Odd experience mattress shopping

C

caroln

Senior Member
Location
Kentucky
I know most of you don't like to read long posts, but this was so strange I just had to write about it. (Salesman comments in red.)

We went to a mattress store today to check out a California king mattress I found on line for $549.00. We entered the store, and were greeted by salesman who was helping another customer. So far so good. The salesman came over while we were looking at a mattress and said, "Please tell me you need a king size mattress."
A California king, I replied.
"Why do you need a California king? You're not tall enough to need a California king" (Looking at my husband)
Us: No comment.
"Let me explain the difference between a regular king and a California king. Blah...blah...blah..."
I stopped him mid sentence. I know the difference, I said. I've had one for years.
"But you don't really need a California king."
Me: Yes, I do. I have a California king foundation. Therefore I need a California king mattress. I know what I want.
At that point I handed him a piece of paper with the name of the mattress, the product number, and the price which I took off their website.
"I don't think that price is right".
Me: I took it right off your website.
"A lot of people do that, but write down the price of twin."
Me: Go to your website. It shows it right on there.
He goes to computer. "Oh. I guess that seems right."
Another customer enters store at that point and the salesman leaves us to take care of the other customer. When he comes back, he says,"Do you want me to write this one up?"
Me: Well, I have another question. You have free delivery and take away the old mattress, right?
"We deliver free but charge $100 for taking away the old mattress."
I didn't bother telling him that the website states they take away the old mattress free if a new one is bought at their store. I figured he'd probably just tell me the policy had changed or some other *rap.
I said, well, I guess we'll go ahead and buy this one. I gave him all the information he wanted and he says, "It looks like that will be shipped to you directly from the manufacturer."
Me: So how do we get the old mattress taken away?
"You don't."
I looked at my husband and said, we can just call the garbage company and arrange for a special pick up.
"What I would do is take it to some store's dumpster and throw it away."
We kind of gasped and said, that's illegal!
He just laughed. He then pointed to a card machine, saying, "You can use that machine over there to pay."
Me: When will it be delivered? We're going on vacation later this week and need to be home for a delivery.
"I don't know".
There's no way to request a delivery date?
"No."
Well, we can't risk not being home for a delivery of that size. We'll have to wait to buy it until we get back.
"Well, it might still be on sale when you get back. Here's my card. Are you going to throw it away?" He put it back on his desk.
I just said, I know where you are. We walked out.

Is it just me, or was this whole experience kind of weird??? (Thanks for reading this!)
 

Pretty much the mattress store experience these days. I bought my current set two years ago and finally gave up on (No Service) local stores with their sales people who all seem to be failed used car wranglers. I bought a bed in a box from Amazon.
 
Definitely weird!
Every time I go mattress shopping the salesman is bending over backwards to help me and answer any questions I may have.
He even knocks off a couple of hundred bucks. I, too, buy a Cal King...just for little ole me.

Sorry you had to go through so much bs just to buy a mattress that you obviously did your research on.
 
What's the difference between memory foam and foam rubber?

A few years ago I went mattress shopping and was disappointed in the selections. Nothing under $500 and that was for TWIN size. I didn't see any with handles and asked the clerk how you grabbed onto it to flip it. She said "You don't need to flip mattresses anymore."

Another case of analysis paralysis - too many choices these days?
 
Last edited:
caroln said:
I know most of you don't like to read long posts, but this was so strange I just had to write about it. (Salesman comments in red.)

We went to a mattress store today to check out a California king mattress I found on line for $549.00. We entered the store, and were greeted by salesman who was helping another customer. So far so good. The salesman came over while we were looking at a mattress and said, "Please tell me you need a king size mattress."
A California king, I replied.
"Why do you need a California king? You're not tall enough to need a California king" (Looking at my husband)
Us: No comment.
"Let me explain the difference between a regular king and a California king. Blah...blah...blah..."
I stopped him mid sentence. I know the difference, I said. I've had one for years.
"But you don't really need a California king."
Me: Yes, I do. I have a California king foundation. Therefore I need a California king mattress. I know what I want.
At that point I handed him a piece of paper with the name of the mattress, the product number, and the price which I took off their website.
"I don't think that price is right".
Me: I took it right off your website.
"A lot of people do that, but write down the price of twin."
Me: Go to your website. It shows it right on there.
He goes to computer. "Oh. I guess that seems right."
Another customer enters store at that point and the salesman leaves us to take care of the other customer. When he comes back, he says,"Do you want me to write this one up?"
Me: Well, I have another question. You have free delivery and take away the old mattress, right?
"We deliver free but charge $100 for taking away the old mattress."
I didn't bother telling him that the website states they take away the old mattress free if a new one is bought at their store. I figured he'd probably just tell me the policy had changed or some other *rap.
I said, well, I guess we'll go ahead and buy this one. I gave him all the information he wanted and he says, "It looks like that will be shipped to you directly from the manufacturer."
Me: So how do we get the old mattress taken away?
"You don't."
I looked at my husband and said, we can just call the garbage company and arrange for a special pick up.
"What I would do is take it to some store's dumpster and throw it away."
We kind of gasped and said, that's illegal!
He just laughed. He then pointed to a card machine, saying, "You can use that machine over there to pay."
Me: When will it be delivered? We're going on vacation later this week and need to be home for a delivery.
"I don't know".
There's no way to request a delivery date?
"No."
Well, we can't risk not being home for a delivery of that size. We'll have to wait to buy it until we get back.
"Well, it might still be on sale when you get back. Here's my card. Are you going to throw it away?" He put it back on his desk.
I just said, I know where you are. We walked out.

Is it just me, or was this whole experience kind of weird??? (Thanks for reading this!)
Click to expand...
Run, run!!!
 
Llynn said:
Pretty much the mattress store experience these days. I bought my current set two years ago and finally gave up on (No Service) local stores with their sales people who all seem to be failed used car wranglers. I bought a bed in a box from Amazon.
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I said to my husband after we left, that it was like dealing with a used car salesman!
 
caroln said:
I know most of you don't like to read long posts, but this was so strange I just had to write about it. (Salesman comments in red.)

We went to a mattress store today to check out a California king mattress I found on line for $549.00. We entered the store, and were greeted by salesman who was helping another customer. So far so good. The salesman came over while we were looking at a mattress and said, "Please tell me you need a king size mattress."
A California king, I replied.
"Why do you need a California king? You're not tall enough to need a California king" (Looking at my husband)
Us: No comment.
"Let me explain the difference between a regular king and a California king. Blah...blah...blah..."
I stopped him mid sentence. I know the difference, I said. I've had one for years.
"But you don't really need a California king."
Me: Yes, I do. I have a California king foundation. Therefore I need a California king mattress. I know what I want.
At that point I handed him a piece of paper with the name of the mattress, the product number, and the price which I took off their website.
"I don't think that price is right".
Me: I took it right off your website.
"A lot of people do that, but write down the price of twin."
Me: Go to your website. It shows it right on there.
He goes to computer. "Oh. I guess that seems right."
Another customer enters store at that point and the salesman leaves us to take care of the other customer. When he comes back, he says,"Do you want me to write this one up?"
Me: Well, I have another question. You have free delivery and take away the old mattress, right?
"We deliver free but charge $100 for taking away the old mattress."
I didn't bother telling him that the website states they take away the old mattress free if a new one is bought at their store. I figured he'd probably just tell me the policy had changed or some other *rap.
I said, well, I guess we'll go ahead and buy this one. I gave him all the information he wanted and he says, "It looks like that will be shipped to you directly from the manufacturer."
Me: So how do we get the old mattress taken away?
"You don't."
I looked at my husband and said, we can just call the garbage company and arrange for a special pick up.
"What I would do is take it to some store's dumpster and throw it away."
We kind of gasped and said, that's illegal!
He just laughed. He then pointed to a card machine, saying, "You can use that machine over there to pay."
Me: When will it be delivered? We're going on vacation later this week and need to be home for a delivery.
"I don't know".
There's no way to request a delivery date?
"No."
Well, we can't risk not being home for a delivery of that size. We'll have to wait to buy it until we get back.
"Well, it might still be on sale when you get back. Here's my card. Are you going to throw it away?" He put it back on his desk.
I just said, I know where you are. We walked out.

Is it just me, or was this whole experience kind of weird??? (Thanks for reading this!)
Click to expand...
Extremely weird IMO. I likely would have cancelled the purchase since the site said free delivery, since he had the nerve to argue which King you needed and since he couldn't give a set delivery date.

Telling you to throw your old one in a dumpster is waaay out of line, and like you say, illegal. I would have taken his name and made an official complaint to the company manager. This lack of respect for the customer is outrageous, and should not be tolerated.
 
SeaBreeze said:
Extremely weird IMO. I likely would have cancelled the purchase since the site said free delivery, since he had the nerve to argue which King you needed and since he couldn't give a set delivery date.

Telling you to throw your old one in a dumpster is waaay out of line, and like you say, illegal. I would have taken his name and made an official complaint to the company manager. This lack of respect for the customer is outrageous, and should not be tolerated.
Click to expand...
He definitely needs more training in customer service. If I took his card with his name on it when he offered it, I might have been tempted to complain about him. Especially about inferring that my husband is short! I still can't believe he recommended using someone's dumpster. :rolleyes:
 
caroln said:
I know most of you don't like to read long posts, but this was so strange I just had to write about it. (Salesman comments in red.)

We went to a mattress store today to check out a California king mattress I found on line for $549.00. We entered the store, and were greeted by salesman who was helping another customer. So far so good. The salesman came over while we were looking at a mattress and said, "Please tell me you need a king size mattress."
A California king, I replied.
"Why do you need a California king? You're not tall enough to need a California king" (Looking at my husband)
Us: No comment.
"Let me explain the difference between a regular king and a California king. Blah...blah...blah..."
I stopped him mid sentence. I know the difference, I said. I've had one for years.
"But you don't really need a California king."
Me: Yes, I do. I have a California king foundation. Therefore I need a California king mattress. I know what I want.
At that point I handed him a piece of paper with the name of the mattress, the product number, and the price which I took off their website.
"I don't think that price is right".
Me: I took it right off your website.
"A lot of people do that, but write down the price of twin."
Me: Go to your website. It shows it right on there.
He goes to computer. "Oh. I guess that seems right."
Another customer enters store at that point and the salesman leaves us to take care of the other customer. When he comes back, he says,"Do you want me to write this one up?"
Me: Well, I have another question. You have free delivery and take away the old mattress, right?
"We deliver free but charge $100 for taking away the old mattress."
I didn't bother telling him that the website states they take away the old mattress free if a new one is bought at their store. I figured he'd probably just tell me the policy had changed or some other *rap.
I said, well, I guess we'll go ahead and buy this one. I gave him all the information he wanted and he says, "It looks like that will be shipped to you directly from the manufacturer."
Me: So how do we get the old mattress taken away?
"You don't."
I looked at my husband and said, we can just call the garbage company and arrange for a special pick up.
"What I would do is take it to some store's dumpster and throw it away."
We kind of gasped and said, that's illegal!
He just laughed. He then pointed to a card machine, saying, "You can use that machine over there to pay."
Me: When will it be delivered? We're going on vacation later this week and need to be home for a delivery.
"I don't know".
There's no way to request a delivery date?
"No."
Well, we can't risk not being home for a delivery of that size. We'll have to wait to buy it until we get back.
"Well, it might still be on sale when you get back. Here's my card. Are you going to throw it away?" He put it back on his desk.
I just said, I know where you are. We walked out.

Is it just me, or was this whole experience kind of weird??? (Thanks for reading this!)
Click to expand...
I would have walked.....I have no time to argue with salespeople who don't know what their ads say!
 
caroln said:
He definitely needs more training in customer service. If I took his card with his name on it when he offered it, I might have been tempted to complain about him. Especially about inferring that my husband is short! I still can't believe he recommended using someone's dumpster. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
We get the regular King size, a Cali wouldn't fit in our small bedroom anyway. My dog and cat sometimes sleep on the bed with us, and that extra lengh might come in handy, lol.

Did you make the purchase, guess I missed that?
 
caroln said:
I know most of you don't like to read long posts, but this was so strange I just had to write about it. (Salesman comments in red.)

We went to a mattress store today to check out a California king mattress I found on line for $549.00. We entered the store, and were greeted by salesman who was helping another customer. So far so good. The salesman came over while we were looking at a mattress and said, "Please tell me you need a king size mattress."
A California king, I replied.
"Why do you need a California king? You're not tall enough to need a California king" (Looking at my husband)
Us: No comment.
"Let me explain the difference between a regular king and a California king. Blah...blah...blah..."
I stopped him mid sentence. I know the difference, I said. I've had one for years.
"But you don't really need a California king."
Me: Yes, I do. I have a California king foundation. Therefore I need a California king mattress. I know what I want.
At that point I handed him a piece of paper with the name of the mattress, the product number, and the price which I took off their website.
"I don't think that price is right".
Me: I took it right off your website.
"A lot of people do that, but write down the price of twin."
Me: Go to your website. It shows it right on there.
He goes to computer. "Oh. I guess that seems right."
Another customer enters store at that point and the salesman leaves us to take care of the other customer. When he comes back, he says,"Do you want me to write this one up?"
Me: Well, I have another question. You have free delivery and take away the old mattress, right?
"We deliver free but charge $100 for taking away the old mattress."
I didn't bother telling him that the website states they take away the old mattress free if a new one is bought at their store. I figured he'd probably just tell me the policy had changed or some other *rap.
I said, well, I guess we'll go ahead and buy this one. I gave him all the information he wanted and he says, "It looks like that will be shipped to you directly from the manufacturer."
Me: So how do we get the old mattress taken away?
"You don't."
I looked at my husband and said, we can just call the garbage company and arrange for a special pick up.
"What I would do is take it to some store's dumpster and throw it away."
We kind of gasped and said, that's illegal!
He just laughed. He then pointed to a card machine, saying, "You can use that machine over there to pay."
Me: When will it be delivered? We're going on vacation later this week and need to be home for a delivery.
"I don't know".
There's no way to request a delivery date?
"No."
Well, we can't risk not being home for a delivery of that size. We'll have to wait to buy it until we get back.
"Well, it might still be on sale when you get back. Here's my card. Are you going to throw it away?" He put it back on his desk.
I just said, I know where you are. We walked out.

Is it just me, or was this whole experience kind of weird??? (Thanks for reading this!)
Click to expand...
When I bought my new mattress, I was very impressed with the salesperson. They let me do all the talking and when I asked what would happen to my old mattress, he said they would take it away and dispose of it, without charge. That sealed the deal with me.
 
Remy said:
She was wrong. My queen mattress is only one sided, so it doesn't get flipped. But it could really use with a rotation. I used to lift it and rotate it myself but I don't think I can do that anymore. Plus it's 20 years old and still OK but probably ready for a replacement.
Click to expand...
I only have a King Single and can hardly shift it. It takes me a good deal of huffing and puffing to rotate it, and when I try to tuck the sheets under I usually break one of my nails.
 
SeaBreeze said:
I would have taken his name and made an official complaint to the company manager. This lack of respect for the customer is outrageous, and should not be tolerated.
Click to expand...
Yes. There's a story about Clarence Darrow traveling by train with his small son. Their waiter was rude to them and the boy said, "Shouldn't we report him to the management?" Darrow replied, "He's probably just having a bad day, son. Never do harm to a working man."

But on the other hand this man in his capacity as mattress salesman is of no use to his company or his customers, and probably no use to himself and his family. Still, I think I agree with Clarence Darrow.
 
SeaBreeze said:
We get the regular King size, a Cali wouldn't fit in our small bedroom anyway. My dog and cat sometimes sleep on the bed with us, and that extra lengh might come in handy, lol.

Did you make the purchase, guess I missed that?
Click to expand...
No, we didn't buy it since he couldn't say when it would be delivered. I couldn't let it sit on the front porch when we're 3 states away! And I wouldn't ask a neighbor to be bothered with trying to take care of something that big. Since it would come from the manufacturer anyway, I'll just buy it on line and get it delivered free that way. I really don't want to deal with that store again!
 
caroln said:
No, we didn't buy it since he couldn't say when it would be delivered. I couldn't let it sit on the front porch when we're 3 states away! And I wouldn't ask a neighbor to be bothered with trying to take care of something that big. Since it would come from the manufacturer anyway, I'll just buy it on line and get it delivered free that way. I really don't want to deal with that store again!
Click to expand...
Good, I don't blame you. Whenever we bought a mattress, they usually just delivered it from the local store. If they're going to be a middle man, makes good sense to just buy online from the manufacturer. I'm like you, I wouldn't trouble my neighbor with dealing with such a big item, even if it was a small item, I would do my best to have it delivered when I was home.

I hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip.
 
Last week we walked past a store where someone had thrown a big mattress on the top of their dumpster. I hope the store has cameras and can go after them. Charity stores have it even worse with trash left at their back doors.
 
Just a little update. Before I ordered a mattress on line, I decided to go to our local Sleep Number store on advise from a friend. I always thought they would be way out of my price range but they weren't as bad as I thought. So I tried out one of the beds in the showroom and ....OMG! It felt like I had no bones. I went home, gathered up my husband, and went back to the store so he could try it out. Instant buy! I am so glad I shopped around.

Free delivery, 15 year warranty, free replacement on any part, delivery date whenever I wanted. And a salesman that was actually nice!
 
I bought the most wonderful mattress, a double memory foam w/gel top & you can make the top lift up to sitting, if you want. Took old mattress away, free. From Mattress Firm. I am very happy with it.
 

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