Mattress Answers

What kind of a discount can I get?

2008-08-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

Is the price on the tag final? Can I bargain for discounts? What's the bottom line?

The ticket price on mattresses is almost always negotiable.

Prices, sales, discounts, salesperson's urgency & mood, and special offers can change literally from day to day.

Prices are set by the manufacturer and retailer. In some states, manufacturers may be allowed to fix their retail price at a certain point, in which case no sale or discount will be applicable. Fixed prices offer a guaranteed profit per piece, and thus are generally a better deal than prices the salesperson can play with.

Sales come and go, and are marked by what are called "loss leaders." These low priced items are meant to bring you into the store, and once there, the salesperson is relied upon to flip you to a non-sale mattress. These items are generally unique in terms of the feel, or finish (fabric and seams) so that they only appeal to a slim margin of customers. Make a point to your salesperson that you want to try them. if you like it, you're in luck. If not, either spend a couple bucks more on a mattress that's comfortable for you, or wait 'til the one you like is on sale.

That is not to say that the one you like is going to be on sale at any time in the future. Some brands never have sales. Some are only available at a discount when the models are being discontinued, or if they are available as clearance merchandise.

Discounts are usually at the sole discretion of the salesperson. Remember that the more they discount off the price, the less they get as commission. You could get someone who's really desperate for a sale, say they've been on a cold streak, who's willing to forgo a large commission for that sake, or you could run into someone who's made their quota, and doesn't care about an extra couple bucks in their wallet. Discounts can range from 5% to 60% off the retail price depending on the store you go to, the brand you buy, and the person you speak to. Note, however, that a 60% discount on one mattress can be less of a good deal than 30% off another one.

Discontinued items are hard to plan for. Each brand replaces the models they offer every so often, and during this time, you can usually get quite a good deal on brand new merchandise. Remember that these are the models that have survived the rigors of customer complaints for at least one if not two full years. I would say the average discontinued discount would be 20-30% off retail. Once these items are gone from the warehouse, they are gone forever, so if you see one you like, it's a good idea to get it.

Floor models are easier to come buy, but not as wise as a buy. These are the models that have had customers laying on them in the store. Because you're not purchasing the mattress directly from the manufacturer, there can be some question as to the validity of the warranty. Be sure to check. Also, a year in a mattress store is the practical equivalent of 3 to 5 years in someone's home. People have bounced up and down on it, it's probably been moved around several times, and it's been sitting around in a dusty store for a year or more, causing potential problems for allergens inside the mattress. Floor models could be gone tomorrow, or they could be there for another three months. But if they are there for another three months, they are going to be shown to every last customer that walks in the door, so it's only going to make the situation described above even worse if you wait. Discounts on floor models should be between 30% and 40% off the regular price, usually with the price lowering as it stays longer in the store.

Clearance items (mattresses that have been in someone's home more than 48 hours, and cannot legally be sold as new merchandise) can come and go in as little as a day. If you want a mattress that someone has slept on, more power to you, and most states have laws regulating how the mattress must be sanitized and stored, but at the end of the day it's a mattress someone has slept on. These should be 40% to 60% off retail price.

What about allergies?

2008-08-22T17:39:00.000-07:00

Don't invite anyone with latex allergies to a sleepover!

Three points on that.

1. Always test out a mattress before you buy it by lying and turning on it for at least 10 minutes. This will tell you if you will be allergic.

2. Latex is a contact allergy. Fabric and flame-proof materials cover the mattress. An allergic individual would get the same reaction to sleeping on a mattress as they would having a latex glove waved around 4 feet away.

3. It is my understanding that the process of turning latex into tensile materials (i.e. gloves, rubber bands, and condoms) is a different process than turning it into foam. I would guess that the proteins (the parts that humans can be allergic to) in the two different products are different because one has been "cooked" more, denaturing it.

Eco-friendly Mattress?

2008-08-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

We’re looking for a new mattress and are considering Ikea’s “Sultan Erfjord” latex mattress. Does anyone have it? Do you like it?

Also, what other recommendations do you have for a comfortable, eco-friendly mattress that won’t break the bank?

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When something like memory foam or latex is mentioned as a component of the mattress, it is often the case that the material mentioned is only part of the mattress. The industry does have all natural 100% latex mattresses, but those mattresses average more than $5,000 retail. Make sure you ask the salesperson whether the mattress is made with natural or synthetic latex, and what percentage of it there is. A word to look for is Talalay. This is the name of the process of turning natural latex into a foam. Avoid “dunlop” which is a way of making latex foam from a combination of natural latex and other materials, most of which are based on petroleum. If you are looking for a mattress that is specifically designed to be better for the environment, I recommend looking into the Nature’s Rest brand. The latex mattresses at IKEA should fall under the $1000 mark, and Nature’s Rest should be at least $2000. In the spirit of full disclosure, I must let you know that I have not worked with Nature’s Rest, but I have worked with the Spring Air brand, whose manufacturer also makes Nature’s Rest. Spring Air has been in the business since before our grandparents were born, and I was very impressed with their non-latex product when I worked with them. Ikea, on the other hand, is a furniture retailer at the end of the day. I am always wary of furniture retailer’s in-store mattress brand (that is all IKEA offers) as it seems to me that they would make aesthetic or economic choices, rather than choices that would actually benefit their customers.

MattressFAQ.blogspot.com

2008-08-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

This new blog will hopefully be where I can share the knowledge of mattresses that I gained during the 3+ years that I sold them. I no longer sell mattresses, and I am no longer associated in any way with any company or person who is involved in the mattress business. I still have my preferences, and I was still taught by people with an agenda, but I will do my best to remain unbiased while providing you with the most information I can. So please don't hesitate to use the comments to ask any questions, especially the dumb ones, and I will try to answer them in the posts.