Demystifying Mattress Shopping

[crabcake]

I've been looking for a new mattress, and in my quest to get the best price/deal on a high-end set, I wanted to shop around and price-compare. Problem is, I couldn't find ANYWHERE (another store or the internet) the same name/brand/model BUT that store that I'd seen it. Then I read this from Consumer Reports ...

Understand the name game. Manufacturers usually modify any innerspring mattress they make for different sellers, changing the color, padding, quilting pattern, and so forth. Then each seller can call the mattress by a different name. Consumers are the losers. Since such mattresses are at least somewhat different, and the names vary, you can’t comparison-shop. (A big chain such as Sears or Bloomingdale’s has the same model names for the same beds at all of its stores, but usually at the same price.)

: Why must they insist upon deceiving the customer? It seems like the $1500 price tag on the mattress would be dropped a bit if they didn't have to tailor it to 500 different retailers with fru-fru fabrics and artsy-fartsy names.

 

[Railroad]

I've been looking for a new mattress, and in my quest to get the best price/deal on a high-end set, I wanted to shop around and price-compare. Problem is, I couldn't find ANYWHERE (another store or the internet) the same name/brand/model BUT that store that I'd seen it. Then I read this from Consumer Reports ...


: Why must they insist upon deceiving the customer? It seems like the $1500 price tag on the mattress would be dropped a bit if they didn't have to tailor it to 500 different retailers with fru-fru fabrics and artsy-fartsy names.

Ironically, I spent most of the day yesterday changing out beds in 3 bedrooms. Two of them were trades, though, since the third was an adjustable bed for my wife.

We've been buying Serta stuff for about 20 years and have had no problems at all - they lasted longer than we needed them, as we traded up to bigger beds. This time around the boy got our King, and I got his Full.

Anyway, I think Serta is a safe brand name and a durable product.

Yes it is extremely frustrating playing the name game. Try that with appliances! Guess who makes KitchenAid AND Kenmore? GE.

 

[Oz]

I've been looking for a new mattress, and in my quest to get the best price/deal on a high-end set, I wanted to shop around and price-compare.

New mattress?

 

[Triggerfish]

Crabcake, did you get the article from a recent CR? I remember reading one that is no more than couple of months ago that had an article on how to buy mattresses.

 

[crabcake]

New mattress?

Yes, a new mattress. And I'm going King b/c I have 5 other bedmates.

Crabcake, did you get the article from a recent CR? I remember reading one that is no more than couple of months ago that had an article on how to buy mattresses.

Is it the one I posted a link to above? I don't get CR; I'd just done a search this morning for mattress shopping tips and that article confirmed what I'd thought -- that they were toying with the consumer with names and stuff.

 

[Merlin]

I've been looking for a new mattress, and in my quest to get the best price/deal on a high-end set, I wanted to shop around and price-compare. Problem is, I couldn't find ANYWHERE (another store or the internet) the same name/brand/model BUT that store that I'd seen it. Then I read this from Consumer Reports ...


: Why must they insist upon deceiving the customer? It seems like the $1500 price tag on the mattress would be dropped a bit if they didn't have to tailor it to 500 different retailers with fru-fru fabrics and artsy-fartsy names.

Here's where I gotmy latest 3 mattresses. High quality and resonable, even good prices. I have been very pleased with the queen I have slept on for the past 4 years.

No middle-man retailors to worry about. No high pressure sales either. Very pleased all around.

http://www.originalmattress.com/

 

[crabcake]

I ended up buying the Spring Air Arlington Back Supporter Euro-top ... but I bought it locally vs on Overstock.com. I did use the overstock site/price in getting the salesman down on price though. It's a great mattress and I love it! Very supportive yet comfortable w/the Euro top.

What's funny though is I also bought a new bedroom set (b/c I went King and had a queen), and the new bed is so high up you almost need a step stool to get into it. The top of the mattress comes up to my waist!

 

[Chasey_Lane]

and the new bed is so high up you almost need a step stool to get into it. The top of the mattress comes up to my waist!

That's about how J's bed is, too. I almost need a step-stool to get into it.

 

[crabcake]

That's about how J's bed is, too. I almost need a step-stool to get into it.

I like the height b/c it keeps the dogs off it now ... their short little legs can't spring 'em up that high. And it was funny the first night we slept on it cuz B fell out of it in the middle of the night. That's a looooong drop at 2 a.m.

 

[DoWhat]

The top of the mattress comes up to my waist!

Face down, butt up.