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. 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. 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.
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. 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. Hopefully it will go away. Otherwise, we’ll have to find another one and do a $100 exchange I guess.A top choice for its highly durable memory foam, which offers plenty of therapeutic support and comfort. Praised for its unique coils, which work independently to provide the best possible weight distribution.
Generates much enthusiasm for its universal comfort level, which ensures proper support and body weight distribution. An ideal choice for virtually any type of sleeper thanks to its firm support, which helps to relieve pressure points. Distances itself from competitors due to the fact that it ensures an odor-free mattress by using plant oil for freshness. Has a firmer construction, so if you're looking for something super soft, we recommend going with another one. Comes bundled up in a duffel bag for added convenience. However, you need to give it at least 24 hours to expand once it's removed from the bag. A handful of consumers wish that the sides of the mattress offered a bit more support, as they tend to be a bit harder than the rest of the product. Several owners caution that this mattress is better sized for a trundle than it is for a traditional twin bed frame. This mattress is a bit firmer than most, which tends to be most noticeable among side sleepers.
Anyone who's in the market for a high-quality mattress with ample support will really appreciate this mattress. Hands down the best mattress on the market. If you don't mind waiting an extra day or two to use your mattress once it arrives, this product is an excellent choice for the price. Definitely the best overall bang for your buck. You'll pay a bit more up front for this mattress, but satisfied owners agree that the added expense is well worth the comfort and support, not to mention durability over time. If you're looking for a reliable second mattress or want to get a mattress for a younger child, this product is a great choice. While it's a great choice if you need a firmer mattress, those seeking a softer mattress should consider other products. Best of the Best Best Bang for the Buck We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers. Is your mattress conducive to a good night’s sleep, or do you toss and turn every night?
Finding a mattress that’s comfortable, durable, and affordable can be somewhat of a balancing act. What’s more, mattress manufacturers routinely introduce new technologies to lure customers away from the competition. It can be tough to separate the hype from reality. Before you jump into a new investment, let our handy shopping guide help you answer your most pressing questions about buying a new mattress. Mattresses don’t last forever. If yours is over 10 years old, consider buying a new one. Mattresses collect dust, human skin cells, and body fluids over time. Some people try to revive their old mattress with a professional deep cleaning or a new mattress topper. These temporary solutions are stop-gap measures at best. Here are some situations in which it’s definitely time to replace a mattress: The top is so worn that the inner springs are exposed. As mentioned above, a topper only masks this problem. Exposed springs threaten your comfort and support, and they’re definitely a safety hazard.
The mattress has developed structural problems. Older mattresses may sag in the middle or collapse on the sides. Some people try to adapt to these inconveniences, but the fact is, an unsupported mattress puts unnatural stress on the body. Other warning signs that you may need to consider a new mattress include the following: You’re experiencing chronic stiffness or back pain, especially in the morning. You’re not sleeping well at night. You’re experiencing increased nighttime allergy symptoms. You notice that you get better rest in other places, such as a couch, chair, hotel, or friend’s guest room. Hundreds of internal metal coils support the sleeper on an innerspring mattress. The ideal innerspring perfectly aligns the spine and fully supports the extremities. But since different parts of the body exert different amounts of pressure on the springs, this type of mattress may or may not provide adequate support. Your comfort depends heavily on the total number of coils your mattress has.
A cheap mattress with 400 coils might not feel very comfortable, whereas a pricier model with 900 coils might feel so fantastic that you have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. That said, the total number of coils is not always an indicator of mattress quality. A mattress with 800 coils might use an inferior grade of metal, whereas a 500-coil mattress might incorporate coils of top-quality steel. Memory foam mattresses are made of dense foam with heavy viscosity. These models incorporate a solid foam support system rather than a failure-prone set of internal coils. Memory foam conforms to your body contours, creating the appropriate highs and lows for ideal comfort and support. For many people, the urge to assume to new sleep positions throughout the night is greatly reduced with a memory foam mattress. However, there are some drawbacks to this type of bedding. Memory foam mattresses are expensive, and they’re typically available only in specialized bedding stores and online.
Furthermore, because the thick foam provides little ventilation, they tend to retain heat. Some memory foam mattresses include a gel layer that adds a bit of cooling comfort, but the gel is often buried too deeply within the mattress to be of much use. A recent development in mattress technology is the adjustable air/memory gel hybrid. With this type of mattress, you dial in your desired level of support, and air bladders inside the mattress inflate or deflate to match your command. (Note: the pumps that control each air bladder can be noisy, so middle-of-the-night adjustments are not advisable!) The obvious benefit is that two sleepers with different firmness preferences can share a bed comfortably. These mattresses tend to be quite pricey, but satisfied users say the cost is worth it. A bit of advice about sleep number beds: while firmness level plays a role in your overall comfort, it’s wise to avoid extremely high or low settings. A too-soft mattress could cause problems over time because it doesn’t support the spine enough;
an ultra-firm mattress that holds the body in rigid suspension all night could also cause problems. When it comes to mattresses, size matters. The smallest size available for adult sleepers is the twin, although it is barely large enough to support one average adult. Twin beds work best in a child’s room or a spare guest room. Two adults would likely not feel comfortable sharing a twin bed for long! The next size up is the full mattress. It’s the smallest size that can reasonably accommodate two average adults. Because of its relatively narrow width, there can be a lot of transferred motion if one sleeper leaves the bed or climbs back in. Full mattress are available in an extended length for tall sleepers. Sheets, blankets, and pillow cases for the full-size bed are easy to find. Many people find contentment with the next largest size, the queen. Two adults can sleep comfortably on a queen-size bed without making incidental contact. If you prefer a few inches of separation between you and your partner, this could be the size for you.
Transfer of motion is also less of an issue with this size than it is with a full. The ultimate mattress size is the spacious king. Size variations exist among king-size mattresses, such as the California King and the Split King. It’s a popular size in the hotel industry, because sleepers can maintain a comfortable distance if necessary. People who prefer a lot of independence while sleeping enjoy the benefits of a king. Notably, a king-size bed’s sheets, blankets, and pillowcases are larger and tend to cost more. If you’re considering a king-size mattress, be aware of this additional investment. Before buying, it’s also wise to make sure your room’s dimensions will accommodate this larger bed. Innerspring mattresses with decent coil counts, independent spring designs, and thick padding should not cost more than about $1000. Pricier innerspring models do exist, but the difference in quality is often negligible. Memory foam/gel mattresses are generally promoted as high-end models, so customers should expect to see price tags of $1500 or more.