select foam

[phoenix]

Hi pressurepts,

Overall it has been a really painful process to deal with Select Foam. Somehow, despite the reviews I optimistically thought I would have good luck. No go.

I ended up ordering the Regalis- which is really really firm. I fact so firm that my arms go numb when lying on back. Forget side-sleeping.

Thanks for taking the time to share your comments and feedback … and I’m sorry to hear that the mattress you chose isn’t working out as well as you hoped for. I’m also sorry to hear that you are also experiencing some of the customer service issues that are far too common with Select foam and is the reason for the caution that I added to their description.

As you probably know from your reading here … firmness is somewhat subjective and is relative to what someone is used to sleeping on and the perceptions, sensitivity, body type, and sleeping position of the person on the mattress. A mattress that is too firm for one person can be too soft for someone else but for most people your mattress would be more in a “medium firm” range which would be in the widest part of the bell curve that would be suitable for many people. You can see an example in this topic for example of someone else that is both a side sleeper (75%) and a back sleeper (25%) where the Regalis is working very well for them (although it took some time for the mattress to break in and for them to get used to the mattress).

I was thinking of the cirrus luxe or the cirrus supreme but they talked me out of them, saying they were very soft. I should have listened to my gut. And also should have listened to my gut when i saw the complaints about the company.

When you can’t test a mattress in person then in most cases the guidance of a knowledgeable and experienced online manufacturer based on the information you provide, their experience, and the “averages” of their many customers over the years will tend to be more “accurate” than the “gut feel” of a customer but of course nobody has a crystal ball that can predict which mattress you will sleep well on for certain because not everyone is inside the averages and even the “best efforts” of a knowledgeable retailer or manufacturer to help you choose a mattress may not turn out as well as you (and they) hoped for. This would be true with any online purchase and is the reason that a good return policy can be an important part of the “value” of an online purchase.

People from the “old school” often think “firmer is better” and generally tend to choose mattresses that are too firm and they don’t sink in enough to provide good support under the recessed curves of the body or don’t provide good pressure relief (especially for side sleepers).

People that treat mattresses as a “luxury item” rather than a utilitarian purchase that has a very specific function tend to go by “showroom feel” and “subjective comfort” and often tend to choose mattresses that feel great in a showroom but have comfort layers that are too thick and soft or support layers that are too soft to “stop” the heavier parts of the body quickly enough.

Careful and objective testing is very different from the more limited or more “subjective” testing that most people do when they choose a mattress based on “showroom feel” or “gut feel” which in many cases can have a lower chance of success than random chance alone (see this study)

After a couple weeks of trying the bed it was obvious to me that it was too hard. Not only is it uncomfortable, but my hips are at an awkward angle on my side that only a too firm bed could produce. Can’t sleep on side and it actually has produced pain in my arms from them going numb on the bed. Perhaps is the heavier density 7 lb memory foam- its just too firm and our room is always pretty cold. (San Fran).

In many cases a couple of weeks may not be long enough to go through the break in and adjustment period that will be part of any new mattress purchase … particularly with higher density foam (see post #3 here). This is why they don’t allow exchanges or refunds before 30 days which is also a relatively common practice in the industry so that customers don’t return their mattress before it has had time to break in or they have had a chance to adjust to a sleeping surface that is different from what they are used to).

The temperature in your bedroom can also have an affect the firmness of a memory foam mattress as well so this could certainly be part of the firmness issues you are experiencing. There are also some suggestions in post #2 here that may be helpful as well. All the layers and components in a mattress have an effect on the feel and performance of every other layer and component above and below it so the reason that a mattress isn’t a good “match” for any particular person would be more about the overall design of the mattress and the combined effect of all the layers together than any single layer by itself. With memory foam density and firmness are not directly related to each other and higher density memory foam can be softer (and more pressure relieving) than lower density memory foam.

Now, weeks later- obviously still too hard. Call back- now I’m told to get a topper. Again more money. But I just don’t think this is going to work because i already tried the regalia with a topper i have and its still too firm. Why would I keep an uncomfortable bed and try to doctor it up with a topper? That’s exactly why I purchased a new bed in the first place- because an uncomfortable bed and topper is what i have now- 2x.

Adding a topper can certainly be an effective solution for a mattress that is too firm and is a very common way to “fine tune” a sleeping system so that the specific mattress/topper combination is a better “match” in terms of PPP than a mattress by itself. A mattress/topper combination that works together is really no different from a mattress that works by itself in any practical terms (and some mattresses are specifically designed for use with a topper) although there is always some risk and uncertainty involved in choosing a topper if you haven’t tested the combination in person because the mattress itself along with your own body type, sleeping position, and preferences can affect which specific topper would be a suitable choice on any specific mattress.

One of the benefits of adding a topper is that if a mattress/topper combination turns out to be a good “match” for you in terms of PPP then it also has the advantage of being able to replace just the topper without replacing the entire mattress if it softens or breaks down before the upper foam layers in the mattress (which is quite likely because the upper layers or a sleeping system tend to soften or break down before the deeper layers) or if your needs or preferences change over time and a topper can also help extend the useful life of the mattress underneath it as well.

While of course you are always free to decide on which of their suggestions you may choose to follow … suggesting a topper for a mattress that is too firm is a very common and standard practice in the industry.

I seriously believe i just set $1000 on fire… That would have been less painful (literally- my back is so jacked at this point from sleeping on an air mattress). Plus all of the Dr. and physical therapy co-pays.

I don’t believe that you have “just set $1000 on fire” since the issues that people experience with them have always been resolved over time (as far as I’m aware) … but they can certainly take much longer and be more frustrating than they should.

1. I’m told at this point when i call customer service that only Chris can help me with the return or the topper purchase…why? I have no idea… doesn’t seem like very efficient customer service. Chris is hardly available, doesn’t call back for days. And then he says “you are welcome to talk to other staff”… It’s a circuitous mess of never getting anywhere…

I completely agree with your comments here and having only one person in charge of returns that is often difficult to reach is one of the most common reasons for some of the complaints and delays (and the frustration that goes with it) that people have experienced with them.

2. I was actually on the phone with Chris inquiring about the density of the topper i’m supposed to get now- normal conversation - and saying mid-sentence " Oh i have to go. Sorry. Bye. and he hangs up the phone. What? who does that? No explaination or anything.

This sounds very strange to me as well although I don’t know the circumstances behind it.

3. My back is in serious pain. I need a bed to sleep on- but can’t get a new one until this one gets returned. This is just been one big long drawn out process. It’s maddening.

4. I have been way too nice and trusting in this process.

5. I was told on the phone quote " Don’t worry about it if you end up ordering the wrong model because you can always return it." I seriously don’t believe this at all.

As long as you have confirmed (in writing) that you would still be eligible for a return of both and a full refund … it may be worth considering the topper before returning the mattress and the topper for a refund (which hopefully won’t lead to further delays) because it could be the fastest way to “fix” the issues you are having with your mattress.

If you do decide to return the mattress (either with or without trying the topper first) then I would also make clear to them that given their history and previous customer service issues and delays that if you don’t receive your refund within the 10 business days that they say it should take after they have received the mattress back … that you will be taking further action on day 11 including your comments here, on the better business bureau site, and a complaint to your state’s attorney general office.

Thanks again for sharing your experiences and hopefully your issues will be resolved either with a topper or with a return/refund and I hope you have the chance to keep us up to date about what happens and whether you experience any further delays.

NOTE ADDED: Because of their ongoing customer service issues and delays their membership has now been terminated and I would read the warning here before considering them.

Phoenix