Hi Singsongster,
I personally place a high value on local testing and as a rough guideline I place a value “premium” on buying locally in the range of about 20% (meaning is a similar mattress is available online for about 20% less I would consider it roughly equivalent value) because of the lowered risk involved.
I would need to know the specifics of the mattress topper combination (layering, cover type etc) along with the size and what else was included in the purchase (foundation or any other extras etc) to make any real assessment of value but there is also additional value in a two sided mattress and with a separate mattress topper combination where you have the option of replacing just the topper which is likely the first part of your sleeping system which will soften or degrade and the value of extending the life of the mattress itself even though latex is already very durable material.
Gardiner makes some very high quality mattresses and I think highly of both them and the mattresses they make and would certainly choose them over mainstream brands. Its relative local value would depend on what else was available in the area ad on all the other factors that are involved in assessing the “value” of a mattress purchase. Its value compared to online options would depend on making an “apples to apples” comparison between similar mattresses as well and once again assigning a “value” to all the different options and pros and cons involved with dealing with each manufacturer or retailer.
There is real value IMO to buying a mattress that you have personally tested (particularly if it comes from a high quality manufacturer) vs a purchase that has different layers and components that may not be the same in terms of how it feels and responds to your particular body type, sleeping positions, and preferences even though both may use good quality materials.
These are really questions that are more about personal preferences and the elements of each person’s “value equation” that are most important to them (see post #46 here) but if you are choosing between Gardiner and the online options that are available to members of this forum then you are choosing between “good and good” and no matter which direction you choose … from a quality/value perspective (which has nothing to do with the suitability of a mattress for your specific needs and preferences) it would be difficult to make a “mistake”.
Once you have eliminated all the worst options (which you have) … my role is to help you decide “how” to choose rather than “what” to choose based on all the objective, subjective, and intangible factors that are most important to you and are a matter of individual preferences.
Phoenix