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Jacob S.

Marcie,
I found your blog while doing some (purely unscientific) research on mattress retailers and negative mattress buying situations. Was there any particular thing that stood out as a positive during your mattress purchase(s)? Is there something in particular you would have liked to have heard (from a salesperson) or known on the front end that you didn't?

Thanks and good luck with your Simmons.

Jacob

Rob Hatfield

Marcie,
Glad to see you back. Very funny story. And so universally true. After buying three of the "last mattress you'll ever buy" only to throw them out after 4 or 5 years, I bought an air bed (like a sleep number bed, but much cheaper from a chain store called "Denver Mattress"--I think.) It was about the same as a good "S" brand, but the clincher was 5 years-same-as-cash financing. It works like a charm and with separate controls, the little woman and I can choose our support level. My only regret: we bought the "pillow-top" model. And as you will learn, the "plush" or "pillow-top" is the first thing to get lumpy and uncomfortable. But I never thought about surgery...

Bill Shields

I think that I would also hate buying a really thin (http://www.meublesloren.com/en/) mattress too. Or if it came with bugs, that would basically scare me tons. I hate bugs.

Amerisleep high quality memory foam mattresses

Glad to see you back. Very funny story. And so universally true. After buying three of the "last mattress you'll ever buy" only to throw them out after 4 or 5 years, I bought an air bed (like a sleep number bed, but much cheaper from a chain store called "Denver Mattress"--I think.) It was about the same as a good "S" brand, but the clincher was 5 years-same-as-cash financing. It works like a charm and with separate controls, the little woman and I can choose our support level. My only regret: we bought the "pillow-top" model. And as you will learn, the "plush" or "pillow-top" is the first thing to get lumpy and uncomfortable. But I never thought about surgery...

Leona James

Thumbs up guys your doing a really good job.
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Hastens bedden

Very much enjoyed your story, I bought lately a matress but luckily mine was good the first time and i still sleep very well on it after 8 years.

Beddenwinkels

Very funny story enjoyed it very much. Really like your writing style, keep up the good blogging!

Hastens bedden

I really enjoyed reading your blog!

puppetmaster...

I have been in the mattress business for over 25 years, and know the business inside and out. The mistake most people making when buying a mattress is that did not think it thru before the they go out shopping. First thing to realize is that a mattress gets a little softer over time. So no matter how it feels in the store it will in fact get a lot softer as time goes by. There is no mattress made that will not continually get softer and softer. That is way most people end up replacing there mattress, it has gotten soft or has started sagging in the middle. So when buying a mattress look for one that is harder then you like. Then go and buy mattress pads or toppers, to soften it up to get the feel you like. Spend less money on the mattress and more on the linens. If you do it this way your mattress will last a very long time It is much more cost effective way to do it in the long run. Also the next time you need a mattress don't just stop at the first store with air dancer waving you in for the big sale, and think you will get a great deal. The trick to getting a good price on a mattress is to buy them in the summer when mattress stores are in there slow season. That is when they will give you the very best price. http://www.supersignfactory.com/

EmmaCay

Thanks for sharing. I'm looking for a mattress in Ottawa. I would really like to know more about shopping for the right one. I need something for my bad back. http://www.bedzzz.ca/our-history

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I always enjoy to read your post, because its really enjoyable for me.
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Mujgan

Dear Ms Judelson,
Your post is marvelous in one word! Having bought a new mattress just two days ago, I can relate to your every sentence. I woke up both nights missing my 19-year old worn loyal mattress...
Best regards from Ankara, Turkey

Marcie Judelson

Thanks, Mujgan! (How on earth did you find my blog?).

Good luck with your new mattress. I hope you can adjust.

Mujgan

I'm so glad I discovered your blog while googling about mattresses, because you can't imagine how much you helped me beat my mattress blues! By the way, your posts about valley nation and journeys are also hilarious.

Looking forward to your next posts,

Your fan in Turkey
Mujgan

Auping Boxsprings

Haha, I like your style blogging and I think a lot of people agree with you about the hell of bed shopping. In Holland we do not have that many stores and the retailers are working together (if we do not have a certain mattress we will aks other retailers if they have the bed in stock). Haha, you can also come to Holland next time! ;-)

Carol Z

Holy crow, truer words have never been written! It's like you read my mind. After 19 years, hubby and I decided to replace our California King mattress. After much agonizing (and nearly divorce), we decided, like you, on a Simmons Beauty Rest. It was delivered yesterday and last night was the worst night's sleep I've had in 19 years. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it will get better. We've only got 14 days to exchange it if we need to.

Marcie Judelson

Hi Carol,

Sorry to hear about your mattress travails.
But why do you only have 2 weeks to return it?
That is outrageous. Most of the major retailers allow 2-3 months to return a mattress.

All I can tell you is it took me some time to adjust to our new mattress (both of our new mattresses), but I eventually did adjust.
So don't give up -- it could get better.
Hope so!

Aq8

I bought a superfirm Big S mattress set back in 1996, no hideously ugly and heat-stroke-inducing stupid pillowtop. It was a little on the tall side, but not terribly. As in, I don't have to jump to get on the bed.

I paid huge money, $1200--ON SALE (I looked for the cheapest price on this one), and it has definitely been worth every penny I paid. We spend 1/3 of your life on these things, so it's really the last thing we need to cheap out on.

Anyway, I'm still using it. It hasn't gotten all that much softer, it's not sagging in the middle. So very happy with this investment

I want to get another of these mattresses for another room, but it's impossible to find one like it these days. When I go shopping, it's all disgusting pillow-tops (I'm in South Texas--Pillow tops are HEAT TORTURE). Or they have vomit-inducing smells, or make me feel like I'm lying in mush. Or sometimes ALL of these things are going on.

I hate them. All of them.

The clerks hate me, because I've stopped letting them vomit their spiel at me. I tell them I want no-pillow top, I want quality, I want super-firmness (because, as the mattress guy upthread pointed out, these things will soften up over the years). I'm willing to pay a good price, but not my future grandchildren's arms and legs!

A halfway-decent mattress just isn't out there anymore, so I'll keep my 1996 set until I absolutely can't.

If I'd only known back then just how good my set was...

Marita Chambers

I bought a luxury firm mattress two days ago and it is very uncomfortable. When I tried it in the store it didn't feel so hard ,but after being on it for only part of one night I had to sleep in one of my other bedrooms.After checking my receipt for the store' return policy it states that mattresses and box springs must have law tags attached and be in original sealed factory wrapping,but when the men delivered it they did not ask me about the wrapping, but just automatically took it out of the plastic. I am totally disgusted and don't know what to do. Thanks for listening.

Anice King

When I got married my Husband and I went shopping for a Mattress,we went to Sears and that mattress lasted over 25 years.We decided to buy another one several years ago and that was so high you needed a step stool to get into bed terrible. Now I have been looking to down size from a queen to a Full as I don't have the space for a queen. Well I have been looking around,what a chore,I think I would rather buy a car than a mattress. I do know more about cars . I also think that you can do to much research . My experience is that Sears are pretty reliable and will go back there ,as there prices are good and you don't get the high pressure like you do at other stores.

Steve

It sounds like I might be one of the few satisfied customers who recently bought a bed. I like this author also went to sleep train, however my experience was very different. I have had chronic back pain for years and after years of trying numerous types of physical therapy, pain pills, weight lifting for strengthening among a few other things I finally decided that it was my bed that was causing my back pain.

Like a majority of Americans my bed was a cheap hand me down. When I went to sleep train I found my sales person to be very helpful. He very clearly explained all the differences between mattress coils in all the new beds and the bed I currently owned. I decided on a simmons beauty rest because I think they have the best coil quality.

my bed has a memory foam topper but I will admit I have never really felt "too warm" because of it but if I did I would probably just turn a fan on.

I have loved my bed. My new bed is bigger and softer than old bed but I have never laid on something so comfortable in my entire life. I don't mind that its thicker and sits higher than my old one. To get that worked up about something like that as the author did in this article is a little petty. All the new frills about a bed have worked for me and what my body needs.

and finally the best news... After 8 years of chronic back pain my new bad was so comfortable so much more supportive that I sleep flat on my back all night and never really shift. My back pain has pretty much gone away.

buying a fancy new bed was the best thing I've done in years.

my bed was certainly expensive, but I think the quality of beds has gone up. Bed companies are fighting hard to improve their products get a leg up in the market place to give the best bed. I don't think that is a reason to complain. I don't know how anyone is going to argue that beds are lower quality today than they were 30 years ago. Learning all your options is more work but its ultimately to your benefit. I am quite happy to pay as long as what I'm buying is great quality and improves my sleep.

Sandy Terry

I found your blog very amusing because I just went through the same thing. I WOULD rather buy a car than a mattress. I had to keep it for 21 days before I was allowed to return it and my husband and myself were counting down the days. Choosing a second one was making me very nervous because we were only allowed one exchange(even though we bought the required 80.00 mattress cover). I am not much happier with this one and looks like we are stuck with it. And did I mention we were charged a restocking fee of 50.00 for returning the first one? When I called the manager of the store, he suggested maybe to use two mattress covers or an egg crate topper. I can't imagine having to put a topper on a brand new pillow top that he told me was a wonderful choice.( but will if it might help) The mattress slopes down from the edge of the bed to my body and I sink into it so far, it feels like I am stuck in a hole. I weigh 110 pounds and my husband 190 lbs. My sister also just bought one a new (different one) at a different store and has the same problem. So like you, I did not find it a very enjoyable experience and still ended up unhappy.

Marcie Judelson

Sandy - Sorry to hear your tale of woe.

Like I always say, any day I don't have to shop for a new mattress is a good day.

Just seeing the mattress commercials on tv gives me the willies.

Good luck!

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