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2013 Labor Day Mattress Sales: What to Expect

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The three-day weekend, backyard barbecues, lounging around the pool, and Labor Day mattress sales..? While Labor Day is a holiday intended to celebrate the contributions of the working folk, it has also become synonymous with retail sales. And one industry that sees particular promise in this holiday are mattress retailers. As one of the top shopping holidays of the year (and the last before Black Friday), nearly every store, website and brand will be offering some sort of promotion this year, but what kind of deals can you expect to see and are they worth the splurge? The Sleepy Shopper did some research to answer your questions.

Labor Day Mattress Sales for 2013

Many of the major outlets have already started releasing their Labor Day mattress sales, with some beginning last weekend and others starting Friday or Monday only. Some will have the same deals all weekend, others will offer daily deals. Shoppers’ best sources for sales are going to be retailer and brand websites, coupon sites, as well as local news ads. Here’s our take on the 2013 Labor Day mattress sales based on what we’ve found.

What to Expect From This Year’s Labor Day Mattress Sales

Every year, the various industries seem to focus on specific promos or specials that may or may not actually be a “good deal”, and this year there is definitely a pronounced trend. We scoured the net to see what national stores and online retailers were offering this year, and here’s what you can expect to see.

Free Boxsprings/Foundations

One of the leading trends in Labor Day mattress sales this year seems to be the inclusion of the box springs or foundation with mattress purchase (rather than large discounts to the mattress itself). If you need a whole set, this might be useful, as retailers may tack on $200-400 normally, but for those who just need a mattress the deal isn’t so great. Retailers would rather give away a lower cost accessory item like boxsprings than give significant markdowns on the core product which is why these promos are popular. We spotted free boxsprings deals at Mattress Firm (with Sealy Optimum/Hybrid), Sears (select brands over $599), and Serta.com (iComfort and iSeries).

Free Pillows

Some retailers are also offering free pillows with the purchase of a mattress. Brands that seem to be going this route are mostly memory foam companies who tend not to heavily discount their core lines, or retailers that technically cannot discount prices due to agreements with manufacturers. Macy’s is offering free pillows with Tempurpedic and Serta iComfort beds, but the discount comes via mail-in rebate. Sleep Train is also offering free pillows with Tempurpedic beds. Online retailers Amerisleep and Astrabeds both are including free pillows as part of their promotions as well. In general, the foam pillows usually sell for $80-$120, so the “retail” value can be fairly good if you like the pillows.

Big Percentage Markdowns

Traditional innerspring mattress retailers are most likely to flash hefty percentage markdowns in their Labor Day mattress sale ads. It is not unusual to see ads and signs proclaiming 50-75% off, mattress blowout!, etc. Mattress Firm has special discounts of up to 70% on select Sealy and Hampton & Rhodes beds. Select Comfort is offering about 8-25% off select mattress sets and closeouts, and has a promotional offer on a memory foam/air model. Macy’s is advertising 30-50% off MSRP on select mattresses, while Sears has 50-60% off MSRP on select beds, and Sleepys is advertising 1/2 off select beds (all exclude Tempurpedic, iComfort and some others).

Online Coupon Sales

Several online retailers are also having Labor Day mattress sales and specials, and many brands are offering direct-to-consumer deals online. These are usually accessed via coupon codes, which may be found in email newsletters, website banners, or popular coupon websites. Tempurpedic is offering a free twin Simplicity bed with King size of a more expensive line. Amerisleep has $200 off any memory foam bed. US-Mattress has markdowns up to 40% off MSRP on select Simmons, Sealy, and Serta innerspring beds. Astrabeds has $200 off any latex mattress and an expedited shipping special.

Specials on Adjustable Beds

Another trend we noticed was a few brands offering deals on adjustable bed bases, which are not often discounted. These products are the electric beds that allow users to adjust the angle of their head and feet, and may also have features like massage. Astrabeds has $200 off any adjustable base, and Amerisleep also has $200 off adjustable beds. Serta is advertising up to $1000 of adjustables with certain beds, though the website doesn’t indicate the actual discounted price.

Are The Deals Worth It?

If you need a new mattress now in the next two months, it can be worthwhile to shop Labor Day mattress sales. Many mattress retailers see this as their Black Friday and are offering some of the best deals of the year. While Black Friday sales are often what people hold out for, they likely will not be significantly different than the Labor Day promotions and may not be worth waiting for if your bed is truly in need of replacement.

But, it is important to remember that claims such as “30, 50 or 75% off” are often misleading since major manufacturers like Sealy and Simmons vastly inflate their MSRP or suggested retail prices. When a mattress shop tells you they are giving you an amazing deal at 50% off retail price, take it with a grain of salt. Often these prices reflect 10-20% lower than normal selling prices, or may involve special “promotional” models that are not of the same quality as other beds in the line. Salespeople will usually impress a sense of urgency during sales, but if you just don’t find the right bed during the sale, there will always be more sales.

The best way to ensure you come away with a bed you will actually be happy with during Labor Day mattress sales is to research and pinpoint desirable options before hand. Rather than compromise on features just to save, look for savings on a mattress you genuinely want. If you don’t want to brave packed showrooms this weekend, you can always shop online Labor Day deals just make sure you can return if needed. Feel free to drop a comment below if you spot any other great Labor Day mattress sales or have tips share!


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