I've been working on this car now for a couple of years. I'm a one man band and a working stiff. I take my time and try to do it right, and economical.

A few years ago, when I knew I was taking on this project, I began collecting the parts. I got a new carpet kit from Mid America Motorworks.

I began installing this carpet last month.

It looked great. Cut pile, formed, correct silver color for an 81.



Being somewhat **** about this build, I restored and redid the storage battery box frame, tops, etc. To include the carpet from the kit.



Well, today I completed working on one of the consol side panels. I am not using the carpet, but rather made new ones and covered those in leather to match the new seats.

Afterward, I began cleaning up and vacuuming the dust from the floor of the car and the new carpet in the cargo area. This is not some super sucker vacuum, just a normal everyday vacuum.

Suddenly, to my horror, tufts of carpet were being sucked up into the vacuum.



I stopped vacuuming and got down for a closer look. I could take my fingers and just pluck tufts of carpet. I figured I would continue and see how bad it was.

It's bad....very bad. Starts out with a little tuft, then as you vacuum it just sucks up the carpet.



I thought I might cut out a bad part, and try to repair it......



Repairing this is a laughable proposition. The carpet is total garbage.

I am frustrated and mad tonight. Carpet cost over 300.00 and I would have been better off going to Lowes.

This is a picture of the piece I cut out. Total junk.



Now I have to get new carpet, do not know where to turn or who to trust this time.

Two steps forward.......8 steps back. Story of this project.

 

Contact Mid America . you may find them willing to help , or put a cargo mat in back until your less frustrated and tackle it again . I feel for ya .. I so get the steps forward and then back steping

 

You have some defective carpet, unless..... you had the new stuff open to sunlight (some areas) and the UV did some damage to it. Otherwise, I would say that the adhesive they used was not right or not mixed properly. There is NO reason that a shop vac should pull carpet knap out of the backing material. The supplier should replace the carpet at a minimum. Hopefully, the rest of the carpet is not in the same condition.

P.S. If they try to tell you it's been too long since you bought it, ask them how long their carpet should stay intact. I can't image any vendor who had any ethics telling you they would not make it right.

 

Anyone I have talked to that replaced their carpet said it was a PITA. A lot of trimming and fitting. I decided to buy bulk cut pile automotive carpet and make my own. I made patterns from heavy brown paper then cut the carpet and sewed poly banding on it with red thread and glued the sections down with high temp spray trim adhesive. I used a 3/8" foam padding glued over dynamat under the carpet. Made for a nice street rod custom look instead of the molded factory carpet.

 

I didn't take it out of the box until last month. Was in storage, in the box, in my shed with the other parts. No water, no sun, up off the floor.

The shipping documents and bill of sale are still in the clear plastic document protector atttached to the box.

May try calling tomorrow and see if they will help make good on this.

 

I like how close your carpet fits. I'm not a restoration nut, and the car is way past that. Too custom.

My only problem is that I have no way to sew the banding on.

 

Commander,
It sounds like you have the same cloud over your head as me..

I would call them and ask for the owner or dept. head so your not repeating yourself to several people..And just tell him straight up what the issue is. Ask for his email and send him the photos and ask him what can be done about this..Let him know the exhausting hours of labor you have into this and that upon completion when you were vacuming this disaster appeared....
My instinct tells me you are not the only one this has happened to..I bet there was a big batch of them...He will be able to send it back to the Manufacturer...And should, its his reputation as a rep for the carpet manufacturer that is on the line..These kind of issues can put a man out of work real quick and Im willing he will want to get to the bottom it...
Unless something extreme happened to the carpet, it shouldnt do this..vehicle carpets are suppose to meet certain standard and are also resistant to spills, sun rays, stains etc...He will know this as an owner and a rep..
I would also mention that you were on the corvette forum doing some investigation of any other occurances or carpet issues..This will tell him quietly tell him he has publicity of this subject!! And not the kind an owner wants either...
In all, be courteous and honest and I feel he will take care of you about the carpet.. Its a shame though you completed the project and then found this defect!!! Well look at the bright side, maybe if the other area arnt as bad make yourself some kickass floor mats or a summer/winter set!! maybe a carpeted speaker box!!!
Let us know what the verdict is...Good Luck
J

 

Hi C,
I agree that this looks like a problem with the manufacture of the carpet material itself.
I would hope that when you approach MAM they are willing to send you new carpet for the areas that you presently can't use.
Maybe ALL new carpet since I guess it's possible that what you have will deteriorate in the future even if it isn't at the present.
IF you need to consider a new supplier think about Al Knock. BUT, I'd certainly hope this problem doesn't/shouldn't get to that point.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

 

Nice job!! But I've done mine and I find it hard to believe that what you did was less work than installing a reproduction carpet set.

 

It should all be replaced (Imo)..Theres no doubt the front and rear are from the same lot! What a bummer man !!!
J

 

Commander 47,

We will absolutely replace this carpet for you! I have never seen anything like this before and definitely want to work with you to get the issue resolved. Can you please reply or private message your customer # or order # or even just your name and a phone number so we can contact you to correct the problem. Or email the information here: kelsey.rhoney@mamotorworks.com.

We are so sorry for any inconvenience this has caused you!

Thanks for your understanding,
Kelsey

 

See.....now THERE'S a great vendor....

 

No, this is a GOOD vendor. A GREAT vendor would not have sold this stuff in the first place. I understand that vendor's can't control everything that their suppliers do; but, they should spot-check their products every now and then...and also have a penalty clause that demands more than just the base cost of the product when faulty stuff they produced is returned by a customer.

But, it is interesting about how the mind of an American customer works. If we buy a product that NEVER presents any problems, we tend to feel "good" about that vendor. But, if we do have product problems...and the vendor replaces it or repairs it in a timely manner...we think better of them than the ones without fault!! Go figure....

[This oddity has been found true in actual studies of customers and their perceptions.]

 

There ya go. Can't beat that for customer service.

 

"Great" in my book because this sale was from years ago and they still stood behind it.

 

While I still think that MA is doing a stand-up job of doing the right thing, I definitely agree with you on that point.

 

Yep good job to M/A .. I had said in the first post contact them because i new it was likely they would help out.

 

I have to respectfully disagree. If you expect to never have a problem, you're asking way too much. That's just not reasonable. The reasonable standard is to judge the guy on how he handles the problems when they do arise. Because they will.

 

So you feel a vendor should open each and every package that is ever shipped to them and verify that the product is good before re-selling to a customer? Do you have any idea how much labor that would involve and how much higher prices would be if a business paid someone to do that? In reality the manufacturer of the carpet should catch this flaw not a re-selling agent. Regardless of that it is GREAT of Mid America to be taking care of this problem and I commend them for that. You may not think it but there are vendors who would tell you to pound sand if you wanted to exchange or send something back that long after it was purchased. Try returning something to Wal-mart more than a month of two after you bought it. What your saying is the same as saying someone at Walmart should open each toy, each video game, each fishing lure, each etc. etc. etc. to verify that it is in good shape before putting it on the shelves. That would drive prices sky high and no one would ever buy the products.

 

Today is a great day.

Mid America isn't just a great vendor, they are a superlative vendor. Kelsey and Michelle went far and above the call of duty to make this right.

Not only am I getting a new carpet set, but they are sending a return postage label for the old carpet so they can inspect it.

This was purchased for me years ago. I did not expect any assistance at all. When I posted to the forum Saturday night it was out of frustration. Better than kicking the walls.

MA sought ME out. They were adament about making this right and finding out why the carpet is bad.

I'm not one of those guys that ever wins the drawing, or gets the lucky break, but today I did. And it is because of MA.

And I can't forget to mention the forum. If it wasn't for the forum, this whole car wouldn't be getting built.

It seems to me that most vendors probably get product from the same sources. It is the customer service that does make the difference.

On Sunday I had decided to just bite the bullet and get a new carpet set. I took advantage of the sale going on with Willcox. On Monday when MA said they wanted to help, I called Willcox to cancel the order. You know, it's a pretty good feeling when the big boss answers the phone and helps you.

Customer Service