Hi Daubernurse,
I don’t think that this has anything to do with innerspring mattresses as a whole (if the comfort layers use good quality materials) but unfortunately your experience is not so unusual with major brands with the exception of being able to make multiple warranty exchanges because many mattresses don’t have a visible impression deep enough to qualify for a warranty exchange even though it has softened enough to have lost its comfort and/or support and needs to be replaced. It’s also not limited to Sealy because most of the major brands use lower quality materials in the comfort layers which are the first to soften, impress, and break down.
They would certainly be “happy” if you decided to “forget it all” but there may be other options available to you that may not involve as much extra cost. Post #2 here and the other posts it links to has more about some of the options you have and the approach I would take when you are caught between a “rock and a hard place” with a mattress exchange and there are few good quality/value options available to exchange for. I don’t know which direction you would be better of with (that’s something that only you can really decide) and I would leave that to your best judgement based on the final details of an exchange that you end up with. You can see the details of the Radiance’s construction in post #48 here that can help you make some meaningful comparisons.
The Radiance is basically 2" of 3.5 lb gel memory foam over 2" of 4 lb memory foam over a 6" 1.5 lb density polyfoam support core. I would also keep in mind though that the quality/density of the materials don’t say anything about how a mattress will “feel” for you in terms of PPP but they can help you make some better comparisons in terms of the quality of the materials.
I don’t know all the specific numbers involved or the price you are being charged for the Radiance (how it compares to other retailers) but I would tend to take a polite but firm and insistent approach that goes up the line of authority as far as possible before making a choice about what to do. I would also check to see if there are any other mattresses may be a suitable exchange either with or without a topper or credit for your box spring. I think your chances of receiving a refund, partial or otherwise, would be very low.
While I can certainly understand the frustration … you are also in a better position than many others who can no longer sleep on their mattress but don’t qualify for a warranty exchange at all.
Phoenix