So you're ready to go mattress shopping…that activity that is weirdly fun yet the most dreaded thing in the entire world! (It's fun trying all of them out, but it's not so fun looking at that price tag and feeling like you're going to get ripped off.)
Without further ado, here are my mattress shopping tips, so you can "spring" into action!
Now, am I saying that you have to get a spring mattress? No, but there are quite a few things to know about that…For one thing, mattress dealers can be deceptive about a "high spring count." The truth is, more springs doesn't mean a better bed. That's because there are other factors at play:
There is a such thing as thicker versus thinner gauge metal on the coils, and thicker is better for support. But also, there are so many different types of coils that it's better to just test out different beds with different coil / spring types, and see what works best for you. One coil type isn't better than another, just different…
And if there's anything you'll learn while mattress shopping, it's that everybody is DIFFERENT!
For example, are you person who runs hot, or cold? You might not think this question matters when mattress shopping…more so when blanket shopping…But actually, you can get mattresses with a natural cooling effect. It's called a gel-infused layer. This gel layer actually helps keep you cool when you sleep, which is probably additionally good for those people who tend to sweat a lot all over the sheets…Not naming any names!!
Anyway, this gel layer is great if you like to keep things cool while you sleep, but keep in mind, it's only effective for spring mattresses. For foam mattresses, the gel layer has been reported to actually make people hot, and be super counter-intuitive!!
Speaking of counter-intuitive, it sure would be…that…to go to the mattress store and buy one without laying on it first.
Well, duh, you already knew that. But what you might not have thought about when mattress shopping is, you should try laying on it in the position you usually sleep!!
Because most people, when they test out a mattress, will lay on their back or on their side, but might think the clerk will look at them funny if they lay on their stomach. But hey, if you're a stomach sleeper, you're a stomach sleeper, so it makes sense to test out the mattress with that in mind! Don't be afraid to sprawl out everywhere and get into whatever weird position you know you'll be sleeping in!!
Now that you've found the softest, fluffiest, or firmest, whatever you like…probably the most important thing is to be aware of the store's return policy and warranty.
Most stores offer either a full return, or in-store credit of the same value to buy a different mattress. But it's always smart to check, especially because, that way, you can see whether the return policy is just a couple of weeks or up to a few months. And you also might be interested in knowing if there are any fees associated with refunding the mattress. Macy's is one example: they charge $85 to pick the mattress up if you're returning it. But that's totally understandable!
On that note of being aware of returns, warranties, and MONEY out of your pocket, did you know that it's possible to haggle your way to a cheaper mattress? Well, not if it's a big retailer like Macy's or Sears or whatever like we just mentioned. But, if it's a mattress store, they can mark up their mattresses by as much as 50% due to higher demand, depending on the season! Don't sleep on this fact and don't be a sheep! 😉 See if you can haggle the price down.
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