<p>Reuters
Bed Bath & Beyond posts higher quarterly profit
Wednesday September 20, 4:56 pm ET </p>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Home goods retailer Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ:BBBY - News) on Wednesday posted a higher quarterly profit, citing higher sales.
Fiscal second-quarter net income rose to $145.5 million, or 51 cents a share, compared with $141.4 million, or 47 cents a share, during the year-earlier quarter.</p>
<p>Analysts, on average were expecting earnings of 51 cents a share from the Union, New Jersey-based company, according to Reuters Estimates.</p>
<p>The company said quarterly sales rose to $1.6 billion from $1.4 billion a year ago.</p>
<p>Bed Bath & Beyond said sales at stores open at least a year rose 4.8 percent during the first half of 2006, compared with an increase of 4.4 percent a year earlier.</p>
<p>are that many more people shopping there, or did they just raise their prices by a tiny little bit on average? Don’t get me wrong, I like the store, but I find everything a tad bit overpriced.</p>
<p>We have a BB&B about two miles from my house. I’ve only been in there once. It looked like the same old crap you can buy anywhere. Plus, I hate all that coupon nonsense. What is the appeal?</p>
<p>BB and B has a corner on the market for sevice for college dorms, primarily for kids moving across the country. Their “dorm registry” system allows you to go into a store in your local community, pick out what you want, scan it and send to a store closest to the college across the US. Then, you fly in with one or two suitcases, rent a car and pick up what you ordered. You don’t pay until you pick it up. You can add or delete items once there and after seeing the dorm room. The coupons NEVER expire (even tho they have an expiration date) and you can use as many as you have. We moved our D from So. Cal to Boston. I was able to use 32 coupons (had my friends and family save theirs for me :)). It turned out the sales tax is less in Mass., so I ended up saving almost $200!!! I was also able to return several items the next day. After a brief run to Target, we were completely done! Given the airline restrictions on carry-on and baggage weight limits, and the cost of shipping, BB and B was a great deal!!!</p>
<p>I think CC’s egg crate mattress thread and other bedding threads contributed to their profit margin. I say all CC Parent Cafe posters deserve some cut of the dough.</p>
<p>I was interested how Target is now targeting the dorm customer. D bought sheets and lamps at Target for her dorm room - and found that 4 out of 5 of her roommates did too. In Boston, Target was offering free shuttle rides from various schools, along with small discounts. All over town, I saw college students lugging giant Target bags on the T. </p>
<p>BTW - I agree about BBB prices - though I notice Target’s are going up too.</p>
<p>My experience with most anything from Target…it doesn’t last. I purchased my D’s dorm items with the plan that they should last 4 years. Target did not offer free shipping nor have a program to order and have it ready for us on arrival. I got to Tufts 2 days before move in and the shelves at Target were in shambles. BB and B was well stocked. I think convenience, durability, availability is worth the small difference in price. I bought disposables (laundry soap, light bulbs, etc.) at Target.</p>