why would someone need to give a reference when ordering a bed?

she's financing it & they want a contact they can hound if she stops paying on it.

they won't want you to pay it, they'll just annoy the hell out of you until you tell them where to find her.

if she were paying cash then they wouldn't need a reference.

She is obviously FINANCING the purchase. That's the reason for the reference.

Some companies use references if the item is being brought on higher purchase or credit. Its simply to make sure the person has roots in the area and isn't going to "cut and run".

As in, "Is this person who they say they are?" and " Have you known them for XXXX amount of time?".

Its an anti-fraud thing

Are you sure she didn't put you down on a credit application? I've also never heard of being asked for a reference when buying a bed.

maybe she's giving a "referral" to them; she gets a small discount and they get your name and address for a mailing list to solicit new mattress sales.