On the very next day after the Velvet Revolver gig I visited the Carpex and Windex show at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry.

It was not as big as The Cleaning Show in Birmingham last year but was more specialized. Exactly what I need!

Placed an order for 2 new carpet cleaning machines and will booked a demo for another one next week. Great job at the exhibitions!

I noticed the Alltec guys had hired that bird with the plastic tits again.  Strange choice…

On 26/03/2008 I was at the Velvet Revolver gig at Brixton Academy. Awesome show.

What’s more important I met Slash and the rest of the band! Slash signed my Slash Signature Les Paul and got photographed with him and the guitar! Nice!

I have never been to the Brixton Academy before but it is the best concert venue I have been to so far.

Velvet Revolver’s gig in Brixton Academy is round the corner. I am so excited! I will get to meet Slash backstage, shake his hand, get a picture with him, a few picks, a quick chat. If I am lucky I will get my Les Paul Slash signature signed by the man.

Another carpet cleaning machine stopped working today.

Another expensive repair. But this is life and it is beautiful. Just look around yourselves!

I few days ago I watched a video on YouTube about a carpet cleaning scam in the States. Carpet cleaning companies were  leafletting residential  homes with  cheap offers of $9.95 a room. Well, here comes the good part of the test. NBC Action News reporters  hid cameras in a house and started calling the numbers on the leaflets inviting 4 carpet cleaners to come and quote for the cleaning of 2 rooms.

All carpet cleaning companies, apart from one (don’t forget that they all advertised their services at $9.95 per room), quoted prices much higher that $9.95 per room. Prices varied between $60.00 - $385.00!!!

When asked why they quoted more than $9.95 per room their explanation was that cheap price was for basic carpet cleaning only! However they did not explain what a basic clean was. Hmm… Strange.

Similar scams are being run in the UK. Have you seen the “half price”, “for 2 weeks only in your area” carpet cleaning leaflets (they all seem to look one and the same, don’t they) charging £9.99 per room or a whole 3 bed house fo £39.99? Same thing. When you call the “carpet cleaners” they will either quote a significantly higher price (the normal price for that job :-)) or just wet your carpets with pure water going through the whole house for under 20 minutes. When asked why the difference in the price the answer is : this is the price for a basic clean with water only or you have pets and it makes it more difficult or some other ridiculous excuse.

Be careful who let in your home to clean your valuable carpets and upholstery. I have heard stories much worse than the average overpricing. Some of those “carpet cleaners” are not carpet cleaners at all but con artists who make a living stealing, deceiving and blackmailing people.  My advice is to call a reputable carpet cleaning company member of the National Carpet Cleaners Association. If in doubt (some companies tend to use the NCCA logo without being members at all) call the NCCA or visit their website www.ncca.co.uk.

More information can be found in Anyclean’s consumer guide.