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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BekkaH on December 22, 2002, at 0:26:00
I need to buy a new mattress. Some of my friends have gone to Sleepys and 1-800-mattress type places, but I think I remember hearing something recently about those places not being very good. Would it be better to go to a place like Macy's when they have a sale?
Thanks for any advice.
Posted by Phil on December 22, 2002, at 1:29:04
In reply to Where should I buy a new mattress?, posted by BekkaH on December 22, 2002, at 0:26:00
You're going to find that buying a mattress is the closest thing to buying a used car. If you shop too much, you will be so confused that you'll just buy something to get it over with.
Sealy, Serta, Simmons, and Spring Air-the 4 S's.
They will take the same mattress and give proprietary model numbers to every store, even the small stores, so you have no way to really compare.
So yeah, Macy's..doesn't matter. Pick your price point..for a queen mattress and box springs, you should spend at least $700.00 on sale. For that, you may get a mattress you don't need to flip every few weeks and it will last. Spend more if you can-people spend a lot of time sleeping. It sucks to pay $500. for a mattress and two years later, you roll to the center.* The best way to buy a bed is to lay down for 20 minutes on each mattress you're interested in. Try to be in your normal sleeping position. You get up after 30 seconds cause you're self conscious but you gave it a shot.
Mattress adds usually run the most on Saturday's and there's a million mattress stores. Just go to Macy's. :-0 But remember, when you need barstools, just come back here to Barney's Barstool Barn. Remember the jingle: "Need some barstools-Don't be a damn fool-Buy your stuff from Barney's...Walmart blows"*Poster is a recovering salesperson. Buyer beware.
Posted by BekkaH on December 22, 2002, at 7:01:19
In reply to Re: Where should I buy a new mattress?, posted by Phil on December 22, 2002, at 1:29:04
Wow! It looks as if I came to the right place.
Thank you for that very helpful reply, Phil.
Posted by BekkaH on December 22, 2002, at 23:46:07
In reply to Re: Where should I buy a new mattress?, posted by Phil on December 22, 2002, at 1:29:04
> Sealy, Serta, Simmons, and Spring Air-the 4 S's.
I think there's a fifth "S" -- isn't there a Shiffman??
>Pick your price point..for a queen mattress and box springs, you should spend at least $700.00 on sale. Spend more if you can-people spend a lot of time sleeping. It sucks to pay $500. for a mattress and two years later, you roll to the center.*So, you would say that, like so many things in life, "you get what you pay for" ?
At first I thought I shouldn't post this mattress question on this board since it doesn't seem to be psychology-related, but since sleep is so vital to my mental health, I decided I'd go ahead and post it. I've read that sleep-deprivation is very helpful for certain types of depression, but I know it's not helpful for mine.
Posted by Medusa on December 23, 2002, at 0:40:48
In reply to Re: Where should I buy a new mattress?-Phil, posted by BekkaH on December 22, 2002, at 23:46:07
Think about buying from a local mattress maker. (See below for my personal experience blah blah blah.)
> So, you would say that, like so many things in life, "you get what you pay for" ?
>Not always! there are some OVERpriced things, like "pillowtop" mattresses ... after a year, you'll have body imprints.
> At first I thought I shouldn't post this mattress question on this board since it doesn't seem to be psychology-related, but since sleep is so vital to my mental health, I decided I'd go ahead and post it. I've read that sleep-deprivation is very helpful for certain types of depression, but I know it's not helpful for mine.
>Goodness, yes. I'm glad you posted this.
---
I've been through the mattress-buying thing twice in the last three-plus years. The first time, I bought for me alone, from a mattress factory. There might be something like this near you. (I was in Boston.) I bought a queen size, firm, with a split box-spring (two narrow ones). The second time, I bought here in Germany, where box-springs are available but not standard. Instead one often has a frame with adjustable wood or synthetic curved slats, so you can vary the support in different spots ... add more "sag" room for shoulders or hips if you sleep on your side, for example.
Posted by Tabitha on December 23, 2002, at 0:59:06
In reply to sleep system » BekkaH, posted by Medusa on December 23, 2002, at 0:40:48
what's wrong with pillowtop? I thought it was just a normal mattress with a thick pad sewn on top.
Posted by Alii on December 23, 2002, at 1:15:18
In reply to Re: sleep system » Medusa, posted by Tabitha on December 23, 2002, at 0:59:06
>>> what's wrong with pillowtop? I thought it was just a normal mattress with a thick pad sewn on top.
Tabitha,
Pillowtop is a preference. Some people love them and others don't. The reasons I went against getting one when I got a new bed two years ago was that the pillowtop compresses no matter how frequently you flip and turn (complete rotation) your mattress. The pillowtop is plushy and comfy for a matter of a year with cheaper compositions and up to several years with more expensive compositions.
I opted for a non pillowtop and instead thought I would buy a featherbed bed topper to put over a mattress pad but under sheets. The financial situation hasn't allowed this luxury to transpire but a person has got to have dreams, right?
The pillowtop thing is totally personal pref. Nothing wrong with either. Bed shopping is a bunch of bouncing around and read the Consumer Reports article (you have to pay but it is worth it!) on mattresses. Gives all the specs of how a mattress is built and the outer coverings and what to expect from what materials.
It doesn't cover the higher end privately made mattresses from the US and other countries but as far as mass beds go it's a good read to mattress shop with.
Good luck and happy bouncing while shopping. My partner and I had much fun bouncing around for a month on the mattresses in town while searching for our new bed a couple of years back. We drove all the sales people nuts!
--Even with insomnia a happily resting Alii on a fantastic basic firmish Spring Air mattress sans pillowtop.
Posted by Phil on December 23, 2002, at 7:07:48
In reply to Re: Where should I buy a new mattress?-Phil, posted by BekkaH on December 22, 2002, at 23:46:07
There are lot's of S's but that's the big four.
Posted by Phil on December 23, 2002, at 7:29:32
In reply to Re: sleep system » Tabitha, posted by Alii on December 23, 2002, at 1:15:18
Spring Air is the brand my store sold. Some of the more pricey one carry a 10 years warranty and are very good. We sold Italian and Danish furniture so we didn't carry box springs. My mattress sits on slats.
I've never been to a sleep system store but I think those mattresses have air 'bladders' to pump up da volume. If that's the case, it sounds cheesy.
When all else fails, go with the store with the most liberal return policy and call the BBB first to see if they have unresolved complaints. If they do, don't even go there. You may be able to get info online from the BBB.
If you really want to confuse yourself there are great mattress makers in Norway. Ekornes recliners out of Norway make their own foam and it's the best as far as support and not breaking down. They make mattresses but are pricey. Go to some websites, I think I will. I want to shop too. : )
Don't forget Egyptian cotton sheets, they are well worth it.
Posted by Phil on December 23, 2002, at 7:44:52
In reply to Re: sleep system, posted by Phil on December 23, 2002, at 7:29:32
http://www.springair.com/www/recent/chalenge/index.html
Posted by Phil on December 23, 2002, at 8:00:22
In reply to Re: One more- A link to Spring Air, posted by Phil on December 23, 2002, at 7:44:52
This guy has some good tips.
Posted by Medusa on December 23, 2002, at 9:42:59
In reply to Re: sleep system » Tabitha, posted by Alii on December 23, 2002, at 1:15:18
What Alii said. Sorry, I made the assumption that length of use would be primary consideration for everyone else as much as it was for me.
I was attracted to pillowtop at first, then figured a basic mattress would allow more options for switching the top layer - down, memory foam etc. I bought an orthopedic foam topper from The Company Store shortly after buying the bed, but never got around to trying other variations.
A bit over a year later, I was moving so I offered the bed to my father for his religious center, thinking I could get a tax credit for donation to a non-profit, for whatever a used bed is worth. He hadn't realised I had a queen bed (a big, big violation - no single woman should ever have a bed larger than a bookshelf, even if it's for the purpose of having as much space to sleep alone as she likes), and he rushed to pick it up before now-DH flew into town. (Whatever, Dad!) So I ended up sleeping on the floor for a month or so before moving.
Posted by noa on December 24, 2002, at 21:35:18
In reply to Re: Where should I buy a new mattress?, posted by Phil on December 22, 2002, at 1:29:04
I used to buy mine at Montgomery Ward, but they went out of business. When I went into the discount mattress places, the salesmen frightened me--very oily.
Yes, Phil tells the truth--there is no way to compare, as they use the "confuse the hell out of the customer by having no uniformity of models" approach--except that maybe it's worth checking to see if Consumer Reports might have a chart comparing the different models made for different stores.
So, I used to wait for a sale at Wards and then go test the mattresses out. Except that they have since gone out of business!
I would love a new mattress--mine is lumpy already. Last year, I stayed in a hotel that had the most delicious mattress! It was very very firm, but soooooo comfortable! One my way out I overheard another guest talking about how comfortable the mattress was, too! I have half a mind to call up the hotel and find out how I can order one.
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