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We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses

priceonomics.com

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Re: We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses

#3
Like any startup idea, there will be objections. Shipping mattresses is expensive, people want to lie on them first, mattresses require research and development spending to develop, a mattress purchase only happens once a decade, etc. All these objections might be right, but they all sound surmountable.

They might be surmountable, but that doesn't make this a better opportunity than a lot of the other opportunities out there, especially for a startup. The costs involved with disrupting the mattress industry as a manufacturer AND retailer are better left to a larger company. Like IKEA, as the article itself pointed out.

Re: We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses

#4

FWIW, Warby Parker was not the first web-based retailer to undercut traditional eyewear sales, nor are they the cheapest. They do seem to have the best PR, though.

They also have by far the best customer experience. Their website is fantastic and fulfillment is lightning-fast, neither of which can be said about the competitors that I've tried (framesdirect.com, zennioptical.com, glasses.com, 39dollarglasses). It's not just PR.

Unfortunately, their range of styles is still very narrow, which is presumably dependent on their manufacturing capabilities.

Re: We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses

#5

FWIW, Warby Parker was not the first web-based retailer to undercut traditional eyewear sales, nor are they the cheapest. They do seem to have the best PR, though.

Excuse my ignorance, I haven't even heard about Warby Parker until this article. How long have they been around (my quick Google searches have failed me)?

I have heard of ClearlyContacts.ca (I am Canadian), is Warby Parker comparable?

Re: We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses

#7
When I bought my last mattress, it was a relatively painless experience, and the cost was incredibly reasonable (considering a rough estimate of what the manufacture labor might have cost).

What kind of mattresses are people buying, and what sort of retailers are they going to, where this seems like an immensely extortionist industry?

Re: We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses

#8

FWIW, Warby Parker was not the first web-based retailer to undercut traditional eyewear sales, nor are they the cheapest. They do seem to have the best PR, though.

Excuse my ignorance, I haven't even heard about Warby Parker until this article. How long have they been around (my quick Google searches have failed me)? I have heard of ClearlyContacts.ca (I am Canadian), is Warby Parker comparable?

http://www.hnsearch.com/search#request/all&q=warby
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