Best Mattress-in-a-Box Recommended by Consumer Reports

Mattress shopping isn’t easy for most of us for several reasons, starting with the sea of confusing choices in the market. Most would have to shop-hop and different brands and models, so it’s a painstaking and time-consuming process. There’s also the varying price points and the sales staff that would often mask higher pricing by offering “deals” which are designed to entice you instead of saving cash.

This is where mattress-in-a-box products come in to eliminate the troubles of shopping for your nighttime sanctuary. You eliminate the rigors of shopping for a mattress mentioned above since these new products are mostly ordered online. It’s as easy as pressing a few buttons, but there are pros and cons you have to consider as well.

mattress-in-a-box products are mostly credit to Casper, the most popular brand, but it was invented by a machinist in 2007 in Tennessee. Bed in a Box and its founder and CEO designed a machine that can squeeze foam mattresses into a shipping box. The name has been trademarked ever since, but it wasn’t popular until backed companies like Casper came in to compete in a new market.

And fast forward to today, mattress-in-a-box products have spawned several companies, reaching as much as 200. Regular mattresses were still selling better, but people began to think in the middle of it all about the pros or benefits of going with this instead. However, the biggest downside of ordering a mattress is you can’t try or test if it suits you, which is essential according to Consumer Reports.

Mattress Comparison Shopping is in the Past

Store hopping and comparing, testing, and haggling for mattresses is a frustrating process since stores aren’t exactly bunched up in the same neighborhood. Regular mattresses aren’t labeled specifically like electronics as well, so some stores could be selling you the same mattress with a slightly different tag and price. This train of thought also means that many salespersons cannot pinpoint the differences or whichever is best for you since the selection out there is a spread out jungle.

Mattress-in-a-box brands solved this by streamlining their offerings, with some only offering a single model. Doing this makes ratings and product descriptions more accurate, so you can finally take someone else’s word for how good a specific variant is. That drastically cuts down the time and effort you spend in hunting for the perfect mattress for your needs.

However, Consumer Reports has advised its users to test a mattress for at least 10 to 15 minutes before buying. They still stand by this piece of advice, since their statistics show that consumers who try out a mattress will most likely be more satisfied. Thankfully, some mattress-in-a-box sellers have partnered with walk-in retailers to show their products on the floor.

You can check a brand’s website to see where their mattress-in-a-box products are displayed. Most of them are available in large metropolitan areas, but there are some available in areas with bigger home or furniture stores. It again takes a bit of effort, but you will still save cash since showroom mattresses are heavily marked up and you need to pay for delivery and installation into your home on top of the retail price.

Mattress-in-a-Box Purchase and Setup

The first step in shopping for a mattress-in-a-box is to look around for deals or discounts because they are quite common for online purchases. Shipping is usually free, but most companies will offer white-glove delivery for an additional $50-$100. The latter means that the delivery guys will move the mattress into a bedroom and set it up, but you will also have to pay an additional to pull the old one out.

If you truly want to be thrifty, you can always opt for the free shipping option and roll up your sleeves for some DIY action. Most would be scared to think about popping a box with a compressed spring mattress inside. However, they are usually wrapped in protected plastic which you can carefully cut and open, along with instructions that will guarantee your safety if you follow them closely.

How About Returns and Exchanges?

Returning and requesting a refund if you dislike your Mattress-in-a-Box isn’t the same. However, most brands will offer a full refund, but the process of getting rid of the product you don’t want is slightly different. Some sellers like an extended trial period of around 30 days to as much as 100 days before you can apply for a refund.

Other companies will also return your money, but they will not take the mattress back. Instead, they will guide you in donating it to a charity or nonprofit in your area. They usually arrange for pickups so you only have to wait, but the companies and sellers will take care of it if no charity is available to do it for you.

Its also worth noting that only 7% of mattress-in-a-box products are purchased and returned, indicating that satisfaction is quite high. Chances are, you will be happy with your purchase, especially if you read and research about what suits you best. It’s also important that you read and understand the rules or terms before buying one so that you don’t get stuck with an unwanted mattress.