Comments on: Sleepy’s: The bedbug column The Courant refused to publish about its prime advertiser

By: Donna

Donna — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:28:16 +0000

I just ordered a mattress from Sleepy’s. I am canceling it tomorrow. I had a very long conersation with someone the other night and told that I was disgusted to learn that my new mattress would be put on a truck with old mattresses. IT SHOULD BE THE LAW that old mattresses are picked up in a different truck after the new mattress is delivered. This is disgusting. I will order a mattress cover/pad to soften the mattress I have and buy new pillows and call it a day.

Most stores even large reputable department stores like Macy’s Bloomingdale and Sears haul away on the same truck. They all offer the comfort guarantee. Maybe congress needs to step in???

Thank you!

P.S. I got a deal I will NEVER get again….and I don’t care…bedbugs are not worth it! Disgusting!

By: Former Employee of Sleepy's

Former Employee of Sleepy's — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:20:42 +0000

I was a store manager for Sleepy’s for over two years at various stores in CT. The outlet mattresses were often times used and everyone knew it. If a customer wasn’t pleased with a mattress they sometimes would exchange them and then those would come back to the stores as outlet.

I don’t think the new mattresses were used but the outlet ones definitely were.

By: Nenad

Nenad — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:53:38 +0000

Jeanne, DO NOT start buying new furniture! You need to get rid of bedbugs first. I had this problem 2 years ago and changing furniture did not help. I used to find bedbugs under picture frames, under the carpet, inside electric wall sockets! If you buy new furniture, they will get to it as well.
I managed to find a spray can in Home Depot that worked well against bedbugs. It was not in the regular pesticide section though. You will have to search a little harder. It is purple and gray can called ‘Sprayaway – Good Night Sleep’. It will take some time. You will probably spend a month or two of spraying contaminated places every few days. Note keep looking for black dots on your walls and furniture. Those will show you where the bedbugs are or where they walk. There is a lot of documentation online about this. I will repeat though, buying new furniture will not solve your problem with bedbugs! Good luck

By: Lynne

Lynne — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:32:08 +0000

It’s not necessarily true that you get bed bugs from people, not mattresses. Bed bugs can live up to 18 months without a food source, so they can live in mattresses and even empty apartments just waiting patiently for a host to come along. So be careful of where you buy mattresses and if they come wrapped in plastic – keep it on forever!

If not, either buy encasements or to save money, buy a roll of sheeting plastic and lots of duct tape and wrap them up yourself.

By: Trish

Trish — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:49:36 +0000

Dr Don is wrong in that there is no problem with companies removing old bedding as long as they are delivering new bedding that is factory wrapped to customers.
The bedbug problem is due to bedding stores that offer comfort guarantees and then resell that bedding to unsuspecting customers. I would never buy from a company that offers comfort guarantees which vendors do not take back! The other problem is stores that reburbish bedding which is taking used bedding, recovering, and selling as if it is new. I am in the industry and very well aware of the bedbug issues and its causes.

By: Dr.Dave

Dr.Dave — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:03:29 +0000

In answer to Jeanns’ question….Call any mattress company and ask if they remove the old mattress. If they say yes…even for a fee…there’s a higher chance you will get bed bugs. One of the main reason people are buying new mattresses these days is to get rid of the bugs. So once the old bed bug ridden mattress is on the truck the critters will move into the truck or other mattresses. The only place I found in NYC is Longs Mattress on 79th Street in Manhattan. They do NOT remove old mattresses. Even then…purchase a bed bug proof mattress & box spring cover…which may eliminate the need for a new mattress entirely.

By: Jeanne Myers

Jeanne Myers — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:40:41 +0000

Urgent! Thanks for a very ‘timely’ article, especially since we’ve now found bed bugs in our sofa sleeper, and two other mattresses. Does ‘anyone’ know if there are ‘reputable’ places to buy mattresses, couches, sleepers, etc. from and not get stuck like this? We don’t have the money for a bug service to get rid of these pests, and need to find another alternative is possible. Thanks.

By: Connecticut Atty Gen Investigating 25 Customer Allegations Of Bedbugs Against Sleepy’s | Connecticut Watchdog

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:29:08 +0000

[...] His explanation was backed up partially by a report from Stern that states that it inspected the box spring in November. A copy of that report as well as my original column on this issue (which contributed to my being fired by The Courant) can be seen here. [...]

By: Thomas Budd

Thomas Budd — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:31:51 +0000

I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.

By: A Watchdog Deferred «

A Watchdog Deferred « — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:41:50 +0000

[...] You can read the piece, which detailed a troubling trail of complaints, including horrifying allegations of old mattresses being sold as brand new and, in at least one case, a mattress sold that was infested with bedbugs, here. [...]