Stupid Mattress Sales Gimmicks

Stupid Mattress Sales Gimmicks

My Four Favorite Stupid Sales Promotions

Mix & Match - This is the most bogus promotion ever. First off, unless you are a company made up of morons, you will never have a bunch of leftover boxes to sell. Second, Federal Law now prevents retailers from selling mixed sets because they are tested as matched sets for fire safety. When I worked the floor during one of these promotions I refused to mix. I simply gave customers a matched set for the advertised mix & match sales price. That is always the right and ethical thing to do. When a mix & match promotion is on, usually you are getting a lower quality box. It may be nearly as good, but the cost savings (if any at all) has to come from somewhere. Even if it is structurally comparable to the matching box, why would you want something that looks different? That is just stupid, especially if you can go to the next store and get a comparable or better MATCHED SET for the same or less!

Free Box Spring - THERE IS NOTHING FREE IN THIS WORLD. If the retailer has mattress only tags, see if the mattress by itself is the same price as the set with "FREE BOX SPRING." This is another in a long line of worthless gimmicks cooked up to get you in a buying frenzy. Take down the information on the set and compare the price to other retailers with comparable products. Purchase from whomever is less and has the best service and assistance.

Same Price Each Piece - Usually you will see this advertised as $99 or $199 each piece. Generally these are the crappiest mattresses in the store and you have to buy them in sets. If you truly have a bedroom that is never used, maybe these will work. But keep in mind, at $99-$199 for a wood box, you are probably overpaying, at the very least, for the twin and full sizes.

Half Off/50% Off/70% Off - The first thing I would ask is off of what? If its truly not the regular, every day price, its meaningless. Usually this is a discount off of some bogus inflated price or suggested retail price. NOBODY ever purchases a mattress at this price. Again, find out what is inside and compare the sales price to comparable mattresses and purchase from the retailer with the best services and price.

I've known one chain in the South that has run a 50% off sale for at least the last 3 years. If a retailer did suddenly run a true 50% off sale they would go out of business in no time.

HOT TIP

If the salesperson can suddenly drop the price by $200 or more, they have probably priced the mattress way above the rest of the market. Stores cannot stay in business cutting their price in half - even if the District Manager gave his authorization "just for you and just for today." Most likely the mattress is priced two or three times higher than comparable mattresses and you need to run, not walk, away from a store like this.

My Five Favorite Sleazy Salesperson Pressure Tactics

"I got this coupon in my desk..." - This tactic gives them a reason to discount. If they can reduce the price, ask yourself why haven't they already reduced it and get the heck out of there. You will never get "the best deal" at a place like that.

"Let me call my district manager to see if I can go that low..." - Same Barbra Streisand (BS) as above. Don't walk, but run out of this store.

"This price is good today only..." - Why? Its a bogus pressure tactic to get you to pull out your money. You should never, ever feel pressured to purchase a mattress right away. You will only regret it later.

"If I took off $XXX, would you buy today..." - So if you can discount, you are admitting that you are overpriced, right? Run away from this clown. The only valid reason for discounting is a price match of a comparable mattress set.

"I only have 1 left at that price, do you want to put some money down to hold this..." - Another pressure tactic to obtain a financial commitment. Don't feel pressured to make a decision. They can always get more mattresses.

There Is Nothing Free

Free Delivery/Free Frame - There are exceptions, but most of the time if these services are being advertised as free, the cost of delivery or the frame is buried in the mattress price. You might be overpaying, especially if you are picking up the mattress set yourself or already own a frame.

Also, always read the fine print. Free delivery may mean just to your door. There may be an additional charge for set up or removal of the old mattress or a fuel surcharge. Don't get stuck with an old mattress that you can't dispose. See accessories and services for more information.

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