How much can I haggle high end mattresses?

Daedalus on 01/10/2016 - 00:45
Last edited 02/10/2016 - 20:24

I am looking to buy a high end mattress $2k to $4k.

The one I like is the Serta Sebastian. $9k RRP however I saw it at Forty Winks for $4500. This is the normal price. Almost all the mattresses in the store was "half price", in September 2016 and in July 2016 when I last visisted the store.
Link: http://www.fortywinks.com.au/serta-avant-garde-san-sebastian…

I am going to try to haggle it down. The question is, how much have people here achieved? Is a 50% off the $4500 a reasonable haggle? I have no idea what the profit margins on high end mattresses are, but I would assume it is quite high.

Alternatively, is there a way to get it cheaper by buying direct from the manufacturer or importing it?

Edit:
The reason why I am asking before I haggle, is that I want to send a mass email to all stores in the country stating a price that I will buy from the first one to respond, or if they can't meet that price then provide their best price. Whilst mattress comparisons can't be done across store brands, I can at least make the franchisees compete against one another. All it takes is for someone to want to clear stuff out to compete the price down to a more reasonable margin.

With this strategy the price I state must still be profitable for them, otherwise I will lose credibility as a "low-ball" offer. If also do not want my target price to be too high because then I could have gotten it for cheaper.

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Comments

  • dlf73 on 01/10/2016 - 02:00

    I don't know the mattress but do your best finding prices elsewhere. Then go in once you have become your homework and play poker with them. I have done this at many furniture places and they Always bargaining with you. At the end if you still don't like thte Price say no you have not got me interested and advise unless can do better you will go elsewhere. I think 50% may be a little much, but most furniture places you should have no trouble with 20% off!

    • Daedalus on 01/10/2016 - 09:12

      Won't work with mattresses unfortunately as all models are different in different stores. Forty winks is the only store with that model.

      • dlf73 on 01/10/2016 - 14:26

        Ah bugger, Monopoly on the one you like…dammit.

        • Daedalus on 01/10/2016 - 20:20

          Yea as per the link posted below, the manufacturers label each mattress differently so no two stores sell the same item
          http://www.smh.com.au/business/mattress-comparison-reveals-b…

        • dlf73 on 01/10/2016 - 21:21

          @Daedalus: well there is your homework! Print it out take it in, check the tag on the one you like which shows where it is made, etc, and then see a rep and start the bargaining procedure. Show them the printout and get them to make the sale……

  • robotdad on 01/10/2016 - 08:23

    Have a listen to this:
    https://gimletmedia.com/episode/12-mattresses/

    • Diji1 on 01/10/2016 - 10:53

      A majority of consumers have this naive notion that prices are usually "fair" and that retailers are just taking 30% for some reason.

    • Daedalus on 01/10/2016 - 20:19

      Thanks for the great link. The article also lists a few "start-up" retailers that I will have a look at.

  • niner on 01/10/2016 - 11:29

    Just buy a mattress from one of those startup companies. THey're just as good.

    Ozmatress has a high end matress, sleeping duck (if you like warmth and latex), koala (mostly foam), ergoflex (another memory foam seller).

  • Daedalus on 01/10/2016 - 20:34

    Thanks for the tips on the cheaper online retailers such as OZMattress. The problem is that it is too risky for me to spend $2k on a mattress that I have not tested. There is no refund policy. They allow swaps but I can't see how that would work as I would already be buying their top of the range, so swapping one model down is unlikely to give me a better result. The physical stores already sell $2k mattresses, and without testing how do I know the OzMattress's $2k one is any better?

    What I would like to know is how low can I go when haggling?

  • captobvious on 02/10/2016 - 01:26

    At least 50% when they are at end of line or being replaced with a new model.

    At least 70% if shop soiled.

    My friend owned a forty winks franchise. Cat is out of the bag now. Doesn't matter if its sealy, serta or king coil.

    • Daedalus on 02/10/2016 - 09:13

      What do you mean the cat is out of the bag?

  • Daedalus on 02/10/2016 - 20:24

    Thanks for all the replies.

    The reason why I am asking before I haggle, is that I want to send a mass email to all stores in the country stating a price that I will buy from the first one to respond, or if they can't meet that price then provide their best price. Whilst mattress comparisons can't be done across store brands, I can at least make the franchisees compete against one another. All it takes is for someone to want to clear stuff out to compete the price down to a more reasonable margin.

    With this strategy the price I state must still be profitable for them, otherwise I will lose credibility as a "low-ball" offer. If also do not want my target price to be too high because then I could have gotten it for cheaper.

  • Daedalus on 04/06/2017 - 23:19

    update: I emailed all the stores in the state and managed to get an additional 10% off the "best" price of my local store. I think this is a great price as the asking price of used mattresses of the same model from Gumtree are even higher than my new price which means people are paying more on average.

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