FloBeds vs SleepEz

[phoenix]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for paying us a visit … and thanks too for the time you spent on our conversation it triggered today. It’s been a while (seems like a lifetime ago sometimes) since my WTB days

Thanks too for correcting any misinformation on the forum as well. As you know it’s important to me to make sure that accuracy rules the day here and I am certainly not immune from making mistakes in my assessments or comments. Considering that you cut your own layers and the materials you are now offering in your new mattress line as well I’d say that clearly makes you a manufacturer and not just an “assembler”.

You state, regarding my company FloBleds: “they do not have the same… ability to customize a mattress…” I do not believe anyone can match our ability to customize and meet our customers sleep needs, hands down. Not only can we make any layer an ILD firmness from 19 to 44 for either sleeper, we can also make a 2" one-piece topper in any firmness if a customer thinks that is what they need (although very few have wanted trade out their convoluted Talalay latex topper which is an ideal pressure interface: it is both extremely comfortable and promotes blood circulation through the skin). We are very serious when we say “The Original Personally Crafted Mattress” and our service just begins when we ship a bed. If a customer has a pain or issue with how they are sleeping, we work hard to address that need. With the widest range of ILDs on hand we can quickly provide the exact firmness combination needed. We stock horsehair for folks who sleep hot. We have pocketed coils for those who need a combination of latex and springs. Our service doesn’t stop until a customer is getting the support their body needs. Not for just 100 days, but for the life of the mattress. We’re a family business, and our customers become family.

The comment about customizing was more about the ability to choose different types of latex (such as Dunlop) and to choose a different top layer thickness but you also made clear in our conversation that you could customize your mattresses outside of the standard layering that was on your site and you also have some options that aren’t generally available elsewhere (including your v-zone) so there is no doubt that you can customize a mattress in ways that are not available elsewhere and I’m happy you clarified this as well. I also noticed that you now have horsehair and rubberized coir options as well as other choices which are very unique and interesting as well. It seems that I’m not the only one whose “expertise is growing” although I don’t think the learning curve ever seems to end

FloBeds further can customize the pressure in a specific targeted area like the hips or shoulders. You would be amazed to read how many customers find relief for the first time in years. The vZone has become our most popular mattress and has the lowest return rate under our 100 Day money back guarantee. It is not in any way “gimmicky”. We have used 2" Velcro to hold each zone in place which allows the sleeper to switch the firmness in any of the 6 zones (Shoulders, Lumbar and Hips are the zones that are most critical, as they are the most common problem areas… and they are responsible for spinal alignment). In addition, for 100 days we will send any zone firmness needed at no charge. This year we took the vZone to a new level, providing organic cotton zippered pockets for each zone to smooth the zones and make adjustment even easier.

I have always been somewhat of a skeptic of the value of this many zones and while I certainly think zoning can be a valuable feature in a mattress, I am not a particular fan of this many. I think it would more accurately reflect my own opinions though to call the vZone excessive or “complex” rather than “gimmicky” and of course my own opinion is not any more factual than anyone else’s and is always subject to change. I am also not one to argue with the success of customers regardless of any “theory” and there is no doubt that the vZone can help with zoning in the more critical areas you mentioned where more challenging circumstances can make zoning very effective regardless of it’s importance in other areas. The one thing I do like about the vZone is that they can be re-arranged and as you mentioned today on our call you will change out any of the zones for a different ILD if that becomes necessary which is a great service. While I still think that choosing or arranging 6 zones could be somewhat complex and I still question the value of this many … the extra zones certainly don’t do any harm and the idea of customizable zoning in critical areas is a good option IMO. It’s great that you offer it and this specific type of zoning also makes you unique and “unique” is always part of “value”.

Lastly, I appreciate you pointing out that we often have had sales (although the one you mentioned was one of our smaller sales). I would be remiss if I did not let you know that this year we have embarked on a new “everyday low price” and will not have monthly sales. Our customers have always known about our price-match guarantee and were good at dialing it in. This will make it easier for everyone.

I think of all the things we talked about this is probably the best news of all. With everyday pricing and not having to wait for a sale … the overall “value” of your products is certainly better (even though you did previously match any sale prices for a period of time on any purchase) and this is great to see. As you also know I’m not a fan of 'sale" pricing …especially with manufacturers that don’t need them to have good value. If there was a single source of some of the “tone” of my postings about flobeds in both WTB and here, it was that from a more 'raw materials" point of view and without sale pricing you were not in the same “value range” as other manufacturers. With this change from sale pricing to everyday pricing that has changed and of course there has never been any doubt about the quality of your materials or the ongoing service you offer to your customers.

So I think more than anything, our conversation today and some of the changes you have made will result in a different tone when you are the topic of discussion. Who knows, with a few more conversations you may even convince me of the value of having 6 zones in a mattress … but diversity and different design theories and ideas are part of what makes the industry (at it’s best) so interesting

Thanks again for taking the time to post and bring us up to date … and for the conversation we had today. It was good to connect and set the record straight.

NOTE ADDED: They have since become a member of the site and you can see some additional or “updated” thoughts about their vZone in post #4 here.

Phoenix