How to choose the best mail order mattress

Buying a Mattress Online: Pros and Cons

As you can see from the reviews above, the online mattress market is flooded with high-quality beds for any sleeper.

And these beds are in high-demand.

So, what’s so exciting about buying a mattress online and what potential drawbacks this kind of shopping may have?

Let me start with the good.

• Mail order mattresses are cheaper. Online retailers don’t have to spend money on store maintenance and salesmen’s salaries. They just need to maintain a website and a warehouse for storing their assortment and shipping it directly to customers’ doors. This allows them to set lower prices than regular stores (1).
• Discounts and sales. By buying a mattress online, you can additionally save some cash because web stores often have flexible discount systems. Typically, you can expect a price drop for your first order or Birthday, as well as seasonal sales, such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Christmas holiday deals.
• Vast choice. Offline retailers mostly offer best-sellers and the items of the newest collection to their customers. Thus, if you want to explore options, chances are you won’t be able to do it at a brick-and-mortar store. Online shopping, on the other hand, allows you to choose from a more comprehensive variety of models and if you’re lucky enough, you can even find a discontinued model for a ridiculous price.
• Online shopping is less resourceful. You don’t need to go anywhere or even get out of your bed. You can “visit” several stores within a short time, compare prices and choose the most appealing deal while sipping your homemade latte. Easy-breezy!
• No pushy salesmen. These people have to close the deal and get their revenue. Of course, they will hurry you. But with online shopping, you won’t encounter them anymore. Instead, you are on your own and free to make a decision at your own pace. In case you have questions, you can address them to the support staff in a live chat or by phone.
• Simpler delivery process. When you’re ordering a mattress online, you’ll get free delivery on many occasions. Plus, you can choose different delivery options, and pay for the delivery beforehand, if you need to. You can skip all the conversations about how you want your mattress delivered and all the questions asked by the salesperson at the store by simply buying it online and inputting all the information that the seller needs to know about sending the mattress to you.
• Preplanned and prepaid services. Let’s say you need help in setting up and assembling the bed or need the delivery guy to carry it for you in the house. In that case, you can opt for all these services online and pay for them right there and then when you’re shopping. No questions were asked upon delivery. Plus, you will get the services you need by just mentioning it online, without having to negotiate anything with the delivery guy.

Now, for me, there’s only one drawback of online shopping for a mattress:

You can’t try the bed before you fill in your credit card details and purchase it.

However, most online mattress brands have come up with a solution to this inconvenience by offering prolonged trial periods. You have at least 90 nights — compared to the standard 30-day period offered by a brick-and-mortar store — to try out the mattress and see whether it’s right for you. Some brands extend the trial up to 365 days!

If the bed doesn’t meet your demands during this time, then you can count on a full and hassle-free refund!

Some brands donate slightly used mattresses to charities around the country. Thus, for obtaining your refund, you need to provide a copy of the donation receipt. You can find out if this option is available and learn more about it on the brand’s website.

Along with that, most mail order mattress brands offer you a clear and readable warranty. You can find it on the site and quickly learn what you’re paying for.

Also Read: Best Tempurpedic Alternatives

What About the Old Mattress?

So, after finding the bed that will be your guide to the land of Nod, here’s another thing to consider:

How will you dispose of your old mattress?

The good thing is, some online brands can take care of your used bed. This is mostly a paid service, though.

But I think that a hundred or two dollars are nothing compared to the feeling of not having to worry about your old bed anymore.

What Types of Mattresses Are Available Online?

Mattresses that are known as “bed-in-a-box” started to appear on the market about a decade ago and had been the only option you could buy via the Internet for a long time.

However, with the rapid growth of the market industry, today almost any mattress you saw at a brick-and-mortar store can be found online, even if it’s not shipped compressed in a box.

So, if you’re in the market for a new bed, here are the main options for you:

• Innerspring. Constructed with coils, these beds are the most traditional option. They are best when it comes to edge support and bounce. Plus, they are breathable and affordable. The main drawback, however, is that they are heavy, noisy, and prone to rusting. Because of the latter, they may have a shorter lifespan than latex or memory foam beds (3).
• Foam or memory foam. A bed in a box at its best. These materials are so popular among online mattresses due to their affordability. Besides that, excellent cradling properties make foam mattresses the go-to option for those who suffer from back pain and other issues. However, they tend to sleep hot and are prone to dust mites and mildew build-up over time, so you should consider the need to invest in a mattress protector with cooling properties. I’ve ordered many different memory foam mattresses online like the Puffy, Zoma, or Nolah mattresses. After trying random mattresses I used to buy in-store, these memory foam mattresses quickly impacted the way I sleep, helping relax my back after long days.
• Latex. An eco-friendly option with fireproof and allergy-proof properties, latex mattresses are more bouncy and resilient but can still offer you great contouring. However, they are usually quite expensive and won’t work for those who don’t like that bouncy feel they have. Also, keep in mind that around 6% of people in America are allergic to latex itself (4), and if you’re one of them, a latex mattress might not be a good option for you. In that case, you can choose a latex-free mattress online.
• Hybrid mattresses. These beds have the best of all worlds, as they may combine coils, foam, and latex in different layers. As a result, you get a very balanced feel and a vast variety of configurations to please your demands. The cons are obvious: the cost and the weight. Along with that, there are not much data about the health benefits of sleeping on a hybrid bed since this type is new to the market.

Another type of mattresses, airbeds occupy the vast segment of the online market. They’re affordable and in some cases aren’t inferior to the regular beds when it comes to comfort.

Also Read: Alaskan King mattresses and buyer's guide

Can You Buy a Mail Order Mattress If You Have Health Issues?

Many Americans suffer from different health conditions that disrupt their sleep.

And we all know that an unsuitable mattress in some cases can make everything worse.

So, it’s natural for you to be questioning the reasonability of buying a new bed online if you’re experiencing some sleep-related problems or debilitating diseases.

But here’s the deal:

You can still buy a mail order mattress.

Just be sure to follow recommendations below for better experience.

• Consult your healthcare specialist. They can provide you with the guidelines on choosing a suitable bed, especially if you have some chronic pains or musculoskeletal diseases. Besides, they are familiar with your needs and can recommend you particular mattress configuration, which will greatly narrow your search.
• Read reviews. You can refer to mail order mattress reviews posted online by people with a similar health problem and see what has worked for them.
• Try showrooms. Some brands have demonstration rooms around the country, where you can test their models and place an order.

And of course, take the most of your trial period. If you feel that the mattress is making your condition worse, do not hesitate to return it or replace with a more suitable model.

Also Read: Best Mattresses Made in the USA