Hi Countrygirl,
I would be very careful about what you believe when it comes to “certified organic latex”. There is more about this in post #6 here. Many overpriced mattresses that “claim” to be “certified” use Talalay latex and there is no certified organic talalay latex in the world. In some cases they use certified organic covers and other components but the latex itself isn’t certified organic. You can also find mattresses that use actual GOLS certified organic latex and certified organic cotton/wool quilted covers in the list of manufacturers I linked at significantly less than half the $7000 price you are mentioning.
Bear in mind too that the PLB (and most manufacturers) have inflated prices on their websites that nobody ever pays.
The PLB mattresses do use good quality materials and are “better than average” value compared to most larger manufacturers but they are also higher than many smaller manufacturers that make similar mattresses unless you are able to find a significant discount over their regular selling prices. I would certainly buy them over most of the mattresses that most consumers end up buying from major manufacturers. Value also has different meanings to different people and each person has their own “value equation” which includes the value of all the objective, subjective, and intangible factors that are part of any mattress purchase including the mattress along with the service and other benefits that come from dealing with a particular retailer or manufacturer. For the most part though, with some exceptions, the PLB’s “commodity value” (their cost compared to other mattresses that use similar materials) is not in the “best” range.
I was also impressed in my conversations with them and they are certainly “good people” IMO. When I last talked with him (about 6 months ago) he was seriously thinking of making an all Dunlop latex mattress in addition to his latex/innerspring hybrid but it doesn’t sound like that has happened yet.
I completely agree with your sentiments here. One of the most reliable signs of a better retailer or manufacturer is their ability and willingness to disclose the quality details of all the layers in a mattress so that their customers can make meaningful comparisons and identify any weak links in a mattress in terms of durability.
As I’ve often mentioned … comfort is what you feel when you first lay on a mattress and even the lowest quality materials can be comfortable in a showroom or when you first sleep on them. Support is what you feel when you wake up in the morning either with or without a back ache or discomfort. Durability is what you feel several years down the road and is all about how long the materials in the mattress maintains the comfort and support that was the reason you bought it.
I certainly appreciate all your feedback. As I mentioned I’ll see if I have the chance to do a bit more looking for any other “possibilities” in the Bend area but I doubt that you will find a more knowledgeable retailer or manufacturer in the area than the one you are dealing with.
Phoenix