Many people are turning to online outlets for their next mattress, and they do have their fair share of advantages. However, buying a mattress online isn’t always easy, and many end up making mistakes they soon regret afterward. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when buying a mattress online and how to avoid them.
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Thinking US Brands are Automatically Made in the US
If you want a quality mattress, the ones manufactured in the US and Europe are usually ahead of the pack. Chinese mattresses, on the other hand, are often made with cheap and potentially dangerous materials.
US brands know this and try to bank on the good reputation of US-made mattresses. The only issue is that brands are under no obligation to source their materials from the US. What they do is that they’ll often work with an overseas supplier that will supply them with cheap materials that they can then assemble in the US and stick a “made in America” sticker on it. So, try to know where the mattress was actually made and how the materials were sourced before you make a decision.
Following Amazon Rankings Blindly
While Amazon is truly a revolution in the world of online retail and their peer-based star rating system can be helpful, it can still be manipulated or even outright wrong. You see, up until October 2016, it was common practice for vendors to offer a product to select reviewers for a review. This method was openly accepted, as long as it was clearly stated in the review that the user did receive the product for review purposes.
Amazon’s policy has changed since then, but ratings may still be inflated. The trick here is to avoid 5-star reviews and one-star reviews as well. 5-star reviews have more chances of being paid for and one-star reviews often tend to be excessive. Instead, check out a good number of 2, 3 and 4 ratings. This will give you a more balanced view of the products.
You should also double check the item on an independent site like Sleep Sherpa and see if the ratings are consistent. If you see a mattress that is both highly rated on the site and on Amazon, then you most likely have a winner.
Sending the Mattress Back Too Soon
Your body cannot adapt itself to a new sleeping surface in one night or even one week. Unless you’re buying the exact same type of mattress as your last one, you cannot except your back issues to go away overnight. You should at least try your mattress for a couple of weeks before you make a decision. You of course have to pick a vendor with a decent trial period. If after a few weeks you still don’t feel comfortable, it’s safe to say that the mattress simply isn’t for you.
While it may not always look like it, buying a mattress is one of the most important investments you can make. After all, the quality of your mattress will have a direct effect on the quality of your sleep, which will have a direct effect on your quality of life as a whole.