Hi ekrolik,
[quote]Sorry I neglected to provide the other finalist I am looking at. The two beds I’m comparing to are as follows:
Brooklyn Bedding :Aloe Alexis - $1,699 Brooklyn Bedding - Brooklyn Bedding
Quality Sleep Shop: Katherine Latex - $1,899 qualitysleepshop.com/katherine/
I don’t think the prices on the two above are negotiable. I asked a sales rep at Quality Sleep and they told me that they do not negotiate.[/quote]
You’re right that the listed prices for both Brooklyn Bedding and Quality Sleep Shop are also their “best” prices (outside of the 5% discount they provide to the forum members here) and negotiation doesn’t play a role in the purchase. This is typical of factory direct manufacturers who tend to sell their mattresses at their best price every day of the year (with the exception of occasional listed sales with smaller discounts). I would also make sure that you are making “mattress only” to “mattress only” comparisons and aren’t including the cost of a foundation in any of your comparisons.
Both the Aloe Alexis and the Katherine latex would be better “value” from the perspective of the cost and quality of the materials and components inside them. The latex in all of them would be comparable in terms of durability but the other materials and components in the both the Aloe Alexis and the Katherine are higher quality, higher performance, and more durable materials than the 1.5 lb polyfoam in the latex pillowtop you were considering so overall both of them would be higher quality and more durable choices.
Of course I can’t speak to how they would feel for you or how well they would match your needs and preferences in terms of PPP (which is the most important part of the “value” of a purchase) or the other parts of your personal value equation that may also be important to you which are also part of the “value” of a mattress purchase.
The Aloe Alexis has the option to choose the firmness of the two latex layers and you can also exchange for for a firmer or softer latex layer if you decide you decide you need to after you sleep on it (there is a small charge to exchange layers) so you would still have some good options available after a purchase if the mattress you purchase is either too soft or too firm for you which can reduce the risk of an online purchase that you can’t test in person.
If Quality Sleep is in reasonable driving distance (I think it’s a little over an hour away from you) then you would also have the chance to test it in person (along with their other mattresses as well) which can also be an important part of the “value” of a purchase and can also reduce the “risk” of a mattress purchase and if I was in your shoes I would certainly take the trip since you will be sleeping on your mattress for many years. They also provide exchange options after a purchase as well for a small charge.
Overall you are certainly considering some good options but I would tend to lean towards higher quality, higher performance, and more durable materials as long as either your own personal testing (or a more detailed phone conversation with an online manufacturer that you can’t test in person before a purchase) gives you the confidence that the mattress you are considering has a high chance of being a good “match” for you in terms of PPP either initially or after an exchange.
Phoenix