Driving home from the bedding warehouse – with not just the new mattress they needed but also, exasperatingly, two $150 latex pillows – Robyn and Dan conceded they'd fallen victim to saleswoman Betty's persuasive pitch.

Determined to soldier on, they used their new firm pillows that first night. They tossed and turned like boats in a storm. A week of disturbed sleep later, Robyn said enough was enough and went back to her old pillow.

Dan wasn't about to let Betty win so easily, however. He'd get his money's worth out of his damn pillow, even if it meant never sleeping again.