I was recently called out by one of our readers concerning a comment I made on my website stating: “You won’t find the brand names here – just call and ask us why!” The gentlemen went on to make some critically valid points and asked, “Instead of making people call you so you can ask those questions and force them to listen to a sales pitch, why not just put the reason out on your web page? Why don’t you have them, is it because your beds are better than the big name brands?”
Great questions Richard! I guess when I wrote that I was in an old school mindset. So here you go, no sales pitch, no BS. Enjoy!
Experience Has Taught Me Many Things
Since first selling mattress and box spring sets in 1993, my business and business strategies have radically changed. I have been fortunate to have sold the most well-known brands including Tempurpedic, Sealy, Serta, and even Simmons. While working as an employee for Sleep Station here in St. Louis and also running my own business here in Arnold, MO, I witnessed the power branding. Branding is having a recognizable brand name that people are familiar with and trust that makes the buying process a more trustworthy one. Like most smart business owners at that time, I to jumped head first onto the brand name band wagon to claim my share of the mattress marketing gold.
I chose the trademarked brands Simmons and Tempurpedic, as I felt they had the most to offer compared to the others through truly unique feels, incomparable comfort and a support story that was different from all the others. Long story short, the business marriage of STL Beds and Simmons /Tempurpedic ended in divorce, and below are a few of the reasons for disassociating our company with theirs.
The No Bullshit Reason Why I Do Not Sell Brand Name Mattresses
Loyalty – Money, money, money. Small stores like STL Beds typically have to pay for their floor models which seems fair until you see how it works with bigger, higher dollar retail stores. Brand names often wield their power by buying their way onto the showroom floors of big retailers. They do this by giving dealers expensive displays, point of purchase and marketing materials, even complete the retailers selection of floor models to be used for customer demonstration and selling. This is especially true when the mattress retail store commits their store to brand exclusivity. In addition, many brand name manufacturers up the ante by paying cold hard cash to the retailer for their brand’s placement and exclusivity within the company showrooms.
The Little Things
When we conducted business with Simmons, we fought them over every problem and for every penny. Unfortunately, at that time our little company wielded very little power or cash to leverage such deals. Instead, we utilized a small mattress competitor of the big brand names, Campbell Mattress, that offered more for our business and customers while doing it for less. They were a small manufacturer, but they were responsive. One example of their mom and pop service came when I had forgotten to tie a mattress set into a pickup truck for a local delivery we did and it blew out of the back and was badly damaged. I merely mentioned the story to my sales representative and, without hesitation, she insisted on sending us a replacement at no charge. I couldn’t imagine Simmons doing that. As a matter of fact, I am sure that they wouldn’t after the way they fought us over the tiniest of smudges or marks that were found during simple warranty inspections. A replacement at no charge would have been a pipe dream.
Expensive
There is extra expense associated with brand names. After all, someone ultimately pays for all that branding and brand name recognition. Do you know who? The consumer of course.
Mattress Monopoly
Over the last 20 plus years, companies like Sealy, Stearns & Foster, Serta, Simmons, and Tempurpedic were independent giants competing against one another within the huge mattress industry. Today, bank and investment group buyouts among them have created something so enormous, so big and powerful that mergers among the once 5 giant companies are simply 2 unmatchable Goliaths. This has created 2 huge corporations which not only control the industry but have no significant competition to stand and compete effectively against them.
Nearly total domination by two companies.
The first is TempurPedic and Sealy which are estimated to control 65 percent of the U.S. mattress market as of 2011. Serta and Simmons are the other giant. Simmons ranked in third place among U.S. mattress manufacturers and is said to own around 15 percent market share according to Furniture Today and Wikipedia. Serta, Simmon’s sister company, also claimed a 15.7 percent share and over 30% when combined with Serta. When these two Goliaths are viewed in their totality, it has become very concerning. Questions have been raised by the F.T.C. and others whether their business structure is anti-competitive.
Poor Quality
Mattresses are not built like they used to be. Picking one up, a shopper should immediately notice the difference and should be concerned. Why? Because weight is a reliable factor to help determine mattress quality. Higher density foam holds less air while resisting compression and softening, and wears better overall. Another fact is that, while coil counts in mattresses may be increasing (a marketing gimmick), the actual amount of steel used to build the bed has decreased.
A brand name does not guarantee a quality product. However, what’s inside your bed does, and quality construction materials matter making this the best way to determine if you are getting a quality mattress
Two Sided Mattress are Obsolete
An industry trend started to take place in 2000 when Simmons led the way of building their mattresses in a one sided fashion. 1-sided mattresses cannot be flipped, and many believe that the trend of thicker fluffy mattress that can’t be turned over is “the” primary reason for shortened mattress life and body impressions. It is also believed that shifting to a one sided building design dramatically cuts costs for the big S Brands and increases profits for their shareholders.
High Warranty Claims
Simply conduct a Google search for “Warranty Problems with (Insert Brand Name Here).” Also research websites like: The Mattress Underground, What’s The Best Mattress, and Sleep Like The Dead, and Consumer Reports. Were not even going to waste our time writing on this topic.
The Name Game
Possibly the most frustrating issue for consumers when shopping for a new mattress is the ability to find the same mattress with the same name at a competing store. We wrote an article on this topic explaining how comparable products made by the mattress builder are designed with different names, colors, and fabrics while other parts remain identical allowing the retailer to avoid comparison shopping and price matching by claiming that theirs is different.
Tempurpedic
Just a quick story about Tempurpedic will sum up our experience with this company. After setting up several sales training meetings only to have no-shows and no cancellation calls, we managed to learn as much as we could. Ultimately frustrated with them, we dropped the mattress line. For over two years they continued to refer to us as an Authorized Tempurpedic Dealer. They were so out of touch with us they didn’t know or care that we no longer displayed their products. Of course, we shared our story of poor customer service and many opted to purchase a competing mattress that we offered.
Select Comfort
Founded in 1987, Select Comfort spent $101 million on measured media in 2004. The budgets and their competitors budgets are a nightmare. Money talks, but it doesn’t talk to me or my company and we are not being bought. The question now is, can you be bought?
sorry, i am not very good at understanding this!! 🙂 i want one bed that will fit two matresses because my dad is disabled and can not sleep on the same mattress as my mum but they like to sleep together!!
can you help me please as to what i should do.
thank you 🙂
g
Georgia, Your question has confused me. The topic is “Why We Don’t Sell “Brand Name Mattresses” I think we can help you but have a few additional questions to narrow down possible options. Please give us a call at the toll free number at the top of the page. Doug
Georgia and Douglas,
If this is of any help I do believe the terminology was the cause of the confusion. It’s very common (as you know Douglas) for terminology to be an issue in expressing desires. Please pardon me for the intrusion, but I believe I can be of help.
Georgia, I think you are searching for a mattress of two different types that meet the needs of your family members. The question attached to this post may have been a mistake however, the answer (to me at least) seems to be simple. No phone call needed. Mattresses (referring to the top softer layer of a set) and a box spring referring to the bottom layer that is most often identified by its composition (wood frame). Split mattresses are available, most commonly found in a King size. The box spring for most (if not all) King size mattresses is also a split size. Meaning two independent pieces (top and bottom). I have also seen this option in queen size mattresses. The customization usually comes in choosing a suitable mattress for each of the sleeping partners. Some very portable frame options also double as a box spring of sorts. (Eliminating the need for the bottom components I just mentioned.) Adjustable platforms are also on the market which also can replace a box spring and often offer the ability to raise and lower the head and/or foot of the bed.
I hope this helps! No offense intended! I was trained by multiple mattress manufacturers (a long time ago) and I couldn’t resist trying to contribute a potentially helpful answer!
Douglas, your website is great and I commend you for it! If you ever find yourself in need of any mundane assistance maintaining your website or simply editing it’s existing content for grammatical errors, please feel free to contact me! I’ve been a fan of your selfless contribution to the education of consumers for awhile now.
What is the best firm 9″ mattress you can suggest for queen pencil post bed?
Madeline, If you are using the mattress under an adult couple everyday I am not going to suggest a 9″ thick mattress these days. Generically most are not built with much quality, durability, comfort, or support in mind. If height is an issue consider premium mattresses that are thicker and use a low profile boxspring to solve issues concerning beds that are too tall. You did not include any details why you wanted a 9″ mattress so I assumed the problem was height of the bed. Hope this gets you in the right direction. Doug
My mother is 87 years old and 4’10” tall. She owns a Lillian Russell bed and needs a new mattress that will lower the height of the bed. If she uses a lower profile box springs then the wooden side rail are in the way of the low profile and changing the sheets are a challenge. Do you have a metal frame that would work with this bed and still allow us to use the head and foot board on this bed?
Do you know of any charities that donates bed to low income and disabled older people. I have Osteoarthrifis and im sleepi g on a ratty old couch thats causing me a great deal of paain in my back and right hip.
Debra I am sorry I do not know your local market. The best thing to do is to call your local churches and charitable organizations in your region. Hope this helps Doug
Rebecca, The answer is yes we have frames that can lower the bed. I do not know what a Lillian Russel bed is. Nor do I know what size she has? You also did not include if it had head and foot board or head only and whether they bolt or hook in? I am going to assume head and footboards that hook in. Queen use our queen F88002 Frame or for a full use our DRTF3 Frame. Might be best to call if you are not sure. Thnx Doug
Im a caregver to a 80 year old man that is in cronic pain daily from a bad back and arthritis. I would like your suggestion on a adjustable bed . Thank you
Hi Cindy, We offer several adjustable beds. If your client has specific needs and functions of the bed we need to go through those and see what power base might work best for him based on those needs. If you do not do this essentially it is a role of the dice. Obviously no adjustable bed makes the claim to fix a bad back or cure arthritis, they cannot they are not doctors. Look forward to working with you and your client. Doug
I am a 62 year old male. I have been using a full flow waterbed for about 45 years. As I get older it is becoming more difficult to get out of bed. I have tried regular mattresses over the years like when at a hotel or staying over with a family member. Each time I get very little if any sleep. Then back home to the old reliable waterbed. Is there a mattress that would suit me without being too expensive?
Terry, Everyone’s idea of what too expensive is differs and you didn’t include your budget. I will tell you this. Consider a baffled mattress with more support or perhaps a softside waterbed. They are so much easier to get in and out of no matter if you choose one with a full flow free flow mattress or fully baffled. Hope this gets you a start. Feel free to call and discuss other possible solutions if you do not want a waterbed anymore. Thank you for you question Doug
Just bought an 11″ mattress that sits on a 2″ padded board. My double size bed has a headboard and footboard and metal rails on each side, but no metal rail in the center. Should I buy a metal rail for the center? Or should I buy a plywood sheet and put that under my double size mattress? Or should I do both? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Katherine, I am going to assume that what you mean by 2″ padded board is that you are actually referring to a bunkie board? To the best I can understand, This is what you described above… I do not know the construction of the bunkie board and what it actually requires underneath of it for support if anything. I can only tell you it is better to be safe than sorry. The more support the better and I do not believe their is nearly enough support underneath of this bed currently. Hope this helps. Doug
Question?
We have an Ornate Walnut Victorian Bed that is slightly over full size that has the slot type bed rail fastners.
Any idea of how could get it expanded to queen without damaging the value or look?
Thanks, Randy
Randy, If you have a traditional hooking styple head and footboard then yes our CV1L or our DRCV1L should allow you to use a full size head and footboard with a queen mattress and boxspring. As far as yours being wider, I do not know what you mean by that. Reach out to me by phone so we can discuss what you have and see if we can figure this out. Doug
We have a 5 year old mattress and box spring. The metal frame is the same age and has a support beam in the middle, they are all for a double size bed. We have noticed so much squeaking from the headboard which is 40 Yrs old. My husband has tried all the tips on fixing this and think we should just buy a new headboard.
Would this solve the problem, the noise is just coming from the headboard corners?
Thanks!
A few misspelled words in your article. Beware of your words of their, there, they’re. Misused in your sentences.
Heather, I appreciate that you took the time to point out the errors. We will get it corrected. I’ll be honest I am a 32 years salesman, not an English major. My primary goal is to do what so many other stores won’t or don’t do share my years mattress experience to educate the buying consumer. For the most most part people seem to be very forgiving and/or like yourself point out my boo boos so they can be corrected.
I simply share my knowledge and beg for forgiveness 😉 Thank you so much for your help. Doug Belleville STL Beds Manager