Buying a bed can be tricky. Different retailers rarely call a model by the same name and sales seem to be perpetual, leaving shoppers in the dark about bottom-line prices. Whats a shopper to do? Consumer Reports asked 17,444 online subscribers who recently bought a mattress if they were satisfied with their purchase and where to shop to get the best deal.
When it comes to a good nights rest mattress brand matters. Respondents rated Tempur-Pedic, Original Mattress Factory and Select Comfort higher than most for overall satisfaction. Shoppers who bought those brands were much more satisfied than those who bought Spring Air and Stearns & Foster models. And satisfaction doesnt have to come at a high price. Although the median price for a Tempur-Pedic is $2,408, Original Mattress Factory models average around $891.
Overall, 84 percent of respondents said theyd definitely or probably buy their current mattress brand again if they had to do it over. An unhappy 16 percent said theyd probably or definitely pick something else.
Buying a mattress is no bed of roses, says Tod Marks, senior project editor for Consumer Reports. In fact, there are plenty of thorns. Comparison shopping is almost impossible and youre apt to make that expensive decisions after trying out a bed for just a few minutes in the store. And if youre unhappy with your selection, you could be out hundreds of dollars if you want to make an exchange.
Problem sleepers said Tempur-Pedic (made of memory foam that conforms to the shape of the body) and Select Comfort (a line of adjustable air mattresses) provided the most relief. More than 60 percent of long-suffering sleepers who bought either of the two brands said their sleep was very much improved, while respondents who purchased Stearns & Foster and Spring Air mattresses were less satisfied with their mattress. About 10 percent of problem sleepers who bought them said their condition worsened.
A few lumps
But not all consumers are singing the praises of these mattresses.
• Sandra of La Center, Washington told ConsumerAffairs.com the Classic 9" Queen Tempur-Pedic mattress along with mattress cover and Tempur-pedic pillows she bought from Sleep Country in Portland, Oregon, had a "horrific chemical odor."
• Tim of Northfield, Minnesota, writes ConsumerAffairs.com that the Select Comfort model 5000 "started to sag in the middle" after about nine months. He says he and his wife have back problems and now see a physical therapist once a week minimum.
The right mattress choice can be the key to a good nights rest and it doesnt have to cost a lot according to the Consumer Reports survey results. Here are the details:
• Any new mattress beats an old one. Seventy-two percent of readers said their new bed improved their sleep. Consider replacing a mattress if its uncomfortable, even if its only five or so years old.
• Problem sleepers had a preference. Among those who said they had problems sleeping, 78 percent said that a new bed, any new bed, improved their ability to get a good nights rest. Forty-
two percent said the new mattress greatly improved their sleep experience.
• Satisfaction doesnt have to be costly. Although 78 percent of those who spent more than $4,000 said they were highly satisfied with their purchase, 66 percent of those who spent less than $1,000 said they were also highly satisfied.
• An in-store tryout is a good idea. Seventy-two percent of those who invested at least 10 minutes trying the mattress before purchasing it were highly satisfied with their mattress purchased compared with 62 percent who didnt. However 12 percent of those surveyed were at least somewhat dissatisfied with their new mattress even if they tried it first.
• Dont pay full price. Consumer Reports suggests consumers should never pay full price on a mattress. Discounts of 50 percent or more off the suggested retail price on mattresses are common especially if the shopper tries to bargain for the best price. Although only 36 percent of respondent tried haggling, 72 of those who tried got a lower price.
• Read the fine print. When deciding where to buy, carefully assess delivery fees and return policies. Some sellers dont charge for delivery wile others waive them during special promotions or for purchases over a certain dollar amount. Otherwise fees range from $40 to $225. Most stores allow exchanges if the mattress is in pristine condition. Some may charge a restocking fee of $140 to 25 percent of the purchase price.
Rating the retailers
No matter where they bought their beds, most respondents were quite pleased with their purchase experiences. Seventy-one percent of those surveyed were very satisfied on average; 32 percent said they were completely satisfied.
The Original Mattress Factory was a standout for both service and selection. By contrast, Costco, which also scored highly, was a standout because of its excellent prices. Service and selection were minimal and typically shoppers cant generally try out a bed in a warehouse store. Eighty-nine percent of those surveyed said mattress prices at Costco were very good or excellent (compared to 84 percent who said the same of Sams Club).
Most respondents were pleased with their purchases experience. Seventy-one percent were very satisfied and 32 percent said they were completely satisfied. The most common complaint, cited by nine percent of those surveyed, was the lack of models on display, particularly at Costco, Sams Club and Sears.
For more information on how mattress brands and retailers fared in Consumer Reports survey, check out the September issue, available September 1. The complete report is also available online at www.ConsumerReports.org.
