Buying a new mattress is not fun.
I ordered my last mattress online.
It seems crazy, but it worked out well… mostly.
Why Order a Mattress Online?
For one, theyre huge and hard to ship, not to mention expensive.
But more importantly, theyre one of those rare things that youreallywant to try before you buy.
All mattresses are a little different, and your sleep is important.
Picking the right mattress can make a significant difference in how well you snooze.
Yet, theres a sameness in mattresses thats hard to describe.
Then, when you finally pick something you want,youre expected to haggle over the price.
Last year,The New York Times spend nearly 3000 words describing the Kafkaesqueexperience of shopping for a mattress.
In short, buying a mattress is a huge pain in the ass.
A couple of months ago, I needed a new mattress.
So, I looked into purchasing one online.
It turns out, there are a few options in this arena.
All of them offer generous return policies.
Your options are limited here, but thats actually part of the appeal for me.
I dont want to make choose between dozens of options, I want just a few.
Here, Im going to stick with a few startups that exist solely online as direct-to-consumer options.
Direct-to-consumer means theres no obnoxious salesperson and theyre set up to deal with shipping and returns easily.
It also means theyre a bit cheaper than comparable mattresses from mainstay companies like Sealy Serta.
Most of these companies only make one bang out of mattress.
The mattress comes with a 100 night trial and a 10 year warranty.
If you dont like your mattress, Tuft & Needle wants you to donate it to a charity.
Prices range from $500 for a Twin to $950 for a California King.
Like Tuft & Needle, Casper offers a 100 night trial and a 10 year warranty.
Leesa:Leesas mattress are made of memory foam as well.
The firmness rating is typically in the medium range.
The prices range from $525 for a Twin to $990 for a California King.
Again, youll get a 100 night trial and 10 year warranty.
Saatva:Saatva is the only company on this list that does more traditional spring mattresses.
In fact, with the exception of being direct-to-consumer, theyre a lot like every other mattress out there.
you’re able to select a plush soft mattress, or go for something more firm.
Prices range from around $599 for a Twin to $1299 for a California King.
Saatvas home trial is 75 days and the warranty is 15 years.
If you dont like the bed, theyll come pick it up and refund you in full.
Each company has different firmness and comfort levels.
The Unboxing Process
Okay, so heres where things get weird.
At least in the case of both Tuft and Needle and Casper, the unboxing process is pretty bizarre.
Then youll sit around and watch it expand for a couple hours.
Joe sitting in boiling water.
But the smell goes away after a couple of hours.
That means no finagling your way around crazy staircases or through tiny doorways.
After the mattress expands and the smell goes away, you’re able to get to sleep.
Many also only offer store credit as opposed to a refund.
Ive never actually had a new mattress as an adult.
So this whole trial period was an odd thing for me.
Theres no weird sinkage when you sit on it, even on the edge.
This is a good thing.
Which is what I want.
I dont want to think about it.
It sounds great on the surface, but that doesnt mean the whole process works for everyone.
Theres one big caveat with the warranties too.
If the company goes under, so does your warranty.
That said, for me, this was a great experience.
Illustration by Sam Woolley.
