Buying a mattress
Out of context: Reply #34
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- acrossthesea0
I was shopping around a while back and here's what I learned:
- It wasn't easy to compare mattresses from different shops because they each name them their own unique names. So Store A could call it a Simmons "Fantasy" and Store B could call it the Simmons "Paradise". They are the same Simmons mattress, but they use different names so it's harder to compare prices. You need to pay attention to what tier it resides within the Simmons line, the firmness (firm/plush/etc) and the coil count when comparing mattresses from store to store.
- I found that most name brand mattresses have 3 tiers which are roughly 600-800, 800-1200, and 1400+. Coils go up as you spend more and the quality of the foam goes up as well.
- Among the different mattresses in a tier, the core of the mattress is usually the same. It's just the amount of padding on top that makes a bed a plush vs a firm. So if you're thrifty, you can get a super firm mattress with little or no padding on top, and then add your own padding a la carte (they sell memory foam covers, egg crate sheets, pillow top stuff) at dept stores.
- If you sleep on your side, it is not recommend that you get a very firm mattress because you will cut off circulation to your arm as you sleep and this will not be pleasant. Consider a more plush mattress that allows a little more "give".
- You absolutely need to demo the mattresses in person and be willing to spend a few minutes laying down on it just like you normally would. Don't rush this process at all. Always keep track of the tier, the firmness and the coil count so you can compare across stores and online.
- Prices are really inflated for commission, so you need to be aggressive to get them to be lower. Make sure you get free delivery and that they dispose of your old mattress. Try and get free latex/memory foam pillows, microbial covers, and sheets while you're at it too. It really is like buying a car. Also, try and get them to write out exactly what it is you'd be buying so you can bring that to other stores and have them beat that price. There is always wiggle room.
- Tempurpedics are really nice and the reviews can really back this up, but the prices are pretty fixed and it'll set you back a few grand. Latex beds are rising in popularity too and they claim to fix the heat issues that people complain about Tempurpedics. Most mattress and furniture stores will have their own line of tempurpedic knock off brand too.