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Spink and Edgar Mohair classic from John Lewis

John asked
7th January 2012

A really interesting website!

I am looking to buy a S&E mattress with a John Lewis label on it. Price £1899 – Mohair Classic with a 9000 spring count. If I ordered elswhere: Can I get it cheaper and if so: Would I be getting the same mattress Can I buy it elsewhere, how can I check I’m getting the same product?

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1 Answer
Lee Staff
answered 12 years ago

Hi Jo.

Excellent question and the short simple answer is .. ‘PROBABLY’.  You can ‘probably’ get this mattress cheaper if you knew what the comparable model names are and what stores it was sold in. And, ..you can ‘probably’ be getting the same mattress or at least with a very slight variation that will not overall affect the quality or comfort.  Where you can find these alternative models is at best difficult, and without any form of an actual statement of content is at worst .. Impossible!

The reason this site is so huge and complicated, and the reason people like yourself are wondering if you are making the ‘right choice’ or potentially being ‘duped’ is down to one single solitary reason and that is (apart from Vi-Spring) you will not be told the ‘ingredients’ of any particular mattress from ANY manufacturer.  The logic behind this secrecy is simple and of course understandable: All manufacturers have to get their product out in as many stores as possible in order to increase their sales potential and ultimately survive.  The stores do not want you to go to their competitors so they call the same mattress by another name to avoid direct comparison.  Some stores who have a greater purchasing power will have a product made with a slight tweak such as fabric design or a slight change in component composition in order for them to declare it as exclusive ..  and so on.

The ultimate game plan is to prevent you from being able to go elsewhere!  In all fairness to Vi-Spring, they are the only manufacturer who details and lists the internal make-up of all their mattresses.  They are a manufacturer who are at the very top of their game and so this disclosure is of course expected.  The detriment to them doing this is that people like us can come along and manufacture a model that is as close as dammit to a particular model and being able to retail for considerably less.

However, our argument and response has always been that people who can afford to buy Vi-Spring mattresses WILL always buy Vi-Spring.  The people who want the comfort and quality associated with Vi-Spring but can’t necessarily afford a particular Vi-Spring model will look to people like us to get the comfort and quality they like but for a much lower price.

In answer to your question about the Mohair Classic (Harrison Spinks), it is unlikely that this particular model is also available elsewhere.  However, you can look at this in two ways: 1) If this is the mattress that you think absolutely suits your needs and requirements then this is the price that you have to pay.  2) If this exceeds your budget, then you will have to compromise on some aspect of the mattress to bring it into your budget and buy an alternative model from either the same manufacturer or an equivalent from another manufacturer.  The difficult part of this is finding out what aspects (components) of this particular mattress makes it ideal for you.

Unlike Vi-Spring, Harrison Spinks does not inform you of the exact composition of the component parts.  They DO tell you and show you the number of springs and how they are built up because the spring units are made by them and are exclusive to them.  As upholstery fillings are available to all and sundry (even us) it is this aspect of the mattress that can be replicated right down to the last ounce – and that is the one and only reason why you will not be told the upholstery breakdown by weight (GSM – Grams per Square Meter).

In many cases, it is relatively easy to detect who the manufacturer is in any shop or store and further test to see if there are equivalent models out there at a lesser price – or indeed it may be found that the price you have been quoted is the best price!

As an example we will virtually dissect this particular model and see where it takes us: [Official Description] John Lewis Classic Mohair [£1899 KS]The Mohair Classic mattress features the Revolution® HD pocket spring system, with each pocketed spring containing an additional inner spring for extra support.  It is handmade in Yorkshire, using locally sourced cotton, with Egyptian cotton, for softness and cool comfort, blended with hemp (a strong natural fibre which provides resilience to give cushioned recovery and breathability).  It also contains British wool and fine mohair for a luxurious, sumptuous feel.  These natural fibres have been used because of their superior ability to regulate body temperature and to reduce environmental impact.  The description also lists the filling composition as being: Cotton, Egyptian cotton, wool, mohair and hemp.  But, you will notice that there is absolutely NO indication of any weights of any particular component.

Even if there was a total weight given of all components that would assist you in being able to find an alternative model either from the Harrison Spinks range (alternative retailer) or from a competing manufacturer using equivalent upholstery.  As a prospective consumer, it is unlikely that you will know what constitutes a fair or exceptional grammage of upholstery.

Using the computer analogy you would expect to at least know what amount of memory/disc space you are spending your money on.  It would be inconceivable that a salesman will tell you “this is a laptop and costs £1000 but we’re not telling you what’s inside because you might go and buy it elsewhere for less” As stupid as that statement is, that’s exactly what you are being told when buying a mattress.

The model name on this particular mattress is “Mohair Classic”.  You would expect that the main component would be of course “Mohair”.  In the past, we have tried to determine how much of their upholstery blend is indeed Mohair but it is practically impossible to find out!  You really do need to know where your money is going.  The only one of our mattresses that contain mohair is our Artisan Naturals which is a medium feel in the comfort layers.

 

Artisan Naturals

 

Finally Jo, In order to see if there is similar out there I would try Feather and Black as a first stop.  Harrison Spinks also makes own label mattresses for F & B and I would assume they will know what their alternative will be. Even though your questions on the face of it seemed relatively simple they are quite impossible to answer without any degree of certainty.  There is no way manufacturers will list components in a way that will be beneficial to consumers as they will be cutting their own throats so to speak.

 

Hope this helps but if you would like to discuss this or anything else please do not hesitate to contact the office on 0161 437 4419.  Our office hours are 8 am – 8 pm Monday to Friday and 10 am – 4 pm Saturday and Sunday.

 

Kind Regards

Michaela

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