Without a doubt, buying a mattress is one of the most important long-term purchases you will make. The wrong choice can result in health problems, missed work and obesity. And because mattresses are built to last at least 5 years (sometimes even more than 10 years), the decision is one you will have to live with for a long time. The long-term nature of your purchase decision means you really have to know and understand the product you are looking to purchase. So while big box stores might be able to offer considerable savings on current or older mattress models, the smaller, local retailers can often offer the right kind of advice to make sure you buy a product that will suit your and your body's needs. There are pros and cons to each type of mattress retailer. Read on to find out more.
Local/Regional Retailers
Believe it or not, but a lot of local or regional mattress and furniture retailers perform exceptionally well it comes to bedding, mattresses and overall sleep health. With retailers who earn more than 75% of their total revenues from mattress sales, shoppers can expect a much higher level of expertise when it comes to the product itself as well as how it will suit a sleeper's body and needs. In other words, the level of knowledge from regional vendors is typically high as far as the overall industry goes, so if you need advice (i.e. you have not done your research on your own) then a smaller, specialized retailer is ideal.
The flaws with these smaller stores is that the salespeople are most often commissioned. They may prefer one product over another if there are special commissions associated with selling one instead of the other. In most cases, their primary goal is to turn you into a repeat customer, so if Product A is better suited to your needs and they sell you Product B, chances are good that Product B is going to be the next-best alternative. As well, you can expect to pay a little more on the regular retail price; sales prices are ideal as they will be more than competitive compared to the big box stores.
Big Box Stores
A lot of big box stores will retail bedding products, but most often the staff are either shared (e.g. work in electronics on Saturday, bedding on Monday and lawn and garden on Tuesday) or they do not have the same level of expertise as a smaller store. This is not always the case, however; big stores like Sears and Macy's often have a dedicated staff - finding which stores have the true experts and which have the true salespeople is virtually impossible, though.
The biggest benefit with big box stores is that their prices are steeply discounted. They make great sense for the true bargain hunters who have invested the time to properly research a product and who fully understand their sleep and mattress needs. As well, these stores make it easy to test out products without the pressure of pushy salespeople who are more often salaried or paid hourly than commissioned (again, some big box stores have specialized departments).
Where To Buy
Again, depending on the shopper's knowledge level and understanding of the product, it is always best to shop at a store that will meet your individual needs. Partnering with the wrong retailer can result in long-term dissatisfaction with a product and possible consequences, which ultimately means that instead of shopping on price, shop with your needs at the forefront of your mind.