Bed Store Bed Blog

"Too hard, too soft, just right" A Goldilock's Story

Being a mattress blog, you might think my title, "too hard, too soft, just right" deals with the feel of the new mattress you are shopping for.  Not this time.  It actually refers to the shopping process itself.  At The Bed Store, we are constantly searching for not only the right products at the best prices, but also for the very best way to present these products to our customers. 

Our research reveals that the number one complaint from mattress shopping customers is that it is too confusing and that they DO NOT trust the salespeople.  In fact, mattress salespeople are compared with "used car" salespeople.  This grives me, but it is a truth that I must live with and try to remedy as I hire and train our sales staff.  One axiom we live by is "never, ever lie to, steal from, or cheat" our customers.  In fact, "the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is the underlying spirit of our business.  So, this should pretty much take care of everything, right?  Nope, not so fast.

Because I put a harness on our salespeople and don't allow them to "pressure" our customers into a "buying decision" they can come across "too soft," therby not assisting you complete the sale, once they have actually helped your find your "just right" mattress.  Because you are so afraid of making the wrong decision, you simply decide to wait and think some more and once you do, the confusing process begins all over again and you search endlessly until some, perhaps ill intentioned, salesperson from one of our competitors and thereby end up with perhaps the wrong mattress and spending more than they needed or less than they should have to get the right mattress.

So, do I "tweak" their training and increase their tendency to "close the sale" once they get anywhere close to something you like?  That would be the easy answer, and they could "make good money doing it."  But then the tendency might be for them to become "too hard" in their saleing process, thinking more about "getting the deal" than helpin YOU find the very best mattress and the best price for your particular needs. 

My answer, NO COMPROMISE!  The Bed Store will continue to work this out, but we will NEVER compromise YOU, our valued customer.  We will diligently work on finding the "just right" solution so that when you are in the market for your new mattress, you can shop The Bed Store with absolute confidence and assurance that you will be treated as we would want to be treated when we shopped for any new product that we wanted.  You are worth the effort and besides, we want to sleep good at night too.

Too hard, too soft, just right!

Being a mattress blog, you might think my title, "too hard, too soft, just right" deals with the feel of the new mattress you are shopping for.  Not this time.  It actually refers to the shopping process itself.  At The Bed Store, we are constantly searching for not only the right products at the best prices, but also for the very best way to present these products to our customers. 

Our research reveals that the number one complaint from mattress shopping customers is that it is too confusing and that they DO NOT trust the salespeople.  In fact, mattress salespeople are compared with "used car" salespeople.  This grives me, but it is a truth that I must live with and try to remedy as I hire and train our sales staff.  One axiom we live by is "never, ever lie to, steal from, or cheat" our customers.  In fact, "the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is the underlying spirit of our business.  So, this should pretty much take care of everything, right?  Nope, not so fast.

Because I put a harness on our salespeople and don't allow them to "pressure" our customers into a "buying decision" they can come across "too soft," therby not assisting you complete the sale, once they have actually helped your find your "just right" mattress.  Because you are so afraid of making the wrong decision, you simply decide to wait and think some more and once you do, the confusing process begins all over again and you search endlessly until some, perhaps ill intentioned, salesperson from one of our competitors and thereby end up with perhaps the wrong mattress and spending more than they needed or less than they should have to get the right mattress.

So, do I "tweak" their training and increase their tendency to "close the sale" once they get anywhere close to something you like?  That would be the easy answer, and they could "make good money doing it."  But then the tendency might be for them to become "too hard" in their saleing process, thinking more about "getting the deal" than helpin YOU find the very best mattress and the best price for your particular needs. 

My answer, NO COMPROMISE!  The Bed Store will continue to work this out, but we will NEVER compromise YOU, our valued customer.  We will diligently work on finding the "just right" solution so that when you are in the market for your new mattress, you can shop The Bed Store with absolute confidence and assurance that you will be treated as we would want to be treated when we shopped for any new product that we wanted.  You are worth the effort and besides, we want to sleep good at night too.

Sleep Better Thanks to Vegas

I'm just back in from the Furniture Market in Las Vegas.  I was checking out everything "NEW" in sleep products.  This is my chance to see what's availble now that may be better than what I already have selected as "the best of the best."  It's also a chance to see what's on the horizon.  This was a great market and there are many exciting new things.

Here's what's new for The Bed Store.  We ordered, and will be offering the hottest new line of Latex products on the market.  Can't mention the name yet as my competitors read this too.  They'll have to do their own work since they don't pay me to do it. This new concept is an idea that will catch on and deliver one of the best night's sleep you have ever had, and at a great price compared to the competitive models.  Simple design, incredible performance. See it very soon at one of The Bed Store's eight area locations. (Knoxville, TN.)

As always, you'll get The Bed Store service along with the lowest prices, guaranteed!  Just check out our testimonial page at bedstore.com to see what our customers are saying.

Remember, nothing does more good for you than a great night's sleep.  Let The Bed Store help you find your just right mattress and start sleeping better tonight.

Consumers to blaim for mattress shopping confusion?

I just returned from the International Sleep Products Association annual convention in Bonita Springs, Florida.  The state of the mattress industry was being discussed and the primary focus was on where we go from here.  Some very good speakers from outside the industry discussed where "consumerism" is headed and how the mattress industry needs to deal with it.  It seems the new cultural goal will be to achieve "joy."  The new consumer wants joy and is seeking products and companies that best represent their ability to get it.  So, the consumer should respond well to advertising messages that portray the joy of owning a new mattress or dealing with a particular mattress company.

Research shows that customers prefer one thing, but might actually vote differently once they are in the market. So the delima is, does the customer mean what they say.  There is evidence from exit poles, versus actual votes that there may be a disconnect.  A consumer actually registers their vote with their dollars.  

 Point in hand.  Mattress shopper complain about too much confusion when shopping for a new mattress (no joy) as well as lack of belief in all the "sales" hype (no joy).  Yet, mattress retailers that clean up the clutter and shy away from the unrealistic 70% OFF hype while making the shopping experience more joyful and trustworthy are not rewarded for their efforts. Even though their prices actually may be less than the phoney 70% off sales offer, the consumer believes unless more choices and more dollars off are offered, they are paying too much and being offer enough options.  So my question is; how much is the customer to blaim for the disconnect in the mattress shopping experience?  Better yet, how are we best able to reach this "confussed consumer."

 Do any of us say what we mean and mean what we say anymore?  Did we ever?

Mattress Shopping Made Irresistibly Different

I have been in the mattress business for about 35 years now.  The number one complaint of mattress shoppers is that the mattress shopping experience is confusing.  Often mattress sales people are compared to "used car" salesmen. As a mattress shopper, what recommendations would you offer in order to change the mattress shopping experience into an irresistible one?  You write and I'll listen.  You have the opportunity not only to change your mattress shopping experience, but to impact how others will shop for mattresses in the future.  Waiting to hear from you.

Shopping for the right "mattress expert."

Have you noticed how many mattress shopping experts there are now that the internet is available?  All it takes to qualify is a computer and an opinion.  You don't really have to prove that you know anything at all about a mattress or the mattress shopping experience.  Just get a keyboard and pontificate.  Your blog is as valid as anybody elses.  Your advice is as good as anybody elses.  You don't have to have any type of certification.  You too can bee the expert!  At least until those following the yellow brick road come to the castle and pull back the curtain.  What's the chance of that happening?

Who can you trust to help you find a new mattress that's right for you and at a fair price?  A fair price is one reasonable to both you, the manufacturer, and the person or entity helping you make sure you choose the right one.  It's not going to take a "rocket surgeon" or a "brain scientist."  Find a reputable dealer that you feel comfortable with and then trust them to ask questions pertinent to your personal needs and desires.  First find the "right" mattress.  Then, once you feel you have, trust your intuition on the price.  If you feel your sales representative was honorable and honest in answering your questions and pointing out to you the benefits of the product that best suits your needs, shouldn't you be able to trust them on the price as well?  Intuition.  Do you trust yourself?  Trust your own intuition before you let some proported "expert" from "neverland" on the world wide web walk you down the "yellow brick road."

 Dress comfortably, allow yourself time, be honest with your needs and desires, and realize that you have ALL the power.  If at any point you don't feel like you can trust your salesperson, simply walk away and find someone you do trust.  They are out there and they aren't hiding on the internet.