When is the Best Time to Buy a Mattress?
If you plan to get a new mattress, read our article and consider some of mentioned factors, as they will save your hard-earned money.
If you plan to get a new mattress, read our article and consider some of mentioned factors, as they will save your hard-earned money.
When it comes to buying a mattress, a person will usually go to the nearest store, make a purchase and walk out. Doing this is considered a necessity, so people don’t spend much time dwelling on prices. If they like it and can afford it, this is generally enough to make a decision. Not everyone knows that prices can range significantly depending on the month of the year. Holiday or store discounts can also affect the price of mattresses. This product has a reputation for having a much higher cost than what they eventually sell for. So, if you plan to get a new mattress, consider some of these factors, as they will save your hard-earned money.
When your mattress is around ten years old, it is probably nearing the end of its life, and it may be a good time to start looking for a new one.
Pain in your neck or back can also be a telltale sign that your mattress is causing you problems and that you should find a model that will help you resolve this.
If you are determined to buy a mattress, the question of how to purchase comes first. There are two options: going to a brick and mortar store or ordering online. Both have their benefits and downsides. Furthermore, choosing one will influence when you should make a purchase and get the most out of discounts.
Brick and mortar stores are still a traditional way to obtain a mattress. The main reasons are safety and convenience that come with going to a store personally and being able to test the product. Getting to feel the texture or even lie on it and see if it is right for you is typically a deal breaker. On the other hand, the major disadvantage of a retail store is a much higher price of products due to expenses they have to bear, such as rent and utilities.
The modern age and the internet brought with them the ease of online shopping. An increasing number of people choose to buy things they need from the convenience of their home. With both the number of online customers and sellers growing, competition is fiercer than ever. This has resulted in prices going down considerably. Second, there are more types and designs of mattresses to choose from than ever.
Moreover, the ease of bed-in-a-box or White Glove delivery with little to no cost is an important advantage. Even though you can’t test the mattress in person, most of the online stores provide a trial period in which you can get a refund if you are not satisfied. There is a wide variety of online deals available, so it is vital to keep track of them as some are there for only an hour or so ( so-called “lightning deals” or “flash deals”).
Several factors affect prices for both the brick and mortar and online stores. When you choose one of these options, you should consider when, where, and how you make your purchase. Changes in supply and demand, an increase in competition, particular holiday or celebration all tend to bring prices up or down. Researching the market and comparing prices can be very cost-effective.
May Discounts
Every year, as seasons change, stores cycle through their inventory. New mattresses come in, so they have to sell as many of the old ones as they can. It leads to a notable drop in prices of last seasons’ models. Usually, new stock of merchandise arrives in June, so the best time to watch out for discounts is in May. If you are lucky, you may find models that are up to 60% off. Even if they didn’t lower their prices officially, by knowing when the new supply comes in, you should be able to negotiate a better deal. If you want to be sure, as there is a chance some retails do this in a different time, you can ask the manager when the store plans to turn over its inventory.
Holidays
There is no better time to go shopping for mattresses than holiday weekends. Celebrations of Labor Day, Columbus Day, Martin Luther King Jr., etc., can bring prices down from 10% to as much as 50%. If the inventory is being turned over concurrently, like Memorial Day, which falls on the last Monday of May, discounts may be even higher. So, why not celebrate your favorite holiday by buying yourself a new mattress and saving some money at the same time?
Overstock Sales
When the excessive manufacturing of products happens, stores try to discard them in various ways. Because the demand is surpassed, they return it to the manufacturing company or the original distributor, liquidate it to other corporation or sell to salvage companies. Additionally, they will try to sell as many as they can by reducing the prices substantially. Although these sales might not be advertised, a potential customer should search online or ask around if anyone has heard anything about overstock sales. There is a chance of being rewarded with a luxury mattress for a portion of the price.
Store Closures
Keep an eye out for brick and mortar stores that are about to shut down. Some retails can go out of business due to not selling well, or going bankrupt and not being able to pay the rent. This will force them to sell their products at prices that are just low enough so they can cover their expenses. There will often be a sign that says, “Going Out of Business Sale: All Things Must Go.” Potential customers can either search online or check the local newspaper for any store closures happening within the area.
Negotiation
As a rule, when you are shopping online, the price is always set, and it is final. On the contrary, while buying at a brick and mortar store, negotiating is expected, and by avoiding it, you will probably overpay. In the mattress industry, haggling for a better price is something of a tradition. Here are some tricks and advice you should follow to get the lowest price possible.
First of all, you should research prior sales and deals. This way, by knowing what discounts were offered, you will get a sense of what price you should go for. It may happen that the salesperson will honor previous price cut, or at least you will be informed and know what amount you should expect.
Showing confidence is one of the most essential aspects of negotiation. If you don’t consider yourself this type of person, try psyching up before going, because just emitting self-esteem will often get you what you want.
There are other ways of getting your money’s worth. If you don’t get any discounts, try asking for other items to be included, either for free or with the reduced price. For instance, getting some pillows, sheets, or even free delivery and sleep trial could prove beneficial.
Before coming to a retail store and starting negotiation, you need to decide on a walk-away price. By doing this, you will appear more confident and know if you should accept a particular offer or give up. If it seems that the other side won’t budge, there is no shame in walking away and visiting another store. Coming back some other day and trying again is also an option. Chances are, someone else will be working, and you might have more success.
When it comes to discounts, there are more options and deals, price cuts happen more often, but can also be there for a limited amount of time. Aside from traditional holiday sales, online companies can reduce prices for their anniversary celebrations or to raise interest in their brand. So always keeping an eye out for these sales is essential for online shoppers. Not every product will be discounted at the same time, and price cuts can last for days for one product, and only a couple of hours for the other.
Because expenses for online stores are lower than those for brick and mortar ones, their products are also cheaper. Therefore, buying a mattress online can save you a noteworthy sum of money. Even though you are unable to test it right away, most of the stores offer a trial period in which you can see if it’s right for you.
On some particular days of the year, like Cyber Monday, there are deals all over the internet, specific to products that are bought online. Typically, mattresses are included in these deals.
Cyber Monday
Perhaps the biggest day when it comes to exclusive discounts for online purchases, this event happens on a first Monday that comes after Thanksgiving. Retailers have confirmed that their sales are increased significantly during this period, so lowering prices is beneficial to both the customer and the seller. Big-ticket items often have massive discounts, mattresses included. In the last few years, many online stores extended this occasion to last throughout the week, so make sure to keep an eye out for deals following the days after Cyber Monday.
Amazon Prime Day
Amazon Prime is a service provided by this famous company for members who choose to pay an annual subscription fee. Included in this membership are exclusive deals, discounts, and coupons available only to those who join Prime. Amazon Prime Day was introduced in 2015 to celebrate the company’s 20th anniversary. Receiving feedback from customers who weren’t satisfied with deals and discounts offered, Amazon decided to do better next year, starting this artificial holiday. It usually falls in the second week of July and may even extend to 2-3 days. Since then, this day is bigger than ever and attracts more subscribers. The number of products offered with discount keeps growing, many different models of mattresses included. So, if you are an Amazon Prime member or plan on becoming one, don’t miss this special day, as you are sure to find something great.
Singles’ Day
This Chinese holiday created by college students in the early 1990s is fairly new to the US. In China, it represents a celebration of singledom, but in the United States, it is considered a day to praise self-love and self-care. Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has transformed this day into an online shopping holiday, offering heavily discounted products. It quickly spread to the US, giving retailers another opportunity to increase their sales by providing discounts. Singles’ day falls on 11th of November and has even eclipsed Black Friday in China, due to its immense popularity.
Black Friday
Black Friday is considered to be the start of the holiday shopping season. Every year, on a first Friday after Thanksgiving, retail stores throughout the United States offer huge discounts on a wide variety of products. When it comes to gross sales, this is one of the biggest days of the year. At first, only brick and mortar stores had Black Friday deals, but it has rapidly spread online. Today, it would be hard to find an online seller not providing at least some discounts. As with most deals, more expensive products tend to have more substantial price cuts, so this is a perfect opportunity to get a new mattress.
4th of July
Most retail stores in America have discounts featuring the majority of products since this day is one of their most significant holidays. This is an excellent opportunity to find a great deal if there are any mattresses left from the last season. Also, new models that have arrived in June have their prices cut for the first time, so if you had your eyes on some high-quality new product, this is a perfect occasion.
Labor Day
Occurring on the first Monday of September, this holiday is when most of brick and mortar mattress stores offer the best deals. Moreover, it coincides with the seasonal transition from spring to winter models, so the ones from the previous season have additional discounts. In order to keep up with the competition on this day, online stores have started lowering prices as well. These price cuts can last up to three days, so if you plan on changing your mattress, pick one, and find the best deal.
Columbus Day
This holiday, which takes place on a second Monday in October, is usually a slower period for mattress retailers. In the interest of boosting their sales, many stores will have discounts available, so you can use this to your advantage and save some money if you are shopping for a bed.
Veterans Day
Just like Columbus Day, this holiday also falls in-between Labor Day and Black Friday, so stores don’t expect much, and lower prices so they can boost their sales. If there is a particular mattress you want, this may be a good chance to get it, before it is sold out during Black Friday.
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day marks the end of the holiday shopping season. Therefore, most mattress stores will offer discounts on leftover models to make room for new ones. You can use this opportunity to surprise someone dear to you or treat yourself and sleep soundly in the following year.
Other Holidays
There are a few more holidays that may have mattress stores offering discounts. Look out for good deals on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, and Thanksgiving. Any of these days may result in a new luxury model at an affordable price!
If you need to buy a mattress right away and are unable to wait for any of these sales, or you just want to try and lower the price further, here are some ways to make that happen.
Pop-up Promotions
When you visit an online direct-to-consumer store, an advertisement offering a discount may appear. This should take you to mattresses that you can buy with their price reduced. In case there are no pop-up promotions, there may be an option to initiate a chat with an online salesperson and ask if there are any deals available.
Coupons
Before you decide on a specific mattress, you can try searching the web for coupons. Even though there are no official deals or discounts, browsing for a while and finding a coupon will probably get you at least 50$ price reduction. Some websites have referrals that will take you to a particular mattress and lower its price.
Conclusion
Buying a mattress should not be done hastily. Sleeping well is essential both for your health and energy, and a right mattress is crucial. So, when planning a purchase, do thorough research and make a pros and cons list. Weigh your options with brick and mortar and online stores, keeping an eye out for discounts, additional deals, guarantees, and sellers reputation. Once you have done all of this, you will unquestionably sleep like a baby!
Michael is a professional writer based in Boston and someone who has always been fascinated with the mysteries of sleep. When he’s not reading about new sleep studies and working on our news section, you can find him playing video games or visiting local comic book stores.