Unfortunately, with no reciept and no proof of a $1349 price, a chargeback will likely fail. Maybe EECB? If that fails, send it back.

He should complain to a higher-up. He doesn't have to let this be between him and the stupid salesperson.

It's possible that they originally quoted him some sort of members price (like, you have to be a hotel owner to get the better prices, and they assumed he was at first even though he's not). But that is just a shot in the dark.

Call back and ask for a manager or something.

That's what chargebacks are for.

I would call again as a new customer and see if I could get a price quote, see if they provide the $1349 price again.

Did the individual put it on a credit card to allow a chargeback, or did they put it on a "fake" credit card (a debit card)? This is why I don't use a debit card for purchases - you use that capability.

Return the mattress and take your business elsewhere. Better Mattresses can be had for much less money.

The entire mattress industry is incredibly shady. One massive scam to rip you off... If you can't work something out before it ships, refuse the shipment when it comes. Don't know if this will help at all but its worth a look...
[www.mattressscam.com]

I would return it....

At the very least, I'd try taking it up the chain of command. Maybe the call was recorded?

If it isn't resolved, I'd return the mattress on principle.

I don't get the problem here. They're not charging you for the return, right? Return the damn thing. It's not what you wanted to pay for the item so don't keep it.

@Coles_Law:

What are the rules when an online (or phone) company never sends the receipt? Who's responsible? It may be worth a try, especially for the sake of $500.

P.S. Is this some sort of exclusive model that cannot be purchased locally? Returning it or a chargeback might not mean you can't get the bed you want for the price you expect. At least at a local store you have a better chance of not getting hustled.

Ok, I will make a suggestion that it the universal answer for 90% of issues on here. CHARGEBACK!

Also you can refuse the delivery, which I highly recommend.

In the meantime call your credit card company and let them know you didn't authorize the charge and your done.

Buy your bed somewhere else. Also file a complaint with the hotel for a shady deal. Done.

I submitted this. Returning the mattress only get me, ANOTHER mattress. It is a custom built bed thing, stupid I know. I never planned to buy it but the quoted price seemed really low so I went for it. Purchased this on my Discover card. I have never done a chargeback before, so I am not sure how that is done. I've only been on Consumerist for a few months. But Today is my birthday, and I am now an example of how to be conned. I will donate to the tip jar to show thanks for helping, and I will call Discover to see what a chargeback is all about. Since they didn't have my real email address, they have since mailed me a receipt.

So the name is wrong on the invoice, the dollar amount is incorrect and you think you are stuck?

It sounds like you don't want to escalate for some reason which makes this even shadier. Is the hope that consumerist.com will somehow take up the cause and do your job as a consumer?

1. Chargeback. You received no receipt and when you did receive a receipt it was for the wrong dollar amount agreed and the information is completely wrong.

2. Call the BBB/Local AG. This is illegal to do as they have no proof of consent by the OP for the charge at that price.

3. EECB is a waste of time with companies like this. It is the executives that are the ones telling this CSA they have to overcharge. I guarantee that there is a policy that required her to add the 500 for the box spring versus 100. She made an error and pushed it to the OP.

Overall, this OP needs to get some testicular fortitude and stand up for yourself. Don't come to the consumerist because you are too lazy. sorry.

Why, oh, WHY is the mattress-selling business so damned shady? Without fail!

@No_Moleste: I've seen mattress stores from coast to coast, and they are always having sales! Half off! Free frame! And the stores are almost universally set up in the same way: a big, empty expanse of bare mattresses set up for you to test drive, with a little desk in the back corner.

Why??

I'd return the mattress and look elsewhere for it. Didn't someone point out a few months ago on consumerist that manufacturers tend to make the same exact mattress but slap different labels or model numbers depending on the store it was going to?

I've been told by a long-time retailer that the retail mattress business has one of the highest profit margins of any retail business. That's hard to believe with the sheer number of mattress outlets and advertised discounts. It's a very strange business, I think. I'm glad I won't need to buy another mattress for quite a while.

WHAT THE HELL CONSUMERIST?!

It's 9:00am on a cold, rainy, New England day and you're showing pictures of someone passed out in a ridiculously comfortable looking bed. This should be a freaking crime.

I guess it occurred to no one on here that $1349 and $1849 look a LOT alike on a crappy computer screen. To be frank, it's the reason I CTRL+Scroll-up the size on my excel sheets at work (I want a new monitor!!!)

@UX4themasses: Oh yeah...I think we all missed number 2. He definitely didn't explicitly consent to a charge of that amount. Challenge it!!!

@UX4themasses: It certainly takes some testicular fortitude to simply quote all of the advice that came right before your post, and then blame the victim.

The guy was asking for advice, not insults.

Just get a membership and go to costco. They have fine mattresses at the correct price - i.e. what the stores should charge. My wife and I both purchased mattresses at one time (before we were married), I spent days finding the cheapest price for my mattress, and she went into costco and got a slighly fluffier mattress from the same manufacturer (with same 10 yr warranty, and mattress class) at the same price I paid.

@ztoop: The bigger point was, that my mattress was on sale, and that price was only available for about a week, and then it was $200 more (which was still cheaper than at a typical mattress store).

Stories like this make me dread having to buy a new mattress. I've been looking to get a new mattress for a few months, but I keep putting it off because of this kind of stuff. I'll have to check out that Mattress Scam site though, it looks interesting.

@henwy: They might expect him to pay return shipping for it.... In which case that could add to a pretty severe degree to the cost. Unless he refuses the shipment upfront.

So the Mattress was $1249, Box spring was an additional $100. So what about shipping and taxes? Or do they not apply to phone orders where the OP is from?

sounds like a set up, in collusion with the hotels. call your credit card company. cancel it and refuse delivery. bait and switch is illegal. these guys aren't going to get an straighter.

@Coles_Law:
It sounds like they're willing to take it back and refund his money, so why would a chargeback even be considered?

@Chmeeee:
Good idea

@Chmeeee: Definitely a good idea. In fact, I sort of want to try. OP, if you're out there -- what's the 800 number?

I bet you get a phone call if you refuse delivery and they offer you the cheaper price.

@captadam:
I agree. You pretty much have to buy a mattress with the understanding that you WILL get overcharged, no matter where you go (we're talking about nice mattresses - not the recovered pee-pee mattresses sold as new that those bargain stores carry in which case, you are DEFINITELY NOT getting a deal).

@italianscallion33:
I'd wager you hit it dead on and they are probably covering for their mistake. Either that for the salesmen just needs better glasses and mistook the 3 for an 8 on his screen.

Got a new king mattress a Sams club, Serta Pillowtop, under $700. would never walk into a mattress store again

@bkdlays: Can you prove a chargeback when you have no receipt of the original quoted price, though?

@MichaelBrazell: Could be worse, I could have posted this:

Count my vote for RETURN (if no cost to you) and shop somewhere else. I would also include a friendly letter. I don't doubt the peons f'd this up, but it's possible that the higher-ups might appreciate knowing this kind of thing is going on and lost them business. I employ an independent contractor from time to time in my business, and if I knew he screwed up an account with incompetence, I'd definitely want to know even if I had already lost the account.

@frank64: Maybe, but I still wouldn't take it. I wouldn't want any of my money going to an operation this incompetent.

@eskimo81: No it's not. They're willing to accept it and refund money. That's not at all what chargebacks are for.

@MichaelBrazell: HAHAHAHAHA! Here, here, MichaelBrazell!

@MichaelBrazell: And what is that, a stuffed walrus? Shai hulud? I want to go back to sleep.

This piece has a really great title.

@korybing: Don't think it matters. I mean, he doesn't have the receipt for the higher price, either.

@UX4themasses: "Overall, this OP needs to get some testicular fortitude "

Are you kidding me? You need to get that stick out of your ass.

@lincolnparadox: Seriously. "Let me regurgitate everyone else's advice, then call the OP a name to make myself feel BIG!"

@PSUSkier: He would have to refuse shipment, but you can't trust shipping companies. They will leave things even if you left a note to refuse. Because it's easier for them.

@korybing: Can they prove he authorized the higher price? I'm pretty sure playing back the tapes of the CSRs will show that he agreed to the 1349 price. Lacking something like a signature or a recording of the customer agreeing to the higher price, I would hope that the credit card company would side for their cardholder.

Maybe a call to the hotel that refereed you. The hotel's referral to these a-holes reflects badly on the hotel. Presumably the hotel is a good client of the shady mattress company, and maybe they have some pull.