Buying Flooring Online vs. From a Local Store: How to Choose a Retailer You Can Trust
Posted by Johnny Holbert on 21st Jun 2022 · Updated [VERIFY: publish date]
Johnny has sold flooring online for Georgia Carpet Industries since [VERIFY: year; the post said 15 years of experience in 2022].
Buying flooring online usually costs less than buying from a local store, because an online retailer is not paying for a network of showrooms, and a local store usually wins on in-person advice and installation. Either way, the retailer matters more than the channel. Before you buy anywhere, check five things: a real address and phone number, independent customer reviews, Better Business Bureau standing, authorized-dealer status for the brand you want, and written warranty and return terms. Here is how to check each one, and how Georgia Carpet Industries answers them.
Georgia Carpet Industries at a Glance
| What to check | Georgia Carpet Industries |
|---|---|
| In business since | 1969. American-owned and family-owned. [VERIFY: approve "family-owned" for on-site use] |
| Where it is | Showroom and warehouse at 3352 South Dug Gap Road, Dalton, GA 30720, open to the public Monday to Friday 8 am to 6 pm and Saturday 9 am to 5 pm Eastern |
| How to reach it | (800) 535-8789 and onlinesales@georgiacarpet.com |
| Better Business Bureau | BBB Accredited Business since April 20, 2009, rated A+ |
| Customer reviews | 4.8 out of 5 from 2,624 reviews on Shopper Approved |
| How it buys | Direct from major flooring mills such as Shaw, Mohawk and Anderson Tuftex |
| Dealer status | Authorized dealer for the brands it sells; warranty claims are filed through Georgia Carpet [VERIFY: confirm by brand in the Shaw, Mohawk, Anderson Tuftex and COREtec dealer locators] |
| Warranty | The manufacturer's warranty applies. Claims go to claims@georgiacarpet.com and are decided by the manufacturer. |
| Returns | Undamaged, unopened material within 30 days of delivery, once the return is approved; most manufacturers charge a restocking fee of at least 25%. Cut carpet, custom orders and final-sale items cannot be returned. |
| Shipping | Nationwide to the contiguous United States, from Dalton |
| Installation | Not provided. Georgia Carpet can suggest independent installers in some areas. |
BBB and Shopper Approved figures checked October 13, 2026.
Online, Local Specialty or Big-Box: How They Compare
| Online flooring retailer | Local specialty flooring store | Big-box home store | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material price | Usually lowest, with fewer layers of overhead | Usually higher, to cover the showroom and sales staff | Low on house brands; national brands vary |
| Selection | Widest; full brand catalogs, often thousands of styles | Curated to what the store stocks or can order | Limited to the brands the chain carries |
| Seeing the product | Free or low-cost samples by mail | In person, in the store | In person, smaller displays |
| Advice | By phone, email or video call; quality depends on the staff | In person, often from long-tenured staff | Varies by store and department |
| Installation | Usually arranged separately with your own installer | Often included or arranged by the store | Often offered through contracted installers |
| Delivery | Freight to your door; inspect before signing | Local delivery or pickup | Store pickup or delivery |
| Returns | Written policy; restocking fees are common | Varies by store | Often flexible on in-stock items |
| Warranty claims | Through the retailer if it is an authorized dealer | Through the store | Through the store |
Georgia Carpet Industries sits in both of the first two columns: it ships nationwide like an online retailer and runs a walk-in showroom in Dalton like a local specialty store. It does not install.
Do Online Flooring Stores Offer Better Pricing Than Local Stores?
Usually yes on the material itself. Most flooring passes from the mill to a distributor to a retail store before it reaches you, and each step adds margin. An online retailer with low overhead, or one that buys direct from the mills, can sell the same product for less. Georgia Carpet Industries has bought direct from the major mills since 1969; the wholesale-pricing post explains how.
The material price is not the whole cost, so compare the total:
- Freight. Hard surface flooring ships on a pallet by weight, and the quote depends on your location and the carrier. Ask for it before you order.
- Installation. Online retailers rarely install, so price an installer separately.
- Restocking fees. If you over-order or change your mind, most manufacturers charge at least 25% to take product back.
- Payment fees. Some retailers charge a fee for card payments; Georgia Carpet adds 3% to orders paid by credit or debit card.
The fairest comparison is the same product, by name or SKU, priced as delivered material at each store. Be wary of any site that undercuts everyone by a wide margin on every product. That pattern is one of the most common signs of a fake store.
Do Local Flooring Stores Offer Better Service Than Online Retailers?
For installation and in-home measuring, often yes; for product knowledge, it depends on the people, not the channel. A local store can send someone to measure, coordinate the installer and stand behind the whole job. An online retailer cannot do that from a distance, so you hire and manage the installer yourself.
Product advice is a different matter. Good advice comes from staff who have sold the same products for years, and that can happen on the phone as easily as in a showroom. Georgia Carpet's sales team works from the Dalton showroom and warehouse, and offers video sales appointments, up to three free samples per address, a room visualizer and a flooring calculator for buyers who cannot visit. If you are within driving distance, you can walk into the showroom without an appointment.
How Do I Know if an Online Flooring Retailer Is Legitimate?
Check that the retailer exists outside its own website. A legitimate flooring retailer has a physical address you can find on a map, a phone number that a person answers, a Better Business Bureau profile, and reviews on platforms it does not control. Use this checklist:
- Address and phone. Look the address up on a map. A real flooring business has a warehouse or showroom, not a residential address or a P.O. box.
- Time in business. A company that sold flooring before e-commerce existed has a track record you can check.
- BBB profile. Look for accreditation, the letter rating, and how the company responds to complaints.
- Independent reviews. Read reviews on a third-party platform such as Shopper Approved, Google or Trustpilot, and read the negative ones to see how the company answers them.
- Sensible pricing. Name-brand flooring at a fraction of every other store's price is a warning sign.
- Written policies. Shipping, returns, damage claims and warranty handling should be published before you pay.
Georgia Carpet Industries passes each check: a showroom and warehouse in Dalton since 1969, an A+ rating from the BBB with accreditation since 2009, 4.8 out of 5 from 2,624 reviews on Shopper Approved, and published sales and return policies and shipping information. You can read recent customer reviews on our Reviews page.
How Can I Verify That a Flooring Retailer Is an Authorized Dealer?
Search for the retailer in the manufacturer's dealer locator, or call the manufacturer and ask. An authorized dealer buys from the manufacturer or its approved distributor, and that matters because many flooring warranties only cover product bought through an authorized dealer. Warranty claims are also filed through the dealer where you bought the floor.
- Go to the brand's website and use its "find a dealer" or "where to buy" tool.
- If the retailer is not listed, call the manufacturer's customer service line and ask.
- Ask the retailer which brands it is authorized for and who handles a warranty claim if something goes wrong.
Georgia Carpet Industries is an authorized dealer for the brands it sells, so the manufacturer's warranty applies and warranty claims are filed through us at claims@georgiacarpet.com. [VERIFY: confirm Georgia Carpet appears in the Shaw, Mohawk, Anderson Tuftex and COREtec dealer locators; narrow this sentence to the confirmed brands if any are missing] You can read each manufacturer's warranty on our warranty information page.
What Questions Should I Ask Before Buying Flooring From a Retailer?
Ask questions that test whether the salesperson knows the product and your project, then get the costs and policies in writing. A knowledgeable salesperson asks you questions back. A script does not.
- Is this first-quality product, or seconds, closeout or tavern grade?
- What is the total delivered cost, including freight to my address?
- Is it in stock, and what is the lead time if it is not?
- Can I get a sample first?
- What is the return policy, and what restocking fee applies?
- Who handles a warranty claim, and are you an authorized dealer for this brand?
- How should damaged deliveries be reported, and how quickly?
- What does my subfloor need before this product goes down?
- Do you install, or can you recommend an installer?
Example: The Below-Grade Basement Question
Ask what the best floor is for a below-grade basement, and almost everyone will say luxury vinyl plank or tile. That answer is usually right, and waterproof products such as Mannington Adura Max are built for it. A knowledgeable salesperson will not stop there. They will ask about the concrete slab: has its moisture content, or relative humidity (RH), been tested? Even waterproof vinyl can be damaged by moisture rising through a slab, and the damage often stays hidden until it is too late to fix. Test the slab before any product goes down, and check the manufacturer's installation guide for its moisture limits. Our guide to LVP installation methods covers how the choice of glue-down, floating or loose-lay affects a basement job. Browse waterproof flooring when you are ready to compare products.
Why Buy From Georgia Carpet Industries?
Georgia Carpet Industries has sold flooring from Dalton, Georgia, about 90 miles north of Atlanta [VERIFY: the current post says 60 miles], since 1969, long before flooring was sold online. You can buy from us either way: visit the showroom at 3352 South Dug Gap Road, or shop carpet, luxury vinyl, commercial carpet tile and the rest of the catalog online with nationwide delivery. Call (800) 535-8789 or book a video sales appointment to talk through your project with someone who knows the products.
Buying Flooring Online: FAQs
Is it safe to buy flooring online?
Yes, from a retailer you have checked. Confirm a physical address and phone number, a BBB profile, independent reviews and published return and warranty policies before you pay, and order samples first so the color and texture are not a surprise.
Does buying flooring online void the manufacturer's warranty?
Not when you buy from an authorized dealer. Many manufacturers limit their warranty to product bought through authorized dealers, so confirm the retailer's status with the brand. Warranty claims are filed through the dealer you bought from.
Can I return flooring I bought online?
Usually, within limits. At Georgia Carpet Industries, undamaged and unopened material can be returned within 30 days of delivery once the return is approved, and most manufacturers charge a restocking fee of at least 25%. Cut carpet, custom orders and final-sale items cannot be returned. Read the full sales policy and returns before ordering.
How is flooring shipped when I order online?
Carpet rolls and boxed hard surface flooring usually travel by freight carrier, often on a pallet. Inspect the shipment and count the pieces before you sign, and note any damage on the delivery receipt; Georgia Carpet asks to be told in writing within three days of delivery.
Do I need to see flooring in person before buying it online?
It helps, but you do not need to visit a store. Order free samples, view styles in a photo of your own room with a room visualizer, and use a video appointment to ask questions. Colors on screen can differ from the real product, which is why samples matter.
Does Georgia Carpet install flooring?
No. Georgia Carpet Industries sells and ships flooring but does not provide installation. We may be able to suggest independent installers in your area.