Shopping for a new mattress. Recommendations/tips?

Clarkmeister · #1 11-10-2005, 01:27 PM

I do plan on researching this topic later on in the week, but I figured someone in OOT could have some really good tips. I'm looking for a King or Cal-King bed. Something very nice, maybe in the $1,200-$3,000 range. Any recommendations regarding manufacurer, or ordering over the internet vs. a local outlet? TIA.

jackdaniels · #2 11-10-2005, 01:33 PM

Go to a store and test a few out (bring a girl with as they don't provide that - I kid, I kid [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]). You do want to test them out though and get an idea of the firmness you prefer and if you like the pillow top or not.

When I went shopping for a mattress I found a location with 3 stores right next to each other and since they all offer that "lowest price guarantee" it was simply a matter of picking a matress they all carry and wandering between the three negotiating the price (and letting them know that their competitors across the street are offering the same mattress for less). Eventually 2 of them gave up and I bought from the third. If you don't have a few stores near each other in your local, this may be a difficult thing to accomplish, but you should still shop around. Mattress competition is pretty high.

Freakin · #3 11-10-2005, 02:02 PM

Buy from a store that gives a 3-month rest-assured policy. It's unlikely that you'll get the perfect mattress for you on the first try.

nolanfan34 · #4 11-10-2005, 02:14 PM

We're in the same boat right now. I've heard good things about the Temperpedic, and it seemed pretty good when we sat on it in the store, so I'm hoping someone will have some feedback on that.

Shajen · #5 11-10-2005, 02:23 PM

word of caution on the Cal King, Clark.

Good comforters are a [censored] to find for those damned things.

Took a good couple of hours of digging around on the net for me to find any decent ones for ours.

I'd go King instead of Cal King if I had to do it over again.

#6 11-10-2005, 02:25 PM

[ QUOTE ]
We're in the same boat right now. I've heard good things about the Temperpedic, and it seemed pretty good when we sat on it in the store, so I'm hoping someone will have some feedback on that.

[/ QUOTE ]

my parents thoroughly enjoy this in their old age.

DMBFan23 · #7 11-10-2005, 02:27 PM

one word my friend: tempurepedic

nolanfan34 · #8 11-10-2005, 02:39 PM

[ QUOTE ]
one word my friend: tempurepedic

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Care to elaborate? They are a chunk of money more than a regular mattress, I'd love to hear some actual testimonials.

#9 11-10-2005, 02:53 PM

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I'd love to hear some actual testimonials.

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We just got a tempur 6 months ago and it is amazing! Never slept on anything but spring-mattresses before and I didn't think it could be all that different. It is! When you are lying there it feels like your in utero again. And if you get the pillows too (granted, they are $150 ea), it is awesome - complete comfort. Just the right amount of support - not too firm, not too soft. And yes, they are pricy - but they have a 20-yr guarantee. I don't think you would get half that much life out of a regular mattress. I can't recommend it enough!

poincaraux · #10 11-10-2005, 03:19 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'd love to hear some actual testimonials.

[/ QUOTE ]

We just got a tempur 6 months ago and it is amazing! Never slept on anything but spring-mattresses before and I didn't think it could be all that different. It is! When you are lying there it feels like your in utero again. And if you get the pillows too (granted, they are $150 ea), it is awesome - complete comfort. Just the right amount of support - not too firm, not too soft. And yes, they are pricy - but they have a 20-yr guarantee. I don't think you would get half that much life out of a regular mattress. I can't recommend it enough!

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Shop around for a good deal on pillows. Tempurpedic doesn't seem to allow retailers to change the price of the bed, but they're allowed to offer you "special" deals. We got two pillows and a mattress cover (same cream-colored one you'll see in all of the stores) for free. We found some out-of-state place that was willing to give us that offer, and the local place matched it.

I'm not sure, but I think normal mattresses last something like 5 years, so a 20 yr. warranty is pretty good.

ObTestimonial: we had a nice Sealy Posturepedic mattress, but my wife was finding it harder and harder to sleep on it. She wasn't getting much more than 3-5 hrs. of sleep per night. Since we got the Tempurpedic, we've both been super well rested. It's fantastic.

If you're going to get one, go to the store and try out the various models. Some are firmer, etc. We actually found that we liked the 8" (classic) mattress the best .. it's a little firmer than the others. Added bonus: it's the cheapest.

We also tried out a lot of non-Tempurpedic memory foam mattresse. We ended up liking the Tempurpedic the best. The others are worth trying out, though, just in case you like them .. they're often *way* cheaper.