Is the Bed in a Box Right For Me?

by Nick, Digital Specialist | March 4, 2020

It seems like there's a new company offering a bed in a box every single day. How do you make sense of all your options? Is it even right for you?

Go ahead. Name at least five manufacturers of beds in a box. (We’ll wait.)

That wasn’t difficult, was it? It almost feels like you can’t walk more than five feet without bumping into some kind of advertisement for one of the bed-in-a-box companies. They’re featured prominently in traditional ad sources, such as TV, radio, and in print, but they’re dominating the digital advertising space as well. You are probably skipping over at least one ad for a bed-in-a-box while you’re scrolling through your Instagram feed.

With all of these messages out there, it’s fair to wonder if one of these options is right for you. We’ve assembled some questions (and answers!) to help you decide whether it’s the best choice for you.

1. Do you need to try before you buy? If you’re the kind of person who needs to try something out before you spend money on it, then bed-in-a-box is likely not the best choice, since you have to buy it sight unseen. If you’re comfortable with purchasing based off a website and reviews, then buying online can be easier. The bed-in-a-box is great for people who aren’t concerned with the in-store experience. One thing to remember: most beds-in-a-box are memory foam, so if you’ve slept on a foam mattress before, this might be a good choice.

2. Are you a one-size-fits-all kind of person? A majority of online retailers will make one mattress with one or two comfort levels, designed to appeal to the “average” consumer. Are you average? Do you think a generic solution will solve whatever sleep issues you might have? If you don’t really have issues with sleeping and you consider yourself to have a normal body type, then one of the bed-in-a-box retailers might be right for you. If you think you might need more choices, you may want to consider other options. Think about it like this: when you wear a shirt that doesn’t fit, it’s uncomfortable. It’s the same way with a mattress- the wrong “fit” will offer less comfort.

3. What’s the comfort guarantee? It’s true that online retailers offer generous comfort guarantees- “love it for 100 nights or send it back” is one of the most common- but they offer this because they have to. How else are you going to know if you are going to like something you’ve never laid on? Many brick-and-mortar retailers have upped their own comfort guarantees in response to this trend, but you should make sure you know exactly what the policy is. However, the best solution is to get it right the first time- they can say it’s easy, but returning a mattress is a hassle.

4. What about returns or exchanges? If you’re going to visit a brick-and-mortar retailer, make sure you know what their return policy is. Usually they will come to pick up the old mattress if you’re unhappy, but are there fees associated with this? Conversely, online retailers frequently offer free returns if you don’t like it, but it’s up to you to arrange for pickup within their window. (By the way, the return rates at brick-and-mortar stores are around 2%...online retailers are more like 7%.)

5. How about the price? The short answer to this is...it depends. Brick-and-mortar companies usually offer mattress at a wide variety of price points, but the bed-in-a-box companies are the same way. There will always be entry-level or promotional offerings, followed by some in the middle, and then the best-quality choices at the highest price point.

BLOG TEXT SECTION 3 Three reasons why you might want to try a mattress in-store before you buy it:

• It’s been a long time since you’ve shopped for one. Just like every other technology in the world, mattress technology has changed by leaps and bounds in the past decade or so. There may be better fits for you versus what was offered the last time you were in the market.

• You have sleep issues: in the industry, we usually call these “disruptors;” that is, anything that keeps you awake at night. Snoring, back or neck pain, tossing and turning, and pins and needles are the most common. You want to make sure these issues are addressed before you spend your money on something new.

• Meet an expert: the associates at most furniture stores and sleep shops have undergone extensive training to make sure they know how to fit their customers properly. Working with an expert lessens the chance you will have to return a mattress because you didn’t pick the right one.

Ultimately, you should do whatever you’re most comfortable with. Shopping online is certainly more convenient, while brick-and-mortar stores may offer you more choices and more assistance. Choosing the right mattress is an important part of getting a good night’s sleep, so make it a priority! blah blah