Will Amazon Continue To Sell Pergo And Other Flooring Brands in 2011?

Over the years I have had great experience buying various small items from Amazon and I am sure they probably sell tons of home improvement items, just like the big boxes stores do. But, when I first saw Amazon starting to sell flooring direct, back in 2009, I really wondered "Do they know what they are getting into?". I was even more amazed to see them selling samples. (Especially at $11-$13 per sample!!).


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Based on what I see on their website, selling Pergo and BHK Flooring direct doesn't appear to be doing very well. Some of the colors of laminate flooring that they are out of stock on state: "We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock." Also, the customer reviews talk about Fedex damaging the boxes in shipping. As one reviewer stated: "I would not recommend buying flooring from a supplier (Amazon) that does not have experience shipping such items." So will Amazon continue selling Pergo direct from Amazon in 2011? (Meaning, Shipped and Sold by Amazon) I personally doubt it. Time will tell if I am right or not.

Even though it seems the low-end laminates are getting cheaper and cheaper the shipping and handling will always be a major issue. Sure there will be those 3rd party affiliates who will continue to promote their flooring products through the big e-retailers, like Amazon. But they will always be a very, very small percentage of the overall floor covering business and every bad consumer experience will also take its toll on the flooring manufacturer's brand reputation, regardless if it is their fault or not.