"An Insider's Guide To Buying A Mattress -- How To Avoid The Common Mattress Industry Scams To Get The Best Possible Deal On A Mattress"
I've been in the mattress industry since 1994. And I was sad to see, but not surprised, a recent survey that likened buying a mattress to buying a used car. People are just put off by the mattress buying experience and rightly so. The mattresses all have different names at different stores, the range of choices can be overwhelming, a money back guarantee often isn't really a money back guarantee, and all the jargon and hype thrown around by salesmen just really puts people off.
We hear all the time from people that one reason they shop online is to get away from this high pressure, used car type of experience.
This guide is our attempt to change things. I hope by throwing back the curtain and exposing the common scams used in the mattress industry that you can find the right kind of mattress for you -- at the best possible price.
Step 1: Finding The Right Mattress For You - How Not To Be Overwhelmed By All The Choices Out There
Most people we talk with are looking for a mattress to help with sleep problems, pain issues, or just to get a better night's sleep and wake feeling more refreshed.
But one thing we hear all the time is that people walk into a mattress retail store, or do some initial browsing online, and are just overwhelmed by the different options. While in the good old days there were just a few innerspring bed choices -- a standard model and perhaps an upgraded one with a few more springs or a bit more cushiony feel -- today there are literally dozens of choices of different innerspring configurations as well as all the new specialty bedding choices that are the fastest growing part of the mattress market - memory foam mattresses, air beds, and latex mattresses.
It is literally enough to make you crazy. A good example is the industry leader in the mattress niche we specialize in, memory foam mattresses. While Tempur-Pedic started with just one model years ago and offered just this one model for many years, today it offers 11 different models in three separate "collections". I've gone into their showrooms at the industry shows and, even though I'm in the industry, it is enough to make my head swim. I really sympathize with consumers trying to wade through this sea of mattress possibilities. The whole thing is a bit overwhelming.
I have to say my bias is towards the specialty mattresses. Even before I was in the business, I had slept on foam since college. I just don't find metal coils comfortable, and no matter how you dress them up with "comfort" layers of cotton, wool and foam I still feel the coils (the "princess and the pea" has nothing on me). But comfort is a very individual thing, and you may well feel that coils are the most comfortable or yet a different type of mattress surface (latex or air, for example).
So my general advice to people is to find a basic mattress "core" that they find comfortable -- whether that "core" (the basic support structure of a mattress, usually 6+" or so thick) is made out of springs, foam, latex or air. All of these different "core" options have their distinctive feels and properties, so start by testing out basic models of each to see what feels comfortable. Then once you know what type of "core" you like, try out these type of mattresses with different comfort layer options. So after the basic option, try one with high density foam or latex foam (a more expensive comfort layer option), then perhaps one with memory foam (often on top of one or more layers of a more basic foam), etc. This way, you can get an idea for what feels comfortable to you, and hopefully avoid paying for all the frills -- just for the comfort layers that really make a difference for you.
The Key To Getting The Mattress And Deal You Want -- Come Armed With The Facts
The key to making sure you get what you want at the best possible price is to come into the mattress buying experience armed with the facts. If you go in blind, chances are you will either be overwhelmed by the whole thing or end up at the mercy of the salesperson (and while many are knowledgeable, don't kid yourself -- they are interested in selling you the upgraded, more expensive mattresses with the highest profit margins, since most, if not all, work on sales commission).
So here's what I've done: in my areas of specialty I've put together buying guides to give you the essential information you need to see if these kind of mattresses might make sense for you and what to look for when buying them. And for those outside my area of expertise, I've looked across the net to find guides that really seem to know their stuff and are very informative.
Arm Yourself With These Essential Guides:
Innerspring Mattresses
Innerspring mattresses remain the biggest sellers in the mattress industry, although the specialty mattress area (memory foam, air beds, latex mattresses) is growing rapidly. In fact, if you look at the type of materials used in many innerspring mattresses these days, you will see that memory foam and latex are increasingly used in innersprings.
Innerspring mattresses have become progressively thicker over the years, and now commonly run 11" high and many are 13 - 15" and up. I recently went on vacation and the innerspring bed was so thick that they provided a footstool to be able to climb into bed.
What is responsible for this blowing up of the innerspring mattress? I think the basic issue is that metal isn't comfortable. And while a metal spring does compress and give, it still isn't something you would want to sleep directly on. So as consumers have looked for a more comfortable mattress, manufacturers have added increasingly thick layers of "comfort" material (as it is known in the industry). So these days it is common for innersprings to have multiple layers of foam and other cushioning materials. And in the better innersprings, these layers often include the more comfortable and dense comfort layers that have come into the industry over the last few years -- memory foam and now latex.
So what should you look for when shopping for an innerspring mattress? Again, this isn't my area of expertise, but I found a good, common sense article "Going to The Mattresses". I couldn't agree more with the writer's assessment that pillow tops are a waste of money and a ripoff.
Honestly, if you want a pillow top feel it is better to just buy a good quality, comfortable innerspring mattress and then buy a quality topper to put on it (not like the low quality foams they use in a typical pillow top that break down after a few years). If you are interested in memory foam topper we offer 4 lb density memory foam pads (2" and 3"). And to make sure you don't get burned, we do offer our 365 day money back guarantee on all our pads (and mattresses also for that matter).
Memory Foam Mattresses
I've been sleeping on memory foam for 14 years now -- it was the first thing that really helped ease my severe back pain (from a snow skiing accident). This was back when memory foam first started to become available to consumers (before that it was just used in the medical industry), and it was so new and "cool" that I had all sorts of people coming over to lie on my bed. When a few got so comfy they didn't want to get off, I knew this was something big and contacted the company to see if I could be a reseller.
The memory foam business has come a long way since then, and now every major manufacturer has their brand -- and we hear from people all the time that are so confused about the varying brand's options and claims. That is why I put together my Buyer's Guide To Memory Foam and Memory Foam Mattesses, and in it I put all the answers to the frequently asked questions we get on both memory foam in general and memory foam mattresses.
One thing I have learned over the years of selling the leading brand as well as memory foam mattresses from the competition, is that you can get the comfort of the leading brand of memory foam mattress at about 1/2 the price. Bottom line, I had just as high a rate of customer satisfaction with the memory foam mattresses I carried at 1/2 the price as I did when I sold the leading brand.
So what memory foam mattress do I recommend. Well ... it is a long story, but at the moment I've don't have one to recommend. Over the summer, due to issues in the mattress industry (including a lawsuit that Tempur-Pedic had filed against most of the mattress industry alleging patent infringement, which was withdrawn in October of 2009), I decided to start over and reevaluate all the different memory foam mattress options. And after months of research, and testing memory foam mattresses, it finally hit me -- rather than us trying to sort out which mattress our customers might like best, why not let our customers tell us themselves.
I don't know if this has ever been tried before, but I decided to test out our 6 favorite memory foam mattress options by selling 50 each at a $500 discount, and then seeing how our customers rated each -- and the highest rated one would be the new mattress we would offer on our site.
So, if you are interested for a new memory foam mattress, and aren't sure which one to try, I hope you will consider trying out our special limited time offer -- Queen memory foam mattresses are just $699, and Kings are only $949.
For Details on this very limited time $500 off offer, please go to our Memory Foam Mattress page. We are offering a 90 day money back trial
So you can try them for yourself without risk (only a $75 return fee).
Do we really back this up? The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. We are a longtime member of the BBB with an A+ rating -- and have never had a customer complaint. And we also have earned a 5 star rated Trusted Store with Shopping.com with over 620 ratings. We have always honored our money back trial, and our committment to customer service has been the reason we have earned such high customer satisfaction marks.
So if you are interested in a memory foam mattress, I hope check out our Memory Foam Mattresses Special Offer -- $500 Off For A Limited Time.
Latex Mattresses
Latex is the hottest trend in the mattress industry. Why? Simple, there is just no other surface that offers the elastic feel and resiliency of latex. I first came across latex years ago at the biannual mattress show (quite an exciting event, I can assure you), and I was taken with its unique feel -- a real step up from even high end polyurethane that bed manufacturers use in their mattresses (and most use lower grade polyurethane to save money (and layer it to approximate the feel of a higher end foam), and latex is really a huge step up from this).
As the years went on, I saw latex being used more and more in mattress construction. Then I started seeing using a full latex "core" -- instead of using springs as the mattress "core", these mattresses featured 6 inches or more of latex. And the result were striking. Latex mattresses offer a much more comfortable and supportive sleep surface than any innerspring mattress. And while I still like the high-end polyurethane used in memory foam mattress "cores" (the base of the bed underlying the 3" or more of memory foam that is on top of the mattress), latex just has a denser and provides a more seductive feel.
So why don't I carry a mattress that has a latex "core" with memory foam on the top? While this would be a very comfortable and top of the line combination, the downside is that latex -- being a very dense material -- just costs a lot more than high end polyurethane. And with memory foam on top, most people just don't feel much of the difference (since the memory foam is the part of the mattress that your body is in contact with).
But, if you are looking for an all-natural mattress, one that is green and made of sustainable materials, have allergy concerns (latex is hypo allergenic, mold resistant, anti-dust mite, etc), or haven't been able to find a mattress that is comfortable, then you might really want to give latex a look.
Unfortunately, buying a latex mattress can get a bit complicated. While you might think all latex mattresses are created equal, that just isn't the case. In fact there are two very different materials, both of which are sold under the name "latex" -- synthetic latex, which was developed during World War II when there were shortages of natural rubber, and all natural latex, made from the sap of the rubber tree.
Why should you care? Well they have different feels and different wear properties. And, obviously, if you are interested in getting a natural, eco-friendly, or sustainable mattress alternative, then you will want to make sure you are looking at an all natural latex mattress (rather then an latex mattress that has a small percentage of natural and is mostly synthetic -- which is the most frequent type of latex mattress out in the market (a blend, with most synthetic latex -- why? Just costs less to make a blend).
There are other factors to consider as well -- density of the latex used, the way the latex was manufactured also affects its feel and comfort (there are two methods, the Dunlop and the Talalay method), etc.
I know it can all get a bit confusing. That is why after getting a lot of questions about latex mattresses, I have put together a Our In-Depth Buying Guide To Latex Mattresses: Natural Vs Synthetic Latex -- Make Sure You Get The Most Comfortable Latex Mattress At The Best Price. It covers the most important points you need to know to both insure that you get the type of latex mattress that fits what you are looking for, and to help you arm yourself when shopping for a latex mattress and make sure you get the best possible deal.
Air Beds
The nice thing about an air bed is its adjustability. With a touch of a button you can change the softness/firmness of your bed. This flexibility has made air beds very popular, although we often see that all the different options and configurations of air beds can make your head spin.
That is why I put together our In-Depth Air Bed Buyer's Guide. It offers 9 key points to consider when buying an air bed including:
- Staying Basic With The Air Chambers: Which type of air bladder offers the most comfort and durability
- The Importance Of Comfort Layers in An Air Bed -- They Make All The Difference In An Air Bed's Comfort
- Making Sure Your Pump Won't Poop Out On You
- The Air Bed Controls The Simpler The Better
Hopefully, after reading our Air Bed Buyer's Guide, you will have a much better idea what to shop for in an air bed and get the best possible deal.
Step 2: Shop For Substance, Not Form: How To Get Around The Hide And Seek Game Mattress Manufacturers Play
What do I mean by this? It's about avoiding the oldest trick in the industry. Comparison shop by comparing the actual "innards" used to make a mattress rather than the name or look of the mattress. Why? Because mattress retailers don't want you to be easily able to comparison shop, they have the manufacturers produce their "line" of mattresses with different names or slightly different tickings (the outside covering of a mattress) than identical mattresses made for the other local mattress shops. In all internal aspects (the coils, foams, and other materials used to make the mattress) these mattresses will be identical. But by changing the name and ticking they try to make it almost impossible for you to comparison shop. So look past the name and outside covering of a mattress - compare mattresses based on the "innards" and you will be able to still effectively shop between different retailers.
Step 3: If You Are Shopping In A Brick and Mortar Store, Lie On The Mattress At Least 10 -15 Minutes
This is a big mistake people make -- people often just lie on a mattress for a few seconds or maybe a minute before buying. To really get a good idea whether a mattress will be comfortable to you, it is important to spend 10 -15 minutes on the mattress. This way, you'll see if you start feeling any pressure points on the mattress after being on it awhile.
Of course, if you are shopping online, you may not have this chance to try out the mattress first (many, like ours, are just offered online and so you can't try them out at a local store). So what to do? First, read any reviews carefully -- other people may have similar sleep issues to yours, and their stories may help you understand if a particular mattress might help you as well. If you are interested, since you don't have the chance to try out the bed, make sure that the online retailer gives you a good money back trial period (ours, as we've said, is 365 days). And make sure that they really back this up. It is good to see if they are a BBB member and, if so, whether they have had any complaints. Also, whether they participate in any independent 3rd party review sites (like Shopping.com that we participate in). This way you can see if the merchant has had any problems and what type of customer service they offer. It is really important that the online merchant be transparent -- so you know exactly who you are dealing with and what type of service and money back trial to expect.
One last thing -- before buying online make sure you understand all the specific charges you may end up paying on a return. Unfortunately, some online sellers hide in their small print that you may pay a return shipping fee on a mattress return (which can be $350 and up), a restocking fee, or other return fees. We hear about this type of thing often, so don't get stuck by not knowing the return fees up front (for the record, we have just a $75 return fee on a mattress -- and no other surprise fees).
Step 4: Make Sure You Understand The Return Policy -- The Single Biggest Cause Of Customer Anger And Frustration
This is a huge trap. People often mistake mattress store's comfort return policies as being money back policies. And they for the most part are not.
Ask very direct questions about what the retailer's return policy is and exactly what this means. Some retailers just don't offer a return policy, something very important to know. But a fair amount offer comfort policies, as opposed to money back guarantees. Typically, a store's comfort policy do allow you to return a mattress within a certain period of time if you find it uncomfortable. But ... most of these policies don't give you your money back (even less a return fee). They just give you some sort of store credit (and this may be reduced by a return fee). And if there is no other mattress in the store you want, or if the return fee is unreasonably high (sometimes these have very high restocking fees), you are stuck. I can't tell you how many customers we've talked to who have multiple nearly brand new mattresses stored around their house that they couldn't return and get their money back.
A quick story to tell you how ingrained this is in the mattress industry. I was at the major trade show or the year a few years ago, and said to a mattress representative that I felt it was only fair to offer a money back trial on any mattress we carry since the only way to know if a mattress is really going to work for you is to try it at home. And from a few feet away, another person who overheard my comment, indignantly called out to me that "You think Mercedes Benz lets you return a car if you don't like it?". Perhaps a bit over the top, but still he spoke for most in the mattress industry -- they see offering a money back guarantee as being basically immoral (and one of the reasons some mattress manufacturers just won't deal with us -- their retailers are adamant about not having to compete with online retailers offering money back trials that they might have to match).
Best case is finding a store that offers you a money back trial, but these are few and far between. If you do find one, make sure you get all the costs associated with returning a mattress under the money back period (again restocking fees, etc. can be very high, so make sure you get them on the front side).
Whatever way you decide to go, make sure you get an explicit explanation of the return policy so you don't end up getting a nasty surprise in case the mattress doesn't work out for you.
Step 5: Understand Your Warranty: Pro-Rated or Non-Prorated Can Make A Big Difference,And Not All Dips Or Compressed Areas May Guarantee Replacement Under The Warranty
Ever read a mattress warranty? They can be so dense that they are practically inpenetrable. But make sure upfront you understand whether the warranty period is pro-rated or non-prorated. The best is non-prorated. This means that during the replacement period the mattress will be replaced without you having to pay (although the warranty may specify a shipping fee, etc.). In contrast, with a pro-rated warranty you will pay an ever increasing portion of the cost of the mattress to replace it if you run into a warranty issue.
Also, look to see how a warranty issue is resolved. Again, you should buy a mattress based on comfort. But it is nice to know how the company will determine if a warranty issue will be honored and the mattress replaced. I've seen some warranties that seem to require an inordinate amount of compression before replacing a mattress (requiring over an inch compression, for example), and this is something you may want to consider when purchasing if there are two different types of mattresses that you are deciding between (and one mattress' warranty has much more generous policies in this regard).
Conclusion
I hope this guide has been helpful and arms you in finding the mattress you want with the best possible deal. Again, if you end up being interested in the mattresses we carry, we offer 365 day money back trials on our Memory Foam Mattresses, or if you are looking for more information on memory foam check out our Memory Foam and Memory Foam Mattress Buyers Guide. And for those interested in latex or air beds, check our in-depth Our In-Depth Buying Guide To Latex Mattresses: Natural Vs Synthetic Latex -- Make Sure You Get The Most Comfortable Latex Mattress At The Best Price and Our In-Depth Buying Guide To Air Beds 9 Key Points To Consider When Buying An Air Bed.
