Are you trying to decide whether you should commit to a new mattress or not? If so, then this article may help. There are plenty of good reasons to get a new mattress, whether it’s trying to improve your current sleep quality, moving, or upgrading your current bed.
But, like any important purchase, mattress shopping comes with some uncertainties. You might be wondering whether the time of year affects the sales price, how to choose a good brand, and more. To help you out, we put together this guide to make your job easier.
Buying In-Store vs. Buying Online
Online mattress companies have changed the landscape of mattress shopping, leading many potential customers to ask themselves whether the online route is better. There are quite a few benefits to shopping online rather than in-store for your new bed, which we’ll cover briefly below:
- Selection: Shopping online simply gives you much more selection. You have access to a wide variety of bed types, right in front of you, and you can personalize your search.
- User Reviews: Buying a mattress online comes with the added benefit of being able to read user reviews to see how satisfied people are with the model you have your eye on. When you’re shopping in-store, this information typically isn’t available.
- Convenience: Brick-and-mortar stores can obviously only be open at certain hours, so what about people who have odd working hours or don’t have time to make it to the store? Online shopping takes this issue out of the equation.
- Sleep Trials: Buying a bed online does mean that you can’t test it before you buy, so most online mattress businesses have found a way to make up for it by offering a sleep trial period. The trial period allows you to test out your bed for a while (usually for a month, but sometimes up to a whole year) and decide whether you want to keep it or not.
Buying a mattress in person might be a good idea when the bed is heavily discounted and you have a way to know for sure you’ll like the bed. Brick-and-mortar stores don’t often cut their prices to please their customers because they must make a larger profit to stay in business. Online mattress stores, however, tend to have an easier time giving discounts without these extra costs.
What Time of Year Should You Shop?
Is mattress shopping the same no matter the time of year? Actually, no. First, we’ll cover signs that your mattress is old and needs replacing, followed by optimal shopping dates to look for a new mattress. So, when should you shop?
When Your Mattress is Old
Regardless of the time of year, if your mattress is between seven to 10 years old, it’s time to get a new one. However, this is just a general guideline and you should let your body tell you when a new mattress is absolutely essential. If your neck or back are hurting, that’s a good sign your old mattress is near the end of its life. Here are some other signs your mattress needs replacing:
- You Wake Up Tired: Waking up feeling drowsy and tired is a pretty reliable sign that you’re getting subpar sleep, which is often the result of an old or low-quality mattress. If you find yourself tossing and turning a lot in the night, it may be time for an upgrade.
- Your Mattress is Sagging: Do you find yourself gravitating towards the center of your bed, even when you start out sleeping near the edge? Does your mattress have a visible sag in the center? These are signs that the materials in your bed are starting to wear out.
- Your Bed is Giving You Allergies: If you notice that your allergy symptoms seem worse when you first wake up, it could be a sign that your mattress is exacerbating your symptoms. Dust mites love to hang out in mattresses and can be hard to get rid of, signaling that it’s time to get a new bed.
When you go on a vacation and wake up feeling better than you have in ages, simply because of the bed in the room, that could be another indication that it’s time to replace your old worn out bed at home.
During Holiday Discounts
If there are certain times of year that are better for mattress shopping, it’s during the holidays, like the 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, or Thanksgiving. Budget shoppers will be happy to know that some mattress brands mark their products down by as much as 50 percent during certain holidays!
If you’re in the market for a new mattress, you may want to wait to make your choice until one of these major holidays to take advantage of great discounts.
During Autumn or Spring
If you do decide to shop at a brick-and-mortar location, you may want to buy your mattress during Autumn or Spring. Most retailers replenish their stock during these times of year and may have ordered more than they can sell. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a store during a time like this and snag a new mattress at a discounted rate.
Mattress Shopping at the End of the Year
If you aren’t sure what to get yourself for Christmas, a new mattress could be a good option. The end of the year may come with some great discounts or huge sales. During the holidays, a lot of retail owners lower their prices to try to sell off what didn’t sell for the Christmas season. They also may be trying to get rid of their old stock so they can bring in new models.
In short, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of when to buy a mattress but, hopefully, this article gave you some useful information to make your decision easier.
