I’ve been going though this site for the past month, but would like to share my experience thus far.
I’m coming from a Simmons BeautyRest med-firm that I purchased in 1998 for about $1200.
Back in November '14 I started looking at Tempu-Pedic and ended up buying the Contour Rhapsody Cal-King ($3900) with the Premier Ergo adjustable base ($2097) for $5996 total. Delivery was the first week in December.
Since the, the Rhapsody has killed by back. I can’t lay on it for more than 10-15 minutes without hurting across my shoulder or in the lower back. I contacted the store (Mattress Firm) and was told to give it more time. Also, the adjustable base makes me hurt even more, so I can’t even use it. I went to the store a couple weeks ago and wanted to return the entire set. I was told this was no problem for the mattress, but they don’t take the adjustable bases back…as some people were selling parts off the bases and then returning them (yeah, right). So now I have to fight with Customer Service/Corporate about returning the base with the mattress.
The situation left a bad taste in my mouth, so for the past month I’ve been trying as many mattresses as possible from other stores. I don’t want to go with Tempur again, and I don’t care for the Serta iComfort/iSeries, Simmons Hybird/Recharge/BeautyRest Black/ S&F.
So far, the only two mattresses I’ve been comfortable with the Aireloom Silverton and Prana Super Vinyasa from City Mattress.
Pricing on both of those are being discounted for me ($4100 for the Aireloom Silverton with or without base, and the Prana Super Vinyasa at $3960 with no base or $4700 with base).
But the reviews in here are mixed on both of these brands, saying they sag over time…the Aireloom uses alot of padding on the top of the coils that will break down…and the Prana uses a padding on top of the latex.
At this point, I’m not sure what to do, and a bit confused.
Both the Aireloom Silverton and Prana Super Vinyasa feel comfortable to me (though each one does feel different) and with the 30 min that I was on them did provide good support when on by back and sides without any pain. Though I could feel a bit on a ridge in the center or the Aireloom, which is what people said can happen over time. Since these two brands are in the $4K range, I don’t want to make a bad decision…something that may feel comfortable now, but 8-12 months later I am hating and wish I never got.
This is the norm in the industry and the main reasons that adjustable bases aren’t returnable are because they are very heavy and costly to return and because they can be used under many different mattresses and aren’t specific to a certain mattress so even if you exchange or return a mattress the base can still be used with a different mattress. The biggest reason though is because it’s not part of their return/exchange policy that you agreed to when you purchased it (you can see their return policy here). The cost of return and exchange policies are always built into the cost of a product because the people who don’t return a product are the ones who pay for the ones that do.
The first place I would start your research is the mattress shopping tutorial here (there is a longer and a shorter version) which has all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that can help you “reset” how you are looking for a mattress and help you make the most suitable, the most durable, and the best value choice … and perhaps more importantly know how and why to avoid the worst ones (including major brands or mattresses that have too much lower quality or unknown materials or “weak links” in their design such as the Aireloom or Prana mattress you were considering).
Two of the more important links in the tutorial are post #2 here about the different ways to choose the most suitable mattress (either locally or online) that can help you identify and minimize the risks involved with each of them and post #13 here about the most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase that can help you make more meaningful comparisons between mattresses.
Once you reach step 3 in the tutorial then if you let me know your city or zip code I’d be happy to let you know about the better options or possibilities I’m aware of in your area.
Thank you, will read through it.
I’m in South East, FL…Ft Lauderdale and Boca Raton area.
Places I’ve been to are Mattress Firm, Mattress One, City Furniture, and City Mattress.
The thing is the salesman at Mattress Firm never stated anything about the adjustable bases not being returnable, just emphasized the 100 day guarantee. It turna out that is is on the back of the sales order, in small print. When we went there 2 weeks ago, he went in the back room and found his copy with it highlighted in yellow, ours is not. He said no one takes them back. So I went down to Macy’s and Sears and they said they are returnable, just have a 10-15% restocking fee.
I really hate to eat a $2100 adjustable base that I can’t adjust good for me and now feel like it’s a waste of money.
Some of the better options and possibilities in the Boca Raton / Ft Lauderdale area I’m aware of (subject to the “value” guidelines I linked in my last reply) are listed in post # 2 here.
He is correct that most people wouldn’t want to return an adjustable bed because they can be used under any suitable mattress and most customers that buy an adjustable bed would want the benefits of an adjustable bed no matter which mattress they choose to use on top of it. Your adjustable bed may also work well with another mattress that is more suitable for you (there is more about the benefits of an adjustable bed in post #3 here) even though it won’t “compensate” for a mattress that isn’t a good match for you in terms of PPP.
It’s part of a customers responsibility to make sure they are clear about the return or exchange policies of any store before they make a purchase and return/exchange policies are often a source of misunderstanding, frustration, or buyers remorse. Unfortunately a salesperson can only answer the questions they are asked directly and not the unasked questions that can turn out to be important after a purchase.
You also have the option of selling the adjustable bed if you really don’t want to use it under a new mattress you purchase so you could recover some of your investment that way as well if Mattress Firm isn’t willing to make an exception to their policies.
I’ve looked and found a couple places in the area that sell the Pure Latex Bliss line ( Mattress Xperts and Bedding Barn). I’m going there next week to see how they feel and compare to the Prana Super Vinyasa that I tried from City Mattress.
The specs look good, 20 year 3/4" warranty, and smooth top instead of tufted hills and valleys.
Also the Savvy latex at Mattress Xperts.
[quote]I’ve looked and found a couple places in the area that sell the Pure Latex Bliss line ( Mattress Xperts and Bedding Barn). I’m going there next week to see how they feel and compare to the Prana Super Vinyasa that I tried from City Mattress.
The specs look good, 20 year 3/4" warranty, and smooth top instead of tufted hills and valleys. [/quote]
The PLB mattresses use Talalay latex from top to bottom (outside of their hybrid line) and there are no lower quality materials or “weak links” in their mattresses and they would be well worth considering.
The only “caution” I would add is that if you are in a much higher than average weight range I would be a little careful with their softest mattresses (the Beautiful and the Worlds Best Bed) both in terms of suitability (PPP or Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) and in terms of durability because ultra soft versions of any material can be less durable than firmer versions of the same material.
I’m looking forward to your feedback after your visit and testing.
I’m 6’3" and 165-175. I had been about 280 a few years ago, but have been under 180 for the past year.
So right now I think I’m in an average weight range for my height, but will be going with a Cal King size since I like the extra leg room.
The Savvy interest me as the layers are customizable.
I did speak with an Area Manager from Mattress Firm and he said they absolutely can not take back adjustable bases under no ccircumstances… even though I’m not able to use it as it throws my back out of alignment. But when I told him that I contacted other stores and they do take them back but have a restocking fee…he couldn’t answer me. So I guess I’m stuck with a $2K base!
The Savvy Rest is a very high quality component latex mattress and as you mentioned these types of mattresses have the advantage of being able to customize the layers both before and after a purchase (by rearranging the layers or exchanging a layer for a firmer or softer version). They also have the advantage of being able to replace a single layer if one of the layers softens or breaks down before the others (usually the softer top layer) or if your needs or preferences change down the road without having to replace the entire mattress. I would also make sure you do some careful value comparisons though because there are a number of online options that use a very similar design with 3" layers and a wool quilted cover that have similar firmness options and choices of Dunlop or Talalay latex that are in a significantly lower price range and in many cases have a better exchange and return policy (Savvy Rest can’t be returned and you can only exchange layers for the price of shipping).
Your alignment issue may have had more to do with your mattress than your adjustable base and if you purchase a mattress that is a more suitable “match” for you in terms of PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences) then you may find that your adjustable bed would be fine underneath it.
The tutorial post has a link to a list of the members here that sell mattresses online (in the optional online step) and there are several of them that make component latex mattresses with very similar designs that use the same types and blends of latex with wool quilted covers.
OK, I’m going today & tomorrow to try out the Savvy and Pure Latex Bliss at Mattress Xperts in Boynton Beach. As it turns out, there is a new City Mattress right down the street from there, so comparing it to the Prana or Aireloom would be easy to do. Just wish it wasn’t a 30min drive north of me.
But a bit of good news (I guess) is the DM at Mattress Firm has agreed to take the Rhapsody and the Premier Ergo base back for a full $6000 refund (just a $149 fee). Even though the adjustable base was $2100 (Cal King) which is a good discount over retail, I can’t see spending $2100 just for that, when it’s something I would probably only use on rare occasion…and haven’t been able to use as it kills by back and stomach where I had surgery last year.
I made it to Mattress Xperts in Boynton Beach and first tried out the Latex Bliss Beautiful model. After a few minutes, I could tell that I didn’t care for it. A bit too “firm” for me and was a bit “lumpy” when I laid in the middle of the bed.
I then tried the Savvy and liked how it felt. It was much softer, but still supportive. He said this one had a 3" soft Dunlop latex on the bottom and two 3" soft Talalay for the center and top layer. He said that having a medium or firm on the bottom would probably be to firm for me, since I didn’t like the Beautiful.
The pricing for the Savvy was $4300 retail, but said he could do better whenever we’re ready to buy.
I then went right down the street, and the new City Mattress was open (turns out it opened today).
I looked again at the Prana, and they have the new Series 5 on display, which I didn’t know there was a new Series 5 coming out when I looked at the Series 4 last week at their Boca location. I think the pricing on the Series 5 was slightly more, but they didn’t have a breakdown as to what differences (if any) there are between the 4 and 5. But I can call Prana and probably find out.
Anyway, I tried the (series 5) Super Vinyasa and Samadhi, and did like the Samadhi the most between those two. Though I’m not sure (yet) if I would like the Samadhi or the Savvy more…though the Savvy is much lower price it didn’t feel as “well made” as the Pranas…or maybe that is just because the Savvy looks basic with the plain quilted top.
I also got on the Aireloom Silverton since it was brand new, and it was much firmer than the one I tried at the Boca store since this one was brand new and never laid on. It also lacked the “ridge” in the middle I could feel on the broke in Silverton last week. So this tells me that the Silverton does break in due to the stuff that’s used on the top layers.
So at this point, I’m going to find out what different in there is if any between the Prana series 4 and 5 and what pricing I can get for the Samadhi, since last week I was quoted $4700 for the Super Vinyasa Cal King with standard base (but that was probably for the Series 4). I’ll probably want to also try out them again, and the Savvy before making a decision.
But I’m a bit surprised the Savvy on display was Soft Dunlop on the bottom with Soft Talalay in the center and top, as most people say to get medium or firm as the bottom layer. I guess a similar product would be the Sleep EZ 13000, not sure how I would configure those 4 layers medium or soft.
I’d be interested in this as well … and particularly in any differences in the polyfoam quilting layers that they use on top of the latex.
If the Savvy Rest you tested had 3 layers then the closest SleepEZ would be the 10000 which also has 3 layers. They also provide the option to “mix and match” your layers and you can choose 100% natural Dunlop or blended or 100% natural Talalay in similar firmness levels as the Savvy Rest although a mattress that used 3 soft layers would be risky in terms of alignment and they would probably (and with good reason) advise against it.
Since the Series 4 and 5 looked identical, except the label on the top of the mattress was a different style, and both had the same quilting on the top…the only difference could be the latex layers. They might say they are made better or something like that to change the product from a 4 to a 5 and increase the price. The Samadhi Series 5 felt pretty nice. I guess I’d have two drive between the two store back to back to try out the 4 and 5…but the series 4 is a better price, than would go that route. I sent an email to Prana asking the difference. But since the Super Vinyasa Series 4 was quoted at discounted $4700 to me, the Samadhi Series 4 would probably be $1000-1200 more is my guess, pushing around $6000…which is just too much.
But speaking of price, the Sleep EZ 10000 and 13000 Cal King are under $3000 which is very attractive pricing to me…though I’m leery about buying something without trying it first…especially something as personal taste as a mattress. I’m suprised the Savvy I tried was three layers of soft with Dunlop on the bottom and Talalay in the center and top. I asked the sales man about medium or firm on the bottom, and he said that if the Beautiful was to firm for me, then he wouldn’t recommend a medium or firm bottom on the Savvy. But the first swap-out would be free.
I guess if I wanted to go the route of the Sleep EZ 13", then maybe a medium on the bottom and center with soft on the top two layers…or with the 10" would probably be medium on the bottom with soft on the center and top.
Hopefully they changed the quality/density of the polyfoam layers on top of the latex in the first 4 versions of their mattress. You can read more about the Pranasleep mattresses in post #3 here and in post #2 here and in post #3 here and in posts #1 and #2 here and a forum search on Prana (you can just click this) will also bring up more information and feedback about them as well. As you can see I would be very cautious here because of the thicker layers of lower quality/density materials they have tended to use in the top layers of their mattress which could be a weak link in the mattress.
You can see the specs of the Beautiful in post #2 here but the materials in the top 6" or so of a mattress (which is 14 ILD and 24 ILD in the Beautiful which are softer than the two soft layers in the Savvy Rest) will have a bigger effect on how a mattress feels for most people than the deeper layers in the mattress.
There is more about primary or “deep” support and secondary or “surface” support and their relationship to firmness and pressure relief and the “roles” of different layers in a mattress in post #2 here and in post #4 here that may also be helpful in clarifying the difference between “support” and “pressure relief” and “feel”.
I got an email back from Prana. The only difference between the 4th and 5th generation is that they are now using a denser 2.5 IDL foam on the top instead of 1.5.
“The fifth generation has a 2.5 density foam instead of a 1.5 density foam in the quilting layer of the mattress. The higher density foam will give more resiliency and less body impression. The ILD of the foam is the same in each generation allowing the same comfort in both.”
When I asked about the price increase, I was told
“The price increase would include the difference in pricing of latex and other materials over the past couple of years since the last price increase.”
And when looking at the increase, it is about $1500-2000 depending on the model and size!
The Super Vinyasa 4th Gen Cal King with base had a MSRP of $5600, which I could get on sale for $4700. The Super Vinyasa 5th MSRP is $1500 more. The Samadhi 4th Gen was MSRP $6500 and the 5th gen is $8400, $1900 more.
Those are pretty big price increases.
But even the Jordan’s site now lists the 5th Gen Super Vinyasa, and lists it with a 3" foam top at 2.5 lbs, 1" soft latex, 2" medium latex, 6" latex core, and 1" 1.45lbs foam bottom, which equals the 13" total. But out of it only 9" is latex, which is surprising at these prices. The Samadhi only adds one more inch of soft latex at the top for 14" total…which is probably why it felt the best to me between the Prana models.
For the Beautiful model, your link says it is 3" 15 IDL, 3" 24 IDL, 6" 36IDL. Do you know what the different IDLs are for the latex used by Savvy and Sleep EZ? You say that is softer than the Savvy…but to me when I was on the Savvy that had all 3 layers of soft, it felt softer than the Beautiful.
One concern about the Sleep EZ is that you have to assemble it yourself. I has surgery a couple month back, and can’t really so that, so my friend would have to. How involved is putting it together, since the foundation shows it has wooden slats?
Edit: After watching the assembly videos, I see the latex mattress is easy to put together, but the bottom wooden support seems that it might be a “weak link” as it is just held together with bolts and wing-nuts with velcro on the top wooden slats.
So I found out today I could get the 4th Gen Prana Samadhi for $5700, which is $1000 more than the Super Vinyasa. They are only going to be making the 4th Gen until they run out of the supplies aand then will on have the 5th Gen at the much higher prices.
I’m going to a different Mattress Xperts later this week to try out the Savvy again and hopefully get a better feel for it.
I like the pricing of the Sleep Ez more, even if it requires assembly. Do both the Savvy and Sleep EZ have comparable IDL with each other? I’m trying to see why the Savvy is about twice the price since it seems both are the same design.
I’m glad to see that they finally removed the lower quality materials in their previous generations and replaced them with a higher quality/density and more durable version of polyfoam which would no longer be a potential “weak link” in their mattress in terms of durability and the useful life of their mattress.
With the change in foam quality/density of their 5th generation then there would be no cause for concern with the durability or useful life of their mattresses and if you have done some careful testing to confirm that the mattress you are considering is a good match for you in terms of PPP then you would have covered two of the three most important parts of the “value” of a mattress purchase that are listed in post #13 here (suitability and durability).
Of course I would still make some very careful “value” comparisons between the Prana and other mattresses or the other “finalists” you are considering that use similar types, thicknesses, and quality of materials based on all the parts of your personal value equation that are most important to you including the price and the options you have available both before and after a purchase to customize the mattress or exchange the mattress or individual layers if the choice you make doesn’t turn out as well as you hoped for. I would always be very cautious once you are above about $3000 (queen size mattress only) or the equivalent in a king size (about $3500 - $4000 mattress only) so that you have a compelling reason to buy a mattress in this price range that makes sense to you and that would make the additional cost vs the other options you have available “worth it” to you.
Savvy Rest doesn’t provide the ILD’s for their layers but the general range is in post #2 here. The ILD range for SleepEZ is near the bottom of this page.
Softness/firmness is very subjective and relative to each person and a mattress that feels soft for one person may feel firm for another depending on how their body type, weight distribution, and sleeping style interacts with all the layers and components of a mattress and their own individual sensitivity. There are also different types of softness/firmness that some people may be more or less sensitive to (see post #15 here). The comfort and transition layers in the PLB Beautiful would be softer overall than the Savvy Rest but for some people the softer bottom layer (in spite of the alignment risks involved) may “translate” into an “all soft” Savvy rest feeling softer to them even though it may not feel softer for other people.
Assembling a component mattress such as SleepEZ or Savvy Rest is generally a fairly simple process but it would be much easier with two people. The foundation is easy for one person to put together and is made specifically for latex mattresses and would certainly be suitable and strong enough for an all latex mattress and it wouldn’t be a “weak link” in your sleeping system.
I would like to keep the pricing as close to $4000 (or under) if possible.
The Prana Super Vinyasa at $4700 is a stretch, but the Samadhi at $5800 is really more than I am lookig to spend on a mattress. The new 5th Gens are just out of ballpark with their price increase.
But the more I think about it, even though I like how the Samadhi felt, I am concerned about the 1.5lbs on the top 3", and there is nno way to replace any layers on the mattress. At least with the Savvy or Sleep EZ it doesn’t have foam on the top and the layers can be replaced.
I see from you link the latex layers are about equal between Savvy and Sleep EZ. For example, if I tried out a Savvy that is soft/soft/medium, then chances are a Sleep EZ with the same configuration would feel about the same.
What I am thinking is to try out the Savvy again later with week at the other store that can swap them out, find which configuration I like best, and order that configuration from Sleep EZ.
My question (or concern) is if there is any difference in quality or reliability between Savvy and Sleep EZ? As I’m trying to figure out why the price of the Sleep EZ is half (as the saying goes you get what you pay for, and even though the price is attractive, I’d hate to get it, not like it, return and go with Savvy or Prana…with all that hassle.)
