new member

[phoenix]

Hi zebo42,

I wasn’t ver clear re Costco. We saw a Cloud Supreme King we liked at a retailer, though pricy as you have suggested. Costco seems to have the same thing, though I haven’t called to confirm. Considerably cheaper, so I wonder if it is special for Costco that is different. I have seen that before for Costco., but never with the same name brand like here.

Tempurpedic is a price controlled mattress and they normally don’t allow any discounting but based on the picture the Cloud Supreme that is being sold at Costco is the old model that was replaced at the beginning of 2014 which means that it would have a different cover and a slightly different design and memory foam layers than the current model so it may not be an exact “match” to the Cloud Supreme that you tested in the store although it would be fairly similar.

The old model had 2" of the Tempur ES 4 lb memory foam over 2" of their Tempur 5.3 lb memory foam over two layers of convoluted polyfoam.

The new model has 1.2" of the Tempur ES 4 lb memory foam over 2.75" of the Tempur 5.3 lb memory foam over two slightly thicker layers of convoluted polyfoam.

The price is certainly in a more reasonable price range compared to the “regular” tempurpedic prices for their current models (it’s $1000 less than the current model in a king size) although it may still not be in the same “value” range as other very similar memory foam mattresses that are sold by other manufacturers that use similar quality/density materials so I still wouldn’t put it in the “best value” range even with the lower price.

I also wasn’t so clear re this - I guess my interest is getting a good quality recommendation for the materials and then it is up to me to find right PPP. What I meant was a manufacturer or retailer that you felt had good quality materials.

I don’t make specific recommendations for materials (which is a preference choice not a “better/worse” choice) or specific manufacturers or mattresses because there are too many unknowns and variables and individual criteria involved. Outside of PPP … a mattresss is only as good as it’s construction and the quality of the materials inside it regardless of the name of the manufacturer on the label and most manufacturers make a range of mattress that use both lower quality and higher quality materials. My focus is on helping with “how” to choose and how to make more meaningful comparisons and to help the members here make sure that no matter what type of materials they prefer that the mattress they are considering uses good quality and durable versions of that material and that there are no weak links in the design relative to their body type and their budget range. I do recommend the members here “as a group” and the tutorial post also includes several links to some of the better online options I’m aware of but there are also many other manufacturers across the country that make good quality/value mattresses and are transparent about the quality of the materials they use so you can make good comparisons.

Again … the guidelines I would use regarding the quality/durability of the materials in a mattress are in post #4 here.

For example, it turns out I am a couple miles from Bed in a Nestbedding and bedsetz which are next to each other. So I figured I would check them out this weekend and Flexus. What I meant to ask is whether you know enough about these companies to generally feel they have quality beds (excluding the 3 lb part about memory foam), apart from me needing to find our own PPP etc.

If the materials in any of their mattresses meet the quality guidelines I linked then they would be well worth considering (or at least comparing to some of the other options that are available to you) and if they don’t or you aren’t able to find out then I would pass them by. None of the mattresses that are sold by Flexus have any lower quality materials or weak links in their design.

Lastly do you have a post on Bed in a Box, seems to do well in Consumer Reports.

You can see my comments about Bedinabox in post #2 here and I would tend to avoid their memory foam mattresses along with any other mattress that used more than “about an inch or so” of lower density memory foam in the 3 lb range in the comfort layers of the mattress.

You can also see some comments about Consumer reports mattress ratings and recommendations in post #2 here and in this topic. As you can see I (and most knowledgeable people in the industry) would consider them to be a unreliable source of guidance about purchasing a mattress.

Phoenix

[zebo42]

Thanks again.

3 mre questions I suspect u have answered elsewhere

1. what about the boxspring. various places, like Flexus, recommend their brand because their mattress is x, y or z. do you have a post as to how to determine if your boxspring and frame really need a replacement for 2-400$

2. It seems like the best option for long term is to find a component bed that can have the top part replaced since the comfort layers are the ones that go first. of course, this doesn’t seem like anything any manufacturer or retailer would like! BUt is ther any downside.

3. SOme personal things

I have had 3 or 4 mattresses, all innerspring mostly name brands _Posterpedic, beutyrest, none over maybe 1100, tho of course at least 8 - 30 years years ago. All last about 8-11 years til one of us is uncomfortable. Until then we don’t wake up uncomfortable from the bed. On the other hand, neither of us are morning people (tho that may have a lot to needing the morning coffee) and we don’t bound out of bed raring to go. Perhaps that is the bed, who knows?

Given this, I am wondering if it makes sense to spend much more than another 1000 for a mattress. If I find a mattress we like for PPP, and the materials aren’t horrible … in 8-11 years I will need to get another one. If I spring for a 2500 latex matress or more from Flexus or another place for a King, is it likely to last much longer or provide a better PPP or sleep experience. It is not entirely clear to me what I am getting (other than better materials design etc) that translate to better sleep/longevity.

thanks in advance

[phoenix]

Hi zebo42,

1. what about the boxspring. various places, like Flexus, recommend their brand because their mattress is x, y or z. do you have a post as to how to determine if your boxspring and frame really need a replacement for 2-400$

There is more about the different types of support systems (usually a foundation or a platform bed rather than a box spring which are only suitable and used with a few types of mattresses) in post #1 here and there is more in post #2 here about using your current foundation or box spring.

2. It seems like the best option for long term is to find a component bed that can have the top part replaced since the comfort layers are the ones that go first. of course, this doesn’t seem like anything any manufacturer or retailer would like! BUt is ther any downside.

You can read more about the pros and cons of component mattresses with zip covers vs “finished” mattress where the layers can’t be replaced in post #15 here and post #2 here.

[quote]3. SOme personal things

I have had 3 or 4 mattresses, all innerspring mostly name brands _Posterpedic, beutyrest, none over maybe 1100, tho of course at least 8 - 30 years years ago. All last about 8-11 years til one of us is uncomfortable. Until then we don’t wake up uncomfortable from the bed. On the other hand, neither of us are morning people (tho that may have a lot to needing the morning coffee) and we don’t bound out of bed raring to go. Perhaps that is the bed, who knows?

Given this, I am wondering if it makes sense to spend much more than another 1000 for a mattress. If I find a mattress we like for PPP, and the materials aren’t horrible … in 8-11 years I will need to get another one. If I spring for a 2500 latex matress or more from Flexus or another place for a King, is it likely to last much longer or provide a better PPP or sleep experience. It is not entirely clear to me what I am getting (other than better materials design etc) that translate to better sleep/longevity.[/quote]

This is one of those questions that can only be answered with “it depends”.

The biggest reasons to spend more on a mattress are the two reasons you already identified which are …

1. Better sleep and your ability to reach the deeper stages of sleep which in turn can have a significant effect on how well your body (and mind) rest, recover, and heal from the stresses of the day (or even illness) and on how you feel and perform during the day (mentally and physically).

2. The durability of the mattress materials which will have the biggest effect on how long you sleep well on a mattress before the softening and breakdown of the materials results in the gradual (or more rapid in the case of lower quality materials) loss of comfort and support that leads to crossing the thresholds between sleeping well to just sleeping “OK” to tolerating a mattress and then finally deciding to replace it. There is a significant difference between “sleeping well” and “sleeping OK” in terms of how well your body can rest, heal, and recover. The reality is that higher quality and higher performance materials cost more.

Having said that … if for you there would be no significant benefits to a more costly mattress that would result in improved sleep or a more durable mattress with a longer useful life then there would be little benefit to spending more. The challenge is that predicting how well you will sleep on a mattress can be difficult to quantify. There is more about an “ideal” mattress in post #4 here.

It’s always more realistic to think of about 10 years as a maximum reasonable expectation for any mattress no matter what the quality of the materials and then treat any additional time after that as “bonus time” because after about 10 years the limiting factor in the useful life of a mattress will often be the changing needs and preferences of the person sleeping on the mattress and even if a mattress is still in good condition after a decade … a mattress that was suitable for someone 10 years earlier may not be the best “match” any longer.

Having said that … with higher quality materials throughout a mattress and/or for people whose needs and preferences or physical condition or body type hasn’t changed much over 10 years then “bonus time” or even “extended bonus time” with higher quality/density materials like latex or higher density memory foam or polyfoam or natural fibers is much more likely than with less durable materials and with the most durable mattress constructions and materials it wouldn’t be uncommon for someone to sleep “well enough” on a mattress for 20 years before needing to replace it.

Phoenix

[zebo42]

thanks much again, will let u know what we find re the retailers I mentioned after the visit.

[zebo42]

looked more at your posts, and am curious if you still like Sleep EZ and
Brooklynbedding and dreamfoambedding.com (also Dreamfoam Bedding Amazon Store).

sleep ez, seems very comparable to Flexus

also wondered about merits of 10 v 13-inch latex of Flexus and SleepEZ. just a little more support?

[phoenix]

Hi zebo42,

[quote]looked more at your posts, and curious if you still like Sleep EZ and
brooklynbedding and Dreamfoam Bedding (also Dreamfoam Bedding Amazon Store).[/quote]

Yes … SleepEZ is a Trusted Member of this site which means that I think very highly of them and I believe that they compete well with the best in the industry in terms of their quality, value, service, and transparency.
While Dreamfoam and Brooklyn Bedding are no longer members they provide some quality products with good customer service.

sleep ez, seems very comparable to Flexus

Yes … their component mattresses have similar designs.

also wondered about merits of 10 v 13 inch latex of Flexus and SleepEZ. just a little more support?

There is more about the pros and cons of thicker mattresses and/or more layers in post #14 here.

Phoenix

[zebo42]

there are some very inexpensive dreamfoam or BB ones, which caugth my eye I haven’t really studied them, fyi, I noted a number of sites that commented to this effect

“But recently the material quality has been changed. At present they are using the density of about 1.5lbs instead of 2.35lbs. These days the materials are manufactured with the utmost quality durable comprising of 3”. The company is also popular in customizing all the mattress which has been made to the level of firmness which fits your request. It keeps cool during the sleep. It is one of the fastest response foam.
http://mattressreviewsbest.com/dreamfoam-mattress-ultimate-dreams-latex-mattress/

On the other hand, some of the cheaper ones are all Dunlap latex, which i gather is pretty good, tho not as good as Talalay. Hard to assess the UD Freedom with 11’’ v the 10 or 13 Flexus that is twice is much $.

thanks Mike

[phoenix]

Hi zebo42,

[quote]“But recently the material quality has been changed. At present they are using the density of about 1.5lbs instead of 2.35lbs. These days the materials are manufactured with the utmost quality durable comprising of 3”. The company is also popular in customizing all the mattress which has been made to the level of firmness which fits your request. It keeps cool during the sleep. It is one of the fastest response foam.
mattressreviewsbest.com/dreamfoam-mattre...eams-latex-mattress/[/quote]

The change was actually a long time ago and it’s not “recent” at all but you can see some comments about it in post #2 here and the posts it links to.

They are certainly among the best quality/value mattresses that are available in their price range.

Phoenix

[zebo42]

Thanks much.

You certainly hav e an unbelievably amount of info on your site, I am now enjoying it!. When I first went hear, I was overwhelmed, and almost skipped it, ut now it is fun to learn

I did poke around some other sites, and found the Old Bed guy site. He seems to be in love with Charles ROgers, not sure why entirely. So I looked here on the forum, and and got your views on them and him, no need to provide.

I would be interested in one of his observations, and your thoughts.
he says "The marketplace is filling up with confusing foam mattress ads riding on the popularity of the innerspring hybrid. These “so called” hybrids have the requisite comfort padding on top, but in place of the support and the durable springy comfort of a coil spring, firmer foams provide what support there may be. I have tried to like the idea, because in theory, it could lower the cost without lowering the benefits. However, there is nothing like a spring, to do the work of a spring. …
• Buy an innerspring mattress. University laboratory tests have confirmed that innerspring mattresses are, on average, 28% cooler than common solid synthetic foam, even cooler when compared with memory foam. My experience is that more people are happier on a good innerspring than even the finest solid or layered foams. University Proof of Cooler Innerspring Test ’

Next, i noticed a lot of the Charles Rogers bed seemed to show a foundation bed (wood of some type) and a mattress, seeimingly without a boxpring. I have always had a metal frame, no doubt $40, and boxspring - does th platform replcae this so yo don’t need a boxspring.
Lastly, do you have a post re top parts - cotton, wool, bamboo??

I will visit FLexus this weekend, so I guess this all is really wondering

1. flexus is all latex, so wnat about an innerspring with latex top instead
2. platform instead of box springs
3. cotton or bamboo etc.

[phoenix]

Hi zebo42,

[quote]I did poke around some other sites, and found the Old Bed guy site. He seems to be in love with Charles ROgers, not sure why entirely. So I looked here on the forum, and and got your views on them and him, no need to provide.

I would be interested in one of his observations, and your thoughts.
he says "The marketplace is filling up with confusing foam mattress ads riding on the popularity of the innerspring hybrid. These “so called” hybrids have the requisite comfort padding on top, but in place of the support and the durable springy comfort of a coil spring, firmer foams provide what support there may be. I have tried to like the idea, because in theory, it could lower the cost without lowering the benefits. However, there is nothing like a spring, to do the work of a spring. …
• Buy an innerspring mattress. University laboratory tests have confirmed that innerspring mattresses are, on average, 28% cooler than common solid synthetic foam, even cooler when compared with memory foam. My experience is that more people are happier on a good innerspring than even the finest solid or layered foams. University Proof of Cooler Innerspring Test '[/quote]

You can see my thoughts about some of the misleading or even deceptive information on the Old Bed Guy website in this topic which will also explain why he promotes them so heavily.

I think that these types of “broad brush” comments or recommendations can often be more misleading than they are helpful and I personally treat the choice of materials or components in a mattress as a preference choice rather than a “better/worse” choice. There are many different types of innersprings that each have very different properties (see this article and post #10 here) and the type of materials and layers that are used on top of an innerspring and the specific design and layering of a mattress can also have a major effect on the feel and response of any particular mattress regardless of what it uses as a support core. These types of recommendations would be somewhat like recommending that everyone wear a suit and tie to work or that everyone should buy a pair of leather oxford shoes rather than making choices that they prefer or that are suitable for their own specific circumstances and preferences.

Materials like good quality polyfoam and latex foam in a suitable firmness level can certainly make a very suitable mattress for a particular person that can be just as “supportive” and “comfortable” and durable as any particular innerspring mattress for people who prefer them.

There is also 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” and why some mattresses are suitable for some people but not for others that have a different body type, sleeping position, or preferences or sensitivities.

While it’s true that there are more people that are used to an innerspring mattress than other types of mattresses and they are still the largest single segment of the industry … this is also changing and the growing popularity of foam mattresses (latex foam, polyfoam, and memory foam) speaks for itself and they can certainly make a great choice for those that prefer the specific properties of certain foam mattresses vs an innerspring mattress of some type.

In terms of temperature regulation … it’s certainly true that innerspring are more breathable than any foam materials but it’s also true that the layers of a mattress that are closer to the surface will have a bigger effect on the sleeping temperature of a mattress than the deeper support materials or components so if you have an innerspring matttress that uses thicker layers of memory foam as the comfort layers then it may sleep much warmer for someone than a mattress that has a polyfoam support core and more breathable and temperature regulating materials in the comfort layers and the cover and quilting. There is more about the many variables that can affect the sleeping temperature of a mattress in post #2 here.

Next, i noticed a lot of the Charles Rogers bed seemed to show a foundation bed (wood of some type) and a mattress, seeimingly without a boxpring. I have always had a metal frame, no doubt $40, and boxspring - does th platform replcae this so yo don’t need a boxspring.

There is more about the different types of support systems that are generally most suitable for different types of mattresses in the foundation post here and the posts it links to (in the second paragraph). A platform bed that has a support surface that is suitable for a particular mattress and that is designed to support a mattress directly wouldn’t need a foundation since it would already provide suitable support for the mattress without it. A metal bedframe or a wooden bedframe that only has a few slats or cross members that wouldn’t be supportive enough for a mattress (the mattress would sag right through the spaces in the bedframe) would need a foundation on top of them to provide suitable support for a mattress.

Lastly, do you have a post re top parts - cotton, wool, bamboo??

There is more about quilting materials in this article and there is more about quilted mattress covers (including wool quilted covers) vs stretch knit covers in post #12 here and the posts it links to. There is also more about the the pros and cons of different types of fabrics used in mattress ticking (covers) in this article and in post #7 here and the posts it links to as well (which is more about sheets and bedding but the comments about the different types of fabrics would apply to mattress ticking materials as well).

1. flexus is all latex, so wnat about an innerspring with latex top instead

There is more about all latex mattresses vs latex/innerspring hybrids in post #13 here and the posts it links to but again this would be a preference choice more than a “better/worse” choice…

Phoenix

[zebo42]

Thought I’d report back on a couple places he went today – Flexus and dreamland a couple miles apart in Covina.

both of them were great places up but it’s not entirely fair to compare them given the price differential between the two. We first went to flexus I which has a very small a show room with about six of beds in itincluding a double-sided bed and a couple of all latex beds.
My wife more or less a fell in love with the 13 inch all latex a bed which had 3 3 inch medium layers and a soft Talalay top layer. The other half of the bed I had 2tfirm layers with a medium layer on top and then also the soft Talalay layer that I liked quite a bit, Both were very luxurious and being able to combine two different firmness levels is fantastic for those with different firmness interests. I also like that I could quickly switch the firm and medium a layer on my side to make it a bit firmer and the whole process took about five minutes

We also tried a 10 inch bed and both of us were surprised at how different it felt. Even though the layers up for the same firmness, the absence of one additional layer makes quite a difference and a 10 inch is a much firmer all the way around.

Interestingly my wife consistently seems to sink through some of the beds with a different types of comfort versus support. since she is much lighter than me the only rational explanation that anyone had is that she doesn’t really sink into the support level like I do and that it feels a quite a firm out to her. as a result she really didn’t like a number of beds that I was okay with

We then went and saw Bruce the owner of a dreamland who is only a couple of miles away. Most of the beds that we looked at a there were spinal bedding company mattresses that he said was now a Serta company. Most of them were individual coil bottoms with with different toppings as such as memory foam or latex, and some with all layers of both along with gel layer. He was a very helpful and knowledgeable but I don’t think either of us liked the beds a quite as much as the all latex up bed. However, they were a very nice beds in all respects and were only about half the price of the 13 inch a latex bed at flexes

We will try couple places are nearby tomorrow and then I’ll probably decide what to get

[phoenix]

Hi zebo42,

Thanks for the update … and it’s good to see you are looking at some good options.

Interestingly my wife consistently seems to sink through some of the beds with a different types of comfort versus support. since she is much lighter than me the only rational explanation that anyone had is that she doesn’t really sink into the support level like I do and that it feels a quite a firm out to her. as a result she really didn’t like a number of beds that I was okay with

This is a fairly common phenomenon because the same materials will often feel firmer to someone that is lighter than they will to someone that is heavier. It can also be a result of different weight distribution and different body shapes or sleeping positions or even a different sensitivities to pressure. There is more in the first part of post #2 here about accommodating a couple that have different needs and preferences.

I’m looking forward to finding out what you end up deciding.

Phoenix

[zebo42]

O, I saw this post of yours, and am a bit confused

@Phoenix

Hi kenzo,

OK … that clarifies a few things.

There are two Spinal Care Bedding companies. One is a small independent manufacturer based in Gardena, CA (and is also called Good Mattress Company). Their website is here. They are NOT owned by Serta and are completely independent. They make some good quality and value mattresses including the one you are looking at. These are the ones that are carried by Dreamland.

The other is the one that is owned by Serta. Their website is here (dot com instead of dot net). Like their parent company … they are not in the same quality/value range as the one in Gardena.

When you were mentioning a “really cheap” mattress I was assuming that you were talking about a sub $500 mattress and the specs you listed didn’t seem to fit this budget range. I wanted to make sure you weren’t buying a liquidation or used mattress. The prices you are listing are more in line with what I would expect and I would consider it to be a good quality and value choice with no weak links in the mattress.

This is also a very uncommon pocket spring with a very high coil count that you don’t see much in the industry.

I have also talked with Bruce at Dreamland Mattress Discount and think highly of his knowledge and experience and they are also a forum member (see this thread).

It’s good to hear you are considering the “good” Spinal Care instead of the “other” Spinal Care

I’ve also added them to the Los Angeles list here because for some reason I neglected to do so when I first talked with Bruce so thanks for bringing them up.

Phoenix

It seems Bruce has the same mattresses as the good Spinal Care (for example, Cloud, Monet etc) yet he said it was a Serta company, or used to be? (note that Kenzo makes the same comment ) seems like above that is the bad spinal care?

I did suggest my wife try firm, Medium medium with soft Talaly if we go back, to see how different it is, since that would giv eoptions down the road.

[RodgerTrivett]

Hi all,

I am new to TheMattressunderGround forum and researching on some mattress for the side sleepers to know the issues of their back-pain. Wish a lot of information I will get from here.

Thanks,
Rodger Trivett

[phoenix]

Hi zebo42,

It seems Bruce has the same mattresses as the good Spinal Care (for example, Cloud, Monet etc) yet he said it was a Serta company, or used to be? (note that Kenzo makes the same comment ) seems like above that is the bad spinal care?

I saw your previous comment that Spinal Care was now a Serta company and it was confusing to me as well. On the Dreamland blog here they say that they are carrying Spinal Care and they are an independent family owned manufacturer and when I last talked with Spinal Care in Gardena they confirmed they were still an independent company as well (and were having some real issues with the “other” Spinal Care). I also noticed that the “other” Spinal Care no longer has a website (you can see that all of their websites listed at the BBB here are gone).

In the end all that really matters is that you can confirm the type and quality of the materials in any mattress you buy so you can make meaningful comparisons with other mattresses based on the quality/durability of the materials inside them which is always more important than the name of the manufacturer on the label but I plan to call both Dreamland to confirm what they are now carrying and Spinal Care Bedding to ask them if they are still an independent manufacturer when they are both open.

Phoenix

[phoenix]

Hi RodgetTrivett,

Welcome to the Mattress Forum! :).

I switched your post from the topic you originally posted in to a more general topic.

The first place to start your research is the mattress shopping tutorial here which has all the basic information, steps, and guidelines that you will need to know how to make the best possible choice … and know how and why to avoid the worst ones.

Phoenix

[zebo42]

I am pretty sure it is the good company that Bruce carries and perhaps he is confused about there being two of them.

For those nearby, we did like Dreamland and suggest a visit, he is very helpful. ONe thing he stresses as a selling point is that Spinal Care has a 20 year non prorated warrenty on all its beds, even the one that are dirt cheap, like 600 for a king. He also says he is very unusual by dealing with teh warrenties himself if there is a problem. He says most if not all retailers will have you call the manufacturer directly if you have a claim, but he will do it himself, and go and eyeball your mattress for you. He claims this is much more likely to get you a new mattress since they will more likely accomodate him since he buys a lot from them, while you of course have bought one mattress and they may not care what you think.

NOt sure if this all is accurate, but thought I would mention it. since we like Flexus more, even tho much more expensive, it doens’t matter to us.

[phoenix]

Hi zebo42,

NOt sure if this all is accurate, but thought I would mention it. since we like Flexus more, even tho much more expensive, it doens’t matter to us.

Most good retailers will facilitate and act as the intermediary with warranty claims so that their customers don’t need to deal directly with the manufacturer and this would be part of the service they provide.

I would also take any warranties longer than 10 years or so with a grain of salt because longer warranties are more about marketing than they are about the durability or useful life of a mattress or when you will need to buy a new mattress. There is more about mattress warranties in post #174 here. It’s also true that many smaller manufacturers would be much more likely to replace a mattress that is in the grey areas of their warranty coverage because they are more focused on building and maintaining their word of mouth reputation for quality and durability and the ones that make higher quality mattresses will also tend to have less warranty claims.

While there is no way to quantify how long any mattress will last for any particular person … if a mattress is well inside the comfort/support range that is suitable for someone and isn’t close to the edge of the range that is too soft for them when it is new and meets the minimum quality specs that are suggested in the guidelines here then it would be reasonable to expect a useful lifetime in the range of 7 - 10 years and with higher quality and more durable materials like latex or higher density memory foam or polyfoam (in the comfort layers especially) it would likely be in the higher end of the range or even longer.

It’s always more realistic to think of about 10 years as a maximum reasonable expectation for any mattress no matter what the quality or durability of the materials and then treat any additional time after that as “bonus time” because after about 10 years the limiting factor in the useful life of a mattress will often be the changing needs and preferences of the person sleeping on the mattress and even if a mattress is still in good condition after a decade … a mattress that was suitable for someone 10 years earlier may not be the best “match” any longer.

Having said that … with higher quality materials throughout a mattress and/or for people whose needs and preferences or physical condition or body type hasn’t changed much over 10 years then “bonus time” or even “extended bonus time” with higher quality/density and more durable materials like latex or higher density memory foam or polyfoam or natural fibers is much more likely than with less durable materials.

Phoenix

[phoenix]

Hi zebo42,

Just to let you know I talked with Bruce today at Dreamland and he thought there must have been some misunderstanding in the conversation because Spinal Care Bedding in Gardena which they carry isn’t owned by Serta.

Phoenix

[zebo42]

Update

went to more places around our area
ELectorpedic - very knowledgeable also, with more all latex beds. these are all synthetic Talalay, no Dunlap at all, and no natural Talalay. since no Dunlap, and who knows what else, more expensive than Flexus. THeir latex from Latex International, which he says provides most latex in this country. (But not to Flexus)

Nest Bedding - also would recomend visiting this place. one of few, if only , place to check out Bed in a Box in Los Angeles.

NOthing we found seemed to be as nice as the Flexus we had seen (other than the Electropedic latex) so we ended up going back there and getting a King size 13". As latex goes, reasonably priced if not low end on price, tho a lot of money. But for those who are looking at Temperapedic or Icomfort or similarly priced beds , I would certainly recommend looking at FLexus - it is less expensive than Temperapdic by far. For us, this bed was most comfortable, and has advantage of diferent firmness on each side, and ability to switch firmness later. My side is firm, firm, medium and then Talalay soft, while hers is firm, medium, medium Talalay soft top. Since the talaly level on top is a single sheet, you don’t feel the split in the lower levels (other than the softness difference)… IF you decide you want mor firmness, you can move the firm layer up and the medium down - we both felt the difference. For that matter my wife felt the difference between fmms and mmms, tho not a lot - we were surprised to feel a difference with 9 inches of the same materials above them. But it seemed better to have to option to change firmness down the road. They do allow you to change a layer within 90 days for free (or a modest fee, I forget which) but with the different lower layers we have that option throughout the life of the bed.

Won’t get it til this weekend, will report back after a month or so to see how we like it.

For those looking for a less expensive bed, you can get a double sided one at Flexus, or a 10 inch or 7 icndh at Flexus also. I am not in a position to comment if the double sided one really provides longer life as they say - it sounds reasonable IF you actually flip the bed regularly. For those looking to spend 1000-1500, I would check out Dreamland in Covina and NestBedding.

NestBedding (about 12400 Ventura Bvd) is next to about 4 -5 others retailers, so a great place to check out alternatives. We liked the owner at DreamEz, who sells Temperapedic, I comfort Stearns and Foster and a few more. He also has some “'House brands” that were more reasonably priced that we liked. SleepEZ is accross the street and they probably have 80 on the floor and a diagnostic machine of some type that suggests your recomended firmness. If you are looking for a name brand, I suspect they have it - they had Iseries, I comfort, Temperapedic Kingdown, Dormio and others

Lastly, I will comment on this site. I really like, as should be obvious, Phoenix is great. My only suggestion to you Phoenix might be simplify some things for some. When I first got here, it was a bit overwhelming - so much information etc and the fact that everyting is so individual makes it a bit daunting. A cliff notes version might be a good thing. In my former profession, I found that necessary - yes, if you want to do it really right, you need to do A -X, but recognize most or many aern’t willing to do that so here is A-D, with the caveat that you are taking shortcuts.