Black Friday 2021 will look very different compared to years past. While stores across the country will still be open for business, many shoppers will understandably decide to socially distance and make their purchases from home instead. Fortunately for mattress buyers, some of the best Black Friday bed deals and discounts are available from online brands.
Black Friday always takes place the day after Thanksgiving. This year, it will fall on Friday, November 26. However, keep in mind that many Black Friday mattress deals kick off the week before Thanksgiving. Many of these discounts also extend to the week of Cyber Monday. So don’t feel limited to one day – and begin your search for Black Friday mattress discounts early.
The Best Black Friday Mattress Sales
For many mattress brands, Black Friday sales represent the biggest savings of the year. This can amount to hundreds – or even thousands – of dollars you can put aside for other purchases. Somes brands also offer discounted bundles when you purchase a mattress with additional sleep products, free pillows and other accessories, and other perks to entice shoppers. Below, we’ve compiled the best Black Friday deals from online mattress brands.
We also have a list of the best coupons and deals from bedding brands. Click here to jump to the top bedding deals of the holiday season.
Why Shop for a Mattress Online on Black Friday?
Black Friday is a great time to shop for a new mattress. Many online mattress brands offer large discounts, affordable bundle packages, and other Black Friday promotions that can save you a lot of money on mattresses and other sleep products.
The benefits of mattress shopping online for Black Friday include:
Savings
Black Friday deals on mattresses can be found just about anywhere, including brick-and-mortar mattress stores. However, mattresses from online brands tend to be less expensive even without discounts. Operating a brick-and-mortar store requires more overhead costs, especially if the establishment employs a large sales staff, and these expenses can drive up mattress sticker prices by a significant margin.
Online mattress brands, on the other hand, operate few – if any – brick-and-mortar stores and employ a smaller number of people. As a result, mattresses from these companies typically cost much less. Apply a Black Friday discount to these already lower price-points, and you could save a bundle by ordering from an online brand.
Lots of Options
When you visit a mattress store, your selection will be limited to brands and models sold at that particular establishment – and in some cases, the bed you want will be out of stock.
Shopping for a mattress online allows you to choose from hundreds of different brands. You’ll be able to take your pick from a variety of mattress types, including memory foam, latex, innerspring, hybrid, and airbed models. A wider selection also means you can find a bed within your budget.
No Black Friday Crowds
On any Black Friday, brick-and-mortar stores will be teeming with customers from the early morning until well after dark. This year, in light of COVID-19, many stores will limit the number of shoppers on the sales floor to allow for safe distancing. This potentially means larger crowds and longer lines for Black Friday 2020.
Staying home and buying your mattress online can help you avoid the hassles and headaches associated with in-person Black Friday shopping. No traffic, no combing the parking lot for an open space, and no bumping elbows with other customers.
Inexpensive Delivery
The recent “mattress-in-a-box” craze has been a game-changer for the mattress industry. Buying a mattress online used to mean paying for expensive White Glove delivery and in-home setup. Nowadays, the majority of online mattress brands will ship you a new mattress free of charge if you live in the contiguous U.S. Some companies also extend this offer to Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada.
The mattress will be compressed, wrapped in plastic, and vacuum-sealed – a process known as “roll-packing.” This allows a mattress of any size to fit in a compact delivery box, which will be shipped directly to your doorstep. No signature required, no adult needed on the premises, and no extra charge whatsoever. Plus, unboxing the mattress and watching it expand is pretty fun.
Sleep Trial
Some people are wary of buying a mattress they’ve never seen in person, let alone slept on. Online mattress brands assuage these concerns by offering sleep trials, which allow you to test out the new mattress for a certain length of time. If you decide you don’t like the mattress during the sleep trial, you’ll be able to return it for a full refund.
Most sleep trials span at least 90 nights in length, but a growing number of brands have begun to offer more generous trial periods – a year or longer, in some cases. Should you decide to return the mattress, many online brands will hire couriers to pick up the bed at your residence and either recycle it or donate it to charity at no extra cost to you.
Additional Tips for Getting the Best Black Friday Mattress Deals
Research Models Early
Don’t wait until Black Friday to hunt for bargains. In fact, you should start researching online mattress brands now. Check out the current prices of models that interest you. This way, you’ll be able to tell if a Black Friday deal from that brand is worthwhile.
A good rule-of-thumb is to ignore original retail sticker prices listed next to their discounted price-points. Some brands inflate the original prices to make the discount seem much more generous than it actually is. Instead, focus on how much the mattress costs after the discount has been applied – is it within your budget, and how does it compare to the prices of similar models from competing brands?
Read Owner Reviews
Owner reviews can be a helpful resource when choosing a new mattress. You can gain valuable insights about the mattress you’re considering from people who have actually slept on it, and also determine if that new model is worth the hype. Keep an eye out for qualities highlighted in multiple reviews, and whether owners seem satisfied with their purchase.
At the same, take reviews with a grain of salt. They represent subjective experiences from other people whose preferences and needs may or may not align with your own. Also, watch out for online mattress brands that “pad” their reviews by highlighting four- and five-star ratings and making negative reviews harder to access.
Consider a Bundle
As part of the Black Friday tradition, a lot of online mattress brands incentivize customers with bundles that include a new mattress along with pillows, sheets, a foundation, and other accessories. You may pay more for the bundle than you would for the mattress alone, but these packages also save you money compared to buying each item separately.
Reach Out to Customer Service
The websites of online mattress brands often include live web chat with customer service professionals. This can be a useful feature if you have questions about the mattress or the brand’s policies, especially if the information you seek can’t be found elsewhere on the site. Be sure to reach out during normal workdays, as webchat is often disabled outside normal business hours.
How to Buy a Mattress Online
Finding a mattress online can seem intimidating or confusing to first-time buyers. However, with a little research on your part, the process should be quick, easy, and painless.
Step 1: Evaluate Your Current Mattress
The mattress you own now should guide your search for its replacement. Make a list of things you like and dislike about your mattress. Is it thick or firm enough? Does it sleep hot? Have you lost sleep because the bed is too bouncy or noisy? Do you feel pressure in certain areas of your body when you get up in the morning?
Once you’ve pinpointed your favorite and least favorite qualities about your current mattress, you’ll be able to find a new model that meets all of your important criteria.
Step 2: Research and Compare Different Brands and Models
One major perk of online shopping is the ability to research hundreds of brands with the click of a mouse. Most online mattress companies maintain polished websites that include all of the pertinent information you need, from current prices and promotions on different models to details about shipping, sleep trials, and warranty coverage.
Be sure to comparison-shop as you browse different brands. This will help you form realistic expectations about how much you’ll spend on a new mattress.
Step 3: Set a Realistic Budget
Online mattresses vary significantly in terms of cost. When creating a mattress budget, you’ll need to consider other factors in addition to the bed itself. These include:
- Mattress Type: Some mattress materials drive up the sticker price more than others. For an all-foam or traditional innerspring mattress, you’ll probably pay about $700 to $1,100. Latex, hybrid, and airbed mattresses tend to cost much more.
- Size: For any given mattress, the difference in cost between a twin and king or California king size is usually at least $400 to $500 – and sometimes much more.
- Shipping: Ground delivery from most online brands is free within the contiguous U.S. If you live in Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, or other locations outside the lower 48, then you’ll probably need to pay additional shipping fees that can amount to hundreds of dollars. Expedited ground shipping and White Glove delivery usually cost extra too.
- Return Fees: The majority of online mattress brands offer full refunds during the sleep trial period, but some impose return fees. Always read the find print of mattress return policies.
- New Accessories: If your new mattress is thicker than your current bed, or if you’ve ordered a new size, then you may also need to purchase a new foundation and sheet set. Some brands offer bundles that allow you to save some money on both the mattress and these accessories.
Since you’ll be shopping on Black Friday, you should also take sales and discounts into consideration. Some brands knock $100 or $200 off the cost of a new mattress, and others slash the sticker price by 20% or more. Make note of the Black Friday deals you find when comparison-shopping and incorporate the potential savings into your budget.
Step 5: Order Your Mattress
Once you’ve researched and compared as many brands as possible and narrowed down your options to a few models within your budget, you’ll be ready to make a final decision. Most online mattress purchases follow the standard “shopping cart” system where you’ll add the mattress to the cart and checkout when you’re ready. Double-check your address and other contact information, as well as the mattress model, size, and firmness, before ordering.
One thing to note: You may be able to cancel your purchase within 24-48 hours of placing your order, but most brands do not allow cancellations once the mattress has shipped from their manufacturing facility. These companies coordinate deliveries with third-party carriers like FedEx and UPS, so the mattress is beyond their control once it ships. Thankfully, you should be able to coordinate a return during the sleep trial if you still wish to do so.
Step 6: Test out the New Mattress
Your sleep trial will begin on the date of purchase or delivery, depending on the brand you choose. Many online mattress companies require a “break-in period” of 15-30 nights, meaning you won’t be able to return the mattress for a full refund until this break-in period ends. This allows you to get used to how the mattress feels and decide whether it’s comfortable.
Break-in periods are useful, but we actually recommend keeping the mattress for as long as possible before making a decision – the entire sleep trial if you can manage it. Even a relatively short sleep trial of 90 nights allows you to test out the mattress for three months, giving you ample time to decide whether to keep it or return it. You may also be able to exchange the mattress for another model from the same brand, though this may require paying extra if you choose a more expensive model.
Should you decide to return the mattress, don’t fret – simply start the process from step one. Today’s online shoppers can choose from a wide range of mattress models, and we’re confident you’ll eventually find the right one.
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