Relax The Back

For nearly a year now, I’ve experienced severe sciatica. Some mornings I wake up and it takes a while before I can even move. Such is old age, but it shouldn’t be so.
I’ve tried chiropractic, accupuncture, yoga, massage … and still nothing seems to get rid of it.
Last week I received a magazine from the Relax the Back Store. In the magazine, they advertized a memory foam topper for $ 469. Now that’s not chump change, but if it can change your life, it’s worth it.
I called twice on Monday and left messages both times. I stopped by at 5:15 pm and saw a sign that said they were sorry but would return on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, I waited for a return phone call and didn’t get one.
On Wednesday, I called again and the person who answered apologized for not being in the store on Monday because he was attending a Super Bowl party in Reno. I can understand that, but if you advertise that you are open Monday through Friday until 6 pm, you need to hire someone to be there to at least take orders or answer questions.
I showed up on Wednesday at 5:15 pm and found the proprietor sitting in a lounger, watching a big screen TV. No wonder he didn’t return my calls. He was too busy watching TV.
I introduced myself as the one who had called about the memory foam mattress toppers and it sparked a recollection. He led me to a bed upon which lay two floor samples. One was about three feet by 18 inches and the other was a paltry 18″ square. Now tell me, how is a person to determine if a mattress topper is going to suit them if there is only a factory sample swatch. The proprietor told me I could lay them on the floor and lay down on them. I couldn’t believe it. I don’t think so.
He told me that he doesn’t keep them in stock because he can usually order them and get them within four days. But … it was just my luck, the most expensive topper at $ 600 and some odd dollars was in stock and he would part with it for $ 500. I asked him about a warranty and he told me it had a limited one year warranty as he explained that foam tends to break down and does not last forever. I understand that, but if I’m going to spend $ 500 on a foam mattress topper, I want it to last a bit longer than a year.
I told him I would talk it over with my wife and make a decision. As I left, I remembered our friends had purchased a memory foam topper from Costco and liked it so much, they bought a second one for their vacation home.
I drove across the street to Costco and found a 2.5 inch California King mattress topper for only $ 159 with a 10 year limited warranty. So guess which one I bought. Yup … Costco wins again.
Sorry Relax the Back. You need to lower your prices, and if you believe so strongly in your products you need to increase the warranties and you need to act as if you want the business instead of lounging in front of a TV.