Shopping pitfalls Ads make it seem as if buying a mattress is as simple as picking up the phone or waltzing into a store. As you might suspect, it may not be that simple. Once you've bitten the hook, a salesperson is likely to steer you to a costlier, though sturdier, upgrade. Ads make them seem rare, but they happen all the time. Furthermore, a bargain isn't always all it's cracked up to be.
Original prices are virtually mythical.
There can be dozens of variations within any line. Sealy, for instance, offers five quality levels at four firmness levels. Same name, different product. Product specifications and materials used can change at any time, though the model name remains the same. That means the floor sample in the showroom could be quite different from the mattress that arrives at your door.