Mattress not as expected. Retailer being difficult.
Mattress not as expected. Retailer being difficult.
Author
Discussion

Thermobaric

Original Poster:

725 posts

150 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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OK. So mattress purchased from a large, premium department store. Multiple visits to different branches checking many before finding the 'one'. This was checked in two different branches. I might add the mattress was purchased along with a bed which just happened to be used for displaying the mattress in store.

When the mattress was delivered, it was immediately clear it was considerably firmer than the ones tested in store. The branch that it was purchased from was called the same day to report this before any packaging was removed. The choice was given of having it picked up and returned for a charge of £29.95, or putting the mattress on the bed and try it for 30 days. Seeing as was needed that night, the 30 day option was taken. An additional call was made before the 30 day period had expired to reiterate that something was still not right with the mattress.

During the conversation with customer service, they informed that it needed to be turned every week to bed it in (pun intended) I cannot believe this is something that anyone should be expected to do when they have spent a considerable amount on a high quality mattress in order for it to feel the same as the one tested in multiple stores. Even taking into account people testing the mattresses in store, they can't have had a significant amount of use to differentiate them from a factory fresh mattress.

No mention was made of this weekly turning by any of the staff in numerous lengthy discussions whilst considering what to buy.
Basically hit a brick wall now. Customer service didn't want to know so we went over their head. Supposedly someone was dealing with it. There was talking of someone from the store coming round to check it out but nothing came of that. Promised phone calls and nothing. Constantly trying to chase and getting nowhere.

The shop is well known for it's customer service which I have never had in issue with before.
Surely contacting the store on the day of delivery and explaining the concern before opening the packaging was the correct procedure and would enable a return/replacement?

Customer service has quite frankly been shocking from the attitude of the initial person that was dealing with it.
I appreciate it's a mattress so exempt from the normal return procedure for goods but if all these online mattress start ups can do 100 day free trials, free delivery, return and free collection if you're not happy, surely a retailer established for over 80 years can eat the cost of a replacement/return?

Am I being unreasonable? What can I do? I was thinking perhaps posting on their social media. They don't tend to like that do they.

SantaBarbara

3,244 posts

138 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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Yess you are being unreasonable

catman

2,504 posts

205 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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SantaBarbara said:
Yess you are being unreasonable
A really helpful post. A friend of mine had exactly the same problem as you recently. The store immediately offered a full refund or replacement. No problems whatsoever.

Tim

benz0

344 posts

163 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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If You're not satisfied because it feels like a totally different mattress to the one you ordered, then kick off.

If kicking off doesn't work, escalate..

If escalating doesn't work, try social media, watchdog, local radio consumer programmes, that kinda thing

Rick101

7,189 posts

180 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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Turning the mattress is normal practice so I would not focus on that.

IanA2

2,897 posts

192 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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If it's the shop I'm thinking of, their CS has been outsourced to Crapita. Best by pass them and refer to the CEO.

Magic919

14,540 posts

231 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
That's a very kind offer.

Mercury00

4,250 posts

186 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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Shop mattresses are always softer due to thousand of people testing it. Yours will feel like that after a thousand nights sleep.

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

290 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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Mercury00 said:
Shop mattresses are always softer due to thousand of people testing it. Yours will feel like that after a thousand nights sleep.
There is a way to speed up the process ;-)

m3jappa

6,950 posts

248 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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Not of any help i know but i often wonder about these promises to return mattresses after x amount of nights sleeping on them.

I mean do they actually just agree to take them back without a fight (obviously not in the op case). Surely by the time its been used for even 1 night then they are useless and can't be sold as new or infact sold on at all, only good for landfill?

Just curious as I'm going to buy a new bed soon and have back problems which are made significantly worse by a mattress. Very hard to tell in store whats comfortable.

SVTRick

3,633 posts

225 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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Am sure a nice firm mattress will do wonders for your back and posture.
Besides after giving your misses (or boyfriend) a good pounding on it for thirty days do you
think anyone else would want to purchase it.


Gribs

478 posts

166 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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m3jappa said:
Not of any help i know but i often wonder about these promises to return mattresses after x amount of nights sleeping on them.

I mean do they actually just agree to take them back without a fight (obviously not in the op case). Surely by the time its been used for even 1 night then they are useless and can't be sold as new or infact sold on at all, only good for landfill?

Just curious as I'm going to buy a new bed soon and have back problems which are made significantly worse by a mattress. Very hard to tell in store whats comfortable.
I'm guessing they have a very low return rate as people will just get used to the mattress, their old one was completely knackered and they've likely disposed of it, and if they do send it back what are they going to sleep on whilst waiting for another?

Douglas Quaid

2,640 posts

115 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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How much did you pay?

Thermobaric

Original Poster:

725 posts

150 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
Turn the mattress every week? I have genuinely never heard this. You're saying this is normal? Every 3-6 months sure, but once a week? Seems pretty mad.

Mercury00 said:
Shop mattresses are always softer due to thousand of people testing it. Yours will feel like that after a thousand nights sleep.
Problem is it's for a guest room so will see a fraction of normal use so I imagine will never see broken in softness.

m3jappa said:
Not of any help i know but i often wonder about these promises to return mattresses after x amount of nights sleeping on them.

I mean do they actually just agree to take them back without a fight (obviously not in the op case). Surely by the time its been used for even 1 night then they are useless and can't be sold as new or infact sold on at all, only good for landfill?

Just curious as I'm going to buy a new bed soon and have back problems which are made significantly worse by a mattress. Very hard to tell in store whats comfortable.
From what I gather, the return rate is low so it’s no big deal to them. It all just gets recycled. Fabric shredded and put in punch bags e.t.c.


Edited by Thermobaric on Sunday 20th August 22:25

FiF

48,818 posts

281 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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IanA2 said:
If it's the shop I'm thinking of, their CS has been outsourced to Crapita. Best by pass them and refer to the CEO.
Every day is a school day, quick Google and it seems this move hasn't been at all popular. Crapita, well named.

Vaud

59,643 posts

185 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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FiF said:
IanA2 said:
If it's the shop I'm thinking of, their CS has been outsourced to Crapita. Best by pass them and refer to the CEO.
Every day is a school day, quick Google and it seems this move hasn't been at all popular. Crapita, well named.
There is a reason that they are normally the lowest bidder...

Thermobaric

Original Poster:

725 posts

150 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
quotequote all
Just Googled it. Yup. Crapita are in charge. That explains that.

anonymous-user

84 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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Rick101 said:
Turning the mattress is normal practice so I would not focus on that.
Not always, mine is a one side up only item.

Its not cheap tat either, its one that has a specific construction to assist my dodgy back.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 20th August 22:34

IanA2

2,897 posts

192 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
quotequote all
Thermobaric said:
Just Googled it. Yup. Crapita are in charge. That explains that.
Ok, so definitely ignore them and go to HQ. Twitter could be useful too, they like what's left of their reputation.

anonymous-user

84 months

Sunday 20th August 2017
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Boosted LS1 said:
Mercury00 said:
Shop mattresses are always softer due to thousand of people testing it. Yours will feel like that after a thousand nights sleep.
There is a way to speed up the process ;-)
Buy a second-hand mattress?scratchchin