The Best Time to Buy a Mattress (and How to Get a Deal)

About this episode

Buying a mattress can often be a boring, expensive task. And the mattress industry doesn't make it easy: Prices are constantly changing, brands use confusing terminology, and permanent “sales” can make it hard to know what's a real discount. In this episode, Wirecutter senior staff writer Elise Czajkowski explains when to look for deals and how to negotiate a better price when you're ready to buy. She shares why you should always ask for an additional discount, how to negotiate with a store or online chatbot, and why one popular online shopping trick—abandoning your cart—may not work for mattresses. This episode covers: • Why you should never pay full price for a mattress. Those constant website “sales” are often just the regular price in disguise; the biggest discounts tend to come around major holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, Black Friday, and Presidents Day. • What you need to know before you buy. The best way to avoid buying a mattress you hate is to understand how you sleep (your sleep position) and firmness preference before you start shopping. • How to get the best discounts. You can sometimes get better deals at stores that sell multiple brands. Go