A very wise financier—Jim Cramer-endorsed, in fact—once made an appeal. That his flock would give private flying a chance. You see, prior to becoming the greatest mind on Wall Street, he was a pro ballplayer, and enjoyed the luxury of sailing the skies sans unwashed masses rubbing up against him. After he retired, he was forced to endure the commercial flights in which he actually had to coexist in the same airspace as these people. He decided then and there that travel by private jet was the only way to go. Once he did it, he loved it and swore he’d never go back to flying a commercial tube. He warned people to not get all huffy and think “big time baseball player, enjoying his private plane,” to take a breather, and to realize he was only trying to help. A private plane is expensive, but it may be worth your while. At least, it’s an option that you may want to consider, he said. You ought to just give it a try. And if taking a private jet, is not your thing. Well, that’s OK. Today this wise financier’s brother from another mother makes a similar plea.
How much would you spend for a good night’s sleep? Some people might say $33,000. That’s the price of E.S. Kluft & Co.’s hand-tufted, king-size Palais Royale mattress and box spring, currently the most expensive American-made mattress set on the market. The company says it has sold about 100 since introducing it in 2008. Or maybe it’s $44,000—the price tag on Kluft’s Sublime model, which the company has teed up for a launch later this year.
European shoppers will pay even more. At $69,500—roughly the price of a Porsche Cayenne S hybrid SUV—there’s the Vividus king-size mattress set from Hästens Sängar AB, of Sweden. Hästens says it takes 160 hours to assemble this mattress entirely by hand, which has a Swedish-pine frame with thick layers of horsehair, cotton, flax and wool inside. The company says since introducing the mattress in 2006, it has sold 250 of them world-wide.
Bad sleep was what drove Scott Kimple, a 44-year-old hedge-fund manager in Dallas, to invest $27,500 in a king-size Hästens 2000T mattress set two years ago. “I’ve had problems sleeping in the last couple of years, and I thought well, maybe a mattress might help,” Mr. Kimple says. “When I heard there was a $20,000 mattress out there, I thought it was kind of ridiculous.” But Mr. Kimple is a convert. “It’s light years better than anything I’ve ever slept on. It’s like you’re floating on air.” An added plus: “They will come to your house and flip the mattress for you,” Mr. Kimple says. The Hästens store in Dallas offers the monthly service to local customers for the first year; Mr. Kimple had it done.
A Mattress At $33,000 [WSJ]
damn, my friend Spitzer spent that much sleeping on ten hookers over the course of a year
- Jim Cramer
You know a lot of people go to college for seven years
Yes, yes I would like housekeeping to jerk me off. Thank you for asking.
/polite guy who enjoys handys …
@3 handIES
2- yeah they’re called DOCTORS
My bad, Bess. I thought it looked wrong after I typed it, but I digress.
@6 it’s okay, I just wanted you to know for future ref.
One night, after about 30 martinis, I passed out in a hotel dat had one-a-dese mattresses, and I pissed da bed. The flax and “thick” layers of horse hair absorbed da urine.
- CG
http://www.JETS.COM
@3/4 – I’m going to argue “Handys” is an acceptable alternative…they are damn useful.
what happens when u get “juices” on ur 20k mattress?
@11 the mattress’ sweet siren song of enrapturing warmth, comfort, and dream-bliss guarantees no couple will ever be able to make love on that mattress, they will be lured to sleep instead. Which is why they also offer a $200 line of sofas
F-you money is being able to Kouwe a 20k mattress.
@10/CL like Treasurys and Kennedys?
@11 I take that back, from the article:
“Earl Kluft, chief executive of family-owned E.S. Kluft Co., tries out every new model before it hits the market.”
the juices are already part of the mattress
Lenny Dykstra
I know that I don’t have to tell any baseball fans this, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time playing in the major leagues. In fact, I loved every second of it. Who wouldn’t?
But like many professional athletes, I had to adjust to life after the major leagues. You’ve read about how some athletes find this to be a horrible struggle, out of the limelight, not really sure of how to spend their days.
I was lucky in that I had businesses that I set up for myself, and after I trusted a broker who lost $1.6 million of my hard-earned money, I learned how to handle my own investments. I was fulfilled away from the field. But I will tell you that even with minding my businesses and my investments, I had a few shocks to adjust to.
One of them was sleeping on in a bed.
I know that may sound a little snotty, but certainly you know how I feel. Does anyone enjoy sleeping on a spring-coil bed these days?
Sleeping on a regular bed is especially difficult and expensive if you live on the streets. The hassle of finding a place to put your mattress, kicking out the stray dogs, waking up with a sticky feeling like you just had a twizzlers-and-dip orgy, and finally, pulling your lazy ass out of bed at 1pm the next day.
Even when I used a first class Tempur-Pedic mattress, this was no joy. After paying big bucks for a regal bed, you still have to deal with pillows, getting food and dip everywhere, and the inevitable sheetwashing.
After all this hassle, I just came to the realization that there had to be a better way to sleep the way I deserved to sleep. So I looked into sleeping in a car I couldn’t (and should never have) been able to afford.
Once I did it, I loved it and swear that I will never go back to using a traditional mattress. Now, before you get huffy and think: “Big time baseball player enjoying his ability to pass the fuck out on whichever street he pleases,” just take a breather. Being homeless is nasty, but it may be worth your while. At least, it’s an option that you may want to consider.
I would have never known how wonderful it is to sleep in a car if I hadn’t tried it out. That’s what I want you to do.
If it’s for you, then wonderful. I’ve saved you some hassle, and you’ll find that you have more time to work on your business or relax. And if sleeping in the bank-owned car is not your thing, Well, that’s OK.
But you never know. Maybe I’ll see you in a gutter sometime, with one hand on my nuts and the other around a twizzler. (I’ll be the guy in the suit and baseball cap.)
The Kluft Philosophy is unassailable:
http://kluftmattress.com/kluft_philosophy.html
@15 Serious q– what do you think the profit margins are on a $30k mattress? Like 80%?
@17 Is she the one that comes to turn the mattress each month?
@19: I just ordered the luxury model – she comes twice daily with the luxury model. Once a month is for pikers.
Sex sells, Taj; Sex sells. Write that down.
@17 only if she keeps her shoes on.
everyone already knows that you can get a hedge fund manager to buy anything.not very bright unless of course you ask them!