Hi will10025g,
As you mention … it sure is hard to justify their prices/value when you know the materials are no better than mattresses with similar feel and performance that sell for significantly less. Their phase change material is also designed to feel cooler to the touch but this is only part of the “sleeping cool” story and just like temperatures feel higher when humidity levels are higher, the ventilation and microclimate of a mattress is much more important than the actual surface temperature even though phase change materials or materials that are heat conductive can also play a role.
I should make clear that outlets like the ones listed here (and many other posts with local options around the forum) are not “recommended” outlets … only outlets that have some possibilities in the area but will likely require further (and sometimes frustrating and time consuming) research. Their value and the “ease” of shopping there would depend on the pricing at each outlet, their ability and willingness to disclose the layers and materials in their mattresses, and the service, experience, and knowledge levels of the outlets. In many cases when there are better choices further away that involve a longer drive I will often provide a list of local outlets for those that don’t want to travel so far or who are hesitant to purchase a mattress online even though there may not be great value available in the immediate local area.
The only “official” recommendations I make are the members of this site but there are often others that I think highly of that I will make sure people know about as well along with more specific comments. In the case of Long Island area … the last 5 in the list here would typically be the “best” value I know about in the area for most people and there may be nothing locally that carries anything in the same value range. It will often save both time and money to take a longer drive to visit outlets that are known to have high quality and value along with knowledgeable people and good service compared to the time consuming project of trying to find the best value locally and coming up against many “information” roadblocks.
Having said all that … The PLB certainly uses much higher quality and more costly materials than the Optimum and is better “value” but of course latex is a fast response material and memory foam is a slow response material so they feel and perform very differently. The choice between fast and slow response is really about preference although I strongly suggest that only mattresses where the quality of the memory foam and base foam is known be considered (and the Sealy doesn’t disclose the quality/density of the memory foam or the base foam they use in the Optimum series).
Based on the polyfoam used in the Embody series though (their previous high quality memory foam line) … the base foam is likely to be in the range of 1.5 lbs which is not suitable for a mattress in this price range.
A “typical” latex mattress thickness would normally be in the range of 8" - 9" (similar to the Pamper with the topper) which is a suitable thickness for most people. Some lighter body types or certain “flatter” sleeping styles may do well with only 6" and those that are significantly heavier (mid 200 lbs range or more) could benefit from going thicker but for the large majority this “standard” thickness range provides plenty of room to create a layering that provides good PPP (Pressure relief, Posture and alignment and Personal preferences) for most people.
King mattresses using blended Talalay or 100% natural Dunlop are certainly available in the $2500 range and in many cases less. There is a list inpost #21 here of some of the manufacturers of this site that specialize in working with customers online or on the phone that have a wide range of latex mattresses available of many different types and styles and these can serve as a “value reference” for a local purchase. Local testing can also be used as a helpful guideline for an online purchase as well if the local value isn’t “reasonably close” to similar options available on the list (I usually use about 20% as a reasonable local premium because of the lowered risk of local testing).
This could have been a ploy or it could have been legitimate. I would also be concerned because comfort exchanges (if they offer them) are the responsibility of the retailer not the manufacturer of the mattress (comfort exchanges are a store policy). Only warranty exchanges are “backed” by the manufacturer. The PLB line also has high profit margins (which retailers like) and they are also “price controlled” for advertising purposes (which retailers also like) so there would certainly be room for an outlet to come down if they thought it would lead to a sale.
If you are comfortable with the higher risk of ordering online (with the help of very good people who have the knowledge and skill to help you make the best possible choices), then the online list I linked to has exceptional choices and value included in it. Your local testing can also provide some guidelines that can be taken into account in your phone conversations with them about what your best options may be. Your best and closest options in the general area with similar quality, service, and value would would be Dixie Foam and ScottJordan in NYC. Both of these carry all latex mattresses as well. Finding anything else with similar value closer to you may involve some real work and effort and I would do most of my initial research locally on the phone along the lines of this article.
So overall … if the PLB “fits” your needs and preferences … it may be among the best available value in your immediate area (assuming you have talked with the other “possibilties”). It’s not the best value available though if you are willing to drive a little further or work with an online manufacturer.
All of the online manufacturers you are mentioning are factory direct and the only way to try any of them first is if you are close by their bricks and mortar outlets if they have one. These (including the Ultimate dreams) are not available anywhere else. Most of them list the list the specs of their mattresses (or the choices available) online though so local testing on mattresses where the specs are known can help them to help you make better choices even though what you test won’t be the same as what they offer. For example … if the PLB Pamper plus topper “worked” for you (and you tested it for long enough … at least 15 minutes fully relaxed … and objectively for pressure relief and alignment rather than just for “comfort” … then it would indicate that 3" of very soft latex (1" of 19 ILD in the Pamper plus the 2" 14 - 15 ILD topper) over 7" of very firm latex (40 ILD) is in your range. while the online options may not go this soft (many are hesitant to use materials that are so soft even in latex because of durability issues) … it would at least indiccate that 3" of soft over firmer layers tends to “work” for you. This is the type of information (along with the details of your body type, sleeping positions, and any known preferences you have) that can help them help you better.
Dunlop latex is also a very good quality choice even though it is different from Talalay in feel. 100% natural Dunlop and blended Talalay are also roughly in the same price range. You can read more about the differences in the pros and cons of latex here.
So if I was in your shoes … I would talk to the other local options you have on the phone to see what they have available that may justify some time spent with them.
The next thing I would consider is a phone call and/or a trip to the two outlets in NYC (or any of the others in the last section of 5 manufacturers in the NYC list if you feel the drive is worth it and your calls indicate it would be a good idea) that are likely to have the best quality/value in the wider area.
Finally I would spend some time with the list of online manufacturers first on their sites (to get an idea of budget and choices) and then on the phone with the ones that are most interesting to you and talk with them about what your “specs” and testing experiences would point to as being the best choice out of what they offer.
Some or all of your “local” or “further away local” or “online” will give you some very good value choices and the most difficult part at the end may be choosing between some great choices that are all high quality and value.
Phoenix