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Forbes
2 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
The Best Tempur-Pedic Mattress Alternatives, Tested By Editors
The highly popular Tempur-Pedic brand is a household name with its iconic Tempur Material (first developed by NASA) that has since made a major impact on the sleep industry with countless copycat memory foams. But name-brand quality often comes with a higher price tag, despite having competitors that offer similar benefits. We rounded up the best Tempur-Pedic mattress alternatives that are comparable in quality and benefits at a more affordable price, starting with the Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress. This memory foam mattress which offers a comfy, hugging memory foam feel and better body responsiveness with a cooling cover. The Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress offers a luxurious, hugging feel that's comparable to ... More Tempur-Pedic mattresses. 'The advantage of memory foam is that it contours to your body while it's still supportive," says Dr. Michael Gerling, spinal surgeon and founder of The Gerling Institute. 'It almost creates a custom mold of your body, exerting equal pressure on each prominence and contour of your frame,' which Gerling says promotes healthy spinal alignment. Luckily, there's ample variety when it comes to memory foam in today's market, so there's something to suit every sleeper. Read on for our editor-approved list of recommendations for the best Tempur-Pedic Mattress alternatives. Nectar Type: Foam (also available as a hybrid) | Firmness: Medium-firm (6.5) | Delivery: Free shipping and returns | Trial: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime Best for: Skip if: Similar to the Tempur-Cloud Mattress, the Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress is primarily made up of a memory foam material that's designed to contour around each curve of your body as you rest. It's stacked with several layers, including a sturdy foam foundation to help support your body, multiple layers of memory foam for comfort and motion isolation and a cooling cover to wick away moisture. Compared to Tempur-Material, this memory foam is a little more responsive and firm, making it a more suitable option for back, stomach and combination sleepers. However, it's great for anyone who doesn't want to sink into their mattress and shift around more easily, as the material causes less pushback when you try to change positions. "It also has a little bit more of a lifted feel compared to the Tempur-Cloud (while still offering some solid contouring memory foam is known for),' says Bridget Chapman, senior mattress and sleep editor. Finally, this mattress comes with a longer trial period and warranty than Tempur-Pedic, all for a lower price tag. Layla Sleep Type: Copper-infused foam | Firmness: Soft (4) and firm (7) | Delivery: Free shipping and returns | Trial: 120 nights | Warranty: Lifetime Best for: Skip if: Similar to the Tempur-Pedic ProAdapt, this mattress boasts superior pressure relief to support spinal alignment and eases aches and pains. It features five layers with dense copper-infused memory foam that's durable, supportive and temperature regulating. And similar to the ProAdapt which has cooling tech, this mattress is gel-infused to promote temperature regulation and avoid trapping heat like traditional foam. Most uniquely, the Layla Mattress is flippable, featuring both soft and firm sides to suit sleepers' needs over time. Chapman tested this mattress and found that each side offered a distinctive sleeping experience. 'The soft side feels great for side sleeping with its cushy sinkage, while the firm side offers strong support for back and stomach sleepers,' she says. That makes it a great choice for guest rooms, where each unique sleeper can choose what firmness suits them best. Although, it also appeals to anyone who want an all-foam mattress with a light and airy memory foam feel. GhostBed Type: Gel- and graphite-infused foam | Firmness: Medium to medium-firm (5 to 7) | Delivery: Free shipping and returns | Trial: 101 nights | Warranty: 25 years Best for: Skip if: The Tempur-Breeze LuxeBreeze is known for delivering top-notch cooling technology, with the claim that it can help sleepers achieve a temperature that's 10 degrees cooler. But that technology comes with a steep price tag, as it's one of the most expensive Tempur-Pedic model on the market. The GhostBed Luxe echoes the same cooling experience at a much lower price. It features the brand's patented Ghost Ice technology that's designed to absorb body heat, plus graphite and gel-infused memory foam to regulate temperature even further. There's only one firmness level to choose from, which the brand describes as medium firmness, with a ProCore Elite Layer and high-density foam base that offers soft support. 'I found it offers plush sinkage that works well for back, side and combination sleepers, ' says Chapman. But if you're looking for an extra-plush model, consider the Layla Mattress or another soft mattress choice. Tuft and Needle Type: Foam | Firmness: Medium | Delivery: Free shipping and returns | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years Best for: Skip if: Tempur-Pedic's Tempur-Adapt Mattress is designed to morph to your body and nestle around your joints in order to provide more restful sleep. Similarly, the Tuft & Needle Original Mattress features the brand's signature Flex Foam that responds to your body by contouring around each curve, offering supreme comfort and support. Ranked as our pick for best budget memory foam mattress, this option is simple yet crowd-pleasing with a comfortable 2-layer design. It offers structured support, thanks to its Adaptive Foam, with bounce-back structure that won't leave you feeling sunk. Plus, it features Greenguard Gold and CertiPur-US certifications, so you can sleep soundly knowing your mattress is free from harmful chemicals and off-gassing. Saatva Type: High-density, gel-infused foam | Firmness: Medium or firm | Delivery: Free white-glove delivery | Trial: 365 nights | Warranty: Lifetime Best for: Skip if: If the ultra-conforming support that comes from the Tempur-Adapt Luxe Adapt Mattress appeals to you, the Saatva Contour5 could be an excellent alternative. This mattress has a high-end memory foam feel, with a texture that immediately contours around your frame and offers pressure relief. It's stacked with several layers made from premium, dense memory foam, which keeps you from sinking in too deeply. This mattress also offers impressive edge support, which makes getting out of bed easier. Hot sleepers would enjoy that the Contour5 features what the brand calls its CoolVent system under the lumbar region, which is designed to absorb body heat and support the spine, plus gel-infused foam to promote temperature regulation. Note those with back pain should consider the firm model for better spinal reinforcement. This mattress has also been granted both CertiPur-US and GreenGuard Gold certifications, illustrating its makeup of healthy, high-quality materials. Sealy Type: Gel-infused foam or hybrid | Firmness: Medium | Delivery: Free delivery | Trial: 100 nights | Warranty: 10 years Best for: Skip if: Ranked by our sleep team as the best affordable cooling memory foam mattress, the Sealy Cocoon Chill offers the best of both worlds when it comes to cushioning memory foam with reliable cooling tech. It's similar to the Tempur-Breeze ProBreeze, which features both a cool-to-the-couch cover and several cooling layers that are designed to absorb heat and promote ventilation for cooler sleeping. The Cocoon Chill's cooling cover is made with the brand's Phase Change Material, designed to absorb and dissipate heat as you sleep. This memory foam mattress is on the softer end of medium-firm, which makes it great for side, back and combination sleepers who are looking for a mattress that cushions their curves to keep their spine in alignment. For heavyweight sleepers over 250 pounds that require a bit more support, there's also a hybrid version available with fabric-encased coils—which promote better airflow for even cooler sleeping. The sleep and mattress team at Forbes Vetted has conducted hundreds of tests in pursuit of the best mattresses, from traditional Tempur-Pedic mattresses to affordable mattresses, to help sleepers of all kinds find their best match. We evaluated several Tempur-Pedic mattress varieties and consulted our team's hands-on testing expertise in order to offer reliable alternatives. Just like shopping for any mattress, it's important to recognize your personal sleep habits and preferences before making a purchase. As Gerling puts it simply, you should prioritize getting to know how you sleep and what temperature you like to sleep at. From there, you can look for distinctive features that match your personal needs. Foam mattresses that are similar to the Tempur-Material are known for providing a plush texture that contours around the body's natural curves, offering ample pressure point support. Gerling says this profile is particularly beneficial for back and side sleepers. He advises side sleepers opt for a softer memory foam, as it more easily fills the natural gaps between their head and shoulders, promoting spinal alignment and support. 'In general, the spine feels better if it's kept in a neutral alignment while you sleep,' he says. 'If something is crooked, it' stretches the joints in the spine or the discs and put pressure on them, which will then create inflammation, and people wake up with stiffness or pain in that area.' Anyone who lies flat on their back as they sleep can benefit from spine support when sleeping on a foam mattress, as long as they opt for a medium-to-firm texture. 'It really does contour and evenly distribute the pressure within your back, aligning with the natural contours of your spine,' Gerling says. You should also consider any underlying conditions you have when deciding on mattress firmness levels. 'If somebody has a lumbar or a chronic pain condition, it is suggested in research that they'd prefer a firm mattress,' Gerling says. 'Firmer mattresses, in general, force your back into a more flattened alignment, which may be good for people who have abnormal curvature of the spine.' If you consider yourself a hot sleeper, you should prioritize cooling elements when shopping for a mattress. Foam mattresses have a reputation for trapping heat, but many varieties on the market offer cooling technology to offset that. This can include a cooling cover, gel-infused foam layers or breathable fibers that disperse body heat and wick moisture away. You should also keep in mind that hybrid mattresses with embedded coils generally sleep cooler than their all-foam counterparts, because the coils promote air flow naturally. What Is The Best Alternative To Tempur-Pedic? Since there are so many different varieties of Tempur-Pedic mattresses, we have varying recommendations to match the benefits of each mattress. Some of our top picks include the Nectar Classic Memory Foam Mattress and Layla Memory Foam Mattress, as they both offer similar plush materials as Tempur-Pedic with a much more affordable price. What Are The Disadvantages Of Tempur-Pedic? Tempur-Pedic is known for its unique Tempur-Material originally developed by NASA-funded scientists, but that quality comes with a higher price tag when compared to most competitors. Consumers should also keep in mind that some sleepers have reported that Tempur-Pedic mattresses—and memory foam in general—often comes with inherent heat retention, which could be problematic for hot sleepers that struggle with chronic issues like night sweats. Who Is Tempur-Pedic's Biggest Competitor? In terms of quality, our team of mattress testers have found that Saatva is a close competitor to Tempur-Pedic. Its Contour5 Mattress features a high-end foam feel that cushions joints and provides pain relief with its several layers of dense memory foam and lumbar support.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
The Best 4th Of July Mattress Sales That Are Already Live
Although it's only mid-June, many 4th of July mattress sales are already underway. Our sleep editors have tested hundreds of mattresses, and many of their all-time favorite models—like the DreamCloud Premier Rest Hybrid and Nectar Premier—are on sale for up to 60% off ahead of the holiday weekend. We've rounded up all of the best early 4th Of July mattress sales you can shop ahead of the holiday. Whether you're looking for a simple mattress to furnish a guest room or a luxurious pillow top design for yourself, these 4th of July mattress sales will help you score your ideal sleep setup for less. We've rounded up the top early sales by retailer and outlined the best deals on a variety of sleep expert-approved beds. If you're a side sleeper or back sleeper looking for pressure relief, a memory foam mattress is the way to go. The material is also a good option for couples, since the motion isolation makes it easier to ignore your partner's movements throughout the night. Here are some of our favorite models that are on sale right now. Nectar The crowd-pleasing Nectar Premier will satisfy a variety of sleepers. The memory foam contours around your shoulders and hips for deep pressure relief. It's also a bit more responsive than some classic memory foam models: "The foam takes a few moments to bounce back to normal, so it does make you work a little harder to switch, but it's not enough to disturb you at night,' says one tester. The bed sleeps a bit warm, so our editors recommend upgrading to the hybrid model if you're an especially hot sleeper. More Deal Information: This mattress has been updated and seen a price increase since 2024. Although the original model was priced at $1,499, the overall discount appears larger due to the price increase. Tempur-Pedic Our editors' pick for the best firm cooling mattress, the Tempur-LuxeBreeze is an excellent option for hot sleepers seeking a more supportive bed. When we tried it ourselves, it offered impressive motion isolation and temperature regulation. Plus, it comes in three firmness levels, including a medium hybrid design. The brand also offers free delivery and a 10-year warranty. More Deal Information: Although the percentage off is a bit lackluster, this $500 discount matches the one we saw over the holiday weekend in 2024. Siena A great option for back and stomach sleepers, this memory foam design is firm enough to keep your spine in alignment but soft enough to relieve pressure on the knees and hips. Testers described the model as dense, firm and lifted, and also rated it highly for motion isolation. More Deal Information: Both the sale price and original price of this mattress have decreased since last July. Over the 2024 holiday weekend, the Siena was on sale for $399 from $799. Leesa If you're furnishing a spare room, we love the Leesa Studio mattress. Named our best overall mattress for guest rooms, it's extremely affordable but doesn't skimp on features, offering three cozy layers including a breathable cover to help prevent overheating. Our tester found the bed to be slightly softer than Leesa claims, but added that this discrepancy 'makes it suitable for just about any sleeping position.'More Deal Information: This mattress dropped to $559 last July 4, so it may be worth holding out for a slightly higher discount. For those seeking a bit more support or breathability, a hybrid bed is a good option. They're typically recommended for hot sleepers and those who suffer from back or joint pain. Here are some discounts on the hybrid mattresses our sleep editors recommend. Helix Our pick for the best mattress overall, the Helix Midnight Luxe has a pillow-top design that accommodates a variety of sleepers. The bed has a 'just right' feel that's soft and cradling without the sinking sensation you sometimes get from memory foam. One tester called it 'the perfect mix of support and comfort.' More Deal Information: Helix offered a 30% discount in 2024, but it has yet to surpass 27% off in 2025, even over mattress-centric Memorial Day weekend sales. The original price of the mattress has also increased slightly in price from $2,374. DreamCloud The best mattress for pressure relief, the DreamCloud Premier Rest is a balanced bed that supports just about every sleeping style. We ranked the bed a 9 out of 10 for pressure relief during testing, thanks to its plush pillow top that had one tester describing it as 'sleeping on a cloud that has structure to it.' The most recent design has also been updated with more cooling and pressure-relieving properties. More Deal Information: This mattress dropped by an additional $200 last July 4, so you may want to hold off for a better offer closer to the official holiday. The original price of the mattress has also dropped slightly from $2,499. Bear Our sleep and mattress editors recommend the Bear Elite Hybrid for sleepers who"want a plush hotel-luxury mattress that offers good edge support and motion isolation." The bed excelled during our testing in the categories that mattered most to couples, including ample edge support and motion isolation. However it may not be quite supportive enough for sleepers who weight over 250 pounds or those who primarily sleep on their back or stomach. More Deal Information: The price of this mattress increased from $2,305 in 2024. While we saw a low of $1,499 during last year's sale, it may not reach that drop again due to the overall price increase. Nolah Heavier individuals who favor side sleeping should consider the Nolah Evolution Comfort Plus. Designed to accommodate up to 1,000 pounds total, this hybrid bed is among the best mattresses for heavy people. It has a solid 14-inch loft, plenty of support and cooling features to keep you comfortable through the night. Plus, its quilted Euro top and multilayered foam build makes the design a little softer than the average bed targeted to larger sleepers. More Deal Information: This mattress saw a 35% discount over the holiday last year, so it may be worth waiting to secure that extra savings. If you're seeking a bouncy, responsive mattress with solid edge support, you'll be happiest with an innerspring design. They're a good option for back and stomach sleepers thanks to their supportive feel. Here are some of our editors' favorite models that are discounted right now. Saatva This innerspring design uses a classic coil base with a luxe European-style pillow top to deliver a supportive and comfortable design. It's available in three firmness levels, so you can find your perfect fit. (I have the luxury firm model and find it to be just right.) Saatva also offers a longer warranty period than many other brands as well as white glove delivery and mattress removal. More Deal Information: This $300 offer is common from Saatva, but you can often get an additional $100 off over holiday weekends. Leesa This Leesa mattress is features in two of our mattress shopping guides, including the best innerspring mattress and the best cooling mattresses. It's designed with hot sleepers in mind with 'dual-coil layers that promote airflow and gel-infused foam for cooling relief.' We think its a great option for stomach, back and combination sleepers, but may not be ideal for dedicated side sleepers. More Deal Information: This mattress' original price has increased by $200, up from $2,799 last year. So, while it may not reach the same low we saw in 2024, it's not uncommon for Leesa to offer 30% off over holiday weekends. WinkBeds The WinkBed is one of the most comfortable mattresses we tested. Its plush and airy pillow top and superior motion isolation make it especially well suited to couples seeking a luxurious night of sleep. The design comes in four firmness levels, including a Plus model that's made for sleepers who weigh over 250 pounds. More Deal Information: This is a standard offer from WinkBeds. Brooklyn Bedding If you're looking for a good innerspring mattress for under $1,000, we recommend this Brooklyn Bedding design. Mattress and sleep editor McKenzie Dillon says, 'In a sea full of online mattresses, I think of the Brooklyn Bedding Signature as like the Toyota of beds: reliable, reputable and comfortable, without having to be the high-end pick.' More Deal Information: This brand often offers 30% off during holiday events, so it may be worth waiting until closer to July 4. Yes, the 4th of July is usually a good time to buy a mattress. Holiday weekends typically bring about solid mattress sales. Last year, we saw offers comparable to those advertised around Presidents' Day and Memorial Day, which are often known for their mattress sales. The 4th of July comes with plenty of worthwhile mattress deals. However, the absolute best time to buy a new bed is typically during Cyber week—the fall shopping holiday is when we often see the lowest prices. That said, if you can't wait until November for a new mattress, holiday weekends are still a great time to shop for deals. The first step to finding the best price on a new mattress is knowing exactly what you're looking for. There are countless options available online and the search can feel overwhelming if you don't have an initial framework. Knowing your preferred material and firmness level can help narrow the scope and make the search less intimidating. If you're not sure what type of bed you want, consider browsing one of our shopping guides that's curated based on your sleep style. Once you decide on the general type of mattress you're looking for, it'll be easier to get an idea of what price range you can expect—for example, pillow-top mattresses tend to be more expensive than pure memory foam designs. Price history research takes time, but it will give you the best idea of what is (and isn't) a good deal. Mattress brands are almost always hosting sales. By searching recent events—like Memorial Day mattress sales or even 2024 Black Friday mattress sales—you'll be able to see how low a bed has dropped in the past year. This will help you determine whether the current offer is out of the ordinary. Keep in mind that some retailers will change their beds' MSRPs between sales, which can impact the overall discount you see advertised. You'll also note, we have added relevant price history to each of the mattress options above. If you're choosing between two similar deals, it's time to get granular. Special offers like lifetime warranties, ample trial periods and free white glove delivery can add more value to one bed over another. Some brands also offer extras like a free bedding bundle with your mattress purchase. If you already intend to invest in new bedding, having it bundled into the cost of your mattress can help you save overall. A reasonable price for a good quality mattress depends on a variety of factors, like your budget and preferred mattress type. On average, you can expect to spend a bit less on foam mattresses compared to their innerspring and hybrid counterparts. For instance, the Nectar Classic, our favorite affordable mattress overall, is a classic memory foam design that's available for under $700. However, if you're looking at an innerspring, hybrid or organic mattress, you could easily spend closer to $2,000, if not more. Our favorite mattress overall, the Helix Midnight Luxe, is a hybrid design that tested well across all categories. It's currently on sale for $1,751 with code FORBES27.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Shoppers hit back at Sainsbury's saying meal deal price hike is 'not fair'
A lunchtime meal deal at Sainsbury's has had its price hiked by 20p – and shoppers aren't impressed. The popular deal, which can include the likes of a sandwich or salad with a choice of snacks and a drink, will now set you back £3.95. It's the second time in a year that the supermarket has increased the price of the deal. It had been fixed at £3 since at least 2014 before it was increased to £3.50 in May 2021 and then £3.75 in July last year. One disgruntled shopper said on X (formerly Twitter): 'Sainsbury's meal deal gone up, we are in the end times.' 'Just noticed this today, hadn't heard anything about it,' another added. 'It's slowly creeps up every so often…it's just not fair.' While another person commented: 'Ugh meal deals going up again. Why?' A Sainsbury's spokesperson told Newsquest: 'With millions of possible combinations, we continue to offer one of the best value meal deals around. 'We've also recently introduced a range of new products just in time for summer, including our best-seller Picnic Triple Sandwich and build your own salad options. 'This means anyone who shops with us can choose from an affordable selection of more than 150 mains, 300 snacks and 400 drinks.' Recommended reading: Sainsbury's shoppers urged to lock Nectar card points Christmas in June? Shoppers say 'must be a wind up' as festive stock hits stores Expert issues petrol pump warning on forecourts at Tesco, Asda, Morrisons & more Costa Express drinks are included in the Sainsbury's meal deal, including regular-sized hot drinks from the Costa Express machine. The supermarket recently added 35 new products to their meal deal range, including the option to build your own salad, the Picnic Triple Sandwich and a Krispy Kreme Glazed Doughnut as a new snack. The Sainsbury's deal has no discount for Nectar card holders, but it also has a 'premium' meal deal which launched in 2022 at £5 and still remains at that price.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sisters Power Nectar to $10.6M Funding, Unveil Game-Changing Marketing Tech
Seattle sisters Misbah and Farah Uraizee just announced $10.6 million in funding for their Nectar Social AI-native social operating system. The marketing tech platform for social media is intended to bypass classic advertising models to deliver stronger sales and financial returns for clients. According to the founders, this segment will generate $3 trillion in sales globally by 2026. According to GeekWire, the 2023 startup wants to help brands do two things. First, move to the front of the line when consumers click around social media platforms. Second, personalize AI conversations that move the consumer toward a buying decision. This two-pronged strategy, if successful, could mark a challenge to traditional methods of marketing digitally through ads, emails and text messaging. Don't Miss: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Peter Thiel turned $1,700 into $5 billion—now accredited investors are eyeing this software company with similar breakout potential. Learn how you can Nectar algos review comments, tags, replies to content, direct messages and other data the sisters say are invisible for most brands. They insist this tiny space will yield stronger sales and profits for their clientele because, with marketing relationships in place, these tools can feed product choices that are perfectly tailored to AI discoveries. The Uraizees list three primary goals for their startup: A place where social listening, community management and revenue attribution work together. A platform where AI acts like a strategic teammate, not just a chat bot. A social operating system designed for real engagement, not just publishing. Eight funds participated in the cash infusion, reflecting healthy interest in this relatively new digital marketing tactic. Tony Conrad, partner at True Ventures, and Frederique Dame, general partner at Google Ventures, led the funding round, with additional tranches provided by Trust Fund founder Sophia Amoruso, BAM Ventures, Mercury Fund, Charge Ventures, XRC Ventures and FAB Ventures. The $10.6 million raised includes a $2 million pre-seed round led by Seattle-based Flying Fish Ventures. Trending: Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal:. "Consumer behavior has fundamentally shifted toward social-first discovery, where purchase decisions begin with social content, flow through community, and propel by personalized conversations," Conrad told GeekWire. "Yet most brands are stuck using disconnected tools that weren't built for this reality. Misbah and Farah have built the answer to this problem." "Every customer journey starts with a Reddit search, a TikTok scroll or an influencer recommendation," Farah said in a LinkedIn video. "Ignore it and you'll get left in the dust." In addition to multiple tech companies, the Uraizees led product and engineering teams at Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) and are using this experience to develop new forms of customer engagement that focus on Gen Z and Gen Alpha, our youngest generations. Nectar AI tools engage in "social listening," tracking interactions from initial messaging to end purchases. According to the sisters, they watch online comments and videos from customers and influencers to get insights into the sentiment around brands and products. They specifically focus on the first 30 seconds after social platforms are opened because their research indicates that 25% of users perform searches within this time startup now has 12 employees at a Seattle engineering facility and New York City sales team. It's focusing early efforts on a brand list that includes consumer goods, beauty, wellness, food and beverage marketing, software services and lifestyle products. It has already built a portfolio of customers that include GLAMNETIC, Solawave, Olipop and Jones Road Beauty. However, competition in this AI marketing tech, also known as live shopping and search-as-a-service, is growing rapidly, led by Shanghai's SuperOrdinary, which already carries an $800 million valuation. Algolia, Rebuy and Loup are also working on similar platforms. Read Next: Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Sisters Power Nectar to $10.6M Funding, Unveil Game-Changing Marketing Tech originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Sainsbury's shoppers urged to lock Nectar card points
Back in February, the supermarket introduced a new 'Spend Lock' security feature to its Nectar loyalty app. The move was put in place as a way to prevent points from being spent by anyone other than the primary account holder. This meant loyalty members could 'freeze' their points while also choosing to set where their points could be spent. It comes as in January, an investigation by the Daily Mail's This Is Money, found Sainsbury's customers had lost an estimated 12.5 million Nectar points (worth more than £63,000 over the past year) by fraudsters accessing their accounts. But now, Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at Eset is urging shoppers to monitor their account activity "frequently to detect and report any unauthorised actions promptly". He told The Sun: "It is especially important to monitor accounts more often just before Christmas as this is usually when criminals target accounts with points that have been accumulated over the year." Elsewhere, consumer expert Martyn James explained to the publisher that many people will be "unaware" that their Nectar points have disappeared. He shared: "That's because we rarely look at the app or check the total on our receipts." Martyn continued: "Download the latest version of the app and activate the lock feature.' If you haven't locked your Nectar points yet and are wondering how, it's easy - you can do so on the Nectar card app (available for free on the Apple store or Google Play). Once logged in, on your profile icon, head to 'settings' and then tap 'lock or unlock spending'. You then swipe the bar to either 'unlock' or 'lock', depending on your preferences. Have you chosen to lock your Nectar points? (Image: PA) Sainsbury's customers can change whether they want to lock or unlock Nectar points any time through the app – to spend them, they must be unlocked. Additionally, customers can continue to earn points as they shop even when spending is locked. A Nectar spokesperson said: "Nectar is one of the UK's biggest loyalty schemes, with over 23 million members. Recommended reading: Shoppers can get free money at thousands of sites with Counter Cash - here's how Christmas in June? Shoppers say 'must be a wind up' as festive stock hits stores Expert issues petrol pump warning on forecourts at Tesco, Asda, Morrisons & more "The security of our customer accounts is our highest priority and the proportion of those impacted by fraud each year is very small. "We have a range of measures which detect, and in many cases prevent fraud, including our Spend Lock feature. "Our Nectar Helpline team are on hand to support any customer who suspects they may have been a victim of fraud.'
