What Does Mattress Closeout Actually Mean?

You see a sign that says:

MATTRESS CLOSEOUT

And depending on who you are, you probably have one of two reactions.

Great! How much can I save?

Or…

Okay, what's wrong with it?

We get it.

The word “closeout” can make it sound like there's something wrong with a mattress. But in the mattress industry, closeout often has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the bed.

In fact, sometimes a closeout mattress is simply last year's version of a mattress that's still sitting on a traditional retail floor—with a slightly different cover, name or price tag.

So, what does mattress closeout actually mean?

Sometimes the Manufacturer Is Just Changing the Lineup

Mattress manufacturers regularly update their collections.

They introduce new models. Change fabrics. Update foams. Rename collections. Change the look of a mattress. Add new technology. Or sometimes they simply decide it's time for something new.

When that happens, the previous models have to go somewhere.

That's where closeouts come in.

A mattress could have been part of a manufacturer's regular lineup and then become a closeout simply because a new collection is coming out.

That doesn't suddenly make the mattress bad.

It just makes it last year's model—and potentially a really good deal.

Think about cars.

When the new model year arrives, the previous year's vehicle doesn't suddenly stop being a good vehicle.

There's just something newer sitting next to it.

Mattresses can work the same way.

Does Closeout Mean Used?

No.

A closeout mattress and a used mattress are not the same thing.

A closeout can be a brand-new mattress that is simply being discontinued or removed from a manufacturer's current lineup.

At our Outlet, you'll see different types of inventory, so it's important to understand what you're looking at.

We may have brand-new closeouts, overstocks, floor models, one-of-a-kinds, or mattresses with minor cosmetic scuffs or bumps.

And we'll tell you what you're looking at.

We don't want you wondering why a mattress is at the Outlet or trying to figure it out yourself.

What About Floor Models?

Floor models are a little different.

Sometimes one of our other stores changes a display or a manufacturer introduces a new collection, and the existing floor model comes over to the Outlet.

That mattress may have been displayed and tried in the store, which is different from a brand-new closeout mattress.

But that also creates another opportunity to save.

If you're someone who doesn't care that a mattress spent some time on a showroom floor, you may be able to get a mattress from a major brand for significantly less than its original retail price.

For some shoppers, that's a pretty easy trade-off.

And What Is an Overstock?

Overstock is exactly what it sounds like.

There are simply too many of something.

Maybe a manufacturer produced more than they needed. Maybe inventory needs to be cleared for a new collection. Maybe there was an opportunity for us to purchase additional mattresses at a price that made sense.

Whatever the reason, overstock can give us the opportunity to bring mattresses into the Outlet and offer them at a better value.

Again, it doesn't automatically mean there's anything wrong with the mattress.

Sometimes there are just too many mattresses and not enough places to put them.

What About Scuffs, Bumps or Cosmetic Imperfections?

This is another category where some people can find incredible value.

Mattresses are big.

They're moved through warehouses, loaded onto trucks and handled multiple times before they ever make it to a bedroom.

Occasionally, something may get a cosmetic scuff, a small mark or another minor imperfection.

For some people, that's a deal breaker.

For someone else?

They're putting sheets on it anyway.

If a cosmetic imperfection doesn't bother you and the mattress itself is a great fit, it can be another way to save.

We Still Care About the Brands

Here's something that's really important to us:

Outlet doesn't mean we're willing to put just anything on the floor.

We still want to carry some of the biggest and best-known brands in the mattress industry.

The difference is that we don't necessarily know exactly what we're going to have from those brands at any given time.

Maybe we haven't had the brand you're looking for in a while.

Then suddenly, we get two.

Maybe a floor model comes over from one of our other stores.

Maybe a manufacturer has a closeout opportunity.

That's why shopping the Outlet can feel a little like a treasure hunt.

The Catch With Closeouts

There is one thing you need to understand before falling in love with a closeout mattress:

We may never get another one.

When a traditional retail mattress sells, another one can often be ordered to replace it.

That's not how our Outlet works.

We don't sell a closeout mattress and then simply order another one.

When new inventory comes in, we usually have an idea of the brand, make and model we're receiving, but that's constantly changing.

Even getting the same brand again doesn't mean getting the same mattress.

For example, maybe you find a Sealy Firm that you love.

The next Sealy Firm that comes through our doors could be a traditional innerspring mattress, a hybrid or an all-foam mattress.

Same brand.

Both say firm.

Completely different mattresses.

That's why we can never guarantee that we'll get another mattress exactly like the one you're looking at.

So, Is Buying a Closeout Mattress a Good Idea?

It absolutely can be—as long as it's the right mattress for you.

We don't believe you should buy a mattress just because the price is good.

You still have to sleep on it.

Try it. Lie down in your normal sleeping position. Compare it to a couple of others. Ask questions.

If you find a mattress that feels great, comes from a brand you trust, fits your needs and happens to be a closeout at a really good price?

That's when Outlet shopping gets fun.

Because sometimes “closeout” doesn't mean there's something wrong with it.

Sometimes it just means you found it at exactly the right time.