Mattress selection wizard

I actually saw a few youtube videos about floor sleeping……thats too hardcore for me, but it works for some. Just throw down a few towels and you are good!

John

Anyone else in here - BESIDES BILLYIDOL - have anything meaningful to contribute?
Or am I on my own AS USUAL?
Where are all the EXPERTS?

I just got back from local mattress superstore. Technogel mattress was real interesting.

John

Hi cadman777,

This is my first NewTopic. I’ve been a ‘lurker’ in the past and an occasional responder. But now I have a specific question. Since there are so many variables that go into fitting a mattress to each person, the best approach has always been to use a SelectionWizard that steps you though the selection process. Here’s my question:
Where on this web site can I find a MattressSelectionWizard?
You are correct that there are a lot of variables to consider when choosing a new mattress; any mattress will be unique to those sleeping on it, based on their Stats (height, BMI, sleeping position(s) and any underlying health conditions) and their PPP (Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal Preferences). While the Mattress Shopping Tutorial, the Mattress Specifications You Need To Know, and Mattress Durability Guidelines provide a great deal of information and tips to begin searching for a new mattress, there is no ‘mattress selection wizard’, since there are so many variables in what determines a comfortable mattress for a consumer.

While some of the Trusted Members of the site, such as Arizona Sleep EZ and Custom Sleep Technology, among others, have body profiles or questionnaires you can fill out, these are simply tools, like your Stats and PPP, that assist them in helping you determine which of their offerings will work best for you. With all the different mattress options, and the whole spectrum of body shapes, sizes and preferences, it would be difficult to create a ‘one size fits all’ mattress selector which would actually be beneficial.

If you can provide your Stats and PPP, and a few mattresses or mattress types you are considering, we can perhaps assist you in determining what mattresses you may find most suitable.

~ Basilio

Thanx for the input Basilio.

At this point, due to years of being screwed by mattress manufacturers and sellers, I’m inclined to go ‘traditional’ and get a spring mattress with a separate foam topper.

Like I said above, there’s no telling what the quality of materials and workmanship will be today b/c nearly everything is ‘Made in China’, which means it’s junk. I’m being very polite when I say that. I buy vehicle parts, building materials, electronics components, and all kinds of other things that are needed to repair or build things. And the ONLY good stuff that I buy is either OEM or made in Japan, sometimes Germany, sometimes America, and sometimes Canada, rarely India, etc. I haven’t not found anything good manufactured in 3rd world countries. Most 2nd world countries make garbage too. So now, I just want to know WHO MAKES A QUALITY PRODUCT AT A REASONABLE PRICE.

I consider $2k for a mattress extortion.
Please don’t tell me rhetoric about me living in a fantasy.
I know what materials cost, how cheap corporate slavery is, the investor screw-the-world game, and I know how corporate extortion works.

So any suggestions where I might begin to look for a spring mattress and a 4" foam topper at a reasonable price?

Both of us are side sleepers primarily.
My BMI is about 22 and hers is about 32.
We both have permanent injuries in our neck and back from car accidents (not our fault).
We’re both in our early 60’s.

Thanx…

Hi cadman777,

Please don’t tell me rhetoric about me living in a fantasy.
I know what materials cost, how cheap corporate slavery is, the investor screw-the-world game, and I know how corporate extortion works.

I won’t tell you that at all…. In fact, this is exactly why TMU was started. You came to the right place. This is a community of knowledgeable, experienced, and customer-oriented manufacturers/retailers that don’t rip off and deceive their customers with well-crafted advertising stories for the sake of profit. From this perspective we constantly see disproportionate marketing efforts of corporate Mattress Industry instead of delivering plain honest bed quality and especially transparency so that you know what you buy and pay for. Ditto on the Chinese products as well. You can read @Phoenix thoughts about Chinese foams in post #6 here .

To start off just remember that it is not only about the quality of the materials (which should come first to ensure you’ll sleep well for many years to come without the mattress deteriorating) but also about how well a layering or construction will suit you and your wife… any mattress you choose will be unique to those sleeping in it. This is based on your Stats(height, BMI, sleeping position(s) and any underlying health conditions), and your PPP(Posture and alignment, Pressure relief, and Personal preferences). You might want to take a look at the Mattress Shopping Tutorial as well as the Mattress Specifications You Need To Know and the Mattress Durability Guidelines to get a better feel for how different materials and components work together, and how long they can last. Thanks for providing some of your Stats; as you have varied BMIs and prior back and neck injuries, it’s important to find the correct comfort and support levels for you both, on whichever type of mattress you finally choose.

As for suggestions on where to find a reasonable, quality mattress at a reasonable price, the Trusted Members of the site have been vetted, use quality materials and are transparent about their components and construction, and offer great customer service with generous return policies; By providing them both you and your wife’s’ Stats and PPP and some mattress history they can assist you in finding a spring mattress and topper for under $2000…such as Arizona Premium Mattress who offer the Eco-Sleep Hybrid which has a Pocket coil layer and a 3" latex topper in plush, medium or firm…Flexus Comfort carries the Quadra Flex Hybrid Latex Mattress also with pocket coil layer with edge support and a 3" Latex comfort layer offered in soft, medium and firm, and Quality Sleep Shop offers a number of hybrid options with foam or latex comfort layers at far less than $2,000, even if you want an additional 1" topper.

If you don’t want to pay for the seller costs of doing business (which is included in the mattress of course) then you can choose the more adventurous path of doing your own DIY under the guidance of an expert. You can get components one by one from one of the component suppliers such as DIY Mattress, or DIY natural Bedding if you choose to go the organic route, or Arizona Premium Mattress.

Again, if you find a few mattresses you are interested in we can perhaps comment on how they may work for you same with opting for doing a DIY.

~ Basilio

Thanx Basilio, appreciate the honest appraisal.
I’ll look into what you said and come back in for further refinement.
It’s a sad day in America that socipathic predators have taken control of all the markets, esp. the ones that are so necessary for our health and well-being. But thanx to people like you (and me) who don’t give into the devil, there are remedies, even if they are hidden and hard to find.

Hi Basilio,

Below is an example of a mattress I ‘built’ myself.
The problem is, I have no idea of the quality of the materials and workmanship that goes into these mattresses. How do I know for sure, except that people have used them for a decade and write reviews. But as you know, materials and workmanship can drop in quality over time, so how do I know that today’s mattresses made by the a manufacturer are the same quality as they were a decade or more ago?

Also, how do I know if I picked all the right parts and every part that I need for building a mattress?

cadman777 - I’d strongly suggest running that cart by Ken at APM before you place the order. Since you’re apparently building a hybrid with L&P Combi-Zone pocketed coils it would be quite unusual to use 6" of HD Base Foam (very firm base layer meant for support) as your comfort layer above the springs. I’m sure he’d have a better recommendation for your comfort layer based on your size, needs and preferences.

Good luck,

  • Bill
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Thanx Bill.
I just threw that together as a starting point.
The problem with a DIY approach is, you have to first saturate your mind with all the options of all kinds of mattresses BEFORE you can make an intelligent decision. That’s why you see the stupid choices I made in the example I posted. Just reading post after post ain’t gonna do it for me. I need STRUCTURE to make sense out of piles of information.

So, what I need is a chart telling me what goes with what under what circumstances.
Typically we call them WIZARDS.
So I would call this one a ‘MATTRESS WIZARD’.
Where can I find one?

I don’t think that APM has such an online wizard, but Ken is their owner and is a wizard in the flesh. He’s been designing and selling hybrid and latex mattresses for many years and has the experience to help you get a good match for your specific needs. You can email him or call, but he’s pretty busy so it may take some time to get his response.

Thanx for the info.
There are 3 mattress makers here in Florida on your list.
One which is about 1/2 an hour from my house.
Why can’t I buy form them?
But how do I know what I’m getting?

Ken Hightower is the owner of Arizona Premium Mattress.

That’s what I figured.
So how can I know how good they are if they have no retail presence?

They have a showroom but it’s in Phoenix. Your call on who you’re comfortable dealing with, the large mattress companies who have a retail presence across the country or smaller builders who tend to offer better value with more transparency about the materials used. Make sure you understand their return policies up front.

Thanx for the tip.
I get it.
But how do I know what I’m getting unless I can try it out locally?

See, now that’s the problem with buying online compared to buying from local corporate conmen/thieves. You get screwed either way.

One has to wonder what the purpose for our government is if they can’t keep sellers honest? They suck all our money out of us in taxes and regulation from every angle, but what do they give us in return? Protection of the corporate profits for the greedy evil corporate investors.

So I just want to find a g.d. bed that I can sleep in so I can get up and WORK FOR A LIVING b/c I can’t afford to retire b/c the g.d. government and corporations stole everything from me in this evil fiat money economy. Is it too much to ask from this g.d. country that I can find a bed to sleep in that will allow me to get a good night’s sleep? How has this simple part of life turned into a complicated cluster-f**k of greed and trickery? WTF?!

I JUST WANT A QUALITY BED FOR A DECENT PRICE, FOR GOD’S SAKE!

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Hi cadman777,

See, now that’s the problem with buying online compared to buying from local corporate conmen/thieves. You get screwed either way.
I JUST WANT A QUALITY BED FOR A DECENT PRICE, FOR GOD’S SAKE!

I know it can be a frustrating process to find quality, durability, and perfect fit in a product (regardless if it is a mattress or not), and I see the points you made…with mattresses this is exactly why TMU was founded to provide the consumer with as many tools as possible to make an informed decision and fight back on the lack of transparency of the corporate MI and misleading advertising practices that in many cases are just empty words with no substantiating data. More consumers should demand disclosure of specifications for products.

How do I know for sure, except that people have used them for a decade and write reviews. But as you know, materials and workmanship can drop in quality over time, so how do I know that today’s mattresses made by the a manufacturer are the same quality as they were a decade or more ago?
Also, how do I know if I picked all the right parts and every part that I need for building a mattress?

You know about durability from the Durability Guidelines, you know what to look for in a mattress to ensure quality from the Mattress Shopping Tutorial, and the Mattress Specifications You Need To Know, as far as suitability for any particular person … this is a bit iffy …. possibly the main reason there isn’t some universal mattress selection wizard are the many variables: Different BMIs, different sleep preferences and positions, different preference for materials and all the varied health conditions would be almost impossible. Buying a mattress is such a specific purchase that all the reviews, advice, marketing, it all comes down to whether it’s comfortable for you. Even though its more reading this article on layers from @Phoenix will give you an idea of how mattresses are constructed and how to approach a DIY.

I agree with @Sweet_Dreams, it would be worth running your build so far by Ken at APM as it does seem unnecessary multiple support layers . Ken has thousands of satisfied customers and much experience with guiding consumers for a best fit. A benefit of smaller manufacturers is they are able to put more care and quality into their products, as their good name rests on every sale, and they are also better able to customize their products for you. The last thing they want is you receiving a mattress that doesn’t work for you!

I know online shopping, especially for a mattress can be a leap of faith, and In person is always the best way to test a mattress, but we do strive to make sure our Trusted Members offer fair return and
exchange policies in case you don’t get it right the first try; you can also visit the showrooms local to you for in person testing as well. A DIY mattress can be the most rewarding – and frustrating! Way to go with a mattress but I think if you talk to Ken, you can finish the build with confidence it’s built right.

~ Basilio

Hi Basilio,

Thanx for the update.
This has become the same kind of learning curve as getting a career started.
Something’s radically wrong w/that picture.
“More consumers should demand disclosure of specifications for products.”
That’s now impossible since the feds, in their infinite evil greed and power-brokering egos, have passed laws that ‘permit’ sellers to commit fraud and get away with it. That happened a few years ago under Obamination’s rule.

Anyway, it’s going to take me a long time to assimilate all the info that you guys claim I need to know in order to make a good decision.

Thanx for the advice…Chris

I was also overwhelmed with information and thought I had found a good option with Tempurpedic, but they sleep very hot.
After spending another couple of weeks, I decided to try APM… I built my order, called and got Ken on the first call. I am getting all Talalay myself, but I know he carries a hybrid pocket coil version. Knowing that he actually owns the factory and that I can get Talalay for just under $1000 per twin XL. AND pay no sales tax, no shipping etc… maybe I’ll actually like the product… I’m getting one in Medium and one in plush. I can swap out top layers if I am unhappy as the mattress comes with a zipper.
I’m just like you in that it just shouldn’t be this hard to get something as simple as a mattress. I got pulled in by the Tempurpedic marketing and 5 years no interest. After sleeping hot and on a pretty hard bed, I decided I didn’t want the debt, paid the restock fee and they pick them up next week. TPM is producing mattresses next week and since they are coming from Arizona, I’ll have to sleep in the next room for a week… poor me… I’ll live…
Nowadays, everything is a fight and big companies are using technology to maximize profits. APM is an old school company so I’m giving them a try

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