How to Score a Mattress Deal Online
Six simple steps to search, strategize, and schmooze your way to the lowest possible price
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You could go from store to store in your search for a good deal on a new mattress, but why go through the trouble when you donāt have to? There are plenty of ways to save on a new bed when you shop online.
You can shop for a mattress anytime, anywhere, and check out offerings from multiple retailers and manufacturers simultaneously, so the likelihood that you can click or type your way to a better price is high.
āAlmost every time you contact a mattress customer service representative, whether you call them or chat with them online, thereās a deal to be had,ā says Claudette Ennis, CRās market analyst who covers the mattress industry. āThey want to make a sale as easy as possible for the buyer. You just need to ask.ā
1. Start With a Model-Specific Search
The easiest way to begin? Turn to Googleābut instead of searching for the brand youāre interested in, search for the specific mattress model and add the word ādiscountā or ācouponā to the search bar. When we searched for āTuft & Needle Mint coupon,ā several 10 percent coupon codes popped up. You can also go to GoodBed, which lists mattress discounts and coupons with savings of $50 and up.
Of course, youāll need to test these codes on the retailerās website when you prepare to check out to make sure theyāre accurate and up to date. You may even find different prices at different retailers during this search. Note which website offers the best priceābetter yet, take a quick screenshot. In the end, if you decide to buy through a different site (because, say, it has free shipping or a better return policy), you can use the information to haggle for a better price.
2. Look Closely at the Retailerās Website
Many mattress-in-a-box beds are sold exclusively online at the makerās website, and they tend to offer generous return policiesābut you might not find the same mattress anywhere else. Once you arrive on the companyās main page, take a look around for current promotions. The site might highlight a deal on its home page. For example, Cocoon by Sealy, which we tested, has run website promotions for $75 off any mattress, or $125 off a mattress and foundation set. Often, retailers apply restrictions to such promotions, so be sure to check the fine print.
4. Did You Forget Something?
Another money-saving tactic to try: After signing up for the newsletter and adding a mattress to the cart, take a U-turn: Close the browser tab and go on with your life.
Though this might seem counterintuitive, this passive approach to getting a deal often prompts an automated marketing system to send you an emailāor even a text messageāwith a discount code, to nudge you closer to a purchase. We found that online mattress retailers GhostBed and WinkBeds give second chances with an added bonus. (Sleep on Latex and Purple, on the other hand, reminded shoppers that a cart had items in it but did not offer an extra discount.)
5. Outline Your Talking Points. And Haggle!
Even though youāre online, you can still haggle. Consider live-chatting with a company representative to see whether you can get any extra discounts or free delivery or other perks, such as a pillow.
Not many CR members in our 2020 Mattress Retailers Survey who purchased online attempted to haggle (just 6 percent), but the majority of those who did were rewarded for their courage. In fact, 66 percent who asked scored a dealāeven better than the success rate for CR members who haggled in a store (59 percent). So the odds are on your side that if you ask, youāll get a lower price than advertised. In our survey, some CR members reported saving at least $100 off an online mattress purchase.
Before you start chatting and haggling, though, itās prudent to prepare a rough script. Know which model youāre interested in and be open about the fact that youād like a deal. Take note of what a mattress companyās competitors are doing: If Sleep on Latex is offering $99 off a mattress, maybe Tuft & Needle can match it. Similarly, if youāve found the model you want at a better price but would rather have it sent directly from the manufacturer, ask whether it will match the price.
6. Investigate Freebies: Free Shipping, Free Setup, Free Haul-Away
Aside from any discount on the mattress itself, you can ask whether the company might throw in other perks, such as white-glove service (the mattress is delivered to your home and installed directly on your bed frame) or a service that picks up the mattress if youāre dissatisfied with it.
And ask about any other freebies. āThe most popular add-ons are free or discounted pillows, throws, sheets, and mattress protectors,ā Ennis says. In our survey, 91 percent of CR members who bought from Nectar received free pillows with their mattress purchase.
Top-Rated Mattresses You Can Buy Online
CR members can read on for test results on five models that perform well in our rigorous tests.