Sleep Number Class Action: Were Mattress "Sales" Fake?

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit has been filed against Sleep Number, alleging that the company used deceptive pricing practices to mislead consumers about the discounts offered on their mattresses.

Consumers Affected: Consumers who purchased mattresses from Sleep Number.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California

Major mattress retailer Sleep Number Corporation misleads customers by inflating its prices just to offer fake discounts, tricking people into thinking they’re getting a deal when they’re not, a new lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit accuses the company of running “perpetual sales” on mattresses both in-store and online, offering what appear to be big savings that don’t actually exist and argues that the deceptive practices have led consumers to pay more than they should for products that were never really offered at the higher “strike-through” prices shown.

Sleep Number Accused of False Advertising With Fake Mattress Sales

June Evans of Bakersfield, California, filed the proposed class action lawsuit, after she said she was duped by the company’s misleading marketing when she bought a mattress from one of their California stores earlier this year. 

According to her, the mattress was advertised with a “sale price” of $719.20, down from an original price of $899. The store highlighted a savings of $179.80, which seemed like a great deal to Evans at the time.

Before making the purchase, Evans looked over the company’s marketing materials, including the sale signs and promotional materials boasting of a “new lower price.” Based on that, she believed she was getting a genuine discount. 

However, the lawsuit argues that the mattress was never really sold at the higher $899 price in the 90 days leading up to her purchase, and likely for much longer.

If she had known that the sale price wasn’t a real discount, Evans claims she would not have bought the mattress or would have insisted on paying less for it.

Lawsuit Claims Sleep Number Inflated Prices to Deceive Consumers

The lawsuit claims the Sleep Number is trying to take advantage of the highly competitive mattress market worth over $200 billion by deliberately inflating the original price of its mattresses, only to slash them with seemingly impressive discounts. 

These “perpetual sales” are a tactic to create a false sense of urgency and value, the lawsuit argues. 

By offering fake discounts, the company allegedly tricks customers into thinking they’re getting a bargain on high-quality products, when in reality, they’re paying close to full price for items that were never sold at the inflated “original” price.

The lawsuit also points out that these kinds of deceptive practices are not only unfair but illegal under state and federal laws. Despite this, the company allegedly used inflated prices for months on its website and in stores, knowing that customers are more likely to make a purchase when they think they’re getting a deal.

Companies Face Growing Backlash Over Deceptive Pricing Practices

The mattress company isn’t alone in facing accusations of misleading consumers with fake sales.  A class action lawsuit was filed against Albertsons, accusing the grocery chain of inflating prices on wine products to make its “sales” seem more attractive. 

Another lawsuit targets Amazon for allegedly inflating “List Prices” on products like Fire TV, creating the illusion of bigger discounts.

Fashion brands also frequently face these claims. Ann Taylor and Loft outlet stores were hit with a class action lawsuit accusing them of using false “original” prices to convince shoppers that they were getting major discounts on their purchases.

In her lawsuit against Sleep Number, Evans wants to represent California consumers in her claims of violations of the state’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, False Advertising Law, Unfair Competition Law, as well as fraud and unjust enrichment. She is seeking enjoinment, damages, restitution, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ costs and fees. 

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Evans v. Sleep Number Corporation
• Case Number: 1:24-Cv-01136-SAB
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California 

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• L. Timothy Fisher, Luke Sironski-White, and Joshua R. Wilner (Bursor & Fisher, P.A.)
• Greg Sinderbrand (Sinderbrand Law Group, P.C.)

Have you purchased a mattress from Sleep Number? Did you feel misled by their sales or discounts? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.