Ikea's Mattress Warranty

[pancakeg]

Just wanted to post some info on Ikea's mattress warranty as I recently was able to get a new mattress using the warranty.

I bought a queen mattress from Ikea in 2005 (Sultan Hasselbeck, now discontinued). When I purchased it the price was $449 plus taxes. It had come with a 10 year warranty.

6.5 years later, the springs had become flattened on the side my husband sleeps on. It was compressed to the point where it was sloping and was hurting my husband's back. We were ready to purchase a new mattress when I remembered the warranty on the Ikea mattresses. We went to Ikea North York and asked what was needed in order to 'cash in' on the warranty.

The Ikea employee said that the compressed coils definitely sounded like something that would be valid under the warranty. I would need to bring in the original purchase receipt, the mattress, and there could not be any stains on the mattress. If it was deemed that a manufacturer's defect caused the damage they would issue me a gift card with a full refund for the purchase price and taxes paid. He said he could not guarantee me anything unless I bring the mattress in for them to take a look.

This was the risky part for me -- I don't own a vehicle large enough to transport a queen mattress, so I would have to pay for renting a u-haul cargo van and drive it up to Ikea, with no guarantee I would get the refund. I also had to look for the receipt which I was sure I filed away somewhere 6.5 years ago.

The rental for the van (including fees, insurance, km and gas) was about $50 for me since I live close to Ikea. We brought the mattress and they agreed the springs were compressed and gave me a gift card for $506.xx. The employee at the returns section first called for a manager to look at the mattress and she authorized the refund. We went directly upstairs, picked out a new queen mattress for $549 (comes with a 25 year warranty now!) and after using the gift card, we paid $113. This week was also their 'mattress event,' so we received 15% back in gift cards -- we got a gift card for $82.xx. So the net price we paid for a $549 mattress was $31! Was still worth it even after paying to rent the van.

Bottom line -- Ikea honours their mattress warranties. But you need to have your original receipt and ensure no stains are on the mattress. I'm not sure why they have the no stains rule; maybe it's a hygiene issue? But anyway, it is totally worth investing in a good file folder and a mattress cover (I have one that totally encases the mattress and zips up. It's waterproof, and also keeps out allergens and bed bugs - $45 at walmart).

Hope this helps some people! The 15% back gift card event ends on Feb 26th if you're wondering.

[woof]

Bottom line -- Ikea honours their mattress warranties. But you need to have your original receipt and ensure no stains are on the mattress. I'm not sure why they have the no stains rule; maybe it's a hygiene issue? But anyway, it is totally worth investing in a good file folder and a mattress cover (I have one that totally encases the mattress and zips up. It's waterproof, and also keeps out allergens and bed bugs - $45 at walmart)..

The sole purpose of the "no stains" rule is to give the manufacturer an excuse to refuse the warranty. It's a fairly common requirement amongst manufacturers. Keep in mind that any mattress that's been used for a few years cannot in any way be described as hygienic even with no visible stains and the return will probably just get immediately tossed into the nearest garbage bin anyways.

Demanding the original receipt is another means of avoiding warranty since most people toss them away or lose them. Even though the stores probably have the record of sale on their computers for several years and could print you a duplicate receipt, it's not original and gives them that excuse to refuse warranty. There is otherwise no reason whatsoever for them to refuse a duplicate receipt.

Getting you to return the mattress to the store instead of sending someone out to look at it is still another method of avoiding warranty responsibility since few people have a suitable vehicle and very few would go to the trouble and cost of renting one. Most would just give up and go and buy another mattress.

I have to applaud your determination since the manufacturers/retailers deliberately put a series of obstacles in your path in order to avoid the warranty and you broke through all of them. I suspect that few people succeed in doing this.