2. misc-audio
  3. 152342-20253

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
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,695 posts
 
You can bet that there's good margin in it if Macy's (those whores) are in on it, even in the face of multiple hi profile competitors.
Full disclosure: I'm a bitter former employee.
chrshanl37
833 posts
 
My niece married a guy that sells Hastens mattresses in LA. I think they go for around 50 or 60k.
reubent
6,936 posts
 
The real money is in Legos.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,574 posts
 
Beds can be like audio in that there’s that markup to deal with but what goes for an audio deal can be done with beds.

Like my Kinki Studio EX-M1 integrated, my Nectar foam mattress is made in China. I researched the hell out of both of them and like the savings one gets with the Kinki, the Nectar set me back a mere $700 for a queen mattress.

Online reviews say it’s the closest thing to a Tempurpedic and I can attest to that since my sister got one a month before I got my Nectar. The best thing is, the Nectar comes with a lifetime warranty. Should I ever grow to hate it, they’ll come pick it up with a full refund, no questions asked.

I’ve never slept better and all it took was some good old fashioned gumshoe work, like I do with my audio purchases. And like with audio, some of the reviewers knocked the Nectar since it was made in China, so there’s that other aspect one can attribute to both: the xenophobia.

All the best,
Nonoise



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