The last time I bought a mattress for myself was about 11 years ago. I bought a fairly new full-sized one off a coworker. Four moves and a decade later, we’ve decided it’s time to replace it with an adult (and sometimes an extra toddler)-sized bed.
Shopping Blind
When we started looking, I was shocked at the prices. $3000 for a mattress? What the heck are these things made of? Knowing very little, we went shopping for a mattress and other things on a Saturday morning. The first place, we stopped, Sleepy’s, seemed nice enough. We laid on a few and honed in on the one that we both felt most comfortable in. Meanwhile, Audrey discovered the fun of letting herself fall backwards onto mattresses and did it all over the store. She was giggling and the whole store couldn’t help but look and smile at her. Unfortunately, we soon stopped smiling.
When we found something we liked, the seemingly helpful salesman started to get more aggressive. He asked how much we were looking at paying and I made up a number on the spot, something way below the listed price on the bed. The said he would “talk with his manager” and see if he could get us that price. Then he started asking us if we could commit and have it delivered tomorrow. Anne had walked outside to give Audrey a break by that point, so I said I had to go out and talk with her about it. We talked about it for a bit, then decided we didn’t like the high-pressure sales pitch, so we got ready to leave.
I had the car started up when the salesman came out and approached the car window. He then said that he had “talked to his manager” and he could give us the price we wanted AND a free “platinum package”. I said we would talk about it and let him know. We again decided this was sketchy, but to make good on my promise, I went in and gave him my phone number and left.
Later that day we went to Jordan’s Furniture, generally known to be a reputable place with reasonable places. The salespeople there were nice and NOT high-pressure. Prices were generally lower, but strangely, we couldn’t find the mattress we found at Sleepy’s. They had Sertas, but not the one we liked.
Being indecisive, we left with a couple new names of ones we liked. Later, we went to Mattress Discounters. The woman there was not pushy and told us about the BBB complaints that Sleepy’s (a 700-store chain) had gotten. We decided to think some more and head home.
At home, I did some research online and I found something strange – I couldn’t find much of anything on the mattresses we saw that we liked. I found some mattresses, many of the same brand, but not the same models.
One Big Scam
I later came to find out that this was completely intentional. The mattress industry is one big scam. There is no way to make an objective decision on a mattress using actual facts.
Here’s a few things that the mattress industry does to get you:
1. They mark up their prices 100% to 200%!! No wonder the first guy was able to get his “manager” to give me such a steep discount. They were probably still going to make hundreds of dollars of profits on it.
2. They give the same mattresses different names in different stores or they set up exclusivity agreements by mattress line in certain stores. This makes it impossible to comparison shop because…
3. They make it really had to get actual facts about the mattresses. Stuff like coil counts, materials, overall construction are shrouded in secrecy. But that doesn’t really matter because…
4. There’s no objective measure of mattress quality. Consumer Reports won’t rate them because they can’t get the data and there’s no testing that actually says higher coil counts are better or the number of wires in the coils makes a difference in any way. You’re left to deciding how much you believe the marketing. Is a pillow top made of alpaca hair any better than one made of cotton? Your guess is as good as mine.
5. There’s very little online reviews of mattresses, probably because the model names are so fractured. The ones I did find looked more like content-free sites designed to attract referral credits.
Cracking the Code
With some more research, I found out that it was somewhat possible to compare mattresses models from different places. It turns out that they really only make one hardness variation in each line. So you can assume that a Plush Firm mattress in the “Classic” line, is the same as another Plush Firm in the Classic line, even if they have different names.
US-mattress.com was very helpful in figuring this out. We were able to understand which mattresses we saw and how they related to each other. For example, the mattress we liked at Jordan’s was a product line better than the one we saw at Mattress Discounters, even though they came out to the same price! Clearly Jordan’s had the better deal, but US-Mattress had an even better deal.
So I did something I never thought I could do, buy a mattress over the internet. I’m pretty sure it’s the same one we saw in the store and the free delivery and frame were a good deal. I’m sure that even if I’m getting it at half the price I saw it listed at elsewhere, they’re still making a decent profit on it.
Anne and I agree that buying a mattress is worse than buying a car. While both have sketchy salespeople, when you buy a car, you can compare them on MPG, size, features, etc. Multiple dealers have the same models so you can compare prices and make an informed decision based on their invoice prices. There’s none of that when buying a mattress.
Our mattress should arrive in a few weeks. Hopefully we’ll just find it comfortable enough to have to avoid going through buying a mattress again for at least another 11 years.
UPDATE: The mattress arrived quickly and in good condition. We’ve been sleeping on it for several nights and while it feels comfy, I’ve had some upper back soreness which seems to be related to the new mattress. I’m going to keep trying it for a few more weeks and see if my body adjusts as the US-mattress.com website suggests. Hopefully it will go away. Otherwise, we’ll have to find another one and do a $100 exchange I guess.
This is a great blog, and with many good info. I have bought mattresses for the past 40 years. Most of what is mentioned here is real good feedback.
Keep in mind, most mattresses have a 5 or a 10 year warranty. The most important thing when you shop for a mattress is to pick the right retailer to buy from.
That said, I discovered that buying a mattress from a big retailer such as Sam’s Club is the best way to ensure you can return your mattress if you are not happy with it.
I bought a mattress 9 years ago from Sam’s Club. The mattress has a 10 years warranty. The mattress developed a sag on one side.
I took the mattress back without my receipt. The associate at Sam’s Club was very friendly. They made sure the mattress was one I bought from there. Within 20 minutes of walking in. I walked out with a brand new mattress.
I don’t know where else you can get such great customer service. I would recommend you shop at this retailer for you next mattress. No pushy sales people. Don’t have to have my recent.
Need I say more…
Thanks
If Sam’s gave you a new mattress at no charge the know less about the warranty then you did which was a lucky thing for you. There is no such thing as a full warranty on a mattress for ten years and the mattress industry allows for sag in the mattress warranty. No bedding company should be asked or expected to replace a mattress after ten years at no cost to the consumer. One word, pro-rated!
Many manufacturers DO Offer non-prorated warranties, in fact all the major brands do. Sealy, Serta, Simmons, Tempurpedic, Stearns and Foster, and many private labels as well offer 10 or more years of non-prorated warranty coverage at no additional cost.
I contacted Bocov’s to complain about the Sealy Posturepedic mattress and springs I purchased from them on 5/25/2012. After patiently expecting the mattress to conform only to my body, I found a deep indentation in the middle as well as brick-hard sides making it uncomfortable to come anywhere near either side. On March 20, 2013, after waiting weeks, an inspector came to my house. I stripped the bed as requested, he took photos of the indent in mattress and springs, measured the indent and informed me Boscov’s would contact me. He said it won’t get better, only worse. Boscov’s denied my claim, #10592. Sealy never responded to my letter. I had hip surgery and thought a new mattress may help in the recovery. I wish I had my old (but good) mattress back again. I also purchased the expensive mattress cover to insure the warranty would be honored. The mattress is as clean as the day it was delivered. I do not have the money to go out and purchase a replacement, nor would I know who to trust. I am a senior citizen and live alone so this has not been subject to any abuse. Sealy Warranty 10/10 SN 340528081080
i am over 60 years sold and the same thing happened to me at sleepys. i filed a complaint with the attorney generals office and then spoke on the phone with them. They contacted Sleepy’s and today i received a call from Sleepys that my rejection was reviewed with the manufacturer and my claim was approved. Do not let let them get away with stealing your money , file your complaint immediately .
What they didn’t tell you is you can continue to make claims until it meets the specification, as long as your claim wasn’t nullified by an incorrect support or something that actually caused the indentation.
We purchased from Mattress Firm, and our bed is only 3 years old. The inspector came out (after chasing with Mattress Firm FOREVER) and he said I was 1/4″ short of the 1.5″ dip, and to try again. I have to wait until May, but will continue to open claims until they take it.
BTW, same issue happened on a Costco mattress, and we returned it, without any questions. After we get through this claim, I’m going back to Costco.
The author of this is correct. Mattress industry is a SCAM, and they aren’t intended to last 10 years anymore, just like most other products anymore, everything is made cheap and disposable. Unfortunately the markup on mattresses are unreasonable!!!
I bought a mattress from Raymour and Flanigan in May 2015 mattress is not firm at all anymore they sent someone to inspect it he agreed its breaking down.The store said the manufacturer won’t do anything about until it breaks down at a certain measurement it was made by Beauty Rest I’m a senior and I have arthritis in my hips and back
we are having HUGE problems with our mattress and Macy’s refuses to honor the warranty…they want at least a 2 inch SAG…we are now at 1 inch. I have had back surgery and cannot tolerate the dip in the mattress…and I am 120#, so we are not talking fat city damage here…but if it is sagging after less than 8 months old, what will it look like in 2 years? we are at wits end… you sound knowledgable, so tell me what you really know about the warranty situation bc there are hundreds of complaints about voided warranties for no reason whatsoever. Plus, Macy’s wants a $400 restocking fee!!
Don’t let any company push you around. Yes, all these mattress companies have the same bullshit. Get a 50 pound sack of flour or sugar. Wrap it in plastic and then put a pillow case on it. Stick it in the middle of the bed and keep it there untouched for 1 month. Your bed will then sag the required 1 1/2 inches. I have never heard of a 2″ sag, but follow my directions and I guarantee you will fit into the defective category.
It sounds like Macy’s is not being upfront with you.The industry standard on sag is 1.5 inches. Check what the manufacturer of your mattress expects. If the sag is at 1 inch, it is not being replaced by the manufacturer, it is being replaced by Macy’s and they want the $400 from you so they don’t lose their profit.
How do you restock a used mattress?
I hope you got your money back! I just bought a mattress (Sealy) at the Bay and the thing is sagging in the middle after three weeks. The sides are all different measurements at any given point. When the Bay said I would have to pay a “dumping fee” I was furious. Why should I pay to dump your garbage? They back tracked and said a technician would have to come and check the bed to confirm what I am reporting. So not impressed. Now I am being up-sold on a Marshall Mattress. Trying to determine if this is better than Dunlop. So confusing and way too much money! Call the consumer division of the government and make Macy’s take it back!
Well, your sleuthing is better than mine because I’ve spent weeks researching mattresses and can’t find a single manufacturer in the $800-$1500 range that offers non-prorated warranty.
The lousy Sealy I’m trying to replace has a 10-year warranty and I have to replace it after only 4 years. I can’t get an appointment less than a month away for someone to check it, and once I have the appointment, they require the whole day of your time because they won’t give you the approximate range of hours they’ll come until less than 24 hours ahead, and all this for a pro-rated warranty.
True but most have a fishing line test and warranty requirements that “dips” in a mattress must exceed 2″ or 1.5″ before it is covered under the warranty for replacement. I always recommend a talalay latex mattress (at least 7″, 11″ or more if you can afford it! No springs!) Been in the mattress\furniture business for 17 years. Have never seen a dip yet, not as hot as memory foam, no recovery time.
We bought a “new” latex talalay mattress after a lot of research because i read that they lasted longer. We are less then a few months and it is sagging on both sides, i feel like i am sleeping in a hole, and have the same if not worse back pain, shoulder and hip pain. It is worse then the 10 year old spring mattress. I now think it was used, and possibly not latex. I have just put a pillow under the sag on my side and noticed a huge difference. I will never buy a mattress online again. All the mattress companies are ripping consumers off. I think i will try to sue.
I have a talalay latex and it’s dipped 1.5″ and it 3.5yrs old from sleepy’s.
Don’t believe that would solve the problem and I’m only 140lbs just in case someone thinks that’s what caused the dip and the mattress is medium firm rated.
Ken – Great blog. Same box, same guts. Only really a couple of manufacturers I believe. 2 words for you Matt – Car Battery – 2 US automotive battery manufacturers – that’s it!
I know I am replying to a comment from 2013 and I hope it is worthwhile. Warranties from reputable manufactures are 10 years non pro rated. The tolerance for sag is 1.5 inches. The mattress must be stain free and properly supported. If you follow those rules and the sag is 1.5 inches or more, you get a free replacement. Sam’s Club would know this. While it is rare for a 9 year old mattress to be replaced under warranty, it can and does happen, as evidenced by Sal’s experience. It is true that warranties are too long. Nothing that gets that much daily use should be covered by such a long warranty and that is likely why specifications are so secret and prices can be so different on similar products.
Your premise is that Sam’s Club takes returns on warranty only, this is false. Their great customer loyalty is based on My (and many other’s) personal experience. Even after Asus refused to fix my laptop which I’d gotten from Sam’s Club )8 months and 4HD’s later, I called Sam’s Club. I had purchased it as a friend of a member and was not entirely sure I would be able to return it since Asus refused to actually fix the problem causing the HDs to go bad. My phone call and immediate visit to Sam’s Club told me they were a great store to deal with. They assured me that my satisfaction was the one thing they were concerned with. Thirty minutes later I walked out with another laptop AND they allowed me to change brands which is more than Walmart will do on exchanges, but then why would I even WANT another laptop by Asus after 4 HDs and still not getting the company to refund or fix my laptop? Sam’s Club rocks!!!
I agree. Costco in Canada used to be a pushover when it came to returns. With no receipt and no specific defects required you just walked up to the counter, left the merchandise and walked out with cash. Obviously not good for the bottom line of Costco. Nowadays you need your receipt and you’ll be asked what was wrong with it. Without a receipt you get an in store credit. Still very generous. Try that at Canadian Tire.
It’s not about the warranty. Sam’s Club, Costco, etc. accept returns on most items with no time limits.
Canadian or American??
What a bs review… It you want to troll for us-mattress go right ahead. Wow an internet mattress store. Less overhead than brick and mortar. And without opening up the mattress how are you even remotely sure you got the same mattress you had seen at Jordan’s. Maybe you got a recovered Matt. Looks brand new but underneath…;( who really knows. Actually foam density plays a big part in the quality of a mattress also. So b4 you start panning the worlds largest mattress retailer “sleepys” and praising some internet slob who under many different website names, check out the integrity. Sleepys has 1100 stores not 700. And bbb complaints are always vague at best. I worked for sleepys for a short time, 28 years ago. They had 39 stores. Look where they are now. I don’t think 29 years from now anyone will ever remember us- mattress. Good luck collecting on your warranty in the future.
I completely disagree (and, no, I don’t work for US-Mattress). I found them so helpful and trustworthy- unlike Mattress Firm. They responded to my comments on one of their YouTube videos. I even said in one of them I had a too-firm mattress from another company and couldn’t return. He then offered to help me find a topper- not pressure me into a whole new mattress.
They also price match for a month after purchase. They DO have the lowest prices and are incredibly educated. I did end up buying the mattress from US-Mattress vs the topper after trying it out at Mattress Firm (same mattress, different name). I negotiated with the Mattress Firm guy and he couldn’t come close. He offered to match it but by that time I wanted to smother him with the pillow on the mattress. They are worse than used car salesmen.
Well said John. Only an idiot buys a mattress online! You will sleep on it for a third of your life but people are still stupid enough to buy one online. This guy is clueless about beds. I am an Aussie working in the industry for 5yrs. Some people think their 23yr old Sealy mattress is still good, as its a Sealy…. its bloody hilarious!
Wow – if there ever was a double BS (snake oil) sales pitch, THIS IS IT!
I thought Jeff’s blog was thorough and sincere whereas our comment has sleepys written all over it. Nice try but I wouldn’t be buying any oil from you.
Any yes Sleepys no long exists!
Sleepy no longer exists because it was purchased by Mattress Firm for $785million. Put all the facts in your blog
Sleepy’s was purchased by Mattress Firm.
That is so cool, do it every 9 years!
Do you work for Sam’s Club?
I’m about to shop for a new bed so as usual, I do extensive research before ANY purchase, esp since the advent of Google. Thankfully, I ran across this blog. Its been very helpful in pointing out the pitfalls I am up against and prepared me for what appears to be a long and unpleasant journey. Thanks again!!
It’s a shame that the industry has this image, but unfortunately you are onto something… most vendors are not very ethical. However, I can assure you that there are good people and companies out there in this business who are looking to change that image. Hopefully over time, we will!
These people trying to defend mattress companies are a joke. I am shopping for a mattress as well as some other furniture. The first thing I did was go to consumer report, which told me exactly what this article said. Here is an example of what is going on: sealy makes a mattress that is plush memory foam and cool gel and they call it radiance when they sell it at a few stores. Then they call it heaven when they sell it at another store. I do not know that the radiance is being done that way, but I used it as an example because that is the mattress I am looking to buy. Rooms To Go and JC Penny’s currently have the best deal from what I have found. Check out what I just realized. I went to Sears.com and looked up the radiance. It was listed twice on sear’s site, once for $1499 and once for $2900 and some change. I compared them and seen no difference. Then I called sears and the lady said that when they don’t have a product, they use a third party and those are two different 3rd parties. So one is selling for double the other. Do not tell me that people are not marking up mattresses 100% and 200%. If you go to the sears sight right now on 2/18/13 and look up sealy radiance, you will find the exact same thing I just did. The title was worded slightly different but just pull up the 2 on the first page that are listed as queen and then compare (and heck even call if you want). This blog writer was not saying that every single mattress company in the World was profiting 100% or scamming but many many definitely are. I am sorry if this hurts you out there who are not. I am sorry if you chose a shady business to work in, but we must get the word out to save honest hard working people from being ripped off. I do not support any technique that goes against supply and demand which comparison shopping is a foundation for. How dare a company make a product and call it 10 different things for 10 different companies. I am going to boycott any company I find doing this if I can find it out. Thanks for your input everyone!
If you’re going to boycott any company that makes the same mattress with different names be prepared to boycott ALL mattress manufacturers. They all do it.
It also has nothing to do with supply and demand. It has to do with mattress salespeople with little to no training to explain the different features and benefits of different mattresses.
The mattress manufacturers do change the name of every mattress just to make it look like they offer more choices than they really do.
Naturessleep.ca has high quality latex at reasonable prices, sand they don’t private label. Check it out!
Lucy
I bought a Nature’s Sleep memory foam mattress about 14 months ago. I have been sleeping on my couch for the last 8 months because it was so painful to sleep on.
Needless to say, I’m looking for a new mattress. I’m tired of the couch, even though it’s immeasurably more comfortable to sleep on than the latex memory foam.
If you haven’t purchased a mattress yet, check out my mattress buying guide at mattressnerd.com/how-to-select-and-purchase-a-new-mattress-the-basics/
While I don’t agree with Jeff that the mattress industry is “one big scam,” it certainly is a bit confusing and difficult to comparison shop. The key is just trying the mattresses out, and spending several minutes on the mattress in the store to make sure you’re supported and comfortable.
Hopefully this is of some help.
Check out CASPER….
Latex is not the same as memory foam. A pure botanical “sap of the tree” latex mattress will outlast memory foam every time. Memory foam is polyurethane foam which is essentially plastic. The highest quality memory foam will outlast the cheaper lower density ones but still won’t beat a natural botanical latex mattress.
Latex is the ONLY way to go. I bought a USED latex set 12 years ago (it was two years old when I purchased it) and I would NEVER get rid of it. I did my homework, and discovered that latex lasts longest (20 year warranty). The original owner spent $3200 on it and I picked it up for $350. I have not been sorry. Yes, its a bear to move, but it is a dream to sleep on….Never needs flipping either. LOVE my latex!
I love latex but can only find it in one store in Minneapolis and they cannot guarantee the firmness that will be mailed out from the factory. I ordered a firm natural Dunlop (online) it felt soft and softened even more within a week. Tried another online company for natural Talalay in medium firm/firm (9″ total) and that too buckled in the middle. I’m 185 it was suppose to handle up to 300 lb. switched to an ikea $400 individual pocketed coil. It won’t last long but at least it supports this body until I can find something better.
Not ALL mattress manufacturers have multiple mattresses. If you want a great mattress, try out CASPER. No choices, no bells &whistles, no extras, just a really great product AND if you don’t like it, they will come get it and return ALL of your $$$.
I agree there is alot of confusion in buying and comparing mattresses. As far as the Seal Radiance they are price controlled by Sealy. If you find a different price from a dealer it is a knock-off a second or a returned mattress. All of the manufacturers–not the dealers are making a huge profit. In finding the best deal–do not just look at price but in getting a salesperson that will ask you the questions intended to find the correct one to fit your personal needs. AND listen when they ask about your support system. If it is not supported correctly you DONOT have any warranty at all which is from manufacturer and not the dealer. Any retailer that gives you a 365 night or some out of the ordinary time frame is a scam. Where do you think those returned mattresses go–in the trash–right. They re-bag them and sell them as new a lot of the time. Would you know the difference.
Guess you won’t be getting a mattress then.
The bed industry is the same as any other. There are car parts with different branded names on them, there are ovens coming out of the same factories with different branded names. Why are you so surprised to find beds have different names but are in fact the same bed. I looked at a leather sofa in a shop and later saw the same sofa in a sale under a different name ! at a higher price. They are all OUT TO SCAM YOU.
Yeah I agree. Name changes to confuse.
Yesterday I bought a mattress from Amazon.com. after comparing 2 that I PRINTED, I decided on one because it weighed 10lbs more. A confusing number of mattresses were reduced to 2 finalists. I bought and then returned online to compare only to find the 2 finalists were both 80lbs! How could this be since my print out says 1=70lbs and 1=80lbs? Answer the names are slightly changed on FOUR different mattresses which I suspect are really the very same mattress just with 4 different names, 2 different weights and 2 different prices! CONFUSION to say the least. I emailed as such but have no response yet
#1) DynastyMattress Therapeutic Luxury 12-Inch Memory Foam Mattress – 80lbs and $399 (full size) ASIN: B009JKKWT6
#2) DynastyMattress 12″ Therapeutic Memory Foam Mattress with 5″ 5LB Viscoelastic Memory Foam – 80lbs and $399 ASIN: B009PIT6HQ
#3) DynastyMattress-Luxury 12-Inch Memory Foam Mattress – 80LBS AND $389 ASIN: B009PFHJMS
#4) DynastyMattress Luxury 12-Inch w/5″ 5LB Density Memory Foam Mattress – 70lbs and $389 ASIN: B008049PCM
TO BUY #1 I COMPARED #1 AND #4 = 10 POUNDS DIFFERENCE
AFTER PURCHASE I AGAIN REVIEWED #1 AND #3 THE CHANGE WAS name AND WEIGHT, NUMBER oTHER WISE THEY APPEAR TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME MATTRESS!
FROM THE SPECS THEY ALL APPEAR TO BE THE SAME MATTRESS Same weight foam from the company details link. So how can they weigh 10lbs different? It is the same write up except for name, number and price.
As far as I can tell from the specs the first 2 have only changed the name. weight and price are the same.
The second pair as far as I can tell from the written specs are exactly the same as the first two except for a name/title change and the 4th one shows 10lbs lighter and $10.00 cheaper
SO????
Will they say:
the 70lb is a misprint and so is the $10.00 cheaper a misprint?
OR will they say they are all 70lbs and the 80lb is wrong?
Which price is wrong?
OR WILL THEY SAY ONE OF THE ASSEMBLER SPITS DIFFERENT AMOUNTS ON EACH MATTRESS AND THEREFORE THEY WARRANT DIFFERENT NAMES AND NUMBERS ALONG WITH DIFFERENT WEIGHTS AND PRICE?
Bought a Walmart Contura 5000-in business for 35 yrs states the Walmart site, picked up a Boyd Flex 933 from Walmart who stated it is the same! Different deminsions, different wts, 120# vs 89#. Sent a Dynasty back- deminsions were off W and L by 2 inches–Lots of luck dealing with a box retailer on line.
Fighting with Walmart, the layer description are not the same as the one on the mattress. 2+4 layers of latex, 6 inch foundation-in reality-2 latex, 4 low density foam, 6 foundation foam. Not bad only paid too much for one layer. Got CK cut it down to make a super Queen that is how I found out the layers were not as advertised!
Folks – the only way this industry will change is if you go on line and file a written complaint with your state attorney general’s office or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice. This whole way of doing business is a convenient and clever way for mattress manufacturers and mattress retailers to avoid competing with one another. I find it hard to believe that this system could be maintained without companies illegally agreeing with each other to maintain it and punish transgressors. One would think these practices would have been challenged by now in a class action as a treble damage Section 2 Sherman Act violation (i.e., a contract, combination or conspiracy in restraint of trade) or by the FTC as an unfair trade practice under Section 5 of the FTC Act. My guess is that the manufacturers will argue that this is one of the few remaining US manufactured consumer products and if you make it easy to comparison shop they will be ruined by cheaper imports from places like China.
It’s a mattress!! If you don’t like the business or their business practices don’t buy from them. The reason they are still open is because a bunch of people still do business with the company(supply & demand). If they mark it up 500% does it matter? What you are concerned with is did you get a good deal. Your local burrito shop probably marks up that bean and cheese burrito 200% to 300% but it’s under $7 so that is okay. Is a 30% tax bracket okay? or $4 a gallon for gas okay? Probably most everyone who spoke up works for a company that truth be told if we could see your companies P & L statement the general populace would be “outraged” at your excessive mark up on your product or services.
Spoken like a true used car salesman. Act like a customer is crazy for comparison shopping or wanting to get a good deal. How do you look at yourself in the mirror?
Perfectly true! Selling the (substantially) EXACT same mattress in different stores sounds like criminal conspiracy to me (I have some legal background). A good class action legal team could nail the bastards to the wall!
How small was that legal background…?
There is absolutely No legal ground for a company changing a name and selling the same product for a different price. It’s called capitalism. Welcome to the United States of America.
HEY, TRP! I give you a “high five”, Buddy, because you are exactly right! Another good example is buying jewellery, the mark up on necklaces, earrings, etc., inlaid with any kind of precious stones, metals, and so on, is between 50 & 70%!!! You can pay a good chunk of cash for jewellery, far higher than what you pay for a mattress, so who really knows or cares about the profit margins, you’d cry like a baby if you knew how much profit exists on almost everything a consumer purchases!
My dad was a jeweler for 50 years and 40 years ago the markup in fine jewelry is no less than 200%. The 50 to70% must be in lower quality merchandise.
Oh and people you are not being scammed, it is called capitalism in the free world.
Thank you, Sir, thank you.
I am really glad to see your post and was wondering the same thing. I have been scammed in buying a very expensive bed and have been treated like trash after when trying to deal with the problem as they Soooo nicely before claimed in their warranty. My bed went bad after 1 and half years. Customer Service was nightmare to deal with. The ones that treated me like trash. And try to not have to deal with me at all. I did buy online and they must stick MUCH money on the website caused it looked flawless and their claims ended in being amazing lies.
I want the bed they PROMISED to sale me for the cost I paid. Although as of now, they ended up getting $500 more they I paid for the bed. And I still don’t have the bed they so cunningly advertised.
You can get a real education if you read The Mattress Underground, the premise is that the industry is horrid, the smaller companies make a better product than the big S names. I learned a LOT. I had a foam mattress and my son moved to Europe and gave me a firm new Sterns and Foster that is killing me, hip pain, because I am a side sleeper.
Does anyone know about the Boyd 940 or 950, special natural latex….which US BEDS says is not all natural at all, but a great bed. ?????
lmao @ Ann italiano, gee I wonder why your hip hurts? you have pressure points in your hips and shoulders and your sleeping on a firm mattress. Your on the wrong mattress. If you were on a plush or at very minuimum a firm mattress with a plush or Pillow top on it, you wouldn’t be complaining about your hip hurting. As far as the latex mattress you are referring to, it all depends on how many layers are actually latex. Most all foam mattresses use a 6″ core of polyurathane foam in a high density, to keep you from sinking all the way through. If the bed is latex all the way through it will be very pricey. Than theres a difference in Latex quality, the two most common are Talalay and Dunlop process.
@JRS if your debating mattresses over there weight thats rediculous and $10 difference, really?
Mattresses have different names because they aren’t exactly the same thats hogwash if you believe that. There are different names to go along with different ingrediants, the manufactures make them to the specifications of the retailer. This creates exclusivity yea thats a good thing retailers need a competitive advantage just like the consumer. The retailer wants you to like their mattress better than the competition. Retailers take a risk by openning up a business. Your paying for the accessability. If you think you got a good deal than you also need to remember that if something is too good to be true. An honest retailer should get fair market value for goods sold. A consumer desearves to be treated fairly. Best advice I can give you is read the fine print. Theres a reason its more expensive to buy milk at 7-11 and there is a reason prices are higher at Nordstroms. What type of consumer are you? a flea market shopper or Saks Fith Avenue. I will take an expensive restaurant over a hole in the wall every day of the week. Its about other things than burning your gas to go around city to city to find the best deal on a product. Do you shop for milk like that. Could you imagine how much money you would save over the life of the mattress if you shopped for the best price for milk all that time.
The whole natural/not natural battle is simple.
Latex is made from the sap of the rubber tree. Sap is obviously natural, and like all things grown in nature, the yield per year is going to vary depending upon the region and the weather.
A small yield will cause prices to skyrocket on a product that is already at a higher price point. It is also very difficult to predict the quality of the sap, and therefore, how well it will hold up over the years.
Due to these facts, companies will “make” latex in order to keep a proper supply-demand cost ratio, as well as insuring Quality. In this way does the latex come from nature, no, but is it still a natural material, yes. How, you may ask? It’s as simple as this: When it rains and then gets cold, it turns to ice; a cause of nature. When you put water from your faucet into an ice tray and then stick it in your freezer, it turns to ice; made by man. Is the ice in your freezer any less ice than the ice outside your house? No. And it is exactly the same for the latex created by man vs. that from the actual rubber tree.
And honestly, I’d rather have a proven formula on a product that will last and cost me the same, than a product that may not be as supportive as advertised, and costs me twice as much last year as this year, simply because the weather was bad…
I just want to say its not only mattress companies that use different names on the same product. Most bikes and manufactured standard frame merchandise is usually from the same factory. They just paint them differently, put different names on them. My suggestion is lay on it, if it feels good and supports you correctly(which the sales staff should help you with) and you feel that it is within your budget than purchase it. I do agree…stay away from big name brands, they are a scam and many smaller manufacturers are out there putting out great products. Seally, Simmons, Stearns & Foster are just big machines and you are not part of the equation.
It is my understanding that there is only a few mattress factories putting out ALL the brands. They are contracted by their customers (the mattress manufacturers) to make their particular brand. I drive by one every day when I go to work over in Monroe, GA. It’s called Leggit and Platt. They make them ALL right there, and stick lables like Serta, Beauty Rest, Restonic, Sterns and Foster, etc, etc, etc.
I am in the retail furniture business and Leggett & Platt makes the innersprings that the big/medium and small manufacturers buy for make the mattresses for the retail industry. They make very good quality inner springs as well as many other consumer products. Definitely the leader in making good quality North American products for the consumer and manufacturing industry.
That said, many of the bedding manufacturers now import cheaper innersprings/foam/other bedding materials from overseas. As with much of what comes from Asia, quality issues seem to always be a real problem. Manufacturers can import the parts and still say made in the USA or Canada because they are put together here.
When buying a mattress make sure ALL the materials used in the mattress are made in North America (other than dunlop latex foam itself)!! I also agree that most here that you should stay away from the BIG deceptive brand names – Sealy – Sterns & Foster, Serta, Simmons, Kingsdown, King Koil and some others. Also beware of the big box stores that sell them. Try an independent furniture store with a good long standing reputation. I personally sell Ther-A-Pedic but a brand is only as good as the manufacturer that bought the license to sell the brand.
It really doesn’t have to be that confusing buying a mattress if the place you are getting it from is honest and has it’s customers best intentions in mind. It’s a shame the industry has such an awful reputation but there still are good choices out there for the consumer. It’s also a shame we are losing most of our smaller independent retailers. In most cases they are the ones that should have the consumers best interests in mind. They depend on repeat business and should be going far and beyond what the big box stores can offer in the way of customer service, quality and value. Support smaller independent stores and you may have better luck with you purchases.
Just saw this post and thought the record should be set straight on Leggett & Platt. The bedding industry is already confusing the consumer enough without more misinformation.
In actuality, mattress companies don’t get much say on what their products are labeled. It’s really the manufacturers that give similar products to different retailers under different names. Still the same evil, just different sources.
I went to Mattress Firm and their price-match strategy is a cut above the rest that I noticed. They don’t require that the match be on the same name or even the same style mattress; just something similar – so that’s cool.
i am a side/stomache sleeper. I have purchased 3 mattresses in the last 3 years. all of them made my lower back hurt and are causing me to have hip pain now. I also toss and turn all night long because the mattresses hold heat. Can anyone offer any good suggestions on a good mattress ?
Kim, the best mattress I’ve found is an air chamber-type mattress from Natural Form. Check out the details at http://www.naturalform.com/ It IS rather pricey, but it is worth the money. I had been looking a long time at getting a Sleep Number bed, but then after seeing all the not so good reviews on that one, I found the Natural Form one. I have not regretted spending the money (and I’m a tightwad!)
Just contacted that company and after seeing the construction I agree that it makes sense . We are staying at a hotel that has these same mattresses and will decide if we like it after the 3 day visit .. thanks for you comment and input … Brian
Brian, what did you think of the mattress after your hotel stay?
Thx
It’s not the mattress. It’s your lower back. Stomach sleeping is the worst way to sleep. It is really bad for your lower lumbar. It sounds like if your mattress is holding heat you have some type of memory foam mattress or a very soft mattress. #1 If you insist on sleeping on your belly, buy a very, very firm innerspring mattress. Not a pillowtop, memory foam or latex. Stomach sleepers should sleep on a flat firm surface not a conforming one. #2 Always use a membrane lined mattress protector…the membrane that makes it water proof keeps any generated heat from your body. #3 Always use a high quality preferably cotton mattress pad. If you are a hot sleeper by nature…use 100% cotton sheets., No satin, flannel, 50/50 poly cotton blend or micro fiber sheets….They sleep warm.
I beg to differ, I have had 2 pillow top mattress within the last 9 years or so. We exchanged the original one out for $92 under warranty, now we have from Winco bedding that is doing the same exact thing. We traded out old one for this one about the same time my lower back started acting up real bad, now I just found out that I need surgery on my lower back.
I have had minor back aches and pains in my lower back for 4 years and 5 months now. All I took was a couple of aspirin and I was fine, until my wife and I continued to sleep on this mattress, now I’m having to take a hydro-apap, a Tylenol #3, 2 different types of muscle relaxers, and 2 200mg ibuprofen, just to get out of the pain I’m in. My back is so bad right now that I have to see a pain management doctor, and he told me that I am going to need surgery on my L3-L4 because my spinal diameter is HALF of what it should be, if not it can paralyze me from the waist down for the rest of my life..
I don’t this this as a MERE coincidence, and I didn’t have NEAR the back pains I that I did before I got this damn mattress. Say what ever you want, but I think PILLOW TOP mattresses are hard on someone’s back. I’ve been doing research on the internet this morning, and I ran across an article at: http://forums.prohealth.com/forums/index.php?threads/pillow-top-bed-hurt-me.205886/ that states, ” Well, after spending a lot of money on an expensive pillow top bed, I started to have terrible pain and stiffness in my lower back and my right leg. I didn’t know what it was. But it was horrible. And I suffered for months with it. I even started to get numbness in my feet. Finally, I decided to try flipping the mattress over, even though the store had told me you shouldn’t do that. Well, the firmer side was exactly what I needed!”
He went on to say, “I still have leg pain from getting on and off the bed. It was much lower in the store. And when they delivered it and set it up, it was like a foot higher. I’m yanking a muscle or ligament out of my leg getting on and off it. I’ve been using a stepstool, but even with that, I’m still having a problem. It’s amazing how much a bed can hurt and ruin your life.
I don’t know about you, but I think that’s pretty damn definitive that a PILLOW TOP mattress are causing people’s backs to go bad, INCLUDING MINE.
Beautyrest … firm … pillowtop or plush (soft cloud beds that you sink into are terrible for back/neck!!!!!) Don’t be fooled by the fancy bs talk, plush is just pillowtop sewn down.
Get a foam mattress topper from Costco. Put it on top of your mattress and it is the best thing you have ever slept on!!!
Don’t buy a hard one! I’m a side sleeper ONLY, and I like a mattress a bit softer….my hubby, side sleeper too, likes a hard mattress, but those dudes don’t have our curves (and I’m of average weight for my height!)…..mattress that curves with my body works great, but a hard one not only hurts my hips, it hurts under my ribs as well! As to lower back, this is kinda off topic, and I can only advocate for my experience, having no ‘long term’ back issues, but having pulled out lower back…..I learned this through chiropractic service……..lie flat on floor, pretend there’s a round green pea directly under the small of your back, without lifting legs or moving your butt, use small of your back to try and crush the pea, do for a count of 3-5, relax, pull left leg up to chest, hold for 5, then right leg, then both legs………..repeat 2 or 3 times….do this once or twice a day, and you’ll strengthen lower back muscles…….just an idea!
following^^^^^ because I have done the same.
Three mattresses in 3 years 🙁
and my 56 year old back feels (some days) like it is 100 when I get up in the morning! 🙁
Might try Casper, at least they SAY you get your money back if not satisfied.
What have you found Kim? Any thing helping neck or back pain?
Have you seen a back doctor?
@kim. If you’re sleeping on your stomach for a good portion of the night you need something firmer. Softer mattresses cause your back to arch too much on your stomach.
After spending a few days looking for a long size mattress and about to spend $2G on one I like the other post decided to go with Sam’s club. No delivery or disposal of old mattress but after laying on the mattress it felt just as good for barely over $500. If it doesn’t work down the road I can return or exchange it.
This has been informative…Thank you all for sharing….I am wondering if anyone here could share guidance on what steps to take when one of the large companies denies a warranty claim for a sagging mattress because there is a stain on the mattress?
Is there any hope to get them to stand behind their warranty when there is a stain on the mattress?
I am trying to understand how a stain (on the area of a mattress that is NOT sagging) can be the reason not to stand behind the warranty.
Like it or not all of the mattress companies have a policy that if it is stained in any way –no warranty. They look at it as not properly taking care of it. As a salesperson we get a lot of flack from customers not wanting to buy a water proof matt protector and I explain it this way–I could care less if you protect it but if you want a warranty then that isw what you have to do along with putting the correct support system under that mattress. A queen needs 9 legs that touch the floor and 12 for a king. The salesperson takes the heat for adding on to your ticket but you have to do these things. Would it make sense to buy a new house and not have home owners on it.
No. I’m in the industry and it is a standard. Legally they do not have to touch a mattress with any stain. The warranty states that a mattress that is stained has a voided warranty. The reasons? Several…Some stains are body fluid such as blood…or fece’s for health reasons of the employees they just aren’t going to touch it. Another more technical reason is simply this. If a mattress has been exposed to moisture or saturation once or several times it can affect the materials and or coils and their performance and life span. Moisture over time will break down the integrity of the foams and fibers and can even create mold. Also saturation can get down to the steel coil and cause rust…rust will cause breaking coils and squeaking. Therefore the warranty is not valid. Warranty’s are to protect the consumer from manufacturers defects that could happen with normal wear. Not abuse and such or excessive storage. It is very frustrating I know. Next time you buy a new mattress make sure that you buy a membrane lined mattress protector (water proof) to protect your investment.
A mattress is exposed to moisture, EVERY NIGHT, the moisture is from the body, common sense. Not everyone uses mattress covers. Yuck!
There is one major reason that a stain would void the warranty. It could not be resold as a NEW mattress.
NOT in the industry, but have seen/felt it several times.
Those in that industry are like doctors and lawyers, NEVER bad mouth a fellow.
Plus they can’t resell it
Not exactly a rocket scientist are ya, Pam? I’m both a scientist and an OSHA specialist. So, to your comment that “for health reasons” employees won’t or don’t have to touch a mattress, I say “bull-feces”. Who the heck do you think takes away your old mattress when you buy a new one? Those same employees. Get blood-borne pathogen training, take you Hep C shots, glove up and you’re good to go… Salespeople like you that claim workers can’t touch a stained mattress because “the law doesn’t allow it” are liars. And “moisture over time will break down the integrity” of foam and fibers? Saturation will rise steel coils? Holy-freaking-cow, what do they print in your training manuals!!!? People sweat, they drool, they don’t deluge. Any decent mattress cover will adequately protect your mattress. The quantities of organic matter and continuous moisture levels required to significantly increase the deterioration rate of the materials in your mattress are generally found only in a Petri dish or hourly-rate motel room. And even if I soaked a mattress in salt water for a month, it would not cause the coils to permanently compress or divot they way people describe here. Face it, the inner spring mattress is an inherently unsound design that has planned obsolescence built-in. We’ve seen great strides in mattress design in the last 10 years with the advent of more affordable and breathable latex and synthetic toppers on memory foam cores, inflatable baffle systems, and the elimination of useless box springs. I’m thrilled to see so many new on-line companies offering alternatives and to read blog posts like this. Knowledge is a consumer’s best weapon against ill-trained salespeople, fraudulent marketing, and the monopolistic power held by a few in this market.
“Any decent mattress cover will adequately protect your mattress.”
Exactly. Which is why a stain of any kind proves you were *not* adequately caring for your mattress.
And I’m not sure what kind of scientist doesn’t know that moisture causes materials to break down.
by now you have probably figured out that NOT purchasing the suggested mattress pad cover actually makes the warranty null and void bc any teeny weeny spot will disqualify you. We were told this up front by Macy’s …if we did not purchase the $150 mattress pad (same one I bought at Bed Bath and Beyond for under $50), then we would forfeit any right to warranty. We bought their pad..but in less than one year, the Simmons Beautyrest Black for over $2000 now has a 1 inch sag…Macy’s and Simmons refuse to honor the warranty saying it needs at least a 2 inch sag. What?? Neither of us is large, we have taken great care of this mattress…Macy’s even wants a $400 restocking fee if we insist they replace the mattress…plus a $175 pick up fee and they will NOT accept the mattress if WE bring it in there. If you think we are outraged, you are sorely underestimating the degree of rage we feel at having been lied to about the warranty, the mattress pad, etc. We did considerable research but failed to find the hundreds upon hundreds of complaints against Macy’s. I am looking for a class action lawsuit and currently talking to lawyers. Any suggestions are welcomed…I for one, am disgusted that everyone has voiced complaints but no body has stepped up to make a change in the industry!! Get off your butts and DO something! It looks like years of complacent complaining have become the norm but no one is taking the initiative to take steps to remedy the situation. I for one, am taking some steps to figure out how to stop the victimization. How can you spend this amount of money on an item that affects your HEALTH and then just move on without holding anyone accountable?
Karen,
Interested in whether or not you filed a lawsuit. I would like to do this with Sears – they approved the warranty claim for my Beautyrest Black telling me to pick any mattress they have on their website or in their store, give them the item number and they will get it for me. However after 3 months they tell me they cannot figure out how to provide the one I selected as it does not show up as “deliverable in their registers”. I would be ashamed to say something like that but they don’t seem to care. We just had to take out a second loan to buy another bed (latex, fire retardant free now that we know how we’ve been duped and poisoned over and over all of these years by TempurPedic and now Simmons) as our backs and hips were killing us from sleeping in the canoe of a mattress we had. We purchased it in February, had the claim approved in September – my husband weighs 225 so not so large a mattress is doomed to fail. I read where one person went to the state AG and was successful. Interested in what happened in your case. Thank you.
Did u get your money back from Sears?
In 2007 some well meaning attorney filed suit to demand that mattresses meet fire retardant code. So now it’s nationwide. Would seem like a good thing at first but it’s not. In order to “save” the 400 idiots a year who die in bed smoking every mattress must be treated with chemical retardants. Those retardants outgass and make you sick.
In order to avoid these toxic mattresses you have to find a manufacture who makes mattresses with out them and you’ll need a Doctors Prescription to buy. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Coil Spring Mattresses will wear out in 5 to 10 years and are full of all kinds of toxic chemicals. Manufactures are not required to disclose the toxic chemicals they use.
If you want a mattress to last buy Latex Foam… Real Latex not Dunlop.
The whole industry is in fact a scam because the same mattress is one offed with a different cover for each retailer that orders and then they add their markup. So it may be $400 at the Discounter and $2,000 at the Name Brand Store… same exact mattress as you pointed out.
Find the Manufacturer of Natural Talay Latex (Some People are allergic to latex) and ask them to locate a dealer of their products for you. There is one in Arizona that has good prices but I will not link to it here because I am not spamming your post.
I agree with you very much on your post. If there is an allergic reaction to latex it is from the protiens in it. All of the better brands I know of they remove all the proteins before producing a mattress out of natural latex.. I.E Dr. bruyce and Justice mattresses.
My concern is NOT gas, but comfort. I think that would be true of most mattress buyers.
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I purchased an Aireloom Hybrid February 2013. My jaw dropped when I changed the sheets after the first week. The entire middle is sagging. It looks like a hammock and sleeps like one too! My back is killing me. I weigh 127 lbs. and sleep on one side. I filed a claim and currently waiting to hear from the warranty company. After reading so many blogs I feel I am screwed out of a lot of money. If the company refuses my claim I won’t give up without a fight. I will file a complaint with FTC, BBB and any other suggested. I urge others to do the same. The mattress industry will only change if consumers take a stand. I will post an update when I hear back from the warranty company and give any other useful information. As for now, I am taking the advise of a previous post, Sal, and will purchase from Costco or Sam’s Club. At least they have an impeccable return policy.
The first week? I sell mattresses and I have thrown certain brand names out of my store for that stuff. Especially when they wouldn’t except the responsibility and tried to lay it at the feet of my customer. No way. I have dealt with Aireloom in the past and they are a reputable company. I hope they still have integrity and will handle this for you. Honestly…the store you purchased it from should allow you to just trade it for something else or get you another one. It’s probably just a fluke. The mattress store should deal with Aireloom at this point. It is way too soon for you to have to go around in circles with a mattress company.
Are you sure it wasn’t a Foster and Stearns. Sure sounds like the $1,500 one I bought.
Charles, I would love to hear more from you. We have been shopping for weeks and I just today found your comment. We had all but purchased our final choice of a Stearns and Foster. Please tell me more.
I bought a mattress two years ago from sleepys. $1499 total with delivery tax and box spring. Two years in, it’s sagging and they say it’s covered by warranty BUT the model is no longer available. So I’m offered a credit for $1009. $1009 will cover a mattress of lesser quality or I need to pay $370 more for a mattress of the same quality. I paid the $370, but am regretting it. What a racket they clearly sell a shitty product, then change the name so you need to go in and pay for an “upgrade” within a few years. I’m furious and would love to see a class action suit.
I’ve come to the conclusion that all the mattresses made today are junk. They sag after about 2 years no matter how much you pay. And the inability to flip them over anymore just proves they are crap. They used to actually have stuffing in them. Now they are cheap foam put on top of a pile of springs nailed to a wood frame. I went out and bought a latex topper to put over my crappy 2 year old mattress so now I’m sleeping much better and didn’t have to fork out a ton of money on a new junky mattress.
Did that topper help the sagging mattress? Everything I’ve read seems to recommend them for too-firm mattresses. I have a new mattress that is sagging. Mattresses are just terrible today.
Leave it up to crafty marketing campaigns and made up science to convince people they “need” mattresses that cost a fortune. I finally learned my lesson after forking out almost $2k on a big name brand’s extra firm mattress thinking it would last a long long time. 3 years into it and it had major body impressions, and the warranty was worthless, apparently indentations are”part of the normal wear and tear in the life of a mattress” according to the manufacturer.
Then I realized how ridiculous this whole concept was. I got rid of the mattress and bought some plywood to put on my box spring. Bought a 4 inch thick 5 pound density memory foam mattress topper for $200 from amazon. Have been sleeping like a baby for a month now and will never again fork out a fortune for a mattress.
I’m with ya Erick. The mattresses today are all junk. I bought a latex topper on Amazon for $260 and it works just fine.
There are some mattress people, either salesmen or manufacturing reps sending in comments or links to ‘their’ mattress. Read carefully.
Below are some facts I gathered over a year. I have still not decided on what mattress to buy.
—————
Mattress Construction
Modern mattresses usually contain either an inner spring core or materials such as latex, visco-elastic or other flexible polyurethane foams. Other fill components include insulator pads over the coils that prevent the bed’s upholstery layers from cupping down into the innerspring, as well as polyester fiberfill in the bed’s top upholstery layers.
Visit Mcroskey mattress construction here:
http://www.mcroskey.com/how_our_beds_are_made.shtml
The variety of innerspring mattresses on the market seems endless. They are the most popular mattress on the market and are the most affordable. In 2010, prices ranged from $300 to several thousand; a decent innerspring mattress will cost anywhere from $800 to $2000.
The basic construction of all innerspring mattresses is the same. There are two elements: coils and upholstery. The coils determine how firm and stable the mattress is, while the upholstery will determine how comfortable it is. Despite the construction, they tend to wear out more quickly and should be replaced every 10 years.
Spring coils – The quality of the inner spring mattress depends on a number of factors. First, the gauge, or thickness, of the innerspring coils will determine how firm and stable the mattress will be, thus affecting longevity. The thicker the coil, the SMALLER the number. A 12.5-gauge innerspring coil is the thickest available in a mattress and will provide the firmest bed. Coils should be at least 13 gauge or lower. The lower the gauge, the thicker and more supportive the coils of the innerspring will be. A thin 14-gauge coil provides a softer-feeling mattress with more give. This thin gauge coil is ironically, most often used in high end mattresses. Regardless of the coil gauge, they should have been tempered using either electricity or heat, which improves the quality significantly. Look for coils that have been coated with plastic or enamel. This feature makes them resistant to both general wear and tear, and corrosion.
Pay attention to the range of turns in the coil design of the innerspring. This number will range from about five to eight turns. The higher the number, the more support and durability the mattress will offer. Find out how many coils make up the innerspring of the mattress. For the best quality, make sure it has a minimum of 300 coils for a full mattress, 400 for a queen and 480 for a king.
Coil interlacing- A mattress consists of two wire frames connected by a series of wire tied coiled springs. By tying these springs together, the weight of the person lying down is distributed to multiple coils. There are four basic types of coil construction in innerspring mattresses.
1. Bonnell coils are regularly used in inexpensive mattresses and are shaped like an hourglass.
2. Wrapped coils, also called “encased coils” and “Marshall coils,” are quieter because each coil is wrapped in fabric. This type is often pre-compressed to add firmness to the mattress.
3. Offset coils are hooked together with hinges, which makes the mattress very stable and supportive while allowing it to conform to the shape of your body.
4. Continuous coils are offset coils that are strung together in rows from the head of the mattress to the foot. They create a very firm mattress but they tend to be noisy.
Upholstery – There are usually four layers of upholstery encasing the springs of an innerspring mattress. The layer closest to the springs is the insulation layer in which the springs are wrapped in a layer of mesh or woven fabric. This prevents the casing from wedging between the coils and creating “pockets” as the mattress wears.
Next is the cushioning layer, which is designed to improve the comfort of the mattress. The way it is constructed will also add to the cost of the mattress. The materials used are memory foam, cotton, wool, felt, polyester, and in very expensive innerspring mattresses, silk and cashmere. The thickness and type of materials used in this layer will determine the level of comfort, not the level of firmness.
Now comes a layer of quilted fabric attached to the outer most layer. Thick quilting materials are used in pillow tops and add to the comfort of the mattress. Be aware, however, that pillow tops will compress with time and cannot be replaced because they are attached to the bed.
The outermost layer is a fabric called “ticking.” It protects the mattress and makes it more attractive. Polyester and cotton/polyester blends are used most often; silk and linen are used in high-end mattresses. The type of fabric used will influence the overall cost of the mattress.
Sizes of mattresses
Twin 39 in × 75 in Full 54 in × 75 in Queen 60 in × 80 in King 76 in × 80 in
Hey Jeff, thank you for this. My wife and just bought a new home and needed a new bed (ours also 11+ years old). We went into the sleepy’s across the street. My wife is particular about our sleep gear and found a serta mattress that we both liked (I realized after I had been steered towards it). Full set, out the door $3,500. It was way more than either of us wanted to spend, but we justified it was something we would have for a long time. I mean- how can you put a price on good sleep? We came within an inch of buying it. While my wife was talking to the guy about writing it up- I was looking online to be sure someone else wasn’t offering it for a lower price (I live in Manhattan and we routinely get gouged on retail). The weird thing was, I couldn’t find one on my phone. I assumed it was my slow connection and not being able to move quickly enough throughout the web (store was underground). Still I wasn’t comfortable plunking down that kinda of money without at least doing some research even though we were going to be bed-less in 10 days (we’re in a hotel waiting for new apartment, threw old mattress out). The guy offered us a $500 “memorial day discount” which he had to go into the back to see if he could still give us (June 17th)- voila he could! I’m still not doing it, but told him I would go home, poke around and call him with our credit card number. Once home and online my wife immediately figure it out. They’re renaming the same product to eliminate comparison shopping online. I haven’t come across any other content but your blog stating what it actually is- a scam. We’re going to use an air mattress until I can actually figure out what I’m buying. Thanks much.
Damien,
NY, NY
The mattress store didn’t change the names of the mattresses. The manufacturers did. It is called “dealer protection” it is to protect the dealer from price shoppers so that they can make a profit and stay in business. It is actually a hinderance to us as well. I have no idea what lies my customers have been fed before they come in to my store trying to compare my product with joe blows mattress bargain warehouse. I do my own buying and make my own deals with the factory’s. Being that we are not a huge chain I don’t have the buying power of some of these companies. I also follow a true pricing code (that my boss gets mad at me for) He want’s me to mark up more. I won’t because I feel it’s dishonest. Problem is, my customers minds have been poisoned by crap like this blog before they even come in. They already think I’m a crook and a liar. So everybody that comes in think its like a village market place and they want to haggle. Well…with the honest pricing I got no where to go. But because they have been over to joe blows who went in the back and got them $500 off!!! Why can’t I do the same. Here’s a tip. Ask the sales person to show an invoice where they EVER sold that mattress for the marked price. They can’t produce it because it’s not real. I have been doing this for 24 years. I’m tired. Maybe it’s time to move on to something else. I’m tired of being labeled a liar. I’m just a woman who drives a friggin camry. Maybe I should have been a liar sale person so I could have a home (not a rental) and maybe a nicer car then a 4 cylinder. Some times being honest just dosen’t pay and in this business it dosen’t.
You’re in the wrong business to be “honest” the proverbial poop rolls downhill my friend and it starts at the top. If the mattress manufacturers call the shots I can understand your predicament. However, I don’t believe this person’s blog is crap at all and what I also believe is this situation is just an example of a bigger picture of how goods in general, in this day in age are manufactured to fail, not last long and are deceivingly hyped. We live in a world of deliberately planned product obsolesnce. Cheaply made items, with questionable materials are then sensationalized by all these “systems” and “technologies” touted by manufacturers that dazzle you with all these claims about the science of sleep, cooling gels, memory foams, sleep numbers, plushes and firms, and coils! Oh my! (But they do tend to downplay that some of these mattresses smell like a Dow chemical plant meltdown from the 70s from all the “test tube two step primordial ooze” that make up these “miracle” sleep substances) You wonder if the actual “miracle” will be bearing children that don’t have multiple digits or a major organ not falling out of a personal orifice down the road from sleeping on these chemistry sets..
Quality products from back in the day lasted a very long time (My parents bought a refridgerator the year I was born in 1967 and it’s still running today albeit with a few minor repairs, oh and by the way they slept on the same mattress for far more than ten years and wow! they were not transformed into invalids or on the chiropractor’s Christmas card list) Goods are not made to last any more because there’s no money in that my friend. It’s all about get it now, get it fast, get all these bells and whistles pay a crazy mark up in many cases, then get a new one again before you know it, because the quality is no where near as good and honest as it used to be.
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I see a pattern here. GENUINE “quality” is hard to come by today. We do see plenty of fabricated and perceived quality from all these businesses that produce all these products. They are not really meant to last however, but they are really hyped up to be “quality” and be the best thing since the wheel. Just ask them though, and they will tell you all about “quality” or what they put out there for what the average consumer to “perceive” as quality. For many today in this fast paced world barraged from all angles with life, work, stress, etc, perception can be reality. We take lots of these claims from these brands and the exuberant premiums they demand as assumptions of quality. From house construction to appliances, electronics, mattresses, you name it. We are “consumers” in the literal sense of the word in today’s world. The snake oil salesman from the 1800s is alive and well now in the form of these corporations and manufacturers. A not so very noble part of our humanity that is still manipulating and profiting off of the noble and innocent part of human nature that tends to trust and perceive things as genuine and “quality”. This trust is gained even easier when these claims are railroaded to the consumer and backed up by fast talkers, fancy words, bright lights, bells, gongs, and multimedia “independent studies.” Oh and then there’s those sales and rebates and nice managers that drop the price for you making you think he’s going to be in line at the soup kitchen next week for doing so..
They have us all believing that “Quality is always in the balance of the check book register”
These blogs exist as well as consumer sites so that folks can see what other users have REALLY experienced that’s where the rubber meets the road. Not the reviews on the store or manufactures sites. Can people embellish a bit or be not 100% in the know about a particular industry? Of course! However when a large group of people have the same issues with a certain product like feeling like they were beaten about about the head, neck, back and shoulders with a rubber hose after a nights sleep on a “quality” mattress, “the clue phone seems to be ringing”… People read this stuff so it “doesn’t get sent to the answering machine” and they don’t end up spending 2K on a glorified giant throw pillow with Kung-Fu Grip or whatever special Jedi power this mattress allegedly possesses.
Am I embellishing a bit? Being a bit dramatic? Perhaps, but then read one of the flyers on these things that tout that the “Binford 9000 Superfragilistic Snooze Digit Lemon Jello Supreme Luxury Plus Adjustable Slumber Climax “GUARANTEES” you a good nights sleep or your money back …(don’t forget to read that fine print) 🙂
FANTASTIC. Thank you for saying want so many feel, but are unable to say it so succinctly. WE appreciate your words.
fabulous synopsis Steve. the way of the world. After reading all of these posts, I think I will continue to pursue the formal complaints but in the meantime, just go ahead and get that Nikken topper for our piss poor 8 month old sagging Simmons Beautyrest and be a happy camper like the others who have found a similar solution!
Pamela,
Being honest does pay off. I hope you sleep well at night knowing you are not cheating hardworking people out of money. God bless. Thank you.
It’s amazing all the ‘experts’ here giving their opinion on whats good and what bad. True, coils don’t last…and YES they are overpriced..and YES there IS a game on pricing, but its the same with almost ANY product. (For example check out a laptop or a tv) However, when it comes to latex mattresses, well the are (for the most part) all the same. What I mean is they are mostly all manufactured from the same place…..Latex International. With that said, the ‘best value’ would be the most direct source. Their ‘direct brand’ Latex Bliss.
Now, with foam beds (memory foam)…the same rule somewhat applies. MOST of the memory foam out there today is made from the same factory and sold to other companies to put in their beds. However, the ONLY manufacturer in the US that starts with RAW material on one side of the plant then ‘spits out’ a completed product on the other is Tempur-Pedic. The ORIGINAL not the copy.
Well that’s my ‘2 cents’. Enjoy!
Hi, I’m not certain but I think you posted on this blog as an authority (while discrediting everyone else) and at the same time grossly plugged your own mattress store multiple times that carries these very same brands?. Irony! this is the exact reason the blog was created. I suspect The Back Store in St Louis is the very type of store we mean to stay away from. Noted.
I have to say that Tempur-Pedic is the best way to go when buying a bed. I just bought one a month ago, its not even completely broken in yet, and I have not slept better in my life! My husband’s and my own back pain are gone. My sister was the one who convinced me to get one- she’s had hers for 7 years with no plans on getting anything different any time soon. We got exactly the one we wanted- no salesman pressure- and got a better than expected price because we bought the one right off the sales floor. It was in perfect condition and only 10 days old. 2G’s and a 25 year warranty that covers EVERYTHING from stains to 1/2 in. sag or indents. Win.
Who could argue with your words, but remember; this a blog on mattresses, not toys.
Before you stand by the corporate giant with your hands boxed down in praise, understand that not all RAW materials on this earth are SAFE. Would you walk into a coal mine and breathe in the air just because it came from Mother Earth? I am not trying to sound aggressive but I worry for fellow Americans who believe the “hype”. See these real customer complaints. http://www.chem-tox.com/beds/reports/
The mattress industry definitely is a scam when it comes to quality and price. They over charge for so much. Check out best mattress to see the same mattresses at half the price and be amazed at what you are getting.
I appreciate the validation that Mattress Companies are unethical,dishonest, and untrustworthy.
What amazes me is how they can advertise delivery next day, satisfaction guaranteed, get endorsement from google and continue with such sloppy, shipshod, and lousy service. Are there no
monitors for these companies. Another peeve of mine is their “customer service” advertised to solve your problem. Maybe. AS long as your willing to hang on the phone for 30 minutes to speak to someone who is”so sorry they can’t help you”. There is no recourse.
Barbara
I do not know where you got your information on tempur-pedic but I have been working for foam mattress companies for several years. Tempur-pedic is not the only company that makes their own complete mattresses in one plant, in fact they buy foam from other companies and assemble them as well as most other large companies. My company Elite Foam makes the foam on one side of our plant, cuts and assembles mattresses on the other side. We use a firm wooden base for our mattresses and no springs.Gel foam on top makes it cooler. The best II have ever slept on without the cost for the name.
Have you ever seen a Ford salesman driving a Buick?
This blog is old. Also lots of false info. It is very easy to find info on products. These small companies don’t really make better mattress and a reg shopper. Do that. shop. A lot of you people must be old and cant figure things out on your own lol. Quick searches on the internet can find info and bbb ratings of stores around the world.
This blog may be “old” but most of the comments are still accurate. I am an educated person who buys most things online (after research). Most recently I purchased 2 cars, however, I have never been more frustrated when trying to research product differences or pricing. I am very frustrated over this product search… Mattress buying is like used cars shopping of the 70’s or supplemental insurance!
The BBB is useless. It is a voluntary organization, different in every town, and has no teeth. Try your state’s attorney general to file a real complaint.
This is all completely true but there is another fact that makes it even worse: quality of materials has dropped so that at the same time prices have soared, mattresses do not last like they used to. Our first Beautyrest developed ruts after 10 years and we got all our money refunded. We were so happy with how we were treated, we bought another one. Well, the second one lasted only 7 years before it was shot (neither my husband or I are overweight, btw). This time we were informed that the ruts had to be 1 1/2″ in order to qualify, so we were just S.O.L. I personally believe they use materials that will loft back up so the ruts do not look so deep but the material has broken down and the support is gone- when you lie down, your back falls painfully out of alignment. Our third try with Simmons: we bought a firm bed, no pillowtop or frills, figuring we’d add our own topper for padding and replace that when it wore out. We really love the feel of the pocketed coils. Unfortunately, less than 4 years later, our topper is still fine, but our mattress is unbearable. The springs under the pressure areas are shot. That’s why I’m sitting up reading about mattresses instead of sleeping right now. I am through with the major manufacturers. If you try to look up specs on their mattresses, they are all “trade secrets.” There are no specifics about exact materials, weights or pressure ratings. They give them silly names with gimmicky trademarks that are meaningless to the consumer. Eggcrate foam becomes something like “our exclusive sculpted air-channel dynamic restorative techologyTM.” Feels great in the showroom, 6 months later you have a bed with divots where it has bottomed out for good. A bed which you paid a *lot* of money for.
So…basically you work for us mattress? but you couldn’t be in this industry, if you did your accusations would have been a little more accurate.
I do not now, nor ever did work for a mattress company, or any firm connected with the manufacture or sales of mattresses.
But I did purchase a Tempur-Pedic Cloud mattress. Three months later, and MRI showed serious back conditions that were not there 12 months previous. I returned it and was told that the best mattress for my condition was a Stearns and Foster. I was foolish enough to believe. It lasted less than four months. Any padding it might have had was displaced, and you could feel the springs poking through. $1,500 figure to be almost $500 a month to sleep in discomfort.
The old WII army cot was much better, and it was FREE.
So this may be old but here is a new story. We shopped for a bed last Thursday, found the one we wanted and it was delivered Tuesday. Great. However, before the delivery guy left I laid on the bed. It was definately not the one I tested in the store, eventhough it had the same cover, the same name, the same ID. I sent it right back and went to the store. I thought the sales person wrote up the wrong thing, ’cause the bed we tested was soft and fluffy, and the one they delivered was hard. Got to the store, checked out the bed, yep, she wrote up theright one but the floor model and the delivered mattress WERE NOT THE SAME QUALITY. We told them so. So we said we’d spring for the plush but they did not charge us anything extra. Great customer service, I thought. So it comes today and what do you know? It’s not right either. I sent it back and asked for a refund. They gave me a lame story about floor models and lots of people have laid on them and how it’s worn because of that. Logically, a worn mattress would pack down, not get fluffier! My thoughts: (A) it’s time to change out the floor model if it is deteriorated (B) it’s a bait and switch scam. I think the floor models are made to be cushier, cause that one was very nice. The one they delivered was hard as a rock. How many people are going to send the mattress back like we did? But, dang, now I have to shop for a mattress again!
I want to sympathize with everyone who has had a frustrating experience with the junk that passes for mattresses today. I have just gone through it myself. A piece of plywood now sits between the box and my mattress (the second in two months).
I believe that one day during the past decade, the mattress manufacturers got together around a big table in some secret place and agreed on the following statement.
“We have been making a product that lasted for 20 years and have been selling it for a reasonable price. What is wrong with us? Let’s double, triple, and quadruple the price for a start. Then let’s make the box spring no more than a box and fill the mattress with some material that even a genius does not know about. Also, let’s make them unflippable so these pieces of junk wear out even faster. Get out your shovels, guys, because we’re about to see a storm of money.”
After these guys came up with their scheme, they invested in so-called “topper companies” so they could really rake it in.
God I can’t believe how clueless everyone is with regard to today’s mattresses…it has nothing to do with how long it lasts or if it “sags”…you can’t get any sleep on them!
They don’t make mattresses correctly like they used to. Today’s one-siders are too FIRM from all the springing–to make them last longer, and so u dont have to flip–and they’ve tried to offset this with layers of foam on top. Even sewing MORE foam on the outside (pillowtops). Doesn’t work! So you have throngs of people buying these “toppers†trying to soften up their new mattresses that they can’t get any sleep on. It’s fruitless. So now everyone has a mattress with a 10-20 yr warranty, and that you don’t have to flip….that you can’t a decent nights sleep on! 99% of the sleeping public is totally in the dark about whats going on here and it is a travesty..Corporate america has screwed everything up again. Bring back the flippable mattresses–last made in 1998– with their softer springing and cotton padding! The body needs to SINK IN to be able to relax so u can get some sleep–THAT SOFTNESS MUST COME FROM THE SPRINGS THEMSELVES! And it doesn’t with these one-siders .(believe me I required the firmest of the old schoolers and it was perfect) Go hit an estate sale and find an old-school flipper for 50 bucks.* All of today’s springboard one-siders hold all your weight on top. They are totally overdamped. Even if they are labeled “plush†or “pillowtop†they are garbage. In fact I explained this “theory†to a sales manager at a Sleepy’s and he said that I was the first person to figure this out.
* and do this for furniture too if you don’t have the coin for good new stuff.. All the stuff at Raymour and Flanagan, Rooms to Go, Restoration Hardware, etc is garbage. Cheap, nasty hard foam.
I have been building quality foam mattress for over 20 years. I have been telling my customers about these issues, and the wise shopper already knows about the scams, especially in coil spring mattresses. A Queen size coil cost about 20$ from China, once upholstered here in North America, the cost of the mattress is below 100$, yet they still sell these at a 50% discount for 600$, and will even give you free TV, which they buy in bulk at discounted prices. The market wants to sell you a mattress every 4-5 years, no matter what you want. The only solution is to buy from small hand crafted shops, and buy high density foam made in North America, your mattress will last at least 15 years, and you will smile when you get up in the morning. You can visit our website for more information http://en.memoryfoamcomfort.ca
Having loved the Cloud 9 at Hampton Inns, we went shopping and found one from Serta–James Anthony model with a ten year warranty. Five years down the road, we have a high center and two troughs on the sides. Warranty is based on 1.5 inch sag; we have 1.25 on one side and nearly that on the other side. Also, you really roll out of bed with this one! So. It was pricy, but thought it would last awhile, but here we are needing a new mattress. Guess what? Not buying that brand again, and maybe not one with a plush top that you can’t fully rotate.
We found a local manufacturer in Tucson who makes 2-sided, fully flippable pillow tops. Our cal king mattress cost us $459. Sleep America’s warranty is very much on a measureable sag, and you have to wait another 90 days for another measurement. Not sure what to do with our saggy mattress, but…
This fellow living in Green Valley sure would like to know the name of the company.
Your response would be emailed to me.
Lol, $3000 mattress got you shocked. Visit Tempur-pedic store and you will know the world is going crazy. Their mattresses are over-over-priced. Quite a few are over $6000!
I bought a queen size waterbed 30 years ago. I replaced the heater a few years back and add conditioner every 2 years and pay electric to keep it warm. Other than that the thing has been wonderful. I love to go to sleep in my old waterbed. I’m 50 and my back feels great.
So I have ZERO experience mattress shopping. Stopped at the local Sealy Serta whatever dealer looking for a new mattress for my semi truck. It would be a long twin. I said “I want the best one” thinking “what’s the most it could be, $500?” Lady says she’ll check the warehouse, clicks a bit on her keyboard and says she can take $1000 off for me. Full price is $3500.
Well right then I knew I was dealing with a crooked industry with huge markups and realized this was going to turn into a time consuming chore to get a good mattress for as little money as possible.
I dicked around in the store a bit longer and had her going for a while. Now I need to research foam and mattress construction.
There is only two things to know:
1. If it is a “no-flip” it is junk. You will be sleeping in valleys and troughs and have back pain. Flipping the mattress smooths out the dents by compressing the mattress when the top goes on the bottom and gravity does its job. A no-flip never gets ironed out, it just gets deeper and deeper ruts.
2. You will need to buy from a small local maker to get a quality flippable mattress. The big names have been bought and sold several times, and are no longer the same as the good old days. The 10 and 25 year warranties have conditions that make it hard to make a claim.
If you do decide to buy a one sided junker, get one with a tight top, as there is less foam to compress and make you miserable. I have one of the earlier versions of the one sided half-mattress money makers, and the only reason I am still using the abomination is that it is a firm tight-top, and so has lasted longer than the usual 2-5 yrs. My flippable mattresses are far superior.
@Ken regarding no-flip mattresses. What Ken doesn’t tell you is that boxsprings are no longer boxsprings. Today they manufacture foundations instead. These are non-yielding which mean no flex and no coils. If you put a flippable mattress on this the padding on the bottom will be smashed and become uncomfortable to sleep on.
Many consumers which had flippable mattresses complained of ridge in the middle of the mattress. This occurs when a couple sleeps on a mattress and the middle of the mattress is barely used. The coils in the “Boxspring” would soften in the area you sleep and stay stiff in the middle. Also the padding where you sleep will also compress. Unless you want to sleep on the floor or use wood or metal as a comfort layer you are going to get compression. This is innevitable.
Ken’s cure is to purchase a tight top firm mattress, these are made in all levels of price and quality so again you will have padding in a tight top, the firmness is attributed to the density and quality of the foam. Ken’s idea works great if you or Ken are a back sleeper. But side sleepers will wake throughout the night tossing and turning from side to side. Thats because pressure to the hips and shoulders. Last I checked women have more pronounced figures and this hurts them worse than guys.
My recommendation is to try three different beds. Mattresses typically come in what the industry calls a triple choice. A firm which is a tight top like Ken mentioned, a plush and a Pillow top. All three usually offer the same exact support underneith than add more padding for comfort in the plush and pillow top. Also good to know is that the longer you spend on a mattress the firmer it will feel regardless of the type of mattress you are on. You should try all three of these beds. If one is clearly uncomfortable you can eliminate it. Try the other two, if they are comfortable try the one you like best for 10 minutes. If you don’t feel the need to move and can stay there for 10 minutes completely comfortable, you have found your feel.
Trying beds is like going to the optomertrist for an eye exam. Try beds in your comfort range and go back and forth till you find the one that you like the best. There are different types of consumers, some are cheap, some are even keel and some are lavished. The cheap customer doesn’t care is typically the biggest problem, they are negative and never satisfied. The even keel usually get the best deal because they don’t complain and therefore the salesperson will work with this customer because they don’t feel as much pressure. The even keel customer usually presents the least amount of problems. The lavish customer can be a mixture of both cheap and even keel.
If a salesperson shows they care about your needs no matter what price point you want to be in than you have found the right place to buy if they have a bed that meets your needs. There are beds in all price points always has been. Unfortunately you get people with caviar dreams on a candy bar budget and when you show them whats available they typically want what they cannot afford. But, hey this is the same for everything. Have you ever watched those house hunter shows, they show the buyer three houses that come close to meeting all the shoppers needs and there is always one that is well over the budget. Thats the one they all want but cannot afford. I know when they advertise a price for a new car on the radio or tv if I go to the lot the one I want will always be more expensive.
The bottom line is yes there is mark up in products, there is also risk, does a politician not take risk when they run for office? They spend a fortune on campaign ads hoping that it will convince voters to vote for them and with no guarantee. Same thing is true in business. Have you ever watched the show Shark Tank? The stars of the show are investors if they like the idea and the business model they will make an offer to buy into the company. They are taking a risk that they will make there money back. If there is no profit how could you pay back investors. Did you know it only costs about 30 cents to manufacture a can of soda? What do they sell it for? average price for a soda is $1 thats over 3 times the amount of the cost to make the soda.
Ken states mattresses last 2 – 5 years. Well our needs change too. For health reasons alone you should change out your mattress every 5-7 years. Not to mention our sleep changes as we age. Adolescents should get between 12 – 16 hours of sleep, mostly for brain development. As adults 8 to 10 hours, by our 40’s 6 – 8, and in our sixtys we get 4 – 7 hours. As we age we don’t get the same quality sleep, I have no idea how old Ken is or how he sleeps I just hope he isn’t sleeping on his side on that firm mattress. 🙂
Thanks for this article. This echoes the frustrations I had a few months back. We decided to look for a futon frame at a mattress store, and wandered toward adjustable tempurpedic beds. The guy was way to pushy/slimy.
We decided later we didn’t need the fancy bed… I’d definitely like it, but I really wish there was a better place to get beds.
I have read the entire blog and all the comments here. I actually own an independent furniture store; I often scour the internet reading about consumer complaints. I find it gives me insight about my competition and helps me better serve my customer’s needs.
Many of the comments make it sound like all furniture retailers are liars, cheats and in business to swindle the consumer for personal profit at the expense of integrity. It really is sad that many major manufacturers and several retailers have created such distrust and dissatisfaction with the consumer. I think there are some manufacturers and retailers you can still trust but you the consumer have to take responsibility in finding who you can trust and boycott all who have not met your expectations. The consumer really does still have control of how they are treated and can only do it with research and where you spend your dollar.
First and most important is educate yourself before your purchase! The internet is your best defense against being ripped off! Read actual consumer reviews of manufacturers and stores. Type in “Brand Name†complaints, “Store Name†complaints, if there are pages of complaints do not give that supplier/store your business! Go to >> http://www.complaintsboard.com or http://www.consumeraffairs.com or http://www.ripoffreport.com There are many others on the net to research before you buy. It is what I do before I bring in any new supplier to my store. I would also recommend staying away from Sealy, Stearns & Foster, Serta and Simmons. Research those names for complaints, thousands on the internet. Find a smaller manufacturer with a good reputation, there are hundreds of them out there and most don’t play the name game. Many still make flippable mattresses and all the other mattress configurations out there. Many offer much better quality; you just have to find a reputable store that offers alternatives, is knowledgeable and has your best interest in mind. Brand names these days don’t always mean quality anymore, you are quite often just paying a lot more for a name.
Personally I would recommend supporting retailers that have you the consumers’ best interests in mind. How to choose? Stay away from multi chain commissioned sales stores, the bigger the chain the more important the bottom line becomes. Most commissioned sales staff has one interest in mind and that is to make the biggest percentage commission on whatever the store offers the largest percentage on any particular item. Not necessarily what would be the best choice for you. I think many would be better served supporting smaller independent retailers with a reputable name, knowledgeable non-commissioned sales staff and through word of mouth recommendations.
Stay away from any store that offers mattress sales. 30, 40, 50% and higher sales, really? How can a store offer those types of percentages off when the average net profit in furniture retail is 2 to 3%. Don’t believe me, google it – “Net Profit for furniture storesâ€. Can you really trust a retailer that offers inflated phony sale pricing? They are being dishonest to you right off the bat, how can you trust them to give you reliable information and realistic fair pricing. Find a store that has everyday pricing and doesn’t haggle with the price. They are out there.
Bottom line – your dollar spent wisely will change the way the industry deals with the consumer.
Speaking of word of mouth recommendations, what kind of mattress is on your bed, John T?
I don’t want 100% foam/latex and have run into the reviews you’ve mentioned on “The Big 4” manufacturers, but I’m having trouble finding anything else in our area.
Around here, our smaller retailers just sell the same brands at a higher mark-up. (Probably because they have less buying power.)
Hi,
After following this blog for several years, I have made the plunge. (Used the last set for 17 years)
My new Queen set will cost a little over $1000, but it is reversible (Flips over).
Produced by a family owned business in Hartford, CT, Gold Bond sells
several models in the line. The 3000, 1″ organic latex per side with 804, 14.5-gauge encased coils is layered with 20 pounds of all natural cotton batting per side. It is firm enough that two people sleeping at the same time do not bounce each other and yet it gives enough to make it comfortable.
I am buying it through a local retailer.
Do you like your mattress? I was just researching it online.
great blog …. Its is true its a big scam …. and one should always check the authenticity of the place from where u want to purchase your mattress from.
I agree that using different names at different stores is troublesome. Many stores say they guarantee their price is lowest for the same item. Well, nobody else’s item has the same name so there is no lower price elsewhere. I found this out years ago when shopping for a washer. The sales guy actually pointed this out. He said that each washer and dryer from a manufacturer was just slightly different for this purpose.
I just bought a Novosbed and I love it. Everything I found in my research on line supported my decision to buy from them. The wood foundation had one wrong part and when I called to get the right one they were very pleasant and said they would ship the correct part out right away. I like this company.
becareful when you buy from mattress1
they are rip off and them when you call the manager they will tell you come to the store that they will help out and when i got there now they are telling all they can do is to exchange for an upgrate or better said tempurpedic, meaning paid more on the already more then $1200 i spend and all they can tell me is how they cant do anything else
the model i spend 1200 for is not like the one they have on the store
i guess i got for what i paid with this crappy company
now im sleeping on a $1200 mattress that bends on the middle
Shame on me for letting a sales person convince me right before going to mattress firm
the good thing that i could do is to let people know and save them many headaches and not to deal with a useless company like mattress1
I did alot of search on how people get screw by mattress1 and just by what i seeing there are alot
I’m getting on all social media on my facebook, intagram twitter and bbb.
No wonder mattress firm is so much better company
Im should have gone with my instincs and not purchase from this crappy company
Anyone trying to get anything from them will be really sorry.
I moved to India recently on a long term deputation. I bought a Snoozer mattress online after being recommended one by my colleague from the UK who has been in India for a bit. The mattress can be compared with the best brands like Sealy, Tempur, but costs only a fraction of the price. I paid roughly 700 GBP for the beauty sleep model. It is quite comfortable and it as good as the mattresses used in the hotels. I really look forward to sleeping the mattress every night and waking up refreshed.
Why is buying a mattress so hard. I have been shopping for a while but I was a little conflicted because I am a side sleeper but also have back problems. I need a softer mattress to relieve pressure points but good support for my back. I would honestly pay almost anything for a good nights sleep but hesitated at spending $3000-5000 and finding out I don’t like the mattress. I decided it was worth taking a chance and ordering a Novosbed online. The reviews seemed good and their return policy seemed fair. So here is my experience so far.
I called Novosbed to see what would be the best mattress for my needs. I spoke with a very friendly agent who listened to my needs and recommended the Aria model. I placed the order late Monday and the mattress arrived mid day Wednesday. I un-boxed the mattress but did not plan on setting it up until the next day. Unfortunately there was a pin whole in the vacuum sealed package and it started to expand so I quickly removed the wrapping. I was going to wait a day so that I could set it up in another room to let it air for a few days as I have read lots of complaints about the initial odor. I was pleasantly surprised that there was very little odor. The mattress expanded to about 10″ very quickly and is still expanding. So far I am impressed with the service and experience however this will be my first night sleeping on it. I’ll submit a few follow up posts after a few nights and then a few weeks of sleeping on the mattress. I am hoping that the product is as good as they claim because like many others, I too am very frustrated with the mattress industry.
Margins on mattresses are astronomical. I was able to buy my last mattress at cost and I will let you know that the markups are huge. I went to buy my last mattress from a major box store on Boxing Day. It was an advertised special at 55% off. I went to the store and ordered the mattress with next day delivery. The next day I received a call that the sale had been so successful, they are back ordered and it would be 4-6 weeks. I was telling the story to a colleague at work and he said why don’t you order it through work. It wasn’t something I knew we could do but I contacted our purchasing department and sure enough we had an account with one of the largest manufacturers. So here is a price breakdown….. The retail price in the store was $2999 on sale for $1350 for the set. I ended up ordering a set that was actually a couple of models ABOVE the store model. The price of the set was $862 plus $100 X 2 pieces for shipping. The model I ordered had a retail price of approx. $3999. So don’t let them fool you with the 50% off sales…..there is lots of room for negotiation.
So back to Novosbed. Novosbed seems to be fairly priced at about $1150 for a king Aria bed. This compares to about $2500 for a similar Tempurpedic mattress. Let’s just hope it is as good as they claim……stay tuned for future posts and reviews.
So I have had my first night on the Aria Novosbed. My first impression was that it was much firmer than I expected. This wasn’t a bad thing because one of my biggest concerns with it being categorized as a “soft” bed was that I would sag too much in the middle and not properly support my back. It took a little getting used to. The mattress slowly cushions you and feels softer the longer you stay in one position. It was to hard to stay still especially after years of constantly shifting around to try and get comfortable on my old innerspring. I felt immediate pressure relief on my shoulders and hips, and after taking a little time to adjust, I was able start enjoying my new mattress. I woke up only once in the night compared to the usual 20-30 times. I was also pleasantly surprised that there was very minimal odor since it had only been un-boxed 4 hours before. So far so good from my side. Now for my wife’s opinion. She was also pleased that there was virtually no odor. She did find the mattress firm compared to our previous one but was able to sleep through the night without moving once. When she woke up however, she did complain that she was stiff in her upper body. She wasn’t sure if it was the mattress or just a coincidence. For now…..it is still too soon to tell but I will write a follow up in a week. Stay tuned.
“The price of the set was $862 plus $100 X 2 pieces for shipping.”
So, john, did you pay $1062 or $1924 for the bed set?
After reading everyone’s comments I feel depressed about trying to find a good mattress. My back is killing me and I just want to sleep well. I want my old school, double sided mattress. I am on my second mattress exchange through Sears since March 2010. Sears has been very good about the exchange process. In my research I looked up double sided mattresses (hotel double sided mattress) and I found that Sears has 3. Other companies have these type of mattress available too (Google away). I have to stick with Sears for now.
On Sears:
1. Asia Direct Pedic Comfort pillow top double sided mattress also sold by A.M.B. Furniture & Design. – No information except: Pedic Comfort pillow top double sided mattress, Comes in Twin , Full, Queen, and CA king. Mattress and Box foundation each sold separately. 14″ Thick. 15 year manufacturer warranty ( not serviced by vendor).
2. Best Master Stardust double sided pillow top mattress- 476 coil count, Bonnell coil wire.
3. Best Master Sedona double sided pillow top mattress- 690 coil count, individual pocket coil wire, 1.5″ pillow top.
Anyone know if any of these would be good? Pedic Comfort?
Coil wire? I am thinking the individual pocket coil is better.
Thank you.
Krista, try a Aria model from Novosbed. Great back support. If you don’t like it, you can return it within 120 days………and no, I don’t work for them. I work in the Hotel industry.
I have been using the Novosbed Aria model bed for about two weeks now. The bed offers great support and has been magnificent for my back. The bed does not sleep any hotter than my old innerspring and the slight odor disappeared after the first night. It is however, much firmer than I expected, and does not offer much improvement for hip and shoulder pressure relief. Motion isolation is incredible and I am amazed at how much support is offered even when snuggling with my wife. There is no noticeable drop when the extra weight of a second person is added right beside you. Although I am not certain this particular model is right for me (both back and hip problems), I would highly recommend you give Novosbed a try. Great quality, affordable and comfortable just make sure you get the right model for you ( The only downside of buying online without testing. )
I read your blog. I appreciate the comments. Alpaca is useless in a mattress it is too soft. But barrel coils make a nicer mattress. The quality of the coils that they are tempered are important.
The mattress business is charging more than $1,000 for what is basically a box of air. I am an aerospace engineer and deal with interaction of structures and peoples bodies. What is preferred is the most firm mattress you can afford. Do not fall for “comfort zones.” soft is cheap to make . a good mattress will make you wake up for the first 2 or 3 days with your arm kind of asleep, until you get used to the stiff mattress, but your back will not need the morning stretch. The “doctors” and “surgeons” who recommend the soft mattress are not a doctor you would respect. Until you get a firm mattress, sleep on the carpet. Your spine will love it not matter how you sleep.
Well crap. After reading all this I’d rather die that buy a new mattress set lol. I will just pray for answers.
I’m with you Di. Talk about horror stories. lol… This blog was really helpful but it turned more confusing as I read more comments. I Just got a text from my X. Lol… I asked my X husband to help out our 17yr old send her 300$ to put towards her new mattress we finally found? Well, he said he’d just have his current gf just buy my girls ea a new mattress set- a full and a queen. Bawahahaha only its from God knows where, he won’t tell me. Now my oldest is freaking out. Mom what if it doesn’t feel like the one I picked? He said it’s very similar to the brand and pillowtop she wanted, only he never asked either if they wanted plush, firm or the middle one. Lol, but its a serta he says. Omg. I’m dying inside now. I can’t purchase a shirt or shoes online, let alone a flipping mattress set!?. It would have not only been cheaper to just send her the 300$. My youngest didn’t even want one. Now I might possibly have 2 large mattress sets, that they won’t exchange or upgrade. What a dilemma. My stress just went up a few notches :-\ I originally came here in search of a good mattress for me, as I have fibromyalgia. These sales people can be quite horrifying. Creepy- yeah I had one of those guys, overly aggressive- him too and the other- didn’t even notice me? She was to busy flipping threw her magazine, multi tasking on her lunch and cellphone very efficiently I must say lol. Why can’t this process be easy.
Im praying too, B/c I need a miracle….