Guarantees have typically been designed to protect the business from whimsical alterations of the consumer's decision. A true guarantee protects the consumer with through open-endedness and no strings attached.

While a guarantee might exist it is often hard for the consumer to digest and comply with. For instance one company may offer a 100% money-back guarantee, but if the product was shipped to the consumer the consumer then is responsible for the shipping costs. Doesn't seem to be an honest 100% money-back guarantee.

Another company may offer a 100% no questions asked guarantee that includes repayment of the shipping fees with free pickup, packaging and processing. This in its fullest value is a 100% guarantee.

The great debate in the mattress industry is the sleep comfort guarantee program. This program originally designed for luxury mattresses has the mattress industry divided.

Some retailers and manufacturers do not like the program because it simply costs them operational profits.

Selling a product twice is not profitable in any business, in America consumers demand service especially on higher end merchandise and if retailer or manufacturer doses not offer it, then the competition will, it’s that simple.

A sleep comfort guarantee gives the consumer time to test rest a mattress for a limited period of time. Because of the confusion caused by our industry over words like soft, plush, extra plus, super plush, firm, extra firm, ultra firm and others names created by marketing departments, a consumer has no choice but demand a sleep comfort guarantee.

30 days is plenty of time to tell if the mattress set you purchased will work with your body, of course if you travel, then you will need more time. It’s a common fact that the human body conforms to the mattress, even a bad one. As we age, we are not as flexible as a child so a bad mattress really starts to take its toll on our bodies. 90 days is enough time to tell if this is the bed for you, any more is simply clever marketing.

However, five nights is not enough time, your body needs time to conform to the new sleep surface, take your time, after all that’s the benefit of a sleep comfort guarantee in the first place. One thing you must be very careful of is the “fine print” of the comfort guarantee, look for a mattress manufacturer or retailer that does not have a "restocking fee" or a "return shipping fee," also look out for "exchange only" policies. At the end of the day, a manufacturer or retailer should stand behind their luxury or custom products 100%, not 90 percent.

When you go to work, employers expect at least 100% out of you, why should their products be any different when it's your hard earned money. Consumers in America have the power; all they need to do is hold companies accountable and read the policies before they buy. Never trust a verbal guarantee, those days are long gone.