David Perry — Furniture Today
HIGH POINT — A majority of furniture and bedding specialty stores surveyed by Furniture|Today think that current bedding


manufacturer warranties are too long. Bedding specialty retailers have slightly stronger feelings on the topic than do their furniture store counterparts, the survey found.

Fifty-two percent of the furniture stores responding to an exclusive retail bedding survey said they think the bedding warranties are too long, while 48% classified them as “about right.”

Within the ranks of specialty bedding stores, 56% of respondents said the current manufacturer warranties are too long, with 44% describing them as about right.

Survey respondents offered a variety of reasons for shortening warranties. “Compared to electronics,” wrote one retailer, “we are way too long.” Added another: “Warranties give unrealistic expectations of how long a sleep set will last.” Said a third retailer: “Ten years (the standard bedding warranty length) is ridiculous.”

*For the complete story, see the Sept. 4 print issue of Furniture|Today.  For an exclusive electronic copy of the report, go to: http://furnituretodaystore.stores.yahoo.net/furtodbedretsur.html