When searching for cheap mattresses, put down the store flyers and and try another tack. Keep reading for 5 hot tips and tricks that are sure to save you money on your next mattress purchase.

Buying Factory Direct

Look in your local area for a mattress factory or actual manufacturer. Typically, most factory locations will sell discarded products with small defects like a mark on the corner, a small stain on the side or an incorrectly matched box spring and mattress.

Alternatively, if you live close to the North Carolina furniture corridor between High Point and Hickory, you could save up to 70 percent off the sticker price of a mattress by shopping there. The area is home to the country's five largest mattress manufacturers, each operating a major factory outlet store and all offering incredibly cheap mattresses.

Shop at Wholesale and Bulk Member Shops

The cost of a membership to a wholesale store such as BJ's or Costco will run you between $45 and $60 for 12 months. However, if you can then walk into that store and pick up a brand name mattress and box spring set for a fraction of retail cost and save hundreds of dollars, then that membership is well worth the cost.

Overstock Websites

Overstock.Com is a business that buys up factory ends, surplus items or liquidation sales and then posts those items for sale direct to consumers. As a wholesaler, they offer a fairly good selection of cheap mattresses and free shipping.

For example, a recent search for mattresses on Overstock.com came up with a well-known luxury brand name memory foam mattress that was selling for more than 50 percent off the manufacturer's suggested retail price.

Buy Returns, Defects and Mismatched Sets

Most mattress retailers have a small section of clearance products that include very cheap mattresses. The majority of these mattresses have been returned within their 30-day trial period, absorbed small defects or have been separated from their matching box spring.

So, if you can bear the heartache of having a box spring and mattress covered in different fabric or a mattress that's been slept on a total of 4 days by someone else, then huge deals on cheap mattresses could be yours. Take advantage of these prices by asking your salesperson if you can see the clearance items.

Don't Shop on the Weekend

Mattress salespeople usually work off of commission, so if you want to negotiate on cheap mattresses, why would you compete on a busy Saturday with hundreds of other customers? Instead, go mattress shopping on a dreary weekday and haggle down to obtain a great price.