Incidentally, $120 for a frame from Warby Parker (which is only "a couple of pieces of plastic and metal") is still too high IMO.
We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses
71–80 of 173 posts
Re: We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses
#72Having worked for one of the major mattress firms, there are truths in the article, but also some serious mistakes. The pricing structure, where they hide the models by using different names across retailers, is 100% true. They absolutely do that to prevent price shopping. The markup math is off. Mattresses are a high margin business, but most of those mattresses you see in specialty retailers are not built until som…
A used mattress is worth about the same as a used pair of underwear. This has nothing to do with custom options.
Re: We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses
#73The core problems of the mattress industry (which are not present in eyeglasses industry) are the high costs of shipping and expensive warehouse costs.
Given these, Bed In A Box (http://www.bedinabox.com/) started with what seemed like it could be a potentially disruptive business model. They make-to-order mattresses (will even make custom sizes) and ship Tempurpedic-like memory foam mattresses directly to you via UPS. They suck all the air out of the mattresses so the boxes they come in are reasonably sized. Inside the box, there's a backpack-style sack which makes the mattress easier to carry. I hauled a Queen-sized mattress up four flights of stairs easily.
I've purchased two mattresses through them and they are high quality and extremely comfortable. The first purchase they were easily 50% the cost of any quality mattress I could find elsewhere (including Costco, Sams Club, etc.), especially if you factored in the cost of delivery. I was surprised that when I went to buy another mattress from them their prices were markedly higher.
I wonder if consumers were concerned that the low prices indicated low quality (not the case in my experience) or if they were unable to get the volume to sustain a low margin, high velocity business.
Re: We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses
#74Incidentally, $120 for a frame from Warby Parker (which is only "a couple of pieces of plastic and metal") is still too high IMO.
They also include prescription lenses as well.
Re: We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses
#75There are all sorts of outlets for reasonably priced, what you see is what you get mattresses: Sam's Club. Costco. Ikea. You can get a decent name brand mainstream mattress for ~$500. The problem with mattresses is that it's a product where you need a salesman. There's a bunch of different products that look similar, but have significant differences. You want to match the customer with what they want (or tell them wh…
"There are all sorts of outlets for reasonably priced, what you see is what you get mattresses: Sam's Club. Costco. Ikea. You can get a decent name brand mainstream mattress for ~$500." I hear you, but who says that $500 is a reasonable price for a mattress? I'm sorry, but looking at the raw materials involved (don't even get me started on the frickin foam ones that don't even have springs: I'm looking at you Tempurp…
moving parts != comfort, which is paramount when it comes to mattresses. For me (and a lot of people I know), having springs is actually an issue. The springs wear off, the mattress begins to sag and not to mention the back aches. So its not as simple as -- simple foam mattresses should cost lower just because they have less raw materials than a spring coil one.
Re: We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses
#76Someone should do a Warby Parker for Wheelchairs.
Filed under the "to do" section :) .
More seriously, there are tons of niches that are underserved by the HN crowd and that need some disruption.
Patio11's talk has inspired me a lot:
http://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/03/26/software-for-underserved...
Re: We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses
#77I'm not sure if you can count this as a startup, but I bought my King-sized Sleep Innovations (memory foam) mattress with Amazon Prime for $530. And if I wanted the less-think 10" one, it would be $400. http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Innovations-12-inch-Memory-Mattr... The damn thing was ~100lbs in a giant box, and I got it shipped to me free. It's super comfortable and well worth the money - remember you sleep for like…
I got my last mattress from Silver State Industries (nevada prison manufacturing) for under $500 (Cal King). It is more comfortable than the Serta that I had originally spent around $1,500 on.
I think I'd find the guilt of knowing my mattress was made by slave labor to be a heavier price than the $1k in savings.
Re: We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses
#78Having worked for one of the major mattress firms, there are truths in the article, but also some serious mistakes. The pricing structure, where they hide the models by using different names across retailers, is 100% true. They absolutely do that to prevent price shopping. The markup math is off. Mattresses are a high margin business, but most of those mattresses you see in specialty retailers are not built until som…
What happens in a specialty high-end mattress store has very little to do with the bulk of the market: people buying mattresses at Macy's or one of the numerous regional mattress chains. I don't have any experience in the super-high-end, but have worked with the low-middle-high end that you get going to a "mattress store". Those models are definitely not built-to-order, they're sitting in a warehouse waiting to be delivered, even the $4k+ ones that are trying to compete with the custom shops. For the bulk of mattresses the margins mentioned in the article are conservative.
What you're absolutely correct on, however, is that the cost of building a mattress doesn't represent the cost of running a mattress business.
However, that's exactly what makes it ripe for disruption: streamline the rest of the business model and loot the manufacturing margins.
Re: We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses
#79I bought a keetsa mattress years ago and love it. The op bought one too. It seems like the best thing to do here would be to just continue to support keetsa as they really are doing a good job on pretty much all angles. Keetsa is the Warby Parker here.
+1 on Keetsa. Love the memory foam mattress. After a full day of coding/work I love coming back to this mattress.
Re: We Need a Warby Parker for Mattresses
#80Earlier quoted context omitted.
No. There shouldn't be a Warby Parker for Diamonds. Sure there are services like BlueNile etc but they're nothing like a Warby Parker for Diamonds. Diamonds are bought, not because of what they are but what they represent . The whole point of diamonds is to capitalise on what they're representing rather than their actual worth. Their value is created through the likes of "diamonds are a girl's best friend" which is w…
True but actually less significant than you think. With the caveat that the diamond should not be insignificantly expensive the reactions to engagement rings fall into one of two categories a) the girl is a "nice girl" and is more than happy that the finacee got a ring that was even better valuable (I've one singaporian friend that actually had her fiancee take his ring back and buy another one from singapore - not b…
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