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Tell HN: How we bootstrapped to the #1 rated mattress on Amazon.com

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Re: Tell HN: How we bootstrapped to the #1 rated mattress on Amazon.com

#101

Post by johmas »

SeanKilleen wrote: post #97

I'm very interested in this mattress and we're in the market. However, I'm concerned about the 5-year warranty, as I thought it would be acceptable to expect a little more. Is that standard for foam beds, how do you differ from competitors in this regard, and can you explain why/how you chose a 5-year warranty model?

The primary difference is that our warranty doesn't pro-rate. When you see a 10-25 year warranty, those aren't true warranties in our opinion. They depreciate the credit you'll get each year and have very strict requirements (no marks on the bed, sagging must be more than 1" deep, etc). So we offer 5 years for any kind of defect and just do an exchange. We expect it to last longer than that but 5 years is the point we feel most comfortable at currently, being a new company.

Re: Tell HN: How we bootstrapped to the #1 rated mattress on Amazon.com

#102

Post by beachstartup »

bernardom wrote: post #78

Hi guys, Love the idea, quick point of feedback: it is unclear, from a cursory glance, whether your prices refer to bed or bed+mattress. The floor vs. frame view is great, but the price doesn't change- so are you just selling a mattress? Should you say mattress instead? Are you calling a "bed" a mattress and the rest is a "frame?" (Not being a jerk, actually confused!)

i experienced the same confusion.

Re: Tell HN: How we bootstrapped to the #1 rated mattress on Amazon.com

#103

Post by daehee »

seiji wrote: post #77

Since there are a lot of generic mattress questions in this thread, start here: http://www.themattressunderground.com/mattress-forum/ They've coved every question and every scenario imaginable from people (typically the forum-runner) who have researched these things for years.

Agreed. The MU forum may not be the prettiest design to look at, but it's run by an honest advocate of the industry and there are many mattress professionals active to answer technical questions.

Re: Tell HN: How we bootstrapped to the #1 rated mattress on Amazon.com

#104

Post by johmas »

byjess wrote: post #92

Well... Tuft and Needle is rediculous name for a mattress company. But congrats to your success. Also, please switch up your renders for actual photos. The renders are quite obvious and feel deceptive.

Thank you for the feedback on the name. We came up with it while we were tufting our first few prototypes. We were using these huge needles called tufting needles.

I agree with you on the renderings. We've gone through 3 photographers and have spent so much money on it and the results just weren't that great. So we had to be a little resourceful and use 3D renderings. This gave us the flexibility to capture what the product looked like and to iterate on the environment and lighting quickly. We'll add more photos for sure as we're able.

Re: Tell HN: How we bootstrapped to the #1 rated mattress on Amazon.com

#106

Post by johmas »

BIackSwan wrote: post #48

Have been looking to buy a new one for a while and this looks to be a great find (on HN of all the places!). Would love to have a recommendation for an affordable(!) good looking bed frame on the site while you guys build the replacement.

We've heard customers like West Elm frames: http://www.westelm.com/shop/furniture/headboards-bed-frames/...

Our current frame is just a prototype but is something we'd like to make in the future.

Re: Tell HN: How we bootstrapped to the #1 rated mattress on Amazon.com

#107

Post by johmas »

Echo117 wrote: post #69

I've had the Sleep Innovations mattress on my list to buy for a while ( http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Innovations-SureTemp-Mattress-Wa... ). Any differences between the two that you'd like to highlight or comment on?

I haven't slept on it personally but generally customers really like our comfort and feel.

* We also work really hard to provide good customer service and policies.

* Easy returns, helping you find a place to recycle your old beds a warranty that doesn't pro-rate and require you to jump through hoops to qualify for.

* All of our materials are made here in the states.

* We're a small team, I think those guys are pretty huge. They supply to Costco and other stores.

Either way, it's mostly about what the perfect fit is for you. Our bed won't be the best fit for everyone and we honestly would rather help customers find what they are looking for.

I can elaborate more and answer more questions offline if you'd like. My direct line is jt at tuftandneedle

Re: Tell HN: How we bootstrapped to the #1 rated mattress on Amazon.com

#108

Post by interstitial »

mpermar wrote: post #85
codegeek wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"well you guys also have margins too." of course. How can a business succeed without any margins ? The point they are making is that the margins are ridiculously high that these stores charge. They are claiming to reduce those margins. "Here is how a cheap mattress is marked up" I browsed through their website. They don't claim to be a luxury mattress and their point is more about a reasonable mattress for a reasonab…

You're right, I also thought after having posted it that I was too harsh. I think it was due to the fact that I partially live this business on a daily basis and found some of the facts not trustful. Specially bearing in mind the product being sold is closer to a mat than to a reasonable mattress. I think that harshness prevented me from making clear the two points I was trying to make: 1. A warn that everything has…

I guess I'm in the minority, the website strikes me as templatey and filled with millennial narcissistic fluff (the same bogus fluff of Kickstaters with it's endless no one thought of this until we did). The amazon reviews are far more persuasive.

Re: Tell HN: How we bootstrapped to the #1 rated mattress on Amazon.com

#110

Post by Istof »

timjahn wrote: post #17
tootie wrote: post #5

Now I'm curious about the mattress industry. I have always wondered why mattresses need salesmen and dedicated stores.

Stores, I'd argue to physically try the mattress. Salesmen, absolutely no reason.

Salesmen get a 10% commission on mattresses at Sears for example, so they have an incentive to push you to buy right away.
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