Advice on new mattress that I'm considering, please.

Discussions General Mattresses Questions
67

The 2nd home bed is on a solid top (custom made like a tank) platform - I saw this being built, so know it will never sag, creak or whatever. Same protector, same sheets, same pillows, same 2" PLB fast release topper.

We originally bought two Simmons - one for here and one for there… it was odd, sometimes we’d wake up and not know which house we were at because the beds were so much alike (until they started getting a few depressions on my pillowtop plush comfort level 8 side - hubby’s firm side comfort level about 3-4 really never changed in three years).

After they delivered the 2nd home PLB Beautiful and it was so soft, best I could guess it was closer to a world’s best with that top soft layer OR maybe more like the former Beautiful (didn’t it have an ILD of 19 instead of 21?). For the first 3 weeks, we had a Nature with the 2" PLB bliss topper - too hard for both of us… then I added a 19 ILD under the 2" bliss topper and it was too soft - no support. We did a comfort exchange for the Beautiful and liked it so well that the next month, we bought it to replace the Simmons at the 2nd home.

The one up there almost feels like the Nature with the 19 ILD and 2" topper, Or maybe the one down here is firmer than “normal” Beautiful. ACK! Wish there were an ILD (what is it) test we could do on both the beds. :slight_smile:

Both are 12" tall. Both say Beautiful.

We’ll stay on the Simmons a few nights to let the PLB “rest” and then try it again. We’ll get back up to the second home next month and see what that one has done and feels like again.

Yeah, when it rain’s it pours… the mattress gods are truly mad at us! :frowning:

68

Hi scubamom,

That rules out some of the “other” possibilities so the two most likely causes are either the foundation you were having issues with affected your perception of how they compared or they are actually different.

2 ILD is less than most if not all people would be able to feel and is less than the normal ILD variation across the surface of a typical latex layer. The Old Beautiful (see the specs here) also had an inch less latex in the middle 24 ILD layer layer than the current Beautiful (see the specs here) which would have a firming effect.

Phoenix

69

Update: A week later, the mattress is still confused and looks like it did when it was on the defective foundation - middle hill + two valleys + raised ridge around the edge of the bed. If anything, it’s fluffed up a tiny bit (if I use my imagination!) :slight_smile: We slept on it last night and it wasn’t too bad - horrid pressure on shoulders, hips, and legs weren’t like they were on the crazy defective foundation, but it appears to have lost it’s “Beautiful” feel.

I sent all the photos and information to our mattress store and he’s offered to replace it. We think we might have enough to file a warranty claim on the defective foundations and damage they did to the poor mattress. I assume PLB is now getting their act together a bit better than a month or two ago?

If we do this, I’ll be interested to see if it is “soft” like the one at our second home, or feels like this one DID and the one on the mattress company’s floor - lots of support, comfort, and pressure relief. In other words… truly a Beautiful Bed! :slight_smile:

70

Hi scubammom,

That probably depends on who you talk to because the feedback from retailers seems to be somewhat mixed (see here).

Did you happen to contact PLB themselves?

Phoenix

71

Just talked to our mattress company and they planned to replace the PLB Beautiful with a Simmon’s Black Kate Plush which they have in stock - they are still having problems getting PLB to respond to anything - phone or faxes and reluctantly are thinking of dropping the line.

SO… if others are waiting 6 weeks to receive their mattresses we are back to decision time. Guess I’ll go try a Black Kate, but others said they fail within the first year. ACK!

Our daughter just purchased a Simmons Black Hope Firm… here’s what the tag says (so you can check out the foam types)

Quilt:
3/4" Geltouch Foam 1.5LB
1" Luxury Firm foam 1.65LB

Comfort layers:
1/2" Aircool Memory Foam 2.1LB
1/2" Micro Diamond infused aircool memory foam 4.5LB
1 1/2" Micro Pocket Coil 17 gauge
1/2" Dynamic Response Memory Foam 3.2LB
Bottom upholstery (below comfort layers)
1 1/2" 1.2LB energy foam

Support 13.5 gauge

NOTE: The Black Kate is somewhat the same other than coils are 14.75 gauge and it has an additional 2" Aircool Memory Foam in comfort layer over the microcoils

Sounds like a lot of complicated layers to me!!

72

Hi scubamom,

Comparing the specs to the guidelines here indicates that there are certainly enough “questionable” and lower quality/density materials in the comfort layers that would likely be a weak link in this mattress … especially for a mattress in this price range … that it would be a very risky purchase.

With an additional 2" of lower quality/density materials in the comfort layers … the Kate would be even riskier yet.

Phoenix

73

Well, hubby thinks PLB is a lost cause for getting this one replaced and the mattress company WOULD try to order a new one, but who knows when or if we’d ever get one. Such a problem since we really liked the Beautiful.

At this point, since we have a free exchange on both PLB, I don’t think we have a choice. I went and tried a Simmons Black Kate Plush locally… it’s only been on the floor two weeks and felt much firmer (not as soft) as the Beautiful + 2" PLB topper, but the sales person said it had not broken in yet. At least the comfort rating is the same as the PLB and all the other mattresses we’ve tried over the last 4 month! Probably like comparing apples to oranges spring -vs- foams, but it is what it is.

Hubby said looks like we should take the Blacks… see how long they last - year or two or so and at that time, maybe there will be more options out there… more latex mattresses to choose from, etc.

Are any of these retailers you have contact with actually receiving mattresses from PLB? If there was any hope we might get a replacement in the next few weeks, I’d hold out for PLB, but otherwise, we can’t go without a decent place to sleep much longer. :frowning:

74

Hi scubamom,

It may be worthwhile talking with some of the online PLB dealers that are listed in post #32 here to see if they are having the same issues with their PLB deliveries.

Phoenix

75

We had the damaged PLB Beautiful mattress and defective foundations picked up by the mattress company yesterday. Their mouths dropped open when they saw the poor saggy mattress, still with a hill in the middle and “hammocks” on each side. We all agreed that somehow the centers (from top to bottom) had compressed into firm “valleys” of latex, whereas the “hill” was the only part that remained springy (I’ve been sleeping in the center for the last two weeks… the only place that felt half comfortable).

They also couldn’t believe there was no solid top on the foundations! The fabric was so saggy between the slats that it’s little wonder the mattress was bent out of shape permanently. Too bad it took us a month to figure it all out but the damage was probably done by the 2nd or 3rd week we had it, even though it felt wonderful for the first 5-6 weeks.

They said that they were selling off all the PLB floor models since they are still having no luck reaching anyone to take orders, discuss business with, or talk to about any problems. The few times they manged to get through, call backs were promised and it never happened. Or “the person they needed to talk to was out of the office”. They have given up and had no interest even trying to reorder the Beautiful or even try to file a claim.

Which left us with the Simmons Black Kate. :frowning: It has so much puff and fluff on the top that it is an unbelievable 16" of hulking monster!! Comfort rating 8+ (the same as the Beautiful with our 2" PLB topper). Alas, we loved our latex while it lasted and now have to get used to a spring bed again.

First off, I woke up at 2 am bathed in memory foam fumes! UGH! I still smell like memory foam 12 hours later. Took everything off the bed, put in an air filter machine and turned the ceiling fan to high all day. Washed all the bedding. It’s not quite as strong tonight, but I know I’m going to be sleeping in fumes again for awhile. (unless I move back upstairs yet again for several nights).

And once again, I’m sleeping HOT! The PLB mattress was not hot and not cold, just perfect. Sigh.

Maybe next week I’ll try to contact all those companies in your post who carry PLB and see what the chances are of getting another Beautiful anytime soon.

We still have one Beautiful at our second home… so will have to decide whether to change it to a off gassing spring Simmons… or search for another Beautiful and this Black can go to the guest room.

Or if all else fails, maybe we can build a Beautiful. Has anyone actually “built” a mattress that feels like one of the PLBs?

76

Hi scubamom,

Hmmm … while I realize that PLB has their issues at the moment … something in this isn’t adding up to me and I suspect that there may be more to what they are telling you than meets the eye.

I think this would be a good idea … and if I was in your shoes I would also email PLB (and hopefully they will reply) to tell them your story and ask them about what you have been told.

Phoenix

77

Hi Scubamom,

I forgot to answer one of your questions … sorry :slight_smile:

Yes … there have been a number of members that have done this. Since the specs of the Beautiful are known … if you buy latex layers that are the same type (blended Talalay from Latex International) and thickness and firmness level (ILD) as the Beautiful and stack them inside a similar stretch knit cover you would have a close equivalent (with the main difference being that the layers wouldn’t be glued and that the cover would be slightly different). The component post here has some of the better sources for layers and components (including covers) that I’m aware of.

Phoenix

78

Ok. I filled out an inquiry form on the PLB website detailing our problems and included the foundation tag info.

Also emailed mattress to go and received a reply and quote back from Jeff with good price on beautiful. 3 to 4 week delivery. White glove service. (Always wondered who locally does that!).

Probably call a few others on your list. What do you recommend?

Meanwhile the second night on Simmons mattress from hell off gassed me again. Knocked out my back and makes me want to sleep on floor! Or even a bed of nails would be better than Simmons. :frowning:

79

Hi scubamom,

Other than Jeff at Matt-To-Go … I don’t have any specific recommendations. The list came from members comments that have had good experiences with each of them.

I’m sure curious about any response you receive from PLB!

Phoenix

80

Late Friday, I received an email from PLB that said:
[i]Dear Lynn,

Thank you for your inquiry. One of our team members will contact you shortly. Below is the details of your inquiry![/i]

It being a holiday, not sure when I might hear from them, but probably need to call the mattress company and tell them to hold on to the Beautiful and foundations just in case we “might” be able to do a warranty.

Meanwhile I was all ready to call Jeff at Mattress to Go and place an order for another Beautiful. Now I don’t know what to do other than I SURE don’t want to sleep on this Simmons any longer than we have to! :slight_smile:

Hey, at least there might be light at the end of tunnel… costly, but this whole thing has been one big ordeal after another!

81

Hi scubamom,

[quote]Meanwhile I was all ready to call Jeff at Mattress to Go and place an order for another Beautiful. Now I don’t know what to do other than I SURE don’t want to sleep on this Simmons any longer than we have to! :slight_smile:

Hey, at least there might be light at the end of tunnel… costly, but this whole thing has been one big ordeal after another! [/quote]

I hope that PLB will reply soon enough to give you some better alternatives than having to buy a whole new mattress and if it was me I would try and “hold on” for a little while at least until it’s clear that they either will or won’t reply fast enough.

The “stock” reply you received is certainly encouraging but or course they still need to follow it up with something more specific.

Phoenix

82

Well, so far, nothing from the online PBL form I filled out so took Bob’s and your advice and sent an email to claims@whatever it was and called their number. Got a recording that “they were helping other customers” and left a message detailing the problem, etc.

Really, this is clearly a claims, but who knows what will come of this. Everyday, I’m ready to order a Beautiful from Mat To Go and then decide to give it another day. As hubby said, at this rate, we may not get another mattress until Christmas! :slight_smile:

83

Wonder of wonders! After I emailed the claims department with info and photos of our problem, I received a reply from PLB two days later! They requested proof of purchase which I sent along with photos of the mattress tags, etc. Supposedly, they will contact the mattress company where it was purchased and try to “resolve” something next week.

Do I see a light at the end of the tunnel? :slight_smile:

84

Hi scubamom,

That’s great news … thanks for letting us know!

It sure sounds like it … or at the very least the tunnel is not quite as dark :slight_smile:

Phoenix

85

We are still waiting to see what PLB does about the warranty claim. Supposedly they are now waiting for some more information from the retailer - what I don’t know. We are about to go on week 3 of the waiting game…

86

Hi scubamom,

I guess the saga continues … although I still suspect that there is more going on in the background than meets the eye.

I hope you hear from them soon … and I’d be interested in what the delay was about as well.

Phoenix