Mattress Sets - opinions wanted
Lewis R Suttles
Hello, fellow consumers;
My husband & I are in the unenviable position of
trying to purchase a new mattress set. I've done a Deja
News power search, read Consumer Reports '97 review of
mattresses, read Consumer Digest's (& others) online
advice, & am more confused than ever.
What makes our dilemma a little tougher is that we're
trying to stay in a $500 or less budget.
After visiting several stores in the larger neighboring town
& laying on Sealys, Simmons, etc. (with the nonstop sales
pitches), the number of comfort levels, etc. in each model
is hard to keep up with. Durability is one quality that can
only be known through having used a mattress set.
One model we're leaning toward is Spring Air's Back
Supporter "Juliet" for $499.
If anyone in the NG has advice, opinions, or could pass
along their experience with mattress sets they've bought,
it would be very much appreciated.
BTW, Sam's has a Serta "Perfect Sleeper" for $346
(model level unknown). Is anyone familiar with this mattress
set?
Thanks for your help,
Janet Suttles
Email: Lew...@prodigy.net
Matt Conrad
<LEW...@prodigy.net> wrote:
> If anyone in the NG has advice, opinions, or could pass
>along their experience with mattress sets they've bought,
>it would be very much appreciated.
We bought a Serta pillow-top queen set for $299 (advertised special)
from the Mattress Gallery. I believe the model is "Baronet." For the
price, it's quite nice.
MWC
Dave Hitt
>
>Hello, fellow consumers;
>
> My husband & I are in the unenviable position of
>trying to purchase a new mattress set. I've done a Deja
>News power search, read Consumer Reports '97 review of
>mattresses, read Consumer Digest's (& others) online
>advice, & am more confused than ever.
> What makes our dilemma a little tougher is that we're
>trying to stay in a $500 or less budget.
> After visiting several stores in the larger neighboring town
>& laying on Sealys, Simmons, etc. (with the nonstop sales
>pitches), the number of comfort levels, etc. in each model
>is hard to keep up with. Durability is one quality that can
>only be known through having used a mattress set.
> One model we're leaning toward is Spring Air's Back
>Supporter "Juliet" for $499.
> If anyone in the NG has advice, opinions, or could pass
>along their experience with mattress sets they've bought,
>it would be very much appreciated.
> BTW, Sam's has a Serta "Perfect Sleeper" for $346
>(model level unknown). Is anyone familiar with this mattress
>set?
Mattresses are a very personal thing - what's great for you might be
lousy for someone else.
We went mattress shopping a couple of years ago, and kept coming back
to the second most expensive set in the store. It was great - thick
ticking on the top with a very firm mattress under it. None of the
others were quite as comfortable, or supported our considerable weight
as well. So we squeezed our wallets for the last little bit of money
we could find and bought it. (It was a New Englander, top of the
line, 20 year guarantee set.) Before it arrived we fretted about
spending so much (it was about a grand) but then we slept on it.
Ahaaaaaaa.....
And every night, particularly after very long and trying days, it's
Ahaaaaaaaa.....
Some things are worth skimping on. For me, a mattress isn't one of
them.
----
So Long, Charlie.
http://home.nycap.rr.com/hittman/jan00/farewell.html
-Dave Hitt hit...@bigfoot.spamblocker.com (Remove "spamblocker" to reply)
Jim Millick
Lewis R Suttles <LEW...@prodigy.net> wrote:
> My husband & I are in the unenviable position of
> trying to purchase a new mattress set. I've done a Deja
> News power search, read Consumer Reports '97 review of
> mattresses, read Consumer Digest's (& others) online
> advice, & am more confused than ever.
I think the CD report made it clear that many of the
manufacturers deliberately make it difficult to compare.
Scott Adams of DILBERT calls this a `confusanopoly'. You're
right, it IS confusing.
> What makes our dilemma a little tougher is that we're
>trying to stay in a $500 or less budget.
My advice probably won't apply, then.
> If anyone in the NG has advice, opinions, or could pass
>along their experience with mattress sets they've bought,
>it would be very much appreciated.
I've looked at the situation for some time, and done much of
the same research you have. Since you've been looking for a
conventional (i.e., non-air, non-water) mattress, I'll skip
the other types. I got to thinking about what I needed in a
mattress after having bought one of those expensive Swedish
pillows, the ones that mold to you. They also have a bed
made of the same stuff.
The pillow was great, but after 18 months or so, it doesn't
support under my neck the way it used to do. The more I
thought about it, the more I realized there isn't a foam I
can think of that really lasts. Sneakers, what, they're
great for 3-4 months. Foam just doesn't last, not for
years, even the expensive stuff. It got me to thinking most
beds are springs and foam. The latest trend in bedding, a
pillowtop, is usually all foam, sewn on top of a mattress.
If the springs last, and they probably will, the foam won't.
In fact foam breaks down because of heat, pressure, and age.
If I bought a pillowtop, I was concerned that I'd end up
with body-shaped indentations where you sleep, even moreso
than an ordinary foam and spring mattress. A foam pillowtop
would probably still be great after a few years, but only
where you didn't sleep. The Swedish foam bed I am sure
would be wonderful, but I wondered for how long? Three
years? Five?
The solution I chose isn't in your budget, not even close,
but I think good sleep is worth it. YMMV.
I read an article in USA TODAY about a traditional matress
maker in San Fransisco, McRoskey Airflex. This company is
101 years old, and still in the family. They do almost
everything themselves, from wind springs, to card cotton
batts. Most of the matress material is cotton, with just
enough polyester batting to meet fire retardant standards.
High tech they aren't, just old-fashioned American quality
in the best sense. They don't have a web site, an 800# is
as high-tech as they get. If you're interested, call them
and ask them to mail you their free informational packet.
It's got reprints of articles, swatches of the four
different coverings (Belgian linen in traditional patterns)
they offer, and literature on the different models and
prices. It would take me many screens to describe what's in
the packet -- it's WELL worth the read. Their story is
fascinating, even if you're not interested in a new
mattress. If you're near SF, definitely visit the
showroom/factory on Market and Gough. The number is (800)
760-9600. The only two drawbacks are the wait time (3-4
months), and the price (probably triple your budget,
depending on size). They've been so busy they haven't
advertised in over ten years.
There is another manufacturer in Los Angeles which sounds
similar, Royal Pedic, on S. Robertson. I didn't check them
out as closely, since I was sold on McRoskey. I also looked
at Dux, they have a web site:
http://www.duxbed.com/Noframes/main.html
Pricewise, if McRoskey and Royal Pedic are Cadillac/Lincoln,
Dux is Rolls. Dux sounds great, but the price is something
else. Still, worth reading for background info. There may
be other good mattress makers out there not wedded to foam,
but I didn't run across them in my research.
I have no affiliation with any of the above, other than
being a satisified McRoskey customer. YMMV.
While this is off-topic, I found this page on bedding really
informative:
http://www.cuddledown.com/cuddleshop/linens.asp
HTH,
Jim
alamber
consider purchasing a mattress online? If so, can you recommend a a
site? I have heard of one called Mattressme.com, but I wanted to see
about opinions on others.
Thanks,
AL
FM wrote:
>
> On 10 Jan 2000 16:33:15 -0600, Boy....@Hate.spammers (Dave Hitt)
> wrote:
>
> >Some things are worth skimping on. For me, a mattress isn't one of
> >them.
> Especially if you spend about 8 hours of EVERY day on top of it. What
> other product do you spend this much time with.
> FM
BEK
set. By the time it was 4 years old we were having trouble with it
sagging and feeling lumpy. About that time my husband became very ill
and it's been 2 years getting him well.
Several weeks ago I wrote Sealy and told them our complaints. They
sent back a lengthy questionaire and diagram to draw the problems.
I've done that and am waiting for a reply. But, this set had a full
15 year Replacement Warranty (not prorated) and hasn't even come close
to performing up that amount of time.
I don't have a feel at this point for what their response will be. I
would expect a replacement of at least the mattress but who knows. I
don't think if this is the best Sealy can do, I will ever buy another.
BEK
"Lewis R Suttles" <LEW...@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:85dgl5$1spk$1...@newssvr04-int.news.prodigy.com...
>
> Hello, fellow consumers;
>
> My husband & I are in the unenviable position of
> trying to purchase a new mattress set. I've done a Deja
> News power search, read Consumer Reports '97 review of
> mattresses, read Consumer Digest's (& others) online
> advice, & am more confused than ever.
> What makes our dilemma a little tougher is that we're
> trying to stay in a $500 or less budget.
> After visiting several stores in the larger neighboring town
> & laying on Sealys, Simmons, etc. (with the nonstop sales
> pitches), the number of comfort levels, etc. in each model
> is hard to keep up with. Durability is one quality that can
> only be known through having used a mattress set.
> One model we're leaning toward is Spring Air's Back
> Supporter "Juliet" for $499.
> If anyone in the NG has advice, opinions, or could pass
> along their experience with mattress sets they've bought,
> it would be very much appreciated.
> BTW, Sam's has a Serta "Perfect Sleeper" for $346
> (model level unknown). Is anyone familiar with this mattress
> set?
>
Vicki
have the same models, so it is next to impossible to compare features and
prices. It seems the mattress companies put different names on the same
mattresses for different stores (at least in my area). If anyone ever
figures out a way to compare them, I'd love to know. Someone once told me
that there are no true sales on mattresses and that you only get what you
pay for. Yet I have known people who have spent big bucks and still got junk
like you did. ????????!
BEK <grey...@home.com> wrote in message
news:hkdF4.122345$_G1.1...@news1.sttls1.wa.home.com...
nospam Jeff McNeff
[I posted this a while back but it may be helpful. I think if I were
trying to find a mattress for $500 (you didn't say what size) I might
try one of this company's non-latex models. I bought one for our spare
bedroom and it seems to be good quality but it hasn't been used much.
We've had our latex mattress now about a month and really love it.
There really is a difference not having those springs pushing back at
you. A guy who owns a company that makes mattresses locally( but
couldn't get close to the internet price) told me that the latex feel
was what all mattress makers were trying to get close to with their
spring sets by adding layers of padding, etc. I also read somewhere
that 80% of the luxury mattresses sold in Germany were latex. For
longevity, I have heard from many sources that latex mattresses last
almost forever. I have also heard that pillowtop mattresses are
notorius for sagging. I, too did a great deal of research on the best
mattress and ended up feeling like I knew less than when I started.]
I followed a number of threads on this site and others trying to get
help in selecting a mattress.
We bought a Sterns & Foster several weeks ago and after one night we
absolutely HATED it. Luckily the store we bought it from (Best
Mattress in San Antonio) was very fair and returned our money.
To make a long story short, I eventually ordered the top of the line
latex mattress from Mattress Liquidation Specialists in Phoenix
(mattresses .net) and we love it. It is soft and cradling yet very
supportive. I can shift my body around without disturbing my wife.
After looking at latex mattreses from several different sources, I
would definitly say their prices are very good; about half what retail
stores were charging for a similar mattress.
I know this sounds like a love letter or a paid blurb, but I am just
extremely happy with this product. Jeff
Dawn Walker
I am curious--did you find a local source for the latex mattresses? They
sound like something I would be interested in but haven't seen in the
stores. Do they sell them at regular mattress places? I'd like to see
one in person before I order it online. Thanks!
Dawn
nospam Jeff McNeff
I found one place that sold latex mattresses that seems close to the
one we bought online. But it was a specialty bed store called Heirloom
Beds local to San Antonio. I didn't see anything comparable in the
chains. Heirloom Beds wanted $2700 for a comparable queen set, I paid
$1395 for the Ultra Plush KING at mattresses.net. Jeff