Buying Pillows Online
Like other retailers, bedding stores have embraced e-commerce and moved online, shuttering many brick-and-mortar outlets in the process.
Shopping for pillows online is wonderful for a number of reasons:
- You can shop in your pajamas
- You can have a glass of wine
- You save on gas and travel time
- You can have a second glass of wine
- You don’t need to wait in line at the store
- You can easily compare prices and look for the best deal
- Your purchase is delivered right to your door
While more convenient, shopping from home can be daunting. How can you select a pillow without having felt it? How do you know which pillow will give you a great night’s sleep and which will leave you full of neck pain and regret?
Before you embark on a shopping spree, here are some tips for buying pillows online:
Know what you have, know what you like, know what you want:
Are you replacing well-loved pillows that you’ve enjoyed sleeping with? Or perhaps you had a one-night stand with the perfect pillows at a hotel or a friend’s house. If so, find out the type of fill and how many ounces of fill they contain, and look for a close match.
Maybe you’re breaking up with your pillows because they’ve left you hurting one too many times. If this is the case, try to determine what you don’t like about the pillows, so you can search for an alternative.
Know what type of pillow suits your sleeping style:
While this isn’t an exact science, here are some guidelines:
|
Preferred Sleeping Position |
Recommended Support Level |
Recommended Fill Type |
|
Front or Back |
Soft or Medium |
Down or Down Alternative (down pillows are very soft and sinky!) |
|
Side |
Medium or Firm |
Down & Feather or Feather (pillows containing feathers provide more support than pillows without) |
|
Various Positions |
Medium |
Read more about the difference between down and feather here.
Ask questions:
Online descriptions can be vague or brief. Don’t be fooled by words like ‘luxurious’ or ‘comfortable’. Know what you’re looking for, and ask for it.
Fill: What material is the pillow filled with? What is the loft of the fill? How many ounces of fill does it contain? How supportive is this pillow?
Shell: What is the shell made of? (More on thread count here.)
Maintenance: What are the washing and care instructions for the pillow?
Warranty: Does the pillow come with a warranty, and what does that warranty cover?
Other specifications: What are the dimensions of the pillow? Is the pillow exactly as it is pictured online?
Don’t be afraid to ask for advice when searching for ‘the one’. Contact the store and tell them how you sleep, and what you’re looking for in a pillow – let them be your matchmaker!
Vet the brand:
Invest in pillows from a trusted manufacturer and retailer. Look for a brand with positive customer reviews. The staff should be knowledgeable about the products, and the company’s website should provide ample reading and resources. If the company issues warranties and has a fair return or exchange policy, they stand behind the quality of their products.
Consult reviews:
Customer reviews provide excellent insight about the quality and longevity of a product, as well as the buying experience with a company. Keep in mind that there is no pillow that is right for everyone. One customer may find a down alternative pillow too soft, while another may find it provides the perfect amount of support. Pay more attention to reviews that highlight construction and quality of a product (such as stitching or leakage issues) than the reviewer’s personal taste.
Are you ready to shop? Put your feet up and pour yourself that glass of wine. Armed with some knowledge and the right questions, you can find the pillow of your dreams without a trip to the store.
Have any tips to add to the list? Have a pillow shopping experience to share? Leave us a comment below!
Graphics and illustrations by Amanda Nguyen
42 comments
Hi Anna, Side sleepers tend to need a fair bit of support in order to achieve even alignment along the head, neck and spine. Side sleepers typically benefit from a pillow containing feather (like the Down Perfect Pillow), as the springy quills are what provide the required support. All down and feather products have some ‘give’ to them and shouldn’t put too much pressure on the ears. These are malleable materials! However, if the ears are really sensitive, you may want to stay away from pillows that are too firm and go with something like the Gel Microfiber Pillow. It’s still fairly supportive, but a gentler support than the Down Perfect. It all comes down to personal preference and sensitivities, but I hope this information helps guide you!
I am looking for a pillow for a side sleeper with sensitive ears. Any suggestions?
Hi Rebecca, While side sleepers typically need a lot of support, some do prefer a softer pillow! I would recommend the Gel Microfiber Down Alternative Pillow. It’s soft and plush, but provides some gentle support. Down pillows are soft, but probably too soft for side sleeping. They may not keep the head elevated enough for even neck alignment. None of our pillows should cause you to overheat! The cotton shells are quite breathable :)
Is there a recommended pillow for a predominantly slide sleeper who likes a bit of softness and malleability and who is a hot sleeper? Thanks.
Hi Judith, Of course! Email our customer service team, and they can pull up your previous orders.
I bought a pillow from a few years ago if you have it on record.?
I would like the same pillow!I’m a back and side sleeper.
Hi Connie, 5 years is a very rough guideline. Pillows can last longer, but it depends on many factors – how often the pillow is used, how clean the environment is, whether a pillow protector is used, and how much the user sweats / secretes oils (we’re all different!) If the fabric or stitiching of the pillow is very worn, it probably needs replacing. If it has yellowing or an odour, you can try cleaning it before tossing it! For pillows filled with natural materials, like cotton and down, it will compost or biodegrade!
What are the signs a pillow needs replacing?
Obviously if feathers start poking out, but just wondering what else?
Is 5 years a guideline? How can I responsibly dispose of old pillows?
My pillow collection includes feather and down, wool, and buckwheat.
Thank you!
Connie
Hi Donna, That depends on the product! We use both local and imported materials. For example, the goose feather in the White Goose Feather Pillows is imported, while the down in the Hutterite Goose Down Pillows is from Alberta. This information is generally stated in the product description, but if you have any questions or need clarification, email us at info@canadiandownandfeather.com with the product you’re looking to buy, and we can advise.
Hi, I’m needing to purchace new pillows. I’m wondering where the materials, (down and feathers) for your pillows are from.Thanks you
Hi Sandy, You can find this information on the product page in the ‘Specifications’ section (next to ‘Description’). The Medium contains 17 ounces of fill, while the Firm is 20 oz!
Hi Paula, We don’t sell pillow protectors – we specialize in down and feather products! Most major department stores carry them…Walmart, Amazon IKEA, etc.
Do the pillows come with pillow protectors? I don’t see them for sale on your site
Hi Suzanne, Are you looking to purchase the same pillow you bought previously? Just reach out to our customer service team and they can find your old order and provide you the link to the same product.
Hi Lia, Thanks for your question! Those are very different pillows! The 850 Loft Hutterite Goose Down is filled with down. This means it is a very soft and sinky pillow. Down is made up of tiny, fluffy clusters which trap a lot of air. That air is squeezed out with the weight of the head, so these pillows compress significantly and don’t provide much support. The Hutterite Down Perfect pillow is a 3-chamber pillow – the inner chamber is filled with feather, which provides excellent support due to the feather quills. The outer chambers are filled with a small layer of soft down, which provide a buffer against the feather. Side sleepers tend to need a lot of support in order to keep proper neck alignment. Down pillows don’t usually provide nearly enough support for side sleepers, so I’d recommend the Down Perfect in this case!
how do i order a pillow with no sku or reference number ? to assure i get the correct product
Hi, I’m a side sleeper and at times back sleeper and I’m having a hard time deciding between the 850 Loft Hutterite Goose Down Pillow (Medium) and the Hutterite Down Perfect Pillow (Medium)?What is the main difference between them?
Hi Laura, That is peculiar! Have you washed the pillows? How long have you had them for? Feather pillows shouldn’t clump, if properly cared for. We can chat further by email to try to figure out how the clumping happened and set you up with something you may enjoy more!
I have a number of lower quality feather pillows that I’ve purchased over the years. They all started out comfortable but gradually developed feather clumps that I can’t seem to get rid of. Is this typical of feather pillows or is it a matter of “you get what you pay for”?
Hi I’m plan on buying several new pillows but don’t exactly know just where to start. Would someone be able to assist. I also am aware that The Bay also has a 50% off sale. Which would be more lucrative as I am planning to buy many.
Could someone please advise and assist.
Thanks
Margaret
Hi Leanne, We have 3 different goose down pillows. The White Goose Down Pillows (blue packaging) are made with 575 loft goose down and 260 thread count cotton. The Hutterite Goose Down Pillows (purple) are made with 700 loft goose down farmed in Alberta and 400 thread count cotton. The 850 loft Hutterite Goose Down Pillow (red) are made with 850 loft goose down and 500 thread count cotton. If you can send us an email with some more details about your pillows, we can help you find a match! :)
I have had goose down pillows for years and I cannot find the same! Help!
Hi Chris, Great question! Our Down Perfect pillows are 3 chamber pillows. The inner chamber, which contains 90% of the total fill, is filled with feather. The outer chambers are filled with down, and this accounts for 10% of the total fill weight. The down in these outer chambers is at least 75% down cluster. I hope this helps!
Hi! Your website says that a product has to be at least 75% down to be labeled as a “down” product, but in one of the answers, you say that your “down pillows” are 90% feather and 10% down. Can you clarify the discrepancy there? Thank you!