Why I'm not buying a mattress in the Amazon Prime Day sale

Nectar mattress in contemporary styled bedroom

(Image credit: Nectar)

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1. Customer benefits
2. Better deals elsewhere
3. Ongoing mattress sales
The best mattress deals
FAQs

published 12 July 2023

If you're in the market for a new mattress, it makes sense to wait until a big sales event. Mattresses are expensive, and unless your bed is unbearably uncomfortable, buying yours during the January, summer, or Black Friday sales is a great way to make a saving. But not every deal is a great one.

Amazon Prime Day, for example, has plenty of discounts on mattresses from best-selling brands like Nectar, Dreamcloud, and Casper, but I don't think they're worth the spend. As H&G's sleep and shopping editor, I spend my time researching, testing, and reviewing the best mattresses, as well as sourcing the best offers – so you can make informed purchasing decisions on what to buy, and when.

So take it from me, you can get better deals elsewhere. Mattresses are almost always on sale on brands' own websites, and buying directly comes with added freebies and benefits, like sleep trials, warranties, and returns policies.

Here's why I'd suggest not buying a mattress this Prime Day, and where to go instead for the best deals on beds we've reviewed and recommend.

Why not to buy a mattress in the Prime Day sale

It's easy to get carried away with 'Prime Day' sales stickers and spend on something you think is a great deal. Mattress deals especially can seem like you're saving a lot. But the truth is, it's better to buy direct from the retailer. Here's why:

1. Customer benefits

Best memory foam mattress on bed frame lifestyle image

Yes, there are benefits to shopping on Amazon. Buying a large item from the online retailer means you don't have the hassle of strapping your mattress to the roof to get it home, or week long delivery dates. If you're a Prime member, you might even get yours by the next day.

But buying from the brand means your purchase is better protected. From customer service to added sleep trials, warranties and free returns, dealing directly with the company means you're not having to go through a third party if anything goes wrong.

2. Better deals elsewhere

Amazon is currently offering the popular Nectar original mattress with 22% off for Prime day. One of the top-rated mattresses on the market, it offers the perfect balance between comfort and support. It's firm for a memory foam bed, which means it'll keep your spine aligned while cradling your pressure points. We've rated it as the best mattress for back pain. We'd recommend buying it even at full price, so if you can get it with saving, you should.

However, after comparing prices with the Nectar website, it seems you can get a better deal with added benefits. Nectar is offering 33% off the Original mattress with an additional bundle offer worth $599 for an extra $159. You're getting a sheet set, cooling pillow, and mattress protector for the same price.

3. Mattress brands always have sales

From my experience keeping tabs on the brands that sell the best mattresses, I can safely say that it's rare for most of the top-rated brands to be selling their mattresses at full price.

The popular direct-consumer mattress brands known for their great value box beds, like Casper, Emma, and Nectar almost always will have some sort of sale. The 33% off Nectar deal above, for example, has been ongoing for as long as I can remember.

There's the odd discount around President's Day and Memorial Day, but you'll find the biggest discounts around Black Friday. Otherwise, there's always at least 20% off. If you're holding out on buying a new mattress so you can get it at a discount on Prime Day – don't. Check the brand's website first, as you're almost always guaranteed an offer.

The best mattress deals

There are only a select few mattress brands available on Amazon, and you shouldn't limit yourself when trying to find the best mattress for you. First, find the bed of your dreams, then shop for it on sale. Here are some of the best deals on our top-rated mattresses at the moment:

FAQs

What days of the year are best to buy a mattress?

There better times in the year to buy a mattress than others. The day, usually doesn't make a difference. I have found mattress sales to be on most of the year, however you're likely to find bigger discounts during major national sales events like the Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Presidents' Day, 4th July weekend and the end-of-year sales.

If you're in desperate need to upgrade your mattress, we'd never suggest waiting. Sleeping on a bed that is unfit for your needs may affect your health and wellbeing. An uncomfortable mattress can lead to aches and pains and not getting a great night sleep is likely to impact your day ahead. In other words, the best time to buy a mattress is when you need one.

How do I get the best deal on a new mattress?

Finding the best deal on a new mattress isn't always easy. There are a lot of retailers offering different prices on the same models with varying purchasing benefits.

The best way to guarantee yourself a great deal is to make your purchase during an annual sales event, as stated above. Black Friday will see the lowest prices on mattresses than any other point in the year.

That being said, the best deal, doesn't always mean the lowest price. Buying directly from a brand website has added benefits, even if they are offering the mattress at a slightly higher cost. Brands will have added perks such as year-long sleep trials that essentially let you try before you buy, lifetime warranties that protect you if anything goes wrong with your new bed, and hassle-free returns, in case you decide you no longer want it. They often also spotlight bundle offers where you can get some new bed sheets, pillows, comforters, and/or a mattress protector thrown in too – helping you save more in the long run.

While I would advise against buying a new bed in the Prime Day sales, there are lots of amazing deals that are worth clicking checking out on. In fact, I've scrolled and sourced some of the best Prime Day bedding deals so you can still upgrade on comfort and how well you sleep.

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Louise is your eCommerce Editor and sleep specialist to help you wind down well. A connoisseur of the mattress world, Louise previously covered sleep and wellness (as well as the occasional organizational buy) at Real Homes, and has tried, tested, and reviewed some of the buys for your bedroom. With an MA in International Journalism and PR experience, Louise brings bags of bedding expertise and enjoys nothing more than helping readers find solutions and products that best suit their sleep needs.

I'm a sleep editor and here's why it's NOT worth buying a mattress this Prime Day