Mattress shopping, as we've previously highlighted, can be quite a confusing experience. Take some off-the-clock advice from a mattress salesman on how to get the best value. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of variables when it comes to mattress shopping. Help cut through the thicket of choices and potential rip-offs by taking the advice offered by an insider at Get Rich Slowly. They have advice directly from a guy who has been part of his family's mattress business his whole life. He's full of industry-related wisdom, including useful negotiation tips like this one: If a store is willing to negotiate mattress prices, then they are overpriced, so make sure you get them down a considerable amount. Mattress manufactures contractually set minimum prices that they allow retailers to sell their mattresses at, so they either have to price them at that minimum or overprice them and negotiate. Most of the larger chains just price them at the minimum right away.Don't take advice from a salesman talking about coil counts as he likely doesn't know what he's talking about.
Always ask if the innerspring mattress you're looking at has edge support to keep the edges firm and keep it comfy for you getting in and out of bed.For more tips check out the full article at the link below. Have a mattress shopping tip of your own? Scoff at this "coil count" business because you rock it out on a foam mattress? Let's hear about it in the comments. How to Buy a Mattress [GetRichSlowly] Five ways to always get a good deal on a bedAre we buying a mattress or fixing Matthew McConaughey's space ship in Interstellar? These layers of confusing jargon do little to comfort stressed-out consumers looking for a new mattress. To help cut through the clutter, we contacted a retired industry insider known as "The Old Bed Guy." The 85-year old former bed maker and seller now runs a popular mattress consumer information site where he gives out his (somewhat cranky) advice. “Mattresses have no real value,” said 'Marshall Coyle,' a pseudonym he uses to avoid blowback from the tight-knit mattress community to which he used to belong.
That statement is a rude awakening to anyone who's peeped at the price tags after taking a stroll through a mattress showroom lately. With prices running into the thousands, dreams of better "zzz's" are quickly zapped by sticker shock. Tanya Constantine/Blend Images / Today The Old Bed Guy is talking about the markup versus the actual value of the steel, foam, and wool that goes inside a bed. For example, he said, it might cost a factory $600 to make a mattress that they sell to a big department store for $1,300. That store might then slap a price of $2,999 on it, then give it a big discount during one of the never-ending sales, he said. "The money goes for something other than what you're sleeping on," said Coyle. While every business is entitled to try to make a profit, every maker also has its own special lingo. That makes true comparison shopping difficult. Some of the differences are real. Some are just marketing vapor. Rather than try to explain it all and risk being as bewildering as the confusion we're supposed to be relieving, here are 5 tips from the perspective of The Old Bed Guy that always get you a better deal on a mattress, no matter what store or manufacturer you're dealing with.
Look for stores that have their own factoriesA few smaller regional stores make their own mattresses in their own factories. That cuts out the middleman. "I don't know of a better way as far as value," said Coyle. Stores in this category include Charles P. Rogers, McRoskey, Original Mattress Factory, and Verlo. Their stores aren't everywhere, but the savings and quality difference is enough that this reporter nearly considered a 10-hour road trip just to get a bed. Buy based on weightIf you're a fan of strong, long-lasting steel coils, a heavier mattresses usually mean there's more quality materials inside. "They have 12-15 inches to fill," said The Old Bed Guy. "You can stretch your coils and make them tall and thin." Typical mass-produced beds weigh about 90 lbs while higher grade beds can weigh around 120 lbs, he said. But you won't find this info online, you'll have to buttonhole the sales agent or bed maker to get the details. Buy at the end of the year"If anything is for real," said Coyle of the mattress business, "the periods when people don't buy mattresses see the best deals."
Few buy before Christmas, saving room on the credit card for the holiday shopping spree. The last 2 weeks of December are a prime time as stores try to unload inventory before the new year. Good savings can also be had the first two weeks of January. Be careful with Internet-only storesSome online outfits say they pass on the savings of not having any retail outlets. But it's not that hard to set up a shop and outsource manufacturing and shipping to China. That can create an accountability gap that leaves consumers in a lurch if their bed starts giving them lumps. "If they won't give you their street address, don't give them your credit card," said Coyle.Latex costs more and is worth more, period," said Coyle.Edit ArticleHow to Buy a Mattress Two Methods:Researching Before PurchasingPurchasing Your MattressCommunity Q&A Buying a mattress is one of the most major purchases you can make for your home. You will likely spend more time on your mattress than any other piece of furniture that you own.
For this reason, take a few steps to make sure that you buy the best mattress for your lifestyle. Visit mattress websites to see what’s offered. If you haven’t purchased a mattress in a while, it’s good to see what options are available before going to a store. Check prices online to see what you feel is reasonable based on what is being offered. Mattress brands are often coming out with new styles of mattresses including ones that offer adjustable firmness levels and temperatures. Decide how high-tech you want your mattress to be, as some of these may only be available at specialty stores or online. Look up what special features may be offered by each mattress brand including a trial period or money-back guarantee. If desired, you can print this information to bring to the store with you. Decide on a level of firmness. Although this is difficult to determine without first testing mattresses, a few physical factors can help direct your decision. If you have back problems, consider a medium-firm to firm mattress choice.
These are best for supporting your lower back and reducing back pain. Pillow-top mattresses are best for people who aren’t too light, as they won’t have enough weight to suppress the top and the springs to a point that it makes a difference in comfort. Larger people typically find pillow-top mattresses more comfortable for this reason. Ignore the spring count that is given as proof for a mattress’ supposed quality and firmness or softness. Studies have shown that the number of springs doesn’t actually affect how comfortable the mattress is. Measure the space you plan to put the bed. Nothing is worse than finding and purchasing your perfect mattress, just to realize you can’t fit it in your house. Check your space availability in your bedroom, and then decide on a size of mattress to fit. Twin mattresses are the smallest size, and measure on average 39”/75”. The next largest size after a twin mattress is a full or double mattress, which measures at 54”/75”.
The queen sized mattress is the most commonly purchased by couples for its size and relative price. It measures at 60”/80”. King size bed is the largest standard sized mattress available. Some mattress brands and stores offer an extra large bed called the California king, which measures at 72”/84”. Be sure the mattress size you intend to purchase not only fits inside your bedroom, but also through all doors used to enter the room. Find a store(s) to shop at.In order for you to know how well you like a mattress, you must test it out in the store. Search around looking for mattresses that meet your criteria, and then lay on each to see how you like them. Lay on each mattress for at least 2-3 minutes, and up to 15. The floor models are out specifically for this reason, so don’t be hesitant to lay in the store for a bit. Ignore descriptors on tags such as “ultra plush,” “super soft,” or “extra firm.” These aren’t regulated terms and are used freely within each mattress brand without consistency between them.
Instead, just lay on the mattress to get a feel for how soft or firm it is. Try a firm, a plush, and a pillow-top mattress to get a feel for which type you prefer. Compare these types all within the same mattress brand to get the most accurate idea of which you like best. Ask to see a cutaway of the mattress if it’s available, so you can see exactly what it is you may be sleeping on. Ask about a comfort guarantee. A comfort guarantee varies between brands, but is a certain period of time after you’ve purchased your mattress in which you can return or exchange it for free. Always do this before you purchase and verify at purchase to make sure you are getting the correct information. Find out how long the comfort guarantee lasts for, as this can be different depending on each brand. Learn if you must pay for shipping to/from your home if the mattress doesn’t work out for you. This way you won’t be surprised by extra costs later. Take it for a trial run.
Purchase the necessary mattress add-ons. Although buying just a mattress is all that seems necessary, you must also purchase a minimum of a box spring to support it as well. Always buy a new box spring with your new mattress, as old box springs wear out over time and lose the desired support and firmness. Purchase a waterproof mattress protector to cover your new mattress. This not only makes cleanup easier should something spill on it, but will keep the warranty intact. Many warranties void out if the mattress is stained or spilled on.The prices of mattresses can often be lowered with a little bartering done with a sales associate or store manager. Use the numbers you found online earlier to determine if you are getting a good deal. Include the cost of old mattress pick-up and the delivery and setup of the new mattress in the total cost.many stores will throw in free services if they are simply asked. Some stores will allow you to take a mattress home for a trial run.