Lumber Liquidators Review: Is the Upstart Flooring Retailer Still Good Anymore?

Lumber Liquidators is no longer the "hot insider secret" they were of just ten years ago. Prices are now more in line with other flooring outlets (but at least not more expensive). Product quality is a perennial problem. But Lumber Liquidators, for all its issues, is still the "go to" place when you are serious about hardwood, engineered, and laminate flooring--without being bothered by pesky salespeople.

Ah, those salad days of the turn of the millennium! In those late Clinton/early Bush days, it was possible to slip quietly away on a Sunday to an undisclosed location in a light industrial area...and discover flooring gold.

It was called Lumber Liquidators, and few people knew about it. For those in the flooring intelligentsia, Lumber Liquidators was a secret to be guarded: low prices, no-nonsense service, nice selection, and low prices (wait, did we mention that already?).

Now, alas, Lumber Liquidators has fallen. It is big, with over 150 locations across the U.S. It has Ty Pennington and Bob Vila as spokesmen. It sponsors a racing team.

I give a healthy Bronx cheer to Bob Vila and Ty Pennington and the Lumber Liquidators NASCAR Racing Team. Why? Because guess who is subsidizing all of that garbage? You are, Mr. and Ms. Consumer.

Prices have remained reasonable at Lumber Liquidators, but they are nothing to write home about, that's for sure. The perfunctory service is still in place (in my mind, minimal customer service is not necessarily a bad thing, but that's just me). And it's all over the figurative map now, with hardwood, engineered, laminate, bamboo, and cork. What's next? Sheet vinyl? Ceramic tile? I hope not.

If you live near a Lumber Liquidators, it certainly is worth a look. Having your flooring shipped or even delivered locally will push the prices up, but if you can haul it yourself you're in for true discount flooring. Lumber Liquidators will not install your flooring. It should be noted that most flooring retailers do not. Instead, Lumber Liquidators has a list of "preferred" installers you can call (similar to the way other retailers do it).