Newbie Q Looking for Low Budget Friendly Mattress

[phoenix]

Hi CheapSk8,

1. Is it still worth looking at them if they are going OOB? If we are looking at a new mattress and want quality and value, it might be a good time to find one cheaper there, but what about issues regarding servicing and warranty?

I would certainly consider them because to me the quality of the materials in a mattress is more important (and a much more reliable indocator of the durability of a mattress) than a warranty. Genuine factory defects (which is what the warranty covers) tend to show up early in the life of a mattress but the biggest reason people need to replace a mattress … the loss of comfort and support that comes from the softening and breakdown of the materials … is not covered by a warranty. You would still have the warranty anyway but it may be more difficult to deal with any warranty issues because you would be dealing directly with the manufacturer rather than a local retailer. It’s really a matter of the tradeoffs involved but I would personally give it serious consideration yes. You can read more or my thoughts about warranties in post #174 here.

2. After you purchase the mattress, do you wind up dealing with the local shop or the mattress manufacturer more?

Generally you would be dealing with the retailer who sold you the mattress who would be the intermediary between you and the manufacturer but in this case you would be dealing directly with the manufacturer. In some cases they may suggest another local dealer who can help with warranty issues or replacement.

And a scenario recently encountered: My friend’s wife manages a local upscale furniture store and has a display Tempur-pedic Contour mattress she is looking to get rid of. It has no box spring/foundation with it and is mattress only. Because of this, there is no warranty, which concerns me. However, she is letting me know she can get rid of it for around 800, a little below what they own it for. Since reading the information on this forum, I have been on the “local only kick”, only wanting to go check out the local factory or furniture shops. Is this mattress deal worth it or should I look elsewhere still?

This could be “worth it” if the mattress matches your needs and preferences and price is a good but secondary benefit. You would also need to add a suitable foundation but this shouldn’t be an issue. The Contour uses good quality materials so if it’s “perfect” for you then it would be good value (and excessive price rather than low quality is the main issue with most Tempurpedic mattresses). If a mattress isn’t suitable for you though in terms of PPP (Pressure relief, posture and alignment, and Personal preferences) and doesn’t provide the quality of sleep you need … then no price is worth it. If it “fits” … then it would be a tradeoff (price vs warranty) that would be worth considering IMO. I would just be careful not to let any influence of “wanting to like it” affect your testing.

Will keep checking and will post up what I find/discover from checking the other shops too. Hoping to do some local-ish checking tomorrow or Saturday.

I’m looking forward to your feedback.

Phoenix