The Mattresses 24/7 Latex Cal King has arrived!
The mattress arrived 4 business days after the order was placed on eBay. UPS delivered three large boxes weighing 45 to 55 pounds each. 19 staples had to be removed from each box; this took about 20 minutes since I attempted to protect the integrity of the box in the event a return was necessary.
Upon unpacking and removing the plastic protective coating the latex sprung to life and my efforts to keep the boxes in good shape proved unnecessary since the mattress layers would be difficult to maneuver back into their original container.
I noticed several air pockets and a few small tears on the layers; and being a Cal King, a 4” glue seam is visible which was necessary to extend the standard 80” length to 84” one of the firm layers also had a 6" extension glued on - but overall in excellent condition. The condition of the latex layers were actually better than what I saw when I visited the Arizona Premium Mattress (mattresses.net) showroom (the showroom items probably take more of a beating). The layers were comparable to common blemishes found on most latex mattresses here:
BLEMISHES, INCONSISTENCIES, AND VOIDS
Of the six layers we received, five were from Latex International and one of the soft layers was from Radium. Each layer was clearly marked as Firm, Medium or Soft. The weight and cushioning of each layer confirmed the purported firmness level.
The four way zippered/cotton cover is not the most aesthetically pleasing but appears to be functional. We were looking for a less quilted and cooler cover so we would be able to feel the latex and not the cover. We may add a thin wool mattress pad if our testing indicates it is necessary; so this cover will serve its purpose to provide protection to the layers. My opinion is nearly all manufacturers/retailers push the premium covers because they have an elegant look, they are what consumers have come to expect and they are profit margin friendly. It seems counterintuitive to add a heavily quilted top to a latex mattress but everyone is different and has different needs.
There was a pronounced latex odor which will hopefully dissipate quickly. Luckily we will be on vacation for a several days (spending the money we saved on this purchase) which will give the latex time to get a little fresh air and get acclimated before it starts its job.
The 30 day return period offered by Mattresses 24/7 is only 1/3rd of that offered by most manufactures. Therefore, we will be under a little more time pressure to determine if we are completely satisfied. I will report back after our testing is complete.
My initial impression is that I am extremely satisfied with this purchase. I was nervous going into a purchase of this size through an eBay vendor; thus far, the experience has exceeded my expectations. Valerie at Mattresses 24/7 provides a high level of customer service. Hopefully I won’t need to seek additional service from the company; but it is reassuring to know that they will be there if I need them!
This link will take you to several photographs of what I received. I attempted to pick out areas with the greatest amount of defects to give you a better idea of the latex quality.
Mattresses 24/7 Photos