When shopping for a mattress, you’ll see them listed in all sorts of price ranges. From a couple hundred bucks to a few thousand dollars, mattresses have a wide price range. Even so, you’ll find that most mattresses with any metric of quality tend to be priced high. So, why are mattresses so expensive?
Saying quality comes at a price would be only half an answer. Several factors are at work here, including marketing, advertising, stocking, shipping, quality, and more.
Let’s take a deeper look at all these factors to see why mattresses are so expensive, and perhaps find a way for you to get the best deal!
Why Are Mattresses So Expensive? – Reasons And Analysis
1. The Stores Have A Price Markup
Mattresses being sold in stores usually get a price markup. Apart from the manufacturer’s cost, there’s the cost of the retailer or store as well. Things like staffing, maintenance, stocking, and a lot more. Besides, the stores want a neat profit for themselves as well!
With all these things, the retail prices of mattresses can go very high. Markups at 50% are common, but higher markups going as high as 300% aren’t unheard of. Practically, there’s no limit on how high the retailer chooses to mark up the price.
We’re focusing on mattress stores, but this problem could be considered endemic to retail. Tesla’s attempts to sell cars without dealerships have garnered headlines for a few years now.
There are obvious logistical costs associated with stores to drive up prices. There’s also greed, with some mattress stores trying to push costs as further up as they can.
Mattress sales might rarely be truly cost-saving. Often, the list price gets an insane markup, followed by a hefty discount that brings prices down to more rational levels. And it probably still has an insane markup.
For example, a mattress marked at $3500 could be on sale at $1000. It’s a good deal, right? But what if it’s a $300 mattress with insane markup! This video does a good job explaining some of the tricks and pricing strategies involved.
2. Customers Are Comfortable With The Higher Prices
We, as customers, expect good quality things to be expensive. Similarly, we expect our mattresses to be expensive.
There is nothing wrong with this line of thought because it is rooted in some truth. Good quality materials usually are expensive and many of us are willing to pay for that.
However, we don’t generally understand the full scope of pricing. To put it rather simply, with the customers’ willingness (acceptance) of paying higher, retailers and manufacturers can get away with some sweet markup.
There’s a good reason for this – mattresses aren’t an item that’s often purchased. You might have bought one a decade ago and you’d understand that a similar mattress is now going to be priced higher. A recent report suggests that mattress retailers saw boosted sales with a price increase!
3. Marketing Works Wonders
Perhaps the previous point should have been included in this one. We expect to pay more because marketing from mattress companies convinces us of its value.
But that’s not the only thing. Companies spend a fair chunk of cash on advertising and marketing. That money is usually covered by the cost of the mattress. Or rather, the profit these companies make from their products.
For individual mattresses, this might not be a big amount. Yet, companies spend tens of millions in advertising and marketing annually. Individual stores too have to do their own marketing and advertising, so that cost adds up well.
To be fair, marketing is a necessity for businesses. This is an unavoidable cost but it does have a bearing on mattress pricing.
4. Quality Doesn’t Come Cheap
Here’s a big contributor to the quality and pricing of mattresses. Higher quality materials usually are more expensive and drive up the costs of mattresses.
This affects practically all buying considerations. For example, cheap mattresses may use plain fiberglass particles as flame barriers. Better-quality mattresses use higher-quality flame barriers.
Even if they use a cheaper barrier like fiberglass (or similar substances), they’re likely to be woven in to avoid contact with skin. More likely, they’ll have a better flame barrier made from higher quality materials, like batted wool or similar.
The mattress cover has a similar story. Polyester is often the fabric of choice for cheaper mattresses. Quality-conscious mattresses use higher-quality and breathable covers made from cotton fabric, bamboo fabric, Celliant, and similar options.
For foam mattresses, the density of foam is an important indicator. The denser the foam, the more comfortable the mattress, and the longer it will last. Denser foam is also more expensive. This stands true for all types of foam, including polyurethane, memory foam, and latex foam.
Premium memory foam usually has a density of 4-5 pounds (per cubic foot). Prospective buyers should avoid buying a memory foam mattress with less than 3 pounds density.
Keep in mind, each type of foam will have its own preferred density rating. Memory foam is usually denser than polyurethane foam.
5. Certifications And Specific Requirements
The modern consumer often has a very specific set of demands from the products they intend to buy. While there are mattresses that cater to these specific needs, it comes at a cost. For example, an organic latex foam mattress is an expensive proposition.
Natural latex foam is expensive by itself. Once conditions like organically grown, fair use, and sustainability requirements are added, the price climbs further. The same applies to other fabrics and materials used in mattresses.
Of course, for a consumer to know if the mattress actually contains these products, some certifications are necessary. GOLS-certified organic latex and GOTS-certified organic cotton are somewhat expensive.
Another factor is the use of specific materials. These include proprietary memory foam, other foams, better flame barriers, and more. For example, Tempur-Pedic mattresses use their proprietary TEMPUR material as memory foam. It’s quite similar but has different characteristics over generic memory foam.
Amerisleep mattresses often use BioPur foam, which relies more on plant-based material rather than petroleum. There are several more examples, but you get the point.
Other specifications might include the use of high-density foam, natural fibers, vegan materials, and specific innerspring or foam setup.
Mattresses built to address special issues can get pricier. For example, mattresses built with specific orthopedic or pressure relief requirements, those with additional edge support, extra padding, and more.
6. Non-existent Second Hand Market
Want a used mattress? Apparently, no one does!
Well, to be fair, there does exist a second-hand market for mattresses, but most people are averse to this proposition. There’s the question of hygiene, material degradation, and other risks. Most people simply aren’t willing to spend on a used mattress.
Without a second-hand market, there’s no pressure on mattress companies to get more competitive with pricing. Potential buyers aren’t going to get a cheaper option off the second-hand market – they’ll have to go to the primary market and conventional sales.
Some Tips On Getting A Good Price On Your Mattress
1. Compare Prices, Online And Offline
As we know, using stores to sell mattresses can inflate the associated costs. The mattress industry isn’t unaware of these problems, but the solutions weren’t as easily available.
Then the bed-in-a-box arrived on the scene.
Businesses could now take orders over the internet. More importantly, they had a way to deliver mattresses to customers through conventional shipping. With bed-in-a-box, a compressed mattress arrives at the buyer’s home. After being aired for a day or two, the mattress expands and takes on its conventional shape.
By removing the middleman (brick-and-mortar stores), these companies can offer very competitive prices on their products. Several excellent mattress companies sell over the internet. Some examples are Casper, Ghost, Layla, and Saatva. It’s worth noting that Saatva doesn’t use the bed-in-a-box strategy, but delivers full, expanded mattresses.
In any case, the rise of the bed-in-a-box mattress has made the pricing more competitive. Buyers can get a high-quality mattress at a far lower price.
While online shopping has the edge, it’s better not to completely forget conventional stores as well. They might sometimes have a great deal on the mattress you intend to buy.
It doesn’t hurt to do a price comparison and check your options.
2. Don’t Be Afraid To Buy Online
An oft-listed negative of buying online is that buyers don’t get to “feel” or test the mattress before buying. That claim is true, but its usefulness is questionable.
Even when buying from a brick-and-mortar store, you’d get to experience the mattress for a few minutes. Most mattresses can take up to 30 days or even more before they’re broken-in and are fully comfortable. Clearly, you aren’t going to get that experience in a mattress store either.
One thing that helps here and to look out for, is the trial period on offer. A lot of mattress companies offer in-home trials for up to 100 days, while some even go as high as a year. In contrast, there are also a few that don’t offer a trial.
If you choose a mattress with a trial option, make the best of it. Give your mattress at least 30 days to see if it feels comfortable. After that, you can decide whether you’ll keep it or return it. There are usually some associated costs, like shipping, but at least you won’t be saddled with an expensive mattress you don’t find comfortable.
Also, take a good look at the warranty. You’d want at least 10 years, but the contents of the warranty are as important. Most warranties will skip any damage that is expected with natural degradation and wear-and-tear.
Buying online also makes it easier to research the product. Check opinions, reviews, and what other customers have to say. Ideally, go through several sites, so you get a broader understanding and more information to make an informed decision.
3. Shop Around For Sales Or Ask For A Discount
Sales, as we know, aren’t what they used to be. Even the famed Black Friday doesn’t have the same edge anymore. But there’s still a chance of finding a diamond in the rough! Look around during the time of conventional sales and see if something pops up. It will take some research, but you might get lucky.
Another good idea is to search online for discount codes. Sometimes, mattress companies offer discounts with their newsletters or other promotions. If the business has a live chat option, chat with an executive there and ask them if any promotions or discounts are applicable at the moment.
You might just get a deal! For a product as expensive as a mattress, even a small discount can save you a considerable sum.
4. Haggle To Bring Down The Price
Any sales price has a markup. Don’t be shy to haggle and get a better price. This is especially true if you’re shopping at a brick-and-mortar store. You could also try it with online marketplaces, but negotiation usually works better face to face.
In a store, the salesperson probably gets a commission if they can finalize the sale. They want to sell you that mattress, so you get a deal depending on your negotiation skills. Keep in mind, a salesperson will try to push you towards a mattress that offers them the best commission. You’ll have to push past that to get a deal on the mattress you want.
Haggling gets a bad rep, but it is a legitimate way of getting a better price. Sellers have a markup and you’re under no obligation to go along with their asking price.
5. See If Financing Deals Work For You
Many mattress companies and sellers offer financing at 0% APR. This doesn’t reduce the cost of your purchase – it might even add a small amount to the total with processing fees and such. However, it can reduce the initial burden of an expensive purchase.
Spreading the cost across several months, rather than paying the full amount could help lower the burden of the purchase.
Keep Your Expensive Mattress Well-Maintained
A mattress is an expensive purchase. Keep it well-maintained so it lasts longer and stays in good shape. It rarely needs a lot of effort, just doing the odd job occasionally can be helpful.
Make sure that your mattress is on the right foundation. A compatible foundation will keep your mattress going for longer and you’ll have better sleep. For example, foam mattresses can work with slatted bases. However, large slats can also cause these mattresses to sag and become uncomfortable.
Consider rotating the mattress 180-degrees every 3-6 months. This helps distribute the surface load on the mattress, so there’s reduced risk of sagging or body impressions. Most modern mattresses are one-sided and hence shouldn’t be flipped.
Also, get a mattress protector if you don’t have one already. They’re an excellent guard against dust and accidental spills and will make your life easier.
Finally, follow the instructions on the mattress. Many mattresses don’t have removable covers, so it’s best not to mess with them. With cheaper mattresses, trying to remove this cover might result in fire retardants (like fiberglass) leaking through – and that’s a whole lot of trouble and health risk.
Getting The Best Mattress And Deals
Now we know why are mattresses so expensive and how to work with them. The high costs are attributable to several reasons. These include the pricing for materials used, markups by stores, advertising costs, and more. You can try some of the ideas listed here to get a better bang for the buck when you purchase a mattress.
This is an expensive purchase and also an essential one. We humans spend a lot of time on our mattresses, so it makes good sense to get a good quality option. Even so, try not to strain your budget when buying one.