Mattresses, not stereos is where the money is


On my way to Macy’s, to buy a bed, which is about 6 blocks from my office, I passed by literally 6 different mattress stores. 3 of them practically on the same block.

The competition is fierce, and it seems almost all of them were selling Tempurpedic and Sealy (which I think are owned by the same company.) They even had at least one paid sign holder with a sign directing you 1 block away to another store.

Think of that. 6 stores selling $500-$4500 goods, in a Los Angeles suburb. They are all paying rent, and staying open.

I know the average retail markup for stereo gear is around 45%. What must the mark up be for mattress stores to stay open with this much competition? 90%?

I still went to Macy’s. :) Two simultaneous discounts + a modular bed system with replaceable coils sang to my geek heart.

By comparison, the nearest high end audio store is about 30 minutes away.
erik_squires

Showing 7 responses by glupson

"... I prefer a Futon on a super stiff frame."


As a friend of mine told another female friend of ours when she was asking how come she could not keep a steady boyfriend: Your futon screams "one-night stand".

So what did she do? She bought one night-stand. Some people you just cannot help.
"...you have to occasionally flip, but they are very heavy..."
This does not seem like an advertisement, for sure.
"Well, I am buying the coldest feeling memory-foam mattress I can find!"
Just send it to a cryo lab. "Nothing improves the bottom (line) like liquid nitrogen wash."
(old mattress manufacturer’s saying)

You can try geoffkait’s approach with home freezer, too.


"At least you didn't fall for a Tempurpedic."
Even more importantly, he did not fall off a Tempurpedic.
How big is the mattress warehouse? All the stores I saw are relatively small.

By the way, there are electronics (and home appliance) stores that expanded their portfolio to....mattresses. No kidding. Try PC Richards in the Northeastern U.S.A.
"If I find it is too firm or too soft they will send me different coils to put in.
Who would have guessed there is a DIY mattress market, too?