Comments on: The Mattress Industry is One Big Scam

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:43:42 +0000

I really like your blog post. I work as Consumer Advocate for a mattress company and deal with the very same problems you state everyday. I talk to hundreds of people throughout the work week are going through the very same circumstances you write about here. I can tell the readers of your blog that you must compare the materials in the mattress and not the mattress name. Measure the height and get a print out of the materials so an honest comparison may be made between two mattresses. Make price your last consideration because mattress companies actually mark up mattresses by as mush as 600 – 700 percent. When you compare you will find the price gets a lot better, especially if you compare online.

Best regards,

Jeff

By: Marcia Henderson

Marcia Henderson — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:57:54 +0000

I bought a Stearns & Foster mattress which is made by Sealy. The mattress immediately started collapsing & bowing out all around the sides of the bed. We took pictures & sent in a complaint packet. I had no doubt they would honor the warranty. No, that didn’t the manufacturer said it was normal wear & tear. This was all before one year of warranty really!! We paid over $3k for the top of the line mattress. I can’t believe Stearns & Foster (Sealy) can’t not design a mattress to last longer than a year!!! You feel like you are falling off the mattress. I worked for a furniture company in college. I bought a mattress for $500 it never collapsed around the sides & bow out even after 10 years!!! There is something wrong, why have a warranty!!! A mattress warranty with Stearns & Foster (Sealy) is a WORTHLESS piece of PAPER!!!!

By: steve

steve — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:45:06 +0000

I would be carefull of US Matress. They lie a lot about there delivery times. They advertise overnight when they mean 2 weeks delivery. They are nice when selling but dickheads if you ask them to stick by their promises.

Avoid Avoid Avoid

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:40:11 +0000

I am a mattress salesperson and not a great one. I am not a top performer which means I make less sales (and money) than most others. I am not bad at my job. I have a tremendous amount of knowledge about mattresses, I’m friendly, I’m great at fitting each customer to a mattresses they love and can afford. So why am I not a great sales person? Well, I’m not pushy. Customers come to me, receive all the information, use me to find them the perfect bed then leave. The top sales people are the ones that DO push and ARE more aggressive. It always baffles me when people complain about how pushy mattress sales people tend to be. If these were not the ones customers purchase from than this would not be the case. The sales people that truly care about the customers and try and give a very very fair price are the ones that get fired because they are not producing. Buy from the salesperson that cares and the aggressive sales people would no longer be around. One last point…Those online mattress websites can be less expensive. But can you lay on the mattress? Is there someone that helps you find a good mattress? In my experience, customers find the mattress they like from a brick and morter store and then buy online. Unfortunately that brick and morter store has overhead and training costs. you may pay a little extra but its because customers are being provided a service. I have a family to support and because I am not one of those “shady” salespeople I have a harder time supporting my family.

By: kc

kc — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 02:22:16 +0000

Ok here is my journey but i have a very happy ending… i suggest you follow and read things posted or you will get robbed!!

read http://mattressscam.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/your-money/10haggler.html

A major Mattress company was busted for re-selling used mattress’ returned after a 30 day try out. Apparently they were examined with a black light and discovered to have “fluid” stains YUK!
and yes you have heard of this company

But I found a bright light in the world of mattress scams.

http://saatvamattress.com/saatva-mattress.html

Check em out! read the reviews, and I will personally vouch for the quality of the bed. Best sleep I’ve had in years.

I do not work for this company nor do I have any relationship but a happy customer with this company.

By: JeffS

JeffS — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:45:28 +0000

I totally agree the mattress industry is one big scam, and something so serious that congress needs to look into it. Something not mentioned here is that some mattress companies, such as SpringAir, license out the rights to manufacture their mattress, and I believe us-mattress.com has that license too. Hence quality can easily be compromised. I bought a Sealy Postupedic from us-mattress and it was nothing like advertised. I could not believe Sealy let their logo be put on something like that. They are still promoting it on their web site as the most popular, and I feel sorry for anyone that falls for that. Their site claims over 8000 people like that model, but for three months only 19 reviews! Never changing, and I think 18 of those reviews were posted by their staff. I will never buy a mattress online, no matter the situation.

By: Nancy and Gregory

Nancy and Gregory — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:59:12 +0000

I could not sleep last night when the realization hit me like the famous ton of bricks that we had been had by Sleepys in Alexandria, VA. $3,600 for a double mattress, no box spring just mattress, but 1/2price sale. $1,800.

Oh Boy. But wait!! A lot of chat about warranties and bring back if not working etc. Last mattress several years ago was from Penny’s and bought with less song and dance about bringing back etc { I did bring back the first soggy mattress to Pennys with no problem but you have to exchange, not return and a small fee }
So we are getting ready to buy the mattress at Sleepys sort of in shock at the price, and we learn UNLESS WE BUY A $139+ mattress cover we have no warranty. Shock again. I feel like I was worn down. AND the salesman “CALLED HIS MANAGER FOR SOME $$ OFF.”

NEXT we can have credit with no interest payments over 2 years if we wish. OK the husband said. I did not want the debt. But what the hey. So I am approved for credit and can pay off the mattress when we wish no penalty. Ok we say why not??? Why not is the email I got today that I have a credit card WE WERE NOT TOLD WE WERE APPLYING FOR A CARD. We have all the credit cards we need and could have used them.

Also fees to bring us the mattress- fees to take away the old one, taxes and the darn mattress cover and the bottom line grows. I knew better. It was time to leave{ but I do so need a new mattress the 71 year old bones need some support. }

take your time look around. I also felt one of the department stores could be a nicer place to shop. Consumer reports sort of washes its hands re mattresses and says it is very individual. Lie down on one. Stay Smart. I hope to undo our whole transaction with Sleepys

But what to do. Error! that we did not go home and think it over. And the golden mattress did seem OK. I feel had and dumb that I did not think and compare. It is a hard shopping chore.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:17:21 +0000

I would just like to add a bit of information on how you can shop for a mattress in a more educated manner. As I mentioned previously, John brought up a lot of really valid points. Yet, coming back and re-reading, I realize there really are no solutions. A client I work for offers a mattress buying guide on his website. You can find the guide at http://www.qmattresses.com/qmatters-faqs/12-questions-a-mattress-buying-guide/

By: Mattress Insider

Mattress Insider — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:35:03 +0000

I am in the mattress industry and it is geared toward making the customer buy, and nothing else. Even coil counts are a scam. An example is a cheap imported spring with thin wire, not tempered, being touted as “1000 coils and therefore the best.” Meanwhile a super-duty American built 364 coil, which I know through experience lasts 30 years, is overlooked. The big box stores took over the mattress industry. If you want quality, go to a family-run mattress factory so they can show you how they are built: mcroskey.com in San Fransisco, norwalkmattress.com in CT, sunsetmattress.com in NH, http://magicsleeper.net in PA, Maidinmaine.com in ME, Mycustommattress.com in NJ, etc. This site mentions 100% mark ups in mattress stores. I can tell you that it is actually more like %390. Go to the small mattress maker instead and you will see a big difference! In most cases you will get the real thing for less than half the price. I aggree with Phoenix’s post and his objective mattress underground website. It is time we collectively took a stand against a different kind of corporate greed. Thanks for your time. John S.

By: Warning!!

Warning!! — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:49:16 +0000

Like Rubydo comment #59 I am another victim of U.S.-MATTRESS.com.I Purchased a Sealy Queen Posturepedic Shadow dream luxury mattress from U.S. mattress in September 2010 for $1250.00 and after less than three months the mattress sagged and bulged out the sides. It’s distorted so bad the sheets will no longer stay on the bed .Another was sent from U.S. mattress with the same problem.I can no longer sleep in this bed and U.S. mattress refuses to refund for what they themselves admitted is a manufacturers defect.Wish i had been warned,so now I’m warning you.