How to install carpet

I need to have ny ground floor re-carpeted. I went to Sears and they said they have experts who can come in and install my carpeting. Is that a good idea or should I just buy the carpet from them and look somewhere else for installation?There are sites like http://servicemagic.com, http://nilaam.com, http://angieslist.com and others where I can post an ad to get contractor. Does anyone have experience with this process? Thanks.
Sea

Sea, I have no experience with it but I would imagine that Sears doesn't keep incapable workers working for them (they have a reputation to uphold)

You could make a deal with the company from where you are looking to buy carpets for the installation of your carpet as it is always good that installation would be done by the professional.

Thanks,
Granite4Less

needCarpetHelp wrote:

I need to have ny ground floor re-carpeted. I went to Sears and they said they have experts who can come in and install my carpeting. Is that a good idea or should I just buy the carpet from them and look somewhere else for installation?There are sites like http://servicemagic.com, http://nilaam.com, http://angieslist.com and others where I can post an ad to get contractor. Does anyone have experience with this process? Thanks.
Sea

Also keep in mind that if an error occurs, and everything is done by one place (measurements, calculations, carpet, transport, installation, etc.) they'll have no excuse not to make it right. Whereas if you piecemeal the install, and something happens, Joe will blame Sam, Sam will blame Jim, and Jim will simply say "it ain't my fault", and you'll be out some money and some time.

Also, A lot of the big retailers are very competitive lately (for example, I saw a home depot sign advertising $39 labor for a whole house of carpet installation yesterday) cause of the economic situation.

Be leery of Home Depot and their $39 install. It's for a more expensive line of carpets, so depending on the room and carpet, it might be cheaper to go with the $139 install instead of $39. I'm looking to have carpeting installed too and where I would've recommended HD several years ago--after they installed carpeting in another room--they're policies and procedures have changed and I no longer have a good impression of them. Friday they (their contractor which costs $35 and would go towards the install) came in and over-measured a simple room by 2 feet. I'm looking elsewhere. I'll consider Sears and any local contractor as well. Sounds like good advice to stick with one company to do everything.