How to Buy a Mattress
28 September 2006MSNBC had an article on this, but aside from a couple of good points, it’s mostly fluff. So here are some tips I rounded up from around the web on a major purchase you’ll probably have to make every few years:
1) Negotiate. The MSNBC article has this right - buying furniture is just like buying a used car. It’s expected that you’re going to pay less than the tag price. So don’t go in there and buy for full price. And don’t forget about the extras - it’s often very easy to get free delivery or get them to throw in a frame or some other accessory, sometimes easier than getting them to cut the price.
2) Test it, and know what size you’re getting. Again, another good point from the article. If you aren’t comfortable on it, you’re going to spend one-third of your life for the next several years disappointed. I slept on one for a few months that was almost exactly my height - having your toes crammed against the bed frame is not a comfortable position. One thing the article doesn’t mention is that you may actually have to measure the mattress. You can’t rely on the standard measurements for Twin, Full, Queen, or King. Why? Some manufacturers will try to cut you out of an inch or two to save money. Others add extra inches as a feature, marketing the extra space you have.
The problem is that either one of these can be a really bad idea, because they make it harder to get sheets - and much more expensive. This guide on measuring mattresses will show you a few of the pitfalls. One of the tips: watch out for the phrase “deep pocket.” That’s a sign you’re getting a larger than normal mattress. Supplement the guide with this list of standard mattress sizes. I’d stick with the standard, just because it’s easier on you in the long run.
3) Know what the new technologies are. These are often the selling points that salesmen will try to use to get you to buy a higher-priced model. “Memory foam” is one of these - it’s a material that reduces pressure on the body because when you sleep on it, it doesn’t try to push back into its original shape. A lot of higher quality mattresses use this - but then, a lot of junky ones do, too. But do you really need it? Maybe not - I found some pretty cheap memory foam toppers online (here’s one by Serta). They’re the same thing, you just stick them on top of a regular mattress. Latex is another technology that is a relatively new thing. Quality can vary a lot depending on who makes the mattress, though - and while it’s touted as being a lot softer, with some mattresses there can be “hard spots” where it may actually be less comfortable.
Also, there is a very good article on Slate on the different gimmicks used to try to get you to pay more for your mattress. I think it’s probably a must-read before any trip to the furniture store. The author is
4) Be willing to look online. You can actually buy mattresses online - some for pretty low prices. I found this deal on Amazon - there is a company on there selling memory foam mattresses in all sizes. They ship them crammed up into a tiny box, and when you take it out the foam expands into a normal mattress size. They are extremely cheap - the only bad thing is it looks like one bad review for every dozen or so good ones. It might be worth the risk, though, because it’s about a third of the price of a normal mattress.
5) Think about buying used. This can cause you an entirely separate set of problems, but it can also be a lot cheaper. Look for weird smells or odors. Check out Craigslist and Ebay, along with your local classified ads. If you go this route, it might be a good idea to have it professionally cleaned. There are very real reasons that people are reluctant to buy a used mattress, from bed bugs to urine stains to diseases. Personally, I would always go new with this one, but if your financial situation demands it you’ve got to make some sacrifices. Also remember that you can get a mattress cover for pretty cheap.
6) Think about a futon. This is another way to save money. They’re a lot cheaper, and socially acceptable for kids or college students. I was sleeping on one for awhile recently and they’re not very comfortable, though. It’s doable, but a real mattress is a definite step up.
7) Shop around. Different stores in the same area will have the same mattress on sale for a big difference in price - the reason being that there is a lot of profit margin built into these. Before you buy, find the lowest price in the area - and knock a couple hundred off that before you make your offer. Don’t be afraid to make a really low offer. If they say no, walk out and try higher at another store. No one’s going to stop you from coming back. And the salesman just might grab you at the door with a deal close to what you suggested.
One important tip related to this: stores will “name” the mattress something else to try to stop you from doing this. So they’ll take a model from Simmons, stick a tag on there that says “Sleep Right 2000 Plus Extreme Model” - while the store across the street put a tag on saying “Bed Rest No Turning Snooze Factor 100.” It’s the same thing, but when you walk across the street to try to find it to compare prices, you won’t be able to. Look for company name (Serta, Simmons, etc.) and an identifying feature such as the number of springs / coils.
Watch for things that can nullify your warranty. They will often be sticklers about this. You can find out that you’re using the wrong frame to support it, or you didn’t buy the box springs that were part of a set the mattress was made for. Your mismatched mattress might not qualify, either. Read the fine print.
9) Go read this Epinions page. This section has dozens of articles about buying mattresses, many by former salesmen or by chiropracters. There’s a lot of good advice in there. It’s the best place I found on the Internet that wasn’t some company’s web site.
Discuss this on the Free the Drones forums.
7 Responses to “How to Buy a Mattress”
October 2nd, 2006 at 4:13 am
[...] I decided to buy a mattress for the wagon, but I think I got ripped off. Then again, I don’t know the first thing about how to buy a mattress. Oh well. At least our ride will be a little more comfortable. [...]
October 2nd, 2006 at 10:32 pm
[...] How to Buy a Mattress — when we bought our current mattress, we should’ve done more research. [...]
November 16th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
A friend of mine bought a mattress from the Kathy Ireland’s mattress collection and says that he has never sleep better in his whole life. When his sister visited him and slept in the bed she says she did not wake up once during the night and that it was very comfortable. The price was affordable and reasonable.
November 29th, 2006 at 9:48 am
the Kathy Ireland mattress sounds great were can i find one? thanks
December 1st, 2006 at 9:03 pm
I found ‘the nearest retailer in your area’ at http://www.kathyireland.com under products for mattress. There is another link that will show you the products. I hope that helps.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Pricing means a lot these days. i’ve been more conscious now especially after buying a home but like these folks are saying kathy ireland has a whole collection and she labels them I think by Gallery, Essentials and Young Attitudes. You can find your pricing by these categories she offers. One is a higher end and the others are more reasonable. She has mattresses and one of the items I can’t wait to find is that she has partnered with a company that will make and design therapedic pillows and more I think it is called L & P therapedic. and with her pricing I can’t wait to see her cost.
May 25th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Great tips and good resources. I found the epinions page really useful when hunting for a new mattress.