Maddening Mattress Shopping

[72doug2,2S]

Rant ahead.

We spent the weekend in Virginia in a mountain lodge and discovered on our return home that our bed was awful. So off to the shops we went.

I'm quite sure I need several stiff drinks after yesterdays maddening mattress shopping trip. I visited four stores where none of the brands had the same mattress names between stores and all were listed at double the price you leave the store with.

After laying on about four for five minutes, they all appear the same. How are you supposed to choose something you'll spend the next 10 years sleeping on in five minutes?

What's worse is that many of these mattress names appear to be store specific and prevent you from comparing these online.

-Springs (individual, number, quality, continuous)
-Foams, gels, pillow tops
-Combinations of both
-Brands and brand names under off brands


It's all very maddening. If I'm going to live with this for the next ten years shouldn't I should feel better about this experience?

We bought an off brand Serta called Mattress 1st. Harlow Plush for $747.00. Which I'm sure means nothing to anyone unless they were in the same city and store yesterday.

I liked it yesterday, I hope I like for the next 3,650 days.


Rant over

[VaSteve]

The specific name for a specific store is exactly the point to keep you from comparison shopping. There is probably a website that has the translation between the names.

I just went through this myself. I gave up and let my wife pick it.

[dennis in se pa]

Similar to the way rv's are marketed, mattresses are named store specific. Same mattress, different name. Makes it difficult to price compare.

50% of list is the going price for mattresses.

I experienced the same thing when I stayed at a hotel that had King's Down mattresses. Wow was that comfortable. I ended up with a Simmons Pillow top.

My experience at Sleepy's was akin to shopping for a used car at a lot with a greasy salesman. I will not ever go in their stores again.

Good luck.

[jyl]

Sleep Number (Select Comfort) is what we use. Each person sets their own firmness. They have an optional layer that allows each person to set their own temperature too.

[89911]

Along these lines. We have had 3 "Mattress Firm" stores open from the ground up in less then a year within 5 miles of each other. All are generally empty with one car (the employee) parked in the lot. What gives? Is it a money laundering scheme? Why open 3 stores selling exactly the same items within a 5 minute drive from each other. We don't get too many new business that open around here and I was hoping for something remotely useful.

[pavulon]

money laundering?

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by 89911

Along these lines. We have had 3 "Mattress Firm" stores open from the ground up in less then a year within 5 miles of each other. All are generally empty with one car (the employee) parked in the lot. What gives? Is it a money laundering scheme? Why open 3 stores selling exactly the same items within a 5 minute drive from each other. We don't get too many new business that open around here and I was hoping for something remotely useful.

Ha, I just noticed the one opening on Rt# 8, and was thinking the same thing. Really? A mattress store out here? I can drive 10 minutes to Cranberry and have my pick of 3 different places.

[matt711]

I wish we had purchased a select comfort matress. The whole process of shopping is really annoying. In the end I "cheaped" out and set a budget of $850. I should have spent the extra couple of hundred for the adjustable matress.

[89911]

Originally Posted by pavulon

money laundering?

As a small business owner, it makes zero sense to spend millions to build stores and then sell a product that can be purchased anywhere along with the numerous stores that you already have selling the exact same product. Unless you got bags of money you don't know what to do with.

As far as the one on route 8, we need some better eating places and it looked like one until I saw the sign. Couldn't believe it.

[sammyg2]

We have a local string of mattress stores where the douche-clown CEO says in the commercials:

"*** 'n ***** will beat anyone's advertised price, or your mattress is FREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

Sounds good, right?
but here's the catch: every one of their mattresses they sell has a label that is exclusive to that chain.
They have custom labels sewn onto standard matresses so they it's impossible to find an advertised price for that matress because no one else sells a mattress with that name tag on it.

The interwebs are full of stories from customers who are unhappy with that company and about false warranty claims from the company.
Sumbeech con-man belongs in jail if you ask me.

[yetibone]

SSSHHHHH!!! Don't say mattress, or he'll put a bag over his head.

[Racerbvd]

Had you let me know, I might have been able to help you out. We just closed our retail stores in South Florida, and I'm moving the left over product to the Jacksonville area and would have cut you a deal..

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Best-Back-Sleep-Store-North/130014483675673

As a small business owner, it makes zero sense to spend millions to build stores and then sell a product that can be purchased anywhere along with the numerous stores that you already have selling the exact same product. Unless you got bags of money you don't know what to do with.

Very true, one of the reasons we are making the changes. We had 3 stores & a warehouse in the Naples area. When we opened in 2003, Tempur-Pedic could only be bough from a "Protected" Tempur-Pedic dealer (the way it use to be with Schwinn bicycles, before Pacific bought them and put them & Mongoose in Wally-world) and we were an "Elite" dealer, we also handled Tempur-Medic. After temp started putting the products in the Box stores, the number of stores around us literally tripled, but we had outstanding customer service and product knowledge, my partner knows the medical benefits and we also carried other high end products the box stores didn't, but we don't have the Million Plus advertising budget, or the ability to do 6 year interest free financing made us decide to pull out of that market, and we are changing our plan for the future of the business (maybe go web based for a while) And I'm willing to make some good deals on the product we have in stock.

[Mericet]

Byron, good thing I am moving to Jacksonville. Going to need a new mattress soon after I find a place to stay.

[72doug2,2S]

Bad luck in timing Byron. What's that creepy nose picture under the Technogel? Technogel, Ugh!

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by 72doug2,2S

Bad luck in timing Byron. What's that creepy nose picture under the Technogel? Technogel, Ugh!

That's not a nose. Go to technogel's site.

Yes, beds are a rip off. Unbelievably high markups. And then there are some German mattresses that cost north of 20K.

When I was in my 20's is when the waterbed craze came out. Man, what a way to make some quick and easy money. The adjustable air bed thing today is nothing more than that. In 5 years you will be able to buy one for less than 500 bucks.

AFA selecting a mattress in a 5 minute test, it simply can't be done. You have to find one to sleep on. My wife found Sleep Number at a clinic. I found out how I might like a Tempurpedic by sleep in (on) one on a trip at a motel. I got rid of if after five years. Bad buy.

The best way to get the mattress you like would be to be able to build it yourself with plug and play components. That's yet to happen commercially, but I think it will come to be. Start with a base and build up layers of different components until you are satisfied.

My SN bed has a memory foam/gel pad and an all wool topper. It's pretty good but I can unzip the cover and place something else on the mattress at will.

I will tell you of one of my all time invention quests that will never come to fruition. Sleeping in the 3rd dimension. The first step in establishing a medium would be to fill a bed sized box about 3-4 feet deep of flocking covered ping pong balls and climb in. Wanna hang a leg down? Just push it down. Wanna sleep like you're in the middle of a swim stroke? Just start swimming and stop where you are comfortable. Wanna sleep like you are half way through a full gainer? Do it?

[PorscheGAL]

If you liked the mattress at the lodge, why not call them and ask what the mattress was? That is how we found our current mattress. We both had a good night sleep in an hotel and ordered the same mattress.

[jyl]

I think the sex would be tiring.

Quote de 72doug2,2S

Bad luck in timing Byron. What's that creepy nose picture under the Technogel? Technogel, Ugh!

That's not a nose. Go to technogel's site.



Yes, beds are a rip off. Unbelievably high markups. And then there are some German mattresses that cost north of 20K.



When I was in my 20's is when the waterbed craze came out. Man, what a way to make some quick and easy money. The adjustable air bed thing today is nothing more than that. In 5 years you will be able to buy one for less than 500 bucks.



AFA selecting a mattress in a 5 minute test, it simply can't be done. You have to find one to sleep on. My wife found Sleep Number at a clinic. I found out how I might like a Tempurpedic by sleep in (on) one on a trip at a motel. I got rid of if after five years. Bad buy.



The best way to get the mattress you like would be to be able to build it yourself with plug and play components. That's yet to happen commercially, but I think it will come to be. Start with a base and build up layers of different components until you are satisfied.



My SN bed has a memory foam/gel pad and an all wool topper. It's pretty good but I can unzip the cover and place something else on the mattress at will.



I will tell you of one of my all time invention quests that will never come to fruition. Sleeping in the 3rd dimension. The first step in establishing a medium would be to fill a bed sized box about 3-4 feet deep of flocking covered ping pong balls and climb in. Wanna hang a leg down? Just push it down. Wanna sleep like you're in the middle of a swim stroke? Just start swimming and stop where you are comfortable. Wanna sleep like you are half way through a full gainer? Do it?

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

If you liked the mattress at the lodge, why not call them and ask what the mattress was? That is how we found our current mattress. We both had a good night sleep in an hotel and ordered the same mattress.

This is what I was thinking...

And yes on shopping for a mattress is ridiculous... you have to spend a night (or two) on a mattress to know how it works for you, no can do in the store.

Wife wants the sleep number thing but I am not sold yet. Wonder if I could find a hotel that has the sleep number beds?

[id10t]

The sales folk really don't like it if you put the wife on the bed on hands and knees and do both an alignment and "bounce" test....

[Shifter]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Wife wants the sleep number thing but I am not sold yet. Wonder if I could find a hotel that has the sleep number beds?

I believe some Raddison hotels have the sleep number beds, but you would have to call to be sure.