If you feel like you can find anything online these days, and have it delivered to your home within just a day or so, you would be correct. There are very few standard consumer goods that are unavailable for purchase online, and this is true whether it is fresh food, costly appliances, and even huge pieces of furniture, like the mattress on your bed.
Is there a reason why you should NOT buy a mattress online? That’s the focus of this article. In it, we will compare buying mattresses online to purchasing in a store, and see whether the sleep and mattress experts have any opinions on such matters.
Mattresses Matter
Whether or not you have stopped to do the math, the simple truth is that you spend roughly 1/3 of your life asleep, and typically in your bed. That means you definitely want to invest in the best bedding possible. Now, typically, a very high-quality mattress will last for years, and it is impossible to give a fixed number of years that should pass between your mattress buying experiences.
Why? It has to do with things like quality of construction, materials, and your sleeping habits. The point we are making is that you need to think of an array of factors when buying a mattress, and a few of them demand a visit to a “brick and mortar” location.
As the team over at Sleep.org says, “regardless of where you want to ultimately make your purchase, you should first go to a mattress showroom and test out different mattress styles to find out what you like. Firm or soft? Springs or memory foam? Shed your embarrassment and lie down on lots of different mattresses. Change positions a few times, making sure that you spend a few minutes on each side, your back, and your stomach.”
You may find that you prefer something far different from what you have at home already, and this can save you a lot of headaches later. Remember that mattress technologies change as fast as all other technologies, and even if your current mattress is around five years old, it may be outdated in terms of materials. So, while you are there, shouldn’t you just buy the one you like? In a word: No.
Online vs In-Store
First things first, one of the reasons to “shop around” after you’ve found a mattress (or anything) you like is to find the best price. Again, the team at Sleep.org warns that “You will typically pay 15 percent less online, compared with in-store (sometimes less than half the retail price!).”
And while you might say, “But the furniture store will deliver and set up as well as accept a return…” you will also find plenty of online retailers who will sell you a mattress, give you up to 90 days or more to try it out, and pick it up for free (or a small amount) if you dislike it. Of course, the downside is that you do all of the setup and will face re-packing the mattress or getting it ready for the return.
Naturally, this may make many of you wonder whether the online retailers, by offering much lower prices and such appealing terms, are able to do so because of lower quality goods. The answer, according to one group, is simply no. In fact, they say, “Mattress brands sold only or mostly online often have at least slightly better specifications, materials, durability, and long-term comfort than those widely available in stores.”
Because of all of this, many people are a bit stumped as to how to proceed. Let’s just list the pros for each to help you make the right choice:
Pros for Online Mattress Buying
- Excellent price
- Premium quality
- Low return fees
- Amazingly easy shopping experience
- No pressure from in-store sales staff
- Good customer service
Pros for In-Store Mattress Buying
- You can try before buying
- You get full service at delivery and they take away any old mattresses (for a fee)
- Delivery times can often be faster than online providers
- Returns are easier
- You can ask an expert questions in real-time as you do your shopping
We suggest you look at each of the pros and determine which of the options has more appeal to you. Just remember that you always want to test out many mattresses in the stores, go online and so some comparison shopping, and keep in mind that all brick and mortar sellers are aware of the challenges posted online. That is why some will offer price matching policies on some of their goods. Don’t forget to ask if this is an option.
Give yourself a bit of time when shopping for a mattress. You are likely to find the best deal on the mattress you like the best if you don’t rush to the decision, and soon you’ll be enjoying some of the best sleep once that perfect new mattress arrives.
