, where we made our final decision. They told us that we would have to disconnect all of the wires, etc. (because they didn't want that responsibility). This is a challenge for my husband and I, but we did what they asked. We scheduled the installation for a week later. Their installers were great- they did a beautiful job. I had no problem with them, but the initial consultation was not handled professionally. I will never do business with them or recommend them to anyone. They get an A on the installation, but the consultation was where we were extremely unsatisfied.

I set a free in home estimate appointment which they advertise they do. They gave me an appointment, I scheduled to be home and they called and asked me to reschedule. We set up the rescheduled appointment and just before they were due here, they called and canceled again. I asked to speak to a supervisor because I had scheduled time to be home twice and this was very annoying and unprofessional. The operator put me on hold and no one ever came back to me. I assumed this was an error so called back, was asked for my name and number, was put on hold again when I asked to speak with a supervisor and was put on hold until finally the phone just cut off. This an awful way to treat potential customers.

The installers were really good. They didn't tell us about one thing that was extra. I said no to that and they caught it. That was good. They scratched the up the hardwood floors in the kitchen.

The sales part was like buying a car. The installation was great (which I think they subcontract). Work was done in Orange County, California.

They did the all the carpeting in one day like they said they would. They even put the furniture back the way I wanted. They also took away the old carpeting; you would never know that they were there. They were very nice and I was very pleased with their service.

They were very nice. They came and put up the drapes and took away the old drapes when they were done. They cleaned everything up, making it look like they were never there. I thought the price was a little pricey for the blinds.

Terrible. The rep did not show and when I called the 1-800 number to ask about the delay and was told that the rep had called me but "I wasn't home." The truth is that I WAS at my home continuously with my cell phone on me the entire evening and received NO calls and no messages. I think this rep just wanted to go home early. I think Empire is too big and their people not sufficiently rewarded to perform at their jobs. With the economy as it is right now I would expect someone paid on commission to be a little more keen on obtaining business.

Their estimate was high so decided not to complete the service at this time.

Medicocre: I used this company for a new tub and liner and was very pleased so I called them for carpet. The installers were late and when I called the salesman he kept making excuses why it was not his fault. When the installers showed up, they spoke almost no English and I had to insist and make myself understood to get what had been agreed to. Empire also claims they give you a fifty dollar referral fee - never got it though this was for and paid for by a relative. Quality of install was just "okay" but the seams and corners could have been better. Then the installers asked me to help find the next job address and left me their card to contact them directly for work - not too professional and obviously contract employees "free lancing." Overall - the carpet install and price were just okay, but a hassle too. I would not use them again for carpet, too bad, the bathroom work I got was outstanding.

I never heard back from them again.

Nice work. The salesman was punctual, the crew arrived on time. They did a good job, polite and professional. The installers ran into some issues which they fixed quite nicely.

SEE ABOVE. ONLY ONE OF THE WORKERS SPOKE MUCH ENGLISH, BUT WE GOT ALONG FINE IN THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT.

They did an excellent job. They came on time and cleaned up well.