Carpet Cleaning - How Carpet Cleaners Illegally Mislead People with Coupons, Estimates and Other Gimmicks

How Carpet Cleaners Illegally Mislead People with Coupons, Estimates and Other
Gimmicks.

NOTE: Not all wet carpet cleaning professionals are dirty. Some can indeed be
very reputable.

Here's how Illegal Carpet Cleaning Scams and Gimmicks are presented to
consumers

Tactic #1: Unbelievably Low Price - Per Room Estimates

To some degree, all of us are attracted by low price because we want to work within a budget. But
some carpet cleaners use price as a bait for their false and misleading advertising. They offer a
cheap price -- usually between $5.95 and $9.95 per room -- and then, once they are in your
home, they pressure you into buying "add-ons."

Tactic #2: Bait and Switch - Dual Process Carpet Cleaning

Today a lot of carpet cleaning services describe their service as a process of shampooing or
heavy preconditioning, followed with hot water extraction cleaning. Unfortunately, unethical carpet
cleaners offer "dual process" as a bait-and-switch technique. Here's how it's done: First, they
"bait" you with a basic cleaning (single process) at an unbelievably low price. Then, when you call,
they try to "switch" you to more expensive dual process cleaning. If you don't fall for their switch
and choose their basic service, you'll likely receive poor workmanship using little or no product
(detergent and/or solvents), and they will not guarantee their work.

Tactic #3: Unsupported Claims "This Cleaning Method is the Best"

You'll read this in almost every ad. You'll hear this from virtually every carpet cleaner. Remember
this: The method that's best for you is the method that achieves your goal. If you want a method
that cleans the deep down soil in the carpet, then a method that top cleans only would not be best
for you. So before you choose a carpet cleaner, identify your objectives. Then select the method
that best reaches those objectives.

5 Costly Misconceptions

Misconception #1: You Should Wait as Long as Possible Before Cleaning Your Carpet.

False. A dirty carpet will not last as long as a clean carpet. And while vacuuming helps, it's simply
not enough.

Misconception #2: The Only Reason to Clean Carpet is to Remove Soil / Dirt.

False. As you probably know, outdoor air contains pollens, fungus, bacteria, air pollution,
cigarette smoke, car exhaust and hundreds of other chemicals. When you come into your home,
you carry those pollens, bacteria and chemicals in your hair, on your skin, clothing and shoes. Not
surprisingly, all of those chemicals and toxins wind up in your carpet.

Misconception #3: One Method of Carpet Cleaning is as Good as Another.

False. You can choose from three main methods: 1. Steam Cleaning. 2. Shampooing (sometimes
referred to as dry carpet cleaning) and, 3. dry organic carpet cleaning (always includes the use of
a physical granular product).

Misconception #4: Having the Right Equipment is All a Company Needs to Clean Your
Carpets Properly.

False. Many companies own the right equipment but a large number of employees don't know how
to use it. You probably know someone who bought the newest computer on the market but didn't
learn how to use it for a year or more. The same is true with carpet cleaning. The company may
own good equipment, but the employees may not know how to use it correctly. This is why it's
important that you choose your carpet cleaner carefully.

Misconception #5: The Company that Offers the Lowest Price is the Company You
Should Hire.

Maybe -- but not always. Here are two important points to consider.

Point #1: The price you see offered may not be for the services you want performed.

Before you select a company, decide what you want to accomplish. If you want the carpet cleaner
to remove only some of the dirt, you can choose from hundreds of companies. Or, you can even
rent a machine at the grocery store and do the job yourself.

Point #2: The price you see advertised is probably not the price you will pay.

Many homeowners have learned that the low price they saw advertised was not the amount they
were charged.

If you've ever hired a carpet cleaner, you too may have been the victim of false or misleading
advertising. You probably learned the hard way that some carpet cleaners offer a cheap price --
usually between $5.95 and $9.95 per room -- and then pressure you into paying a lot more once
they get inside your home. Some of them may even break the law by using illegal bait and switch
tactics.

As in all businesses and professions, the carpet cleaning industry has its share of bad apples. We
take no pleasure in telling you this, but some are unethical -- and sadly, a few are dishonest. By
their misleading advertising and false promises, they cast a dark shadow on our entire industry.

Then you'll find other carpet cleaners – ABCO service professionals who work hard to earn your
trust and respect. As a way of improving our profession, ABCO is dedicated to educating the
public. The only way you can make an intelligent decision is to have all the facts you need.