I dislike mattress-shopping almost as much as used-car shopping! [View all]

The mattress & furniture stores give us a chance to test and try (an advantage over bed-in-a-box options, or online delivery) but the stores and sales people are aggressive and hovering.

And then there's the tried-and-true bait-and-switch. The "Mattress Firm" website listed a mattress that I was interested in at 60% off the (inflated) MSRP with the notation that it was "discontinued" and "limited stock" ... but that it was available at my nearby location.

They did not actually have that mattress for me to try and inspect... just a twin-size of the same model and firmness. --- I liked it and I started asking when the queen size could be delivered.

THAT'S when they told me the "disclosures" and letting me know that the mattress has been "reconditioned" and inspected and cleaned (deloused?) and that it could be a floor sample, or that it could be a returned mattress from a customer using their 120-night guarantee.

WHAT??!! --- While I am willing to sleep on hotel beds that hundreds of guests sleep on in a year, I draw the line at buying a "new" (used) mattress. --- Fleas? Bedbugs? Pet hair? Pee? Weed? Cigarette smoke? Perfume and cologne? --- No thanks!

When they realized I didn't want the "reconditioned" mattress, they immediately started guiding me toward "similar" mattresses that cost twice, thrice and FOUR TIMES as much.

I was angry, but I didn't let it show. I just said, "that's out of my budget"... and I walked out. --- Am I just being a fussy old biddy?