The Truth

Mar 27, 2018 4:07 PM

Sheepten

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92750

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1119

Dislikes

38

The truth

OC

fp edit: First time!
Remember "Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth."
- Buddha

We have 8 crystal shops in my small town. We have a 3,500 person population. They are all within a 300 yard radius. Money laundering.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

We had 8 open up within four months of each other and they are all within a five mile radius. Also my town is a hotbed of heroin overdose.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Anything with low overhead and structured payments is a great way to launder money. A few fake in store loans on overpriced goods......

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I’m sure someone will put that theory to bed.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

That said, the stores are essentially warehouses. I imagine the overhead for each store is pretty low

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

And every store sells a unique brand/style. That 'find a cheaper price anywhere' deal is impossible because the branding is unique.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Well Mattresses aren’t really optional

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I work next to one. Its always empty. This must be true

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

@op

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

They also own sleep experts, so in a shopping center next to m house there are 4 mattress firms technically and 2 more a half mile away

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Wise words, man!! +1

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Mattresses are just marked up like crazy. My fiancé used to work at a furniture store and we got a $4500 Tempurpedic for $800.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

There's an intersection near my house where 3 of the 4 corners have competing 24 hour florists on them. They're not even trying.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

there's an "original mattress factory" across the street from where i work, on a busy strip. no one ever goes in. somehow still in business.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

There are literally four stores at the four corners of a major intersection here in Tucson.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

My husband’s best friend is a regional manager for this place...we are all vacationing in Mexico this summer. Should I be worried?

8 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

Depends, was the store recently audited?

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

you want to talk money laundering?? have you ever seen a Blinds-to-go? that shit is straight mafia level.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Freakonomics had an interesting episode on it. http://freakonomics.com/podcast/mattress-store-bubble/

8 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 0

I will take a look later. Thx.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

YES! FREAKONOMICS!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

. Dude thank you

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

@deleteded this is podcast I was referring to

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thanks

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

tl;dr?

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Mattresses are astronomically marked up. Each store only needs to sell a few each month to be profitable.

8 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

My man!!!! Thank you!!!!

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

A block away from my apartment, there is a curtain store.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

As an area manager with Mattress Firm, We’ve acquired 2000 of our competitor’s stores since 2011. Many of them were in the same trade area.

8 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

It’s cheaper to convert them and leave them open till the leases runs out. We sell anywhere from 10 to 50 mattresses a week.

8 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

Dude do a post and put this stupid shit to rest

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

10-50 per store, or per market area, a week?

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Per store

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I've never understood how mattress stores stay in business.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Everyone sleep. Everyone.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Them and nail salons. What the shit.

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Nail salons and Chinese restraints are a different operation

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Restraints?

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Guys. Steinhoff owns them. Ya know, the company just busted for using holding companies to inflate figures?

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yall. three mattress firms on the same corner, and two more down the road! it's a joke in my town

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Same. They have one before an on-ramp and immediately after. On the same side of the road.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Why the fuck is "send nudes" a thing? Starting to get tired of Imgur solely because of that dumb trend.

8 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 2

wots wrong with nudies

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I just do not think that the trend is healthy for anyone, the sender, the receiver or me that see a 100 people asking for it everyday.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

sorry if you do like my attempt a humuor ,but have my upvote cheers

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

What was the original text? I'm honestly curious

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

The original actually doesn't have Jesus saying anything in the panel. http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/211/682/2c3.jpg

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thanks

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I dunno...you're meant to replace them every...8 years or something, considering their price and that they don't need much staff?

8 years ago | Likes 69 Dislikes 3

my mattress is 23 and it isn't getting replaced any time soon

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

They talked about this on some NPR show: the overhead, stock and staff is so minimal that it’s worth it.

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Plus finely made mattresses from India costing about 3.50

8 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

That sounds like a pretty good deal, where do I si-OOOOH goddamn lockness monster trynta get my tree fiddy again!

8 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 1

As long as you keep it clean, like with a mattress protector, you can keep it until it starts to break down and be uncomfortable.

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I think it's 12 years. 6 on each side before your skin dust has seeped completely into it. Ya know sweat and bacteria. Skin dust lol

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

The ones they make now don't flip over. You're supposed to use them 8-10 years and then replace.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Good rule: Products almost ALWAYS last longer than what the manufacturer says they will. Humans used to sleep on dirt, now we suddenly 1/2

8 years ago | Likes 31 Dislikes 1

need a brand new mattress every 8 years? I don't buy it. 2/2

8 years ago | Likes 29 Dislikes 2

I'm on year 10 and have anxiety thinking I have to go mattress shopping. Fuck that, too much commitment.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

We used to also die at the ripe old age of 32, probably death by sore back from sleeping on the ground

8 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 1

Hah, nice pun at the end there.

8 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

I have slept on the same mattress for the past 14 years or so. I think it has at least another 8 in it.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Sounds like something a money launderer would say

8 years ago | Likes 81 Dislikes 2

You need a high cash flow operation to launder. Like say those coin machine operation businesses, put a quarter in and try to win a prize

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

They only accept cash and you never know how much they actually make because it has no record...

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Sounds like something a money launderer would say

8 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Actually I work in auditing and one of our customers is that very business, and we have to take extra time to review their books

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Crazy low overhead, huge profit margin. That’s why.

8 years ago | Likes 65 Dislikes 1

low overhead always surprises me furniture stores near me are GIGANTIC and almost always empty

8 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 1

Yeah I walk past a mattress store daily. Empty, one employee at all times.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

But in Chicago they are always in shitty strip malls where rent is cheap.

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Exactly, I believe they only need to sell like 1-2 mattresses a week sometimes to stay profitable.

8 years ago | Likes 28 Dislikes 0

Yeah. I think Chicago Tribune explained it recently as they are everywhere in Chicago.

8 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Explain. And then also explain how to get the cheapest one because I need a new mattress

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Do not be cheap when it comes to a mattress. Read reviews and spend the money.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Considering that there are 2 or 3 within a mile of each other near me, I could see it.

8 years ago | Likes 412 Dislikes 2

You have good eyesight then.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Also, they only need to sell a handful of mattresses a week to stay in business.

8 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

Didn't wanna ruin your 100 upvotes. I come back

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Or, they're selling a $1500 mattress that costs $50 to make.

8 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

There's 17 under 10 miles from me.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

In my town you can stand outside of one while looking down at the other.

8 years ago | Likes 37 Dislikes 0

By where I work, there's two literally across the street from each other, with a third a block away.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I have two directly across the street from each other.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Really good podcast on this topic and economist they interviewed said their isn't enough stores

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Source please. Really want to know more.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

http://freakonomics.com/podcast/mattress-store-bubble/ I listened to when first came out but it's a good one

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Thanks! Looking forward to this one.

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I can explain that! It's the nexus between Locational Interdependence Theory, effective market research, and corporate mergers. In short:

8 years ago | Likes 21 Dislikes 0

I hope that clarifies the issue

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

All of this could apply to any retail chain though.

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I gave examples from other industries, but it's about regulatory oversight. If tomorrow Walgreens bought out CVS, this wouldn't be allowed

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

to go on very long with two Walgreens on every corner

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The real reasons are 1) very high margin product 2) stores relabel mattresses to make it hard for shoppers to compare prices, 3) like 1/2

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

you said, Mattress Firm bought out a lot of completion but hasn't had the time to consolidate inventory and such yet. 2/2

8 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

As for mergers, Mattress Firm is notorious for choking out and buying out local scale or small chain competition. In doing so, they gain the

8 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

inventory of the place and it's more efficient to keep 2 or 3 Mattress Firms open even if they're across the street from each other, at leas

8 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

t until enough mattresses are sold to consolidate the rest into a single store.

8 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

I want to know more!!

8 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Market research determines the best place for a large chain to expand, optimizing the distribution of travel times and proximity to existing

8 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 0

routes. Using this method, Mattress Firm or other chains pick the ideal place to put a new branch. Ex: this is why gas stations are always a

8 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 0

round when you're getting low on gas unless you live in the boonies.

8 years ago | Likes 17 Dislikes 0

L.I.T. then states that, mathematically, the best place for a competing business to open a branch is as close as physically possible to the

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

opposing branch. I've confirmed the math myself. So other mattress places open near the first one. Ex: gas stations and pharmacies too. It a

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

pplies for any business in which you provide a good or service that is needed on a repeated basis by the entire population.

8 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Not saying you work for mattress firm but since you did such a good job easing my suspicions I should probably still be suspicious!!!

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Why are there so many mattress firm posts today? Did Mattress Factory hire Cambridge Analytica or something?

8 years ago | Likes 221 Dislikes 2

Yes, your bed wetting was used in Trump's campaign to piss Hillary off.

8 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 49

Username checks out for that asinine comment.

8 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 1

Lol what?

8 years ago | Likes 21 Dislikes 0

I dunno, I thought it was quite funny random sentence. Then again I'm really drunk.

8 years ago | Likes 18 Dislikes 4

i'll allow it

8 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

There was a Reddit post a little while ago about it. Basically each store can sell 1 mattress per week to break even, with 2 employees.

8 years ago | Likes 85 Dislikes 0