How to Buy a Bed

I HATE shopping for beds! Can I say it again? I HATE, HATE, HATE shopping for beds!!!!!!! No other product/industry I know of has developed so many ways to try and confuse consumers, mask the differences between products, and generally do all they can to rip off whoever they can. Did I mention that I hate shopping for beds?

Furthermore, the "best" bit of advice on how to select a good bed is to "rest on it for 15 to 20 minutes." So a 15-minute test drive is going to tell you how well you'll like a bed that you'll be spending eight hours on for the next 10 years? I don't think so.

It's an old article, but Slate has some suggestions on how to buy a bed. Their thoughts:

If you can't tell the difference between a $200 and a $900 mattress (I couldn't, but maybe you can), get the cheaper one. They're nearly the same, anyway. Anything over $1,500 and you're just paying for prestige, says Larry Thomas. There are tons of great mattress sets for low prices. Yes, to an extent, you get what you pay for (better coil design, denser foam, ritzier ticking), but don't go crazy over this stuff. Lie down on mattresses in the store and trust your own judgment. Remember: Once you're asleep, every mattress feels the same.

Consumer Reports has a more recent piece on the same issue and says the following:

For each of these beds, our panelists’ opinions ran the gamut from “aah” to “ick,” which just reinforces the need for an in-store tryout.

It should be noted that CR says that a 15-minute store test of a bed is the best way to pick one for you. See above for what I think of that suggestion (though it is better than nothing I guess.)

BTW, CR also lists 10 mattress myths, a somewhat useful article.

I have a picky back and as such we have purchased our fair share (plus some) of beds. In fact, my wife and I joke that we have a "bed ministry" because we give our "old" (defined as "used for a couple years") beds to a local ministry that helps less advantaged people get furniture, places to live, etc. Yep, there are some people in our city living in an apartment they pay $150 a month to rent, but they're sleeping on a $2,000 bed!

Anyway, I am far from the right person to ask about how to shop for a bed, but at least I have one main suggestion/thought on the issue. It's the same as what CR said in one of the articles above:

Look for a comfort guarantee. Some businesses give you two weeks to several months to return or exchange a bed you don’t like.

No, you can't tell if a bed will work for you in 15 minutes or not, but you can tell (or at least get closer to telling) in 30 days -- a comfort guarantee that many bed places offer. Be sure you get the full details from them: Will they pick up the best with no charge? Do you get your money back or simply a replacement bed? Do you owe a re-stocking (or any other) fee? Ask for the complete story, then decide if you're willing to live under the conditions of it. If you are, buy the bed you think will work best with a choice #2 and #3 as well. That way, if the first option doesn't work, maybe the second one will. :-)

Comments

[MC]

I've purchased one mattress/box spring set in my life--just last year. Before that, I always used one of those "passed-on" mattresses from people like you!

I went to a mattress store and was totally turned off by the salesmen with their hard sell of expensive options but who could not even tell me the difference in construction between the pricey and less-so versions. And when I tried laying on the mattresses to try them out, the salesmen "hovered" and kept bothering me with their pointless blathering.

So, I fled the stores and gave up the idea of testing the mattress first: I just went and ordered a mid-priced Serta set online & sight unseen from a retailer who I know usually sells quality stuff if at non-bargain prices (Pottery Barn).

The bed is great--I expect not to have to buy another one for 10 yrs or so. Yeah, I probably could have gotten it cheaper, but at the cost of my time driving all over town and of agonizing over the options and of worrying that I was possibly buying a cheap piece of junk that some salesman just wanted to unload but that would soon sag and that I'd have to pay someone to haul away while still having to buy another one.

Some things are not worth trying to save money on. If you really bought the quality of mattress that you need and want, you'd probably keep it for at least a decade. If you're not real poor (like I was as a grad student!) it's not worth pinching pennies with things that you'll use every day and keep such a long time. If you are that poor, forget about buying and just pick up a used mattress from someone you know.

[the weakonomist]

My parents are on the same mattress they've been using since I was born! My mattress is about 5 years old and is of very crappy quality. I'm going to have to get a new one once married because it sags in the middle.

I've always found the mattresses at Sams to be great quality. My future wife an I plan to make our next purchase there. Hopefully we can keep it as long as my parents have.

[deviantM]

There's no such thing as the best bed mattress, but by doing a little homework you should be able to find the perfect one for you.

[Cheap Like Me]

This is an issue that plagues me! I disagree with Slate's "Once you're asleep, every mattress feels the same." We bought our first bed (others had been hand-me-downs) when I was expecting our daughter. Moved into our new house, decided that bed was too hard and bought a new one. Now it is sagging (four years old; does have a 15-year warranty that I need to look into) and we have a feather bed on top to try to add a squish factor. We test drove a Sleep Number bed by staying overnight at a Radisson, and experienced all the bad things about that bed. Even though people swear by it, and they offer a return policy, it was worth $70 (and a night out) to learn that wasn't right for us. Still looking for something that will let us not wake up stiff and sore.

[Trephlocybe]

Here's the thing, even though you may not be able to tell the difference comfort wise, the quality may diminish fast.

I've read from confessions of a mattress salesperson, that you should life a corner of the bed. if it is light and you can lift it very easily, the quality is bad and will wear out faster.
Pillow tops are a sham, do not ever buy.

[Karl]

One note that I would like to throw out is that it generally takes a few nights for the body to adjust to a different mattress. Some say 3-5 nights.

Disclosure: I work part time for Select Comfort (Sleep Number beds) setting up beds. And yes most people are very satisfied with their beds, however there are some who return them within the 30 day trial.

[chynalemay]

It's a pain but in the Portland, OR area at one shopping area there are about 4 "mattress/bed" stores all about next to each other. A "list price " of almost $2K on a quality mattress "set" is often on sale for $1500 range~ and salesman can be talked down at least 25-50%. I did just that and got a $1899 King set that I CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE (similar to nice hotel mattress w/ a pilow top) for $1050 and with a nice asthma "proof" deep cover for $50, so $1100. They threw it in WITH tax included and deliverd as I was gonna "keep shopping", I sleep better! Shop'em like a car and expect BIG discounts....

[catchthefever]

You can also get terrific discounts by purchasing mismatched sets. The fabric on my mattress is not the same as the box spring. Like I care - it's covered with sheets and a comforter!

I found my Stearns & Foster at a local place that specializes in mismatched or slightly damaged beds (scuff, plastic protector is ripped, etc.) So a $2400+ bed cost $600. I can attest that was money well spent.

[Bad_Brad]

IMHO, mattresses are one area where it doesn't make sense to go cheap. A cheaper mattress:

1. Will wear out and need replacement more quickly
2. Will exacerbate any back / spine / posture problems you have
3. Will not give you as good a night's sleep as a nicer, more expensive mattress

Not to mention some of the more expensive mattresses (memory foam) do other things that are nice, like retain your body heat better, and collect less dust mites and allergens so that you cough less and breathe better (and therefore, sleep better and end up more healthy!)

It's worth every penny to splurge a bit on a mattress, IMHO.

[turtlemom]

All our mattresses are from Costco. We have been pleased with all of them. We have two twin size, one queen serta set and the queen memory foam. My daughter was going to pay $1200 for the memory foam before I convinced her to spend $500 for one at Costco and she has been very happy with her purchase and savings.

[Jim]

Like Catchthefever, I've also saved a lot on mattresses in the past buying 'mismatched' sets. Thats a good tactic for a bargain IMO.

It seems MC & Bad_Brad both think going 'cheap' on a mattress isn't a good idea. But I think the point is that you can still get a quality mattress for a good price. As long as the mattress is high quality then why pay more? I don't think people are saying go buy a crappy mattress. But if you can get a GOOD mattress for half the price then isn't that worth the effort considering these things cost $1000 or $2000?

[Darin H]

My wife and I had to buy a mattress for our guest bedroom a couple of years ago, we ended up buying the cheapest bed there was ($200) and then buying a mattress top from Costco ($100). People love sleeping on the bed, at least for the few nights they stay with us. They're amazed at how comfortable the bed is. I wouldn't recommend this for a full-time sleeping bed though.

[Aj]

I bought a sleep number bed and I love it. The best part about a Sleep Number Bed is the portability, if you can break it down and put it in a box. No need for that one trip just for the bed when moving.

[Mike]

I actually like the mattress from a futon that we bought from Walmart for $100 or so about 6 years back and sleep on it on the floor. We threw out the metal frame, I also bought a proper mattress for ~$1000 as my wife insisted that we need to have a "proper" bedroom, but, both she and I prefer to sleep on the futon mattress. I feel my back aches after 2-3 nights of sleeping on it, and it feels too soft, something that appealed when we purchased it. So the expensive mattress lies idle at home - maybe we will sell / throw or donate, if someone is willing to pick it up.

[mbhunter]

Glad to know you're not taking this lying down.

*** RIM SHOT ***

[Norma]

Novafoam from Costco. We have the full mattress on our main bed and toppers for all other existing beds. The camper bed even has a topper.

Love, love, 'em.

[E]

You spend one third of your life sleeping why would you skimp on a mattress. I bought a $2700 temperpedic and it was the best money ive ever spent. Financed it at 0% and paid it off within 1 year (had the $ to pay cash beforehand though). I get fantastic sleep and it pays off- no neck or back pain ever, and I love getting into bed. People spend outrageous amounts of money on cars or silly things that they might only drive or use a few times a week or less but wont cough up the dough for a nice bed where they spend a majority of their life. Highly recommend the temperpedic.

[Matt]

Well, the consumer report about taking your mattress for a test drive went something like this from what I remember:

Those that tried their mattress out for 3-5 minutes before buying responded that about 55% loved their mattress.
Those that tried their mattress out for 5-10 minutes before buying responded that about 66% loved their mattress.
Those that tried their mattress out for 10-15 minutes before buying responded that about 72% loved their mattress.

So really, test driving your mattress for 15 minutes only increases the chance that you'll pick the right one out on the first try. The article you linked is different from the studies I read. But also has some good information on it.

Shopping from a place with a comfort guarantee is a good way to increase the odds that you'll have a good mattress.