It seems that every couple of years I find the need to blow my money on another mattress that doesn't work. In my quest to continually improve I'm constantly researching the latest and greatest that are out there. So first off I look for Canadian made, then flipable and hopefully something with natural products in it.
This time I thought I'd found something exciting when I came across the Sprout line from Edmonton. The people there were very friendly, helpful and it appeared to be a good product. So I ordered a king size with a retail price of about $4500. Good quality pocket coil quilted with silk/wool, cotton and latex foam. I also got a topper made of similar material for a little more padding.
I got the mattress into the house and it looked great. Felt great when I laid down for a little test rest. Unfortunately after 2 nights the topper was completely packed so I took that off and it only took 10 days more for the mattress to follow suit.
Turns out that not only did I find that the mattress wasn't any cooler than the latex we already sell, the wool/silk and cotton pack extremely quickly.
At the end of the simpler is still better and cheaper.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Returns and exchanges
I've always found this a really tough topic to write or speak on particularly when you have the big box stores that are willing to return, refund anything for any reason, whether it's reasonable or not. I will say that 98% of our customers are really reasonable, nice people that make it easy to work with when there is an issue, so I guess I'm writing about those other 2% for the most part.
Any decent retailer (particularly us)wants to leave the client happy, with a product that's doing exactly what we said it would and more. That's why there are warranties. If a product fails or doesn't do what it's supposed to do we're all over it. Repair or replace as quickly as possible, and for the 98% that leaves everybody happpy.
The other 2% though seem to think that at any time for any reason that if they don't like the product they should just get their money back. The record holder for this is 11 years. Yes 11 years later this person decided that the product really wasn't what she wanted and would just like her $130 back! Up until that phone call the previous record holder was a fellow that decided I MADE him buy a waterbed and after 4 years he'd just like a refund in full.
Now most people aren't that unreasonable, obviously these are extremes. But what do I tell the person that after 2 months they'd like a refund in full? A minor problem that is easily fixed by us, they've used the product for 2 months but now would like a refund in full.
I have a tough time thinking that it's reasonable to expect this. I would never use something for 2 months and try and take it back, unless it was defective,and even then I'd just expect it fixed. I always try to solve the problem if possible.
If anybody has any thoughts on this I'd love to hear them. What do you expect a retailer to do for you?
Any decent retailer (particularly us)wants to leave the client happy, with a product that's doing exactly what we said it would and more. That's why there are warranties. If a product fails or doesn't do what it's supposed to do we're all over it. Repair or replace as quickly as possible, and for the 98% that leaves everybody happpy.
The other 2% though seem to think that at any time for any reason that if they don't like the product they should just get their money back. The record holder for this is 11 years. Yes 11 years later this person decided that the product really wasn't what she wanted and would just like her $130 back! Up until that phone call the previous record holder was a fellow that decided I MADE him buy a waterbed and after 4 years he'd just like a refund in full.
Now most people aren't that unreasonable, obviously these are extremes. But what do I tell the person that after 2 months they'd like a refund in full? A minor problem that is easily fixed by us, they've used the product for 2 months but now would like a refund in full.
I have a tough time thinking that it's reasonable to expect this. I would never use something for 2 months and try and take it back, unless it was defective,and even then I'd just expect it fixed. I always try to solve the problem if possible.
If anybody has any thoughts on this I'd love to hear them. What do you expect a retailer to do for you?
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Mexico a third world?
Lynn and I were in San Jose Los Cabos when she and her sister decided to drag my brother in law and I several miles (well it felt like that)to Wal Mart! Why we flew 4000 km to go to Wal Mart I'm still not sure but I digress.
In front of Wal Mart there is a stack of mattresses, lo and behold flippable mattresses! So aside from our stores you have to go all the way to Mexico to get a decent mattress?
Of course at that same Wal Mart I could buy beer and wine for pennies on the dollar from what we pay at home, and I could have a nice cold one on the long walk back to the resort. And they say Mexico is the one behind the times.
I don't think so.
Of course that's just my opinion.
In front of Wal Mart there is a stack of mattresses, lo and behold flippable mattresses! So aside from our stores you have to go all the way to Mexico to get a decent mattress?
Of course at that same Wal Mart I could buy beer and wine for pennies on the dollar from what we pay at home, and I could have a nice cold one on the long walk back to the resort. And they say Mexico is the one behind the times.
I don't think so.
Of course that's just my opinion.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Sales
Do sales upset only me? I talked to another similar store to ours today who said "they were closed for the day to slash prices". Really, so if I bought yesterday I got screwed?
Monday, February 27, 2012
Buying on Sale can be a Furniture Fail
Buying ON SALE can be a Furniture FAIL!
Want an A+ in shopping smart? Read on and find out how.
After almost 30 years in the furniture and mattress business, I hate to say it, but I’m ashamed of my chosen profession. The rip-offs and misinformation abound, and in today’s tough retail market, there are a lot of sharks out there waiting to part you from your hard-earned money. Here’s how they’ll try to do it.
Let’s start with those hard to resist words, TODAY ONLY! Whether it’s mattresses, bedroom furniture or what have you, some places are always promoting an amazing time-limited offer. That kind of high-pressure sales tactic is the oldest trick in the book. Do you really have to “buy today to save”, or will you get the same deal next week? Or worse, did you buy last week and now you’re regretting it? These sales people don’t want you to feel good about your purchase, they want you to feel scared that you’ll lose out.
Or maybe they’ll throw in a FREE TV!!! with that bedroom set you’re looking at. Is that because the mattress is so lumpy you’ll be up all night watching info-tainment, or is it because the TV is so lousy that they are literally giving it away?
How about when they make you buy all 6 pieces when you only want just 4? “Buy in bulk and save”? That may work with cat food, but not with furniture for your home. The reason they want to sell you all that extra stuff is simple - they bought a container from some offshore supplier, and they know they can’t sell odd pieces. And if you ever do want to buy another piece that matches, chances are you won’t be able to.
What you really need to know when you’re out shopping for furniture is the bottom line - what it’s going to cost to get something you want – not how much you’re going to “save” by falling for these gimmicks.
I get it from the sales guys too. Every January Lynn and I head to Las Vegas to the furniture show - 4 million square feet of furniture and 2 million square feet of miracle mattresses. They have mattresses that give off oxygen, mattresses that are green and mattresses that will last 20 years. I ask them, “Is your furniture solid wood,” they say, “Yes! Particle board is made from wood!” Really? Do I look like I just fell off the turnip truck?
I’ve sold foam products since I was 11 years old, working at the Ladysmith Trading Co which my grandparents started in 1919. Believe me, one way or another, over the past 90-odd years, our family has seen it all. We know that when someone offers you something that seems too good to be true, it probably is. We don’t do it that way. If you just want the straight goods, a fair price, no gimmicks, no particle board, no commission sales people and no hogwash come and see me.
Want an A+ in shopping smart? Read on and find out how.
After almost 30 years in the furniture and mattress business, I hate to say it, but I’m ashamed of my chosen profession. The rip-offs and misinformation abound, and in today’s tough retail market, there are a lot of sharks out there waiting to part you from your hard-earned money. Here’s how they’ll try to do it.
Let’s start with those hard to resist words, TODAY ONLY! Whether it’s mattresses, bedroom furniture or what have you, some places are always promoting an amazing time-limited offer. That kind of high-pressure sales tactic is the oldest trick in the book. Do you really have to “buy today to save”, or will you get the same deal next week? Or worse, did you buy last week and now you’re regretting it? These sales people don’t want you to feel good about your purchase, they want you to feel scared that you’ll lose out.
Or maybe they’ll throw in a FREE TV!!! with that bedroom set you’re looking at. Is that because the mattress is so lumpy you’ll be up all night watching info-tainment, or is it because the TV is so lousy that they are literally giving it away?
How about when they make you buy all 6 pieces when you only want just 4? “Buy in bulk and save”? That may work with cat food, but not with furniture for your home. The reason they want to sell you all that extra stuff is simple - they bought a container from some offshore supplier, and they know they can’t sell odd pieces. And if you ever do want to buy another piece that matches, chances are you won’t be able to.
What you really need to know when you’re out shopping for furniture is the bottom line - what it’s going to cost to get something you want – not how much you’re going to “save” by falling for these gimmicks.
I get it from the sales guys too. Every January Lynn and I head to Las Vegas to the furniture show - 4 million square feet of furniture and 2 million square feet of miracle mattresses. They have mattresses that give off oxygen, mattresses that are green and mattresses that will last 20 years. I ask them, “Is your furniture solid wood,” they say, “Yes! Particle board is made from wood!” Really? Do I look like I just fell off the turnip truck?
I’ve sold foam products since I was 11 years old, working at the Ladysmith Trading Co which my grandparents started in 1919. Believe me, one way or another, over the past 90-odd years, our family has seen it all. We know that when someone offers you something that seems too good to be true, it probably is. We don’t do it that way. If you just want the straight goods, a fair price, no gimmicks, no particle board, no commission sales people and no hogwash come and see me.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Homeshow
Off to the home show in Nanaimo at Beban park for the weekend. Pop by and say hi. If you read my latest rant in the Bulletin I'd love to hear what you've got to say. That rant will be posted shortly here.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Today
I love my job!
The people I work with are awesome!
I love watching how the people that work here grow all the time and do their best which is all any boss can hope for.
I seldom have cranky customers (of course it's up to me to deal with when I do).
I love my job!
The people I work with are awesome!
I love watching how the people that work here grow all the time and do their best which is all any boss can hope for.
I seldom have cranky customers (of course it's up to me to deal with when I do).
I love my job!
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