Detailed Reviews of Brick and Mortar Mattress Stores

America’s Mattress

Read the warranty and return information immediately (before the mattress is delivered). If the salesperson tells you something different from what is written, they will go by what is written. If they are different, their stance is that you had the opportunity to read the warranty when you purchased the mattress. The warranty may change due to 1) clearance prices, 2) price matches, and 3) discontinued items, and 4) whether you’ve previously exchanged an item.

If they send you an email linking to the manufacture’s refund, cancellation, or exchange policies be aware that those policies refer to mattresses purchased online directly from the manufacturer; the store’s policies may be different.

Multiple customers report that they were advised to jump up and down on a mattress to soften it but jumping on the mattress voids the warranty. Some stores have good reviews while others have been accused of bait and switch (selling one mattress, delivering a different mattress), delivering a stained mattress and not being responsive to correct the situation, and dishonest tactics.

Some stores require you to purchase the mattress pad in order to use the sleep night guarantee.

Each store is independently owned. Many stores have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau but at least one store has an F. Check with the BBB about the specific store you are considering doing business with before you buy. Be sure to read the Customer Reviews on the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs, and Yelp.

Innerspring

Hybrid

iComfort

Perfect Sleeper

Sertapedic

Americas Mattress

American Freight Furniture and Mattress

More than one customer reported that they substituted merchandise when what they ordered wasn’t available without advising the customer that they made a change. There are frequent reports of the wrong item being delivered and of damaged deliveries as well as poor communication on deliveries and delivery dates frequently changing.

They cater to lower-income individuals. Some of the worst mattress stores do this. They offer layaway and encourage people to sign-up to guarantee the price of the item being put on layaway but it’s unlikely that the item will still be available by the time it is fully paid which means you’ll have to choose another item or wait four weeks to get a full refund. If your account goes delinquent, they will charge you $10 a month to administer the program. You would be better off opening a savings account and buying a mattress after you save enough money.

American Freight does not provide a warranty. Their merchandise is warranted by the manufacturer’s warranty.

Check online reviews before you buy. Read the Customer Reviews on the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs, and Yelp or save yourself the time and hassle and go where they offer a sleep trial without restocking fees.

Euro-Top

Pillow Top

NordicRest

Jamison

Corsicana

Richland

American Mattress

You can purchase an extended sleep easy guarantee for an additional fee.

60-Day Best Price Guarantee (Since each store names the same mattress a different name this won’t do you much good. Shop before you buy.)

They advertise a hassle-free buying experience (note that this doesn’t say anything about service after the sale or exchanges). They have more good reviews than some of their competitors, but they also have some bad reviews. Some stores have great reviews and some don’t.

Check online reviews about the specific store you are considering doing business with before you buy. Be sure to read the Customer Reviews on the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs, and Yelp.

Family owned, established in 1988.

Inner Spring

Hybrid

Pillow Top

Mattress-in-a-box

TEMPUR-PEDIC

Restonic

Sealy

Serta

Therapedic

Perfect Sleeper

iComfort• BeautySleep

Ashley Furniture HomeStore

You can use “threshold delivery” where they deliver your unassembled item just inside your doorway or garage.

They also offer a white glove delivery that will set the mattress up in the room of your choosing for an additional fee.

The reviews are all over the place. There are many where the customer literally writes a warning to stay away and there are others that gush over how well they were treated. The most common themes are issues with re-scheduled deliveries, delivering pieces at different times (each necessitating a 4-hour windows during which someone has to be home to accept the delivery), and difficulty with replacing or exchanging mattresses that are not as expected or damaged.

Store policies and online policies may vary. Each store is independently owned and operated. There isn’t a standard return policy; each store sets their own policies. Read the policy before you buy. Some stores offer a 120-night sleep guarantee that allows the exchange of a mattress. The 2½ star rating is for stores with the sleep night guarantee. If the store you use doesn’t have a sleep night guarantee we would rate it 1-star.

Check online reviews of physical stores before you buy. Some of the stores reschedule the delivery repeatedly and someone is required to be home for delivery. At a minimum, read Customer Reviews for the specific store you plan to shop on the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs, and Yelp before you shop.

Innerspring

Hybrid

Sterns and Foster

TEMPUR-Pedic

Sealy

SertaBeautyrest

Bernie & Phyls

Inspect your purchase carefully before you accept delivery. Do not sign for delivery of the item if there is any damage, missing parts, or it is not as expected. Refuse delivery. The delivery people are not employees. Their promises that missing parts will be delivered later are not binding and will not be honored by the store.

Warning: Once you give them your money you have 72 hours to get it back.

During the first 72-hours, you can cancel if you haven’t accepted delivery. They will transfer your deposit to other merchandise, hold the funds to be applied to a future purchase, or refund it using the credit card you used or a company check. After 72-hours, they will allow you to use your deposit toward other merchandise or keep it on account for use later.

Mattresses have a 90-day Sleep Comfort exchange that allows you to exchange the mattress for one of equal or greater value. (Serta iComfort and Serta Hybrids allow 120 days.) You must wait 30 days before exercising your right to exchange. Only one comfort exchange is allowed per customer. The delivery charge for the original delivery will be subtracted from the amount applied toward the exchange. You will be charged $99 for removal of the mattress that didn’t work and delivery of the mattress you exchange it for.

If the new mattress is a different brand, you can exchange the foundation (excluding adjustable bases). It will be removed and the new one delivered for $50. plus any price difference.

Protect your mattress with a cover. If there are any stains on the mattress, they will not exchange the mattress.

The Comfort Guarantee only applies if your purchase exceeds the following minimum purchase prices:

Innerspring

Hybrid

Stearns & Foster

Serta

TEMPUR-Pedic

Big Lots

Returns must be “in their original packaging and condition.” Any mattress that is delivered in a box cannot be put back in the box once it expands and will not meet this definition. Innerspring mattresses are delivered wrapped in plastic which is generally removed before use.

Contact their customer service department before returning a mattress that was delivered to you.

If your item was damaged or defective, the 20% re-stocking fee does not apply and they will cover return shipping.

Be sure to sign up for Big Rewards before you buy to earn in-store credit for your purchase.

20% restocking fee is charged on returns.

Hybrid

Innerspring

Zeopedic

iCollection

Pick up in the store for free

Bob’s Discount Furniture

The warranty covers manufacturer defects (loose stitching, sagging as long as the base meets recommendations, and body impressions deeper than 1½ inches.

Sleep Comfort, Between the 30th and 90th day, you may exchange it for a one-time only replacement. It does not apply to bedding height, stains, soiling, or burns, abuse, or sheet fit.

There are more short (2-line) reviews “I enjoyed shopping at Bob’s; Person A was helpful and not pushy.” than most other companies. But interspersed between the fluff are reviews that speak of shoddy products with the basic premise that if your time is worth money, you’ll spend more in time than you’ll save in dollars shopping here. 1 – 3 hour waits when someone calls customer service to address a problem appear common.

If you buy, watch your delivery people, especially during assembly. There are reports of frames, including bunk beds, falling apart because they were not assembled properly.

Check your order for damage before you sign for delivery. Once you sign you lose rights to object if you find damage. Check first and save yourself from hassles and headaches.

Hybrid

Innerspring

Latex

Bobtastic Delivery

$49.99 – 329.99

Value Delivery

$9.99 – $29.99(via mail)

Costco

As far as mattress sales, Costco is a hybrid between a mattress store and a direct from the manufacturer online purchase. In fact, many of the mattresses brands available from Costco are also available directly from the manufacturer. We can’t think of a good reason to buy from a middleman when you can buy directly from the manufacturer.

They do not have a Sleep Night guarantee but they do have a liberal return policy so you can return the mattress to the store if you are not satisfied with your purchase within a reasonable time. That’s one reason customers tend to trust Costco.

One downside of buying a mattress at Costco is that they normally do not have the mattresses set-up so you can try them. The mattresses in the store are stood upright are on their side. You can feel them but not lay down on them. They have a brand, NovaForm, that is only available at Costco but the manufacturer, Sleep Innovations, also manufacturers brands sold exclusively at Walmart, Kohl’s, and Home Depot.

Like other stores (as opposed to manufacturers), it can be difficult to obtain comparison information about coil gauge, foam density, and the exact materials used in constructing the mattress when you shop at Costco. Ask questions and be persistent about getting this information before you buy. The durability of your mattress purchase requires quality materials. Use our check list. Also, you’ll want to know what the mattress is made of and whether there will be significant off-gassing.

The warranty from the manufacturer would cover defects in materials or workmanship.

Simmons Beautyrest

Brentwood Home

Blackstone

Comfort Tech

Stearns & Foster

Tempur-Pedic

Sleep Science

Eight Sleep

Spring Air

Thomasville

Novaform

Broyhill

Casper

Denver Mattress Co.,Furniture Row

See the in-depth review of their mattresses on Best Mattress Reviews. We really like that they list important information that allows you to compare mattresses including (ILD) foam density, the gauge of the steel used in their coils, and how many coils are used in the bed. This sets Denver Mattress Company apart from the brick and mortar Mattress Stores we’ve reviewed so far.

We also like that they are more than upfront about the importance of using the right type of foundation to avoid voiding your mattress warranty. We find it refreshing.

Read reviews. Many problems reported by customer reviews including charging restocking fees when an order is cancelled after it takes weeks longer to deliver than promised and failures to honor warranties.

They offer a 365-Day Better Sleep Guarantee that allows for a refund or exchange during the first 120 days. 120 – 240 days out, you’re eligible for a 75% credit toward a different mattress (no refunds after 120 days). During the final four months of the first year, a 50% credit toward a different mattress is available.

Some mattresses do not qualify for the comfort guarantee including any type of split king and Full XL.

Innerspring

Hybrid

Latex

Air bed

Removal of the old mattress may be available.

Not available if the old mattress has bed bugs.

Sterns & Foster

TEMPUR-Pedic

American National

Green Choice

Aireloom

Purple

Magniflex

The website states there are absolutely no returns after 3 days.

The delivery fee will not be refunded if the mattress is returned. A 15% restocking fee will be charged for orders delivered by Fed Ex. Special orders require a 25% non-refundable deposit.

Floor samples and clearance items do not get the benefit of the warranty.

Price matching policy does not apply to internet pricing.

Hybrid

Foam

Pillow Top

Gel

Memory Foam

Sealy

Serta

TEMPUR-Pedic

Stearns & Foster

Beautyrest

IKEA

If you cannot transport a mattress you want to return to the store yourself, IKEA can provide pick-up service for a fee.

Each IKEA mattress comes with a limited 25-year warranty. The warranty only covers specific aspects of the mattress. Springs are covered in innerspring mattresses, and the core foam is covered in foam and latex mattresses. That means that the upper level of the mattress, such as memory foam, aren’t covered under the warranty. There are additional limitations in the warranty that you may wish to read before you decide which mattress to purchase.

Expect it to take 3 – 4 days for your mattress to achieve its expected shape. Off-gassing is to be expected. Even though the warranty is for 25 years, the warranty document recommends replacing the mattress every eight years.

IKEA’s mattresses are their own brand manufactured in their own factories. Their prices range from $120 – $800 so they’re at the lower end of the mattress prices.

Latex

Innerspring

Hybrid

ORGEDAL

HAUGESUN

HAUGSVÄR

MATRAND

HESSTUN

MYRBACKA

KNAPSTAD

MEISTERVI

HOLMSBU

HUSVIKA

They will bring the items into your home. Assembly can be ordered through TaskRabbit.

Unlike some furniture stores that require you to begin making payments on your credit account based on when the items are ordered, not when they are received, JC Penny doesn’t charge you until your order ships.

Innerspring

Pillow Top

Latex

Hybrid

Serta

Stearns & Foster

Beautyrest

TEMPUR-Pedic

Lucid

Linenspa

Wellsville

Simmons

Shipping to your home varies from $24.99 to $150.

Free on purchases over $599.

Mattress 1 One

Florida’s Attorney General investigated Mattress1One resulting in refunds to customers of over $94,000.

Mohanad Salem, the owner of Mattress 1 One according to the records in Florida disputed that his stores were responsible for all the complaints because some of the stores are owned by other family members under separate LLCs but the Attorney General combined the four LLCs in the settlement agreement. The settlement agreement included stores in Florida, USVI, and Texas. The 2015 agreement also required Mattress 1 One to establish an escrow account with an additional $100,000 to address future claims. A local law firm in Miami asks Mattress 1 One customers to let them know if they have encountered the same illegal practices. Complaints on trusted review sites indicate the practices are continuing.

If you cancel your order on the day it is to be delivered, you are charged a 20% fee for cancellation. If you do a special order, you cannot cancel it.

Once you accept delivery, you’re stuck and the driver has a vested interest in your accepting the delivery fast. Per Indeed, drivers are scheduled to work 12-hour shifts without overtime and must pay for problems out of their wages unless they can prove they didn’t cause it.

If you use the credit available in-store through renovate, the interest rate is $29.99%. If you can wait, don’t finance.

Mattress 1 One doesn’t provide a warranty on their products. They refer you to the manufacturer’s warranty.

Hybrid

Individual Coils

Innerspring

Gel Memory Foam

TEMPUR-Pedic

Sleep Inc

Stearns & Foster

Sleepalo

Mattress Land Sleep Fit™

This is the first mattress store I’ve reviewed that didn’t make me want to take a shower when I finished reading the reviews. They apparently have a business model that eliminated the sleaze-factor. Upper management responds to reviews on sites they don’t control such as Yelp. They clearly want to make sure their customers are satisfied, as if they find it personally satisfying to please their customers.

Most bricks and mortar mattress companies have horrible reviews with brief (2-line) positive reviews that always seem suspect to me. Mattress Land reviews seem authentic and they are overwhelmingly positive. In fact, many of the Glassdoor reviews from employees are more positive than usual employee reviews.

Their BedFIT™ diagnostic system evaluates your particular body on a test mattress that is scientifically designed to determine their unique pressure points and how to best support the sleeper’s muscular-skeletal system. You are then provided with recommendations for beds that will provide the best scientifically determined mattress. The system was designed by a nationally recognized sleep expert, Dr. Robert D. Oexman, who invented the bedFIT™ diagnostic process. The system must be used to qualify for the sleep night guarantee.

They will customize a mattress for couples with different sleep needs in order to provide each person with the right support.

There appear to be unaffiliated stores in other states with this name. We looked at Mattress Land in California, Idaho, Nevada, and Washington.

They provide a six-month comfort guarantee on beds over $699 but the website doesn’t state whether the guarantee allows returns or only allows an exchange.

If they didn’t charge $60 for inspections to determine if there is a manufacturer defect and a 20% restocking fee their rating would be higher.

14-models of private-label SleepFit manufactured in Mebane, NC

Memory Foam

Hybrid

Innerspring

Eurotop

Kingsdown

Stearns and Foster

Sealy

Sleep Fit™

Technogel®

Reverie

Leggett & Platt

Bed Gear

Mattress Firm Sleepy’s

They provide a 120-night sleep trial. They ask you to sleep on the mattress for a minimum of 30 nights to adjust to the bed and will allow one return or exchange per purchase during the 120-day period. There is a delivery fee of at least $79.99 on exchanges. It may be higher in some markets. A restocking fee equal to 10% of the original mattress price (up to $250) will be charged except in Hawaii and on Tulo and Purple mattresses.

It is important to protect your mattress with a mattress cover because stained, unsanitary, or damaged mattresses will not be accepted for returns which is one reason not to ever accept delivery of a mattress that is stained or has marks on it. You’ll have to buy their expensive mattress protector to protect your warranty. Leave the tags on the mattress as removal can void the sleep trial. Mattresses that are on clearance, exchanges, or floor models are not included in the sleep trial.

Like many of the mattress stores I reviewed, Mattress Firm customers have to pay a third party to inspect the mattress if they want to use their warranty. Third party reviewers, like Mattress Marshals in Florida, use a process that will not detect defects in certain types of mattresses, such as pillow-top mattresses because the test is done without exerting any pressure on the mattress.

Then there is the odor issue. There’s off gassing and then there is toxic mold. An Illinois woman who purchased a Beautyrest mattress ended up in the hospital with breathing difficulties that were linked to toxic mold in the new mattress she purchased from Mattress Firm that smelled moldy when it was delivered.

Many of the complaints and reviews about mattress stores, including but not limited to Mattress Firm, have a pattern of rejecting warranty claims, being unresponsive to customer complaints, being difficult to reach (phone systems that take hours to get through, have loops, or repeatedly hang up after long waits). There is a class action lawsuit against both Mattress Firm and Sealy for this practice in Kansas. The BBB in Texas has warned that they’ve noticed a pattern of complaints from Mattress Firm customers.

On occasion, but not often, public complaints were responded to by staff and encouraged to email [email protected] for assistance. If you’re having a problem, perhaps they can help. Provide them with your name, order number, phone number, email address, and the best time for them to reach out to you.

Encased Coil

Hybrid

Gel Memory foam

Pillow Top

Pocketed Coil

Dreambed Lux

Eclipse

Hampton & Rhodes

Purple

Serta

Sleepy’s

Tulo

Chattam & Wells

Intellibed

5 Little Monkeys

Delivery on some products is free

White Glove and Red Carpet service include set up

Mattress Warehouse

Sleep Outfitters

Mattress King

Their 2-star rating is because you’re out a lot of money if a mattress from Mattress Warehouse doesn’t work for you. If you have a problem that is covered by the warranty, there is a $100 charge to exchange for a new mattress.

I wouldn’t trust the reviews as at least one customer stated in their review that they were offered a discount on their purchase if they left a 5-star review. I’ve suspected several of the mattress companies of doing something like this because some of them have an unusual number of gushy 2-line reviews. This is the only one where someone posted this in their review.

If you change your mind, you only have 24 hours to cancel without penalty. Your 24-hours begins at the time of purchase—not when you receive the mattress. They allow you to cancel your order for a full refund or credit if they don’t provide an actual or estimated delivery date within two weeks except in situations when the manufacturer or supplier will not allow Mattress Warehouse to cancel the order. If you decide to do business with them, ask for assurance in writing that the mattress you order can be canceled or you’ll be stuck even if there are unreasonable delays involved in delivering your mattress.

If you are not home to accept delivery when it is scheduled, you may be charged a second delivery fee. They are not obligated to provide a delivery window, so you may need to be available at home the entire day when delivery is scheduled.

If you exchange a mattress for a less expensive one, they will not refund the difference.

The delivery fee does not include the removal of your old mattress or set-up of your new bed.

If an order is canceled after it is shipped, the customer must pay for both shipping and a 20% handling fee.

There are bad reviews from warehouse employees and some sales employees on Indeed

Refunds on cancelations can take time (weeks) to process based on multiple complaints. Refunds can take up to 30 days to process (per their website).

The warranty does not cover stitching on the cover. Check it before you accept delivery!

On occasion, but not often, public complaints were responded to by staff and encouraged to email [email protected] for assistance.

A mattress protector is required to preserve your warranty. In one case they sold a mattress protector for a much deeper mattress that was more expensive than what the customer needed and wouldn’t exchange it after the customer discovered it. The dimensions of the mattress weren’t noted on the receipt, so the customer didn’t know the dimensions of the mattress they were purchasing until the mattress was delivered.

You are required to buy a mattress protector from Mattress Warehouse or one of their affiliates, Sleep Outfitters or Mattress King at the same time you purchase your mattress. A mattress protector for a California King mattress purchased from Sleep Outfitters runs $79.99 – 219.99 compared to $24.99 for a Utopia Bedding Waterproof Bamboo Mattress Protector – Hypoallergenic Fitted Mattress Cover with breathable Cool Flow Technology. If you do not buy a mattress protector from Mattress Warehouse, you are not entitled to the 120-night comfort promise.

Clearance sales are final.

They direct you to a sales associate for information about Comfort Exchanges. The policies are not posted for comparison or review.

Check online pricing. In one case a customer checked the online pricing after purchasing a mattress in the store for $1,399 and found the same mattress and box spring on their website for $999. When she complained, Mattress Warehouse responded that they sometimes offer online discounts online that are not available in the store.

When I tried to review their online prices and mattresses their website redirected me to sleepoutfitters.com

Note that elsewhere on their website, they state the Comfort Exchange timeframe is 100 days. Get it in writing if you buy a mattress from Mattress Warehouse.

If you buy the mattress protector and want to exercise your one-time opportunity to exchange the mattress you purchase during the first 120-days, after sleeping on the mattress for a minimum of 30 nights, you’ll pay a $249 exchange fee for the privilege.

If you received any free gifts with your purchase of the original mattress (i.e. pillows, base, foundation, etc.), you will be required to pay the store the full retail amount for those items.

The re-delivery fee for the exchanged mattress is $79.99. If there is a price difference, you will have to pay the difference.

The mattress protector is not returnable. The comfort guarantee is not valid on floor models and specialty sizes such as California King and Split California King are not eligible for the comfort night promise.

Special orders require a 50% nonrefundable deposit.

Mattress Warehouse will help customers who can’t use credit by allowing them to layaway a mattress with a 10% nonrefundable deposit and their agreement to a monthly payment schedule that will pay the mattress in full within six months. There are no refunds on canceled layaways and if no payments are paid for a 60-day period, the layaway will be canceled, and the customer will receive a credit on their account that must be used within 1-year. If the item on layaway is discontinued, it would no longer be eligible for the warranty and the store can substitute a different product of equal value.

The store does not warrant the products it sells. You have the right to see the warranty from the manufacturer before you purchase and we strongly suggest you read it thoroughly.

The online documentation for the 100-night comfort guarantee differs from the documentation for the 120-night comfort guarantee. They state you will receive a credit of 100% of the purchase price toward a new mattress, pay a standard delivery fee plus an additional $14.99 per item removal fee. So, for example, if you originally purchased a bed, two pillows and a frame, you would have to pay $59.96 ($14.99 x 4) removal fee. Additionally, the Law Tag must be attached to the original mattress. The mattress must be in pristine condition, free of tears, burns, stains, and clean.

Innerspring

Stearns & Foster

Sealy

Expanded area – purchase over $500

$199

Expanded area Under $500 purchase

$299

TEMPUR-Pedic FREE                   Online orders FREE

Nebraska Furniture Mart

To me, this seems aggressive and punitive because the cost/benefit of pursuing this strategy doesn’t work from a business perspective.

“As a practical matter, I have rarely if ever, seen a furniture store repossess their collateral. It is of very limited value and not worth the expense to them.” – Attorney Gary Alan Carnal

In 2013, a court case in Nebraska brings to light a Nebraska Furniture Mart policy to include in its purchase contract the following statement:

“Pricing or mathematical errors are subject to revision by NFM upon written notice to Buyer.” This means they can quote the wrong price and, after the customer places the order, modify the price. The price modification is not subject to the customer’s agreement and the customer is not given an opportunity to reject the change. In that case, NFM made an error in calculating the price of over $3,000. When the customer didn’t agree to the increased price, NFM refunded their money despite there being a valid contract to sell the customer the furniture at the previously agreed on price. The Appeals court overturned the lower court ruling, deeming that the customer had a contract that NFM was contractually bound to honor.

In another case, a Kansas customer who filed bankruptcy after her business failed was accused of fraud by NFM because $109.99 of her purchases on an account balance of over $5,000 were for her business. The court found in the customer’s favor. This simply points out how aggressive NFM is in using the courts to punish debtors who fall upon hard times.

120-night comfort guarantee. Use a mattress pad and leave the law tag on. You must sleep on the mattress for 30 nights before you can exchange it. If you exchange the mattress, you will be charged a $69.99 restock fee. You’ll be responsible for transporting the mattress you are returning and delivery of the new mattress yourself or paying for the service. You will be charged a 25% restock fee on the price of the box and shipping charges if your mattress is a box spring. If delivery on the original mattress was free, then you will be charged the fee if you exchange the mattress and you are not eligible for free delivery on the exchange.

The mattress sale will be final, and you will not have a comfort guarantee if you do not buy the mattress protection pad from NFM at the same time you buy the mattress. Their mattress toppers sell for $149.99 – $279.99 compared to $52.99 for a Safe Rest Premium Zippered Mattress Encasement – Lab Tested Bed Bug Proof, Dust Mite and Waterproof – Breathable, Noiseless and Vinyl Free on Amazon. NFM’s mattress pads are not refundable. If you change your mind about the mattress before delivery, you still cannot return the mattress protector.

You must leave the Law Label (the one that says “Do not remove under penalty of law”) on the mattress.

Special orders are assessed at least 25% of the fee as a nonrefundable deposit.

Gel Foam

Innerspring

Serta

Sealy

TEMPUR-Pedic

Obedco (bed-in-a-box)

Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn from online Manufacturers

West ElmWilliams and Sonoma

Both Leesa and Sapira come with the easy return policies the manufacturer offers including a 100-night free trial (including free shipping and free returns).

However, the Westin Heavenly® and Robin mattresses doesn’t offer a sleep trial and fall under the list of items that may not be returned at Pottery Barn. If you think you’ve already tried the Westin Heavenly® when you slept at a Westin, check the online reviews. There are many customers who bought one thinking they would enjoy it as much as the mattresses they were familiar with from their stays at Westin who were disappointed. Without a sleep trial, I wouldn’t risk it.

Gel Foam

Hybrid

Sapira

Robin

Beautyrest

Naturepedic®

Westin Heavenly

Raymour & Flanigan

Raymour & Flanigan if you Buy a Comfort Guarantee

If you have a manufacturers warranty and the model you purchased has been discontinued or improved, you cannot do an even exchange.

They offer a 45-day comfort guarantee if you purchase the additional Platinum Protection Plan and you keep the mattress for at least 30 days. You may only exchange the mattress one time. The Law Tag must remain on the mattress and the mattress must be kept in sanitary condition, free of dirt, tears, burns, and stains.

If you decide to exchange your mattress, you will have to pay the delivery fee for the original delivery of the mattress even if you originally enjoyed free delivery and you will have to pay for delivery of the new mattress.

Purchase of the Platinum Protection plan includes a mattress protector which must be used to keep the comfort exchange guarantee active. If the mattress protector is stained, you must wash it immediately. If the stain goes through to the mattress, they will replace the mattress one time only. You will not be able to purchase platinum protection for the new mattress.

They keep a significant investment in their in-stock inventory which helps them deliver without as many delays as other manufacturers.

Check online reviews before you buy. There are many similar reports relating to the delivered items being different from the one selected in the show room, bed bugs in new furniture, and difficulties with the warranty coverage. At a minimum, read Customer Reviews for the specific store you plan to shop on the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs, and Yelp before you shop.

Pillowtop

Innerspring

Hybrid

Serta

TEMPUR-Pedic

Stearns & Foster

Sealy

Bellanest

Aireloom

King Koil

Restonic

Rooms-to-go

You will not have an opportunity to examine the mattress. Your sale may not be canceled after the mattress is loaded on the truck for delivery. At that point, if you refuse delivery, it will be treated as a return and you will only be able to recoup 80% of the purchase price.

Returns of internet orders are only permitted within 48 hours of delivery and only if the merchandise is not as expected. The delivery charge will not be refunded and a restocking fee equal to the delivery fee will be charged. Once the merchandise has been returned, the refund can take up to ten days to process.

Returns of items purchased in the showroom are not allowed. You may not cancel the sale after delivery. You may cancel the order within 48 hours of the time you purchase it for a full refund. If you cancel more than 48 hours after you order the items, it will be treated as a return even if it was never delivered to you. Your refund will be limited to 80% of the purchase price.

They do not offer a comfort period. They do “accommodate” customers who complain to Better Business Bureau if they pay a $99 fee to dispose of the mattress they want to return.

Check online reviews before you buy. At a minimum, read Customer Reviews for the specific store you plan to shop on the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs, Complaints Board, and Yelp before you shop.

Latex

Memory Foam

Innerspring

Beds-To-Go

Kingsdown

Sealy

Serta

Stearns & Foster

TEMPUR-Pedic

Therapedic

BeautySleep

Nature’s Spa

Sam’s Club

To buy a mattress at Sam’s Club you have to buy a membership which will cost you between $45 – $100 depending on the type of membership you choose.

If you pay for a delivery, you will not be reimbursed for those charges if you return your mattress unless the mattress was damaged during shipping or the wrong item was sent.

Sam’s Club encourages the use of GoShare for delivery of large items. The minimum charge is $39.99 and the cost is .99¢ per minute so just under $60. an hour. GoShare is like an Uber for delivering large items.

Sam’s Club sells the Purple Mattress. I checked out the deal directly from the manufacturer. Today, you could order the Queen Purple Mattress and a free pillow for $999 with free shipping and a 100-night sleep trial with free returns on the Purple website. At Sam’s Club you could order the same mattress with a free pillow and mattress protector for $1,019 (on sale from $1,156). Shipping was free but there is no indication that return shipping is free.

They also sell the Zinus Green Tea mattress, another bed-in-a-box available directly from the manufacturer. Although you should check both Sam’s Club and the manufacturer website for the best deal, when I checked the Sam’s Club deal was better because it included the base and mattress for just slightly more than the mattress by itself was on the manufacturer’s website but you have to pay for delivery which evens it out.

Sam’s Refund policy states you must return the product with all the contents including boxes, manuals, warranty cards, etc. and any promotional gifts so hang onto the packaging until you’re sure you’re going to keep the mattress.

Sam’s club does state that some products have different policies but doesn’t specify any for mattresses.

Unlike every other bricks and mortar store I’ve reviewed, I just wasn’t finding any bad reviews about mattresses from Sam’s. There were a few delivery issues but no nightmares where someone is stuck with a mattress that hurts to sleep on. In some cases, their deals were better than the manufacturer website. I would be willing to give Sam’s a try, especially if I was ordering a Purple or a Zinus mattress.

Memory Foam

Hybrids

Air beds

Gel Foam

Serta

TEMPUR-Pedic

Zinus

Purple

can pick up yourself at the store;

some mattresses ship free from the manufacturer.

SearsSears HomeTown Store

Sears sells mattresses through both its regular and Sears Home Town stores. There are many complaints from people who exchanged their first mattress and found the new mattress even worse than the first one. You are only allowed one exchange.

Many of those complaints are from before Sears changed their return policy for mattresses to a 180-night comfort period. The return policy at their HomeTown stores remains 30-days. The policy allows for a one-time return or exchange. If the second mattress doesn’t meet your expectations, you may not return it. You will be out the 15% restocking fee if you return or exchange your original mattress if it is legal in your state. If the mattress is soiled, infested, damaged, stained, or missing the law tags it may not be returned or exchanged.

If your mattress purchase is a special order, be aware that canceling more than 24-hours after you make the purchase will require a 15% order cancellation fee.

If the mattress is damaged or stained when they are delivered, you have three days to notify Sears.

Delivery costs will not be refunded if you return a mattress.

If you purchase an item that is damaged when you receive it, Sears may, at their discretion, choose to repair it instead of replacing it.

Like other furniture stores that discount floor models and clearance sales, mattresses purchased at Sears that were display mattresses are sold AS IS. They are not covered by a warranty and may not be returned or exchanged, they do not include a comfort guarantee. The purchase is final so you assume all risks.

Hybrid

Innerspring

Memory Foam

Waterbed

Serta

Beautyrest

Stearns & Foster

TEMPUR-Pedic

Serta iComfort

Brittany Organic

Spectra

Fortnight

Sit ‘n Sleep

They offer a 60-night sleep trial which is better than many brick and mortar stores but not better than most mattress manufacturers who sell directly to the public through their websites. Their website amuses me because they say wrote “it generally takes 8 – 10 weeks to properly break in a new mattress” yet their sleep guarantee is only 8½ weeks. I’m not sure if they think customers can’t do math or if they can’t see the contradiction in offering an 8½ week sleep trial while stating it generally takes 8 – 10 weeks to properly break in a new mattress.

You must wait 30 days to return a mattress even if you hate it the first night and wake up in pain. They did allow one customer to return it sooner if they got a doctor’s note about their back pain.

They won’t charge you more than $500 for their 20% restocking fee even if your mattress was more than $2,500.

If you buy a mattress that is discounted because it was a closeout, clearance, or floor sample, you don’t get a sleep trial or warranty protection.

This is another company that refuses to honor the warranty on defective mattresses if there are smudges, stains, or other marks on the mattress even if they have nothing to do with the defect.

In one case, they refused to accept the return of a mattress that was approved as defective because the delivery person who picked it up to load it on the truck had dirty hands that put a smudge on the mattress.

The pattern of the online reviews makes me believe customers receive some type of benefit for posting 5-star reviews that mention their salesperson by name.

Foam Mattress

Innerspring

Hybrid

Euro Top

Beauty Sleep

Beautyrest

Corsicana

FiveStar

King Koil

Primo Intl.

Sealy

Serta

Sherwood

Sit ‘n Sleep

Technogel

TEMPUR-Pedic

The old mattress is removed free (see bed bug warning later in this article)

Sleep Number/Select Comfort

It used to be that Sleep Number was the only option other than two twin mattresses used to form a King bed that would allow sleepers to enjoy different firmness levels. That’s no longer true. Several of the mattress manufacturers who sell online have options that allow you to customize each side of the bed without going high-tech.

The 25-year warranty is pro-rated after the first two years.

A 100-night in-home trial period is offered for most of the Sleep Number beds. The it™ bed has a 30 night in-home trial. If you decide to return the bed, the delivery cost will not be refunded and there is a cost to return the mattress. Returns must be authorized before they are returned. All gifts with purchase must also be returned or their full retail value will be deducted from the refund.

If you chose to purchase a Sleep Number® bed that is a final sale it will not have a sleep trial and the sale is final.

Sleep Number requires the customer to sign an Alternative Dispute Resolution agreement in which they give up their rights to a jury trial, bench trial, or class action trial to settle disputes.

While most of their beds have a 25-year limited warranty, some have a 2-year limited warranty so make sure you understand the warranty for your specific bed.

FlexFit™

Sleep IQ

Returns $200

The Original Mattress Company

The Original Mattress Factory

That’s why they offer a one-year period where you can exchange if the new mattress isn’t comfortable. If you exercise this right, you will be charged 25% of the price of the lower cost mattress to exchange. Plus new delivery fee for the new mattress and a delivery fee to pick up the exchanged mattress.

When compared to the absolutely free exchanges offered by manufacturers who only sell online, this isn’t a very good deal.

Waterproof mattress protector required for exchanges.

They do not accept returns on any mattress. Only exchanges.

All mattresses have a warranty. The warranty may be pro-rated. If you are granted a new mattress under the warranty because your mattress is defective, you may be required to pay a new delivery fee.

They have a large number of positive reviews, probably because they have an ongoing Sweepstakes on their website that requires customers and visitors to their store to complete it in the hope of winning a $500 certificate.

Check online reviews before you buy. At a minimum, read Customer Reviews for the specific store you plan to shop on the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs, Complaints Board, and Yelp before you shop.

Foam

Two-sided

Pillow Top

 Walmart

“Mattresses – return within 90 days in the original, unopened packaging may be returned to a store or you may contact Customer Care to discuss your return request.”

After getting on a chat with a Walmart employee who kept telling me that if the mattress package was opened “I could keep it” I finally got him to say, “You can’t return a mattress once it is removed from the package.”

That means there is no sleep trial if you buy from Walmart. In other words, buy at your own risk.

The only reason I gave Walmart two stars instead of one is they are a good place to go if you need a cheap mattress quickly, such as when you have a temporary issue. For example, some people have been stranded without a mattress temporarily because their new mattress was damaged but the delivery crew drug their old mattress through the mud, or they gave away their old mattress to make room for the new one and when it arrived, or, if you have a new mattress you plan to exchange that you have to wait 30 days or longer to exchange because it hurts your back, or there was a problem and they refused delivery.

If you have a temporary need, the low-priced mattresses at Walmart may help you get through until you resolve the issue. Since sleep is so important, I’d be happy to spend $100 to have a bed if there was an unexpected situation that left me without a mattress.

Since no returns or exchanges are allowed, the higher the price, the lower the rating for a specific mattress from Walmart.

I compared one of the beds-in-a-box offered by Walmart to the same mattress at the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon. Amazon had the least expensive price. For the Lucid 12” Memory Foam, the mattress manufacturer offers a 30-day sleep trial when you purchase from the manufacturer. Although Amazon and Walmart offer the mattress for a slightly lower price, I wouldn’t give up the opportunity to try it in my home for the small difference.

Most of Walmart’s mattresses are inexpensive. I didn’t find any that were $1,000 and many of them were in the $100 – $300 range. I wouldn’t expect them to last a long time.

Airbeds may only be returned for another airbed if they are opened, even if the product is defective. Returns are only allowed during the first 15 days on airbeds.

There were some bad reviews but it’s difficult to find mattress reviews because reviews on all the products Walmart sells are jumbled together.

If I was looking for an inexpensive mattress for a temporary period of time I might consider a Walmart mattress but I would be inclined to look elsewhere simply because there’s no recourse if I hate it.

Hybrid

Innerspring

Memory Foam

Specialty

Latex Foam

Pillow Top

EuroTop

Futon

Air Beds

Water Beds

Spa Sensations

Zinus

LUCID

Beautyrest

Mainstays

Signature Sleep

Simmons

Slumber 1

Hotel Style

Better Homes & Gardens

Linenspa

Alwyn Home

Modern Sleep

GranRest

BioPEDIC®

Signature Design by Ashley

Living and More

Dorel