Inflation is a Scam: The Truth About Inflation From a Business Owner
Exposing the Inflation Scam
Hi, I'm Hadi, the Co-Founder of Sweet Zzz Mattress, and I'm here to pull back the curtain on something many of us are experiencing but few are talking about openly: inflation is a scam.
The Mattress Industry's Profit Margins
Before we opened Sweet Zzz in 2013, my brother and I were just like you—shocked by the outrageous profit margins in the mattress industry. We saw firsthand how customers were being overcharged, so we decided to do things differently. On May 25th, 2013, we opened our first store in Van Nuys, California, with a simple mission: to offer quality, comfortable mattresses at fair prices. We relied on word of mouth and our commitment to keeping costs low, so you could rest easy without paying a fortune.
The Impact of Big Brand Advertising
But as time went on, we noticed a disturbing trend. Larger mattress brands were spending millions on advertising and passing those costs onto customers by inflating their prices. We tried advertising ourselves, but quickly realized that if we wanted to play in that league, we'd have to raise our prices too, and that didn't sit right with us. We refused to follow the herd, inflating our prices simply to cover high marketing fees.
Standing Strong During the Pandemic
Then came the pandemic in 2020, a time when businesses faced unprecedented challenges. Many companies took advantage of the situation, using supply chain disruptions as an excuse to hike prices. But at Sweet Zzz, we stayed true to our principles. We kept our prices the same as before the pandemic, even as we faced the same challenges as everyone else. We didn't see it as an opportunity to exploit our customers; we saw it as a time to double down on our commitment to fair pricing.
Note: This image from the way back machine shows how we even lowered our prices of our bamboo sheets after the pandemic so we help our customers with inflation. Twin Size Bamboo Sheets was $95 in March 2020 and now we sell it for $89.
The Broader Inflation Problem
This isn't just happening in the mattress industry. Across the board, from groceries to gas, large corporations have used the pandemic as a cover to raise prices while raking in record profits. The truth is, the shortages that were once blamed for price hikes are largely over. Ports are unblocked, supply chains have smoothed out, and products are flowing freely. Yet, prices have only gone up.
The Manipulation Behind Inflation
Look around, and you'll see the same story in almost every industry. Big corporations, many of which showed massive profits during and after the pandemic, are still raising prices. They tell us it's due to inflation, but the reality is often far less justifiable. Prices are being hiked not because of rising costs but because of rising greed. It’s a classic case of “just because they can.”
Our Commitment to Fair Pricing
This is why at Sweet Zzz, we’ve made a different choice. We believe that quality and affordability should go hand in hand. Our American handcrafted Organic Hybrid Mattress starts at just $599, the same price it’s been since before the pandemic. If we had followed the path of those big corporations, we’d have doubled our prices by now. But we’re not interested in squeezing every penny out of our customers. We’re interested in providing you with a good night’s sleep, on a mattress that’s safe, comfortable, and fairly priced.
The Dangers of Cheap Mattresses
Sure, you can find cheaper mattresses out there, but be wary of what you’re getting. Many of these low-cost options are made from toxic materials like memory foam and polyurethane, which emit harmful VOCs that can pose serious health risks. And let’s face it, health problems are the last thing you want when you’re trying to save money.
Choosing Brands That Prioritize People Over Profits
The only real solution is to choose brands that put people over profits. At Sweet Zzz, we make American-made mattresses from organic materials, offer a lifetime warranty, and provide a 100-night sleep trial—all while depending on word of mouth to keep our prices fair. We don’t inflate our prices to cover excessive marketing costs because we believe in keeping things honest and straightforward.
Conclusion: Making Informed Choices
Inflation is real, but so is the manipulation behind it. As consumers, we need to be aware of the games being played and make informed choices. At Sweet Zzz, we’re proud to say we’ve never played that game. We’re committed to providing you with the best value without the hidden costs.
So, the next time you’re shopping for a mattress, or anything else for that matter, remember: you have a choice. Choose brands that stand by their word, offer genuine value, and don’t hide behind the excuse of inflation to justify price hikes. That’s the Sweet Zzz promise, and we’re sticking to it.