Mattresses and the Dark Side: Update
The market, Ricochet member Scott Reusser told me, will solve the problem. To wit:
Here in the Cleveland area a local company, The Original Mattress Factory, is taking off by offering an alternative to the brand-name mattress racket. They offer a few basic choices, with cut-away comparisons with the brand-name equivalents. They eliminate the middle man, have set non-negotiable prices, and absolutely no "sales." People love it. Void filled. The market works.
My hopes soaring, I went yesterday to the website of the Original Mattress Factory. Just as Scott said, the company is intent on responding to the frustration consumers feel when they encounter the confusion--countless models, endless sales gimmicks, and just enough differences among products from one retailer to another to make price comparisons impossible--that the bedding industry intentionally inflicts on us. Instead of confusing consumers, the Original Mattress Factory strives to provide simple, straightforward information. And the copy on the website is a pleasure to read--David Ogilvy himself would approve. The problem? Although growing, the Original Mattress Factory still operates only in the East and Midwest. Out here in California, I'd have to place my order by telephone. But talking about mattresses with a sales assistant isn't the same as trying them out by showing up in person and making your way from one model to another, lying down on each. And--the catch--the Original Mattress Factory won't accept returns.
I'm a man. If I ordered the wrong mattress, I'd learn to live with it rather than admit I made a mistake. Mrs. Robinson, however, would look at the mattress in quite a different light.
The Original Mattress Factory, alas, is out. Stay tuned.
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Feb '10
Re: Mattresses and the Dark Side: Update
We fought the mattress industry's intentional confusion by buying our last mattress at Sam's Club. There was only one choice in the size we wanted. It's been just great. Say what you want about Wal-mart and Sam's Club (I sometimes have quibbles with them too), they do us a service when they manage to select the right product and offer it at a good price.
May '10
Re: Mattresses and the Dark Side: Update
It sounds to me, Peter, like you need to come up with an excuse to bring the missus on a vacation to Ohio ("The heart of it all"). It'd be fun when they tried to arrange delivery through their local guys and realized you live in CA!
I bought my bed from the Original Mattress Factory, and have been very happy with it. Alas, though I love Ohio I can't think of anything that would merit a trip from the west coast, unless your family loves rollercoasters.
May '10
Re: Mattresses and the Dark Side: Update
If the Mrs. can hold out another 3-5 yrs, I'm sure by then the market will solve the problem. But by then Obamacare will be complicating your new back problems.
May '10
Re: Mattresses and the Dark Side: Update
We now add The Original Mattress Factory to Apple as the commercial companies that have now succeeded, via their spies here, in getting product placements on Ricochet.
We now await news of Peter's visit to the Sleep Number store. If he handles it right, they'll give him a free test mattress for a month in exchange for doing a coupl4 of commercials on Uncommon Knowledge. Sir James can provide the phone number.
May '10
Re: Mattresses and the Dark Side: Update
"Coupl4": Perfect illustration of why we need the ability to edit posts to fix spelling....
May '10
Re: Mattresses and the Dark Side: Update
I thought that was some hip take on "couple-three" 'til I glanced at the keyboard and noticed a more likely explanation.
And, Duane, that picture: Is that you deep in the birth canal? If so, you had a marvelous head of hair even then.
May '10
Re: Mattresses and the Dark Side: Update
Peter,
Why go to Ohio, when you can go to China? This ad came up when it was reading this thread:
http://www.wzlongheng.cn/product-4004/Massage-Latex-Mattress.html?gclid=CMy7y9r85KICFQy0bwodeXy0Pw
May '10
Re: Mattresses and the Dark Side: Update
Scott Reusser
I thought that was some hip take on "couple-three" 'til I glanced at the keyboard and noticed a more likely explanation.
And, Duane, that picture: Is that you deep in the birth canal? If so, you had a marvelous head of hair even then. · Jul 11 at 7:25pm
It is the Viet Cong tunnel at Cu Chi, from last month when I was consorting with the Enemy. But notice my beautiful knees, even at my advanced age..... (you have to click the picture to see it a bit larger, or go look at my FB page)
May '10
Re: Mattresses and the Dark Side: Update
Finally we learn where Peter got his inspiration for the mattress search:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/07/12/obama_economy_sends_americans_to_their_mattresses_106263.html