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Does Down Bedding Go On Sale?

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Down bedding is considered the platinum standard for bedding. Its cloud like look and comforting warmth can help transcend a cold, dreary day. Down bedding is a seasonal product that has price variations from a material stand point through the year. Most department stores have winter bedding programs that go up in October and then sell discount down starting in January. Most consumers use down bedding October through March so for the patient shopper down deals can be had.
Where And How Down Bedding Comes From?
Down bedding usually consists of a down filling being inserted into pillows, comforters, blankets and throws. Down as a material is dramatically different then feathers where down is soft and provides warmth, feathers are firm and provide support. Typically, the price for down filling is roughly 12 times the cost of feathers so as a filling material down is much more expensive. Down is collected from Europe and China where consumers in those regions enjoy Duck and Goose on special occasions much like Americans prefer Turkey at Thanksgiving.
Down is natures best insulator and helps to keep the birds warm even in frigid waters. Hence the use of down as a filling material is preferred for comforters, blankets and throws to provide amazing warmth without weight. Feathers on the other hand are used for support as the < 6 cm feather quills hold their shape and provide support in items like feather beds and pillow forms.
Because Ducks and Geese are harvested at certain time periods their filling material is made available on the market for manufacturers to purchase and use for bedding, jackets, sleeping bags and even home insulation. Typically Goose supplies are available towards the beginning of the year and Duck supplies are more readily available year round. The filling material is then sterilized and then washed and processed to a hypoallergenic standard.
Down and feathers are a commodity item that are bought, sold and traded around the globe. Weather patterns can affect the prices of down filling because if it is cold in China and enough Chinese consumers need to buy warm down jackets the filling material will experience a price spike. These price spikes will be reflected in the prices of down bedding at department stores. Usually the best time to buy down bedding is after the winter season as stores try to move old the remnant merchandise and bring in the new spring collections.
One area of opportunity is to buy down bedding online and even better still direct from the manufacturer. Buying through the down manufacturer is a nice way to avoid the department store mark up for their merchandise. Typically buying down bedding online can save 30-40% off typical retail prices. In addition to manufacturers there are a number of overstock and liquidation type websites where smart consumers can find bargains. The only downside to buying discount down bedding from those overstock type sources is that you are not sure who originally manufactured the item and what quality standards they use to make sure the items adhere to both federal and industry quality standards.

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