Hi ARazorbackguy1,
Good question!
Lets say for the sake of argument that a Pure Latex Bliss Nature mattress … queen size mattress only … was $2200. Compared to anything similar from most mainstream outlets this would represent good value.
A mattress that used similar amounts and quality of materials (or in some cases even more expensive materials like a wool quilted ticking even though this may not be a preference) are often available from a local manufacturer (if someone is fortunate enough to have one that made this close enough to them) for well under $2000. Lets again say for the sake of argument it was $1800 (some will be more and some less).
This means that you would be paying a premium of over 20% for the Pure Latex Bliss. You would gain the advantage of having tried the mattress and knowing it was suitable for your height, weight, body shape, and sleeping positions (to the degree that your testing was able to duplicate your actual sleeping experience). If your alternative was a local manufacturer who also sold a mattress with similar materials and you were also able to test it in person … then of course there would be no down side to choosing them. If your alternative was a “choose your own layer” or DIY mattress, then you would gain the advantage of greater flexibility in the layering of your mattress and the ability to exchange layers after purchase if you made a mistake. There may also be differences in shipping, tax, and various other parts of the overall “value equation”.
If your alternative choice was even less … or the materials were more expensive (such as all natural talalay vs bended) and you preferred the more expensive materials … then this too would become part of the tradeoffs you would make.
So overall … buying a mattress like PLB would normally be a better value choice than other mainstream mattresses including some very high priced and more premium mattresses.
Buying from one of the many local manufacturers around the country that made a mattress with very similar materials and sold them at a lower price would offer better value yet (and some of these make similar mattresses where the difference would be more than 20%). Purchasing from an online manufacturer would also have the advantage of better value and greater flexibility both before and after the sale but would have a greater risk (which can be lessened by your own personal research and testing and the mattress design and knowledge of the manufacturer you are dealing with).
Of course there are many online outlets that have lower value where there would be no significant savings or may even be more than the PLB and there may also be a few local manufacturers who made similar mattresses where the savings were also less (or in some cases may even be more) but this isn’t the case with the mattress and manufacturer choices available to the members of this forum. Overall the difference in cost between a high value local manufacturer or online outlet over the PLB can be significant but each person would of course need to decide for themselves which of the many tradeoffs involved in each choice was most important to them.
A suitable foundation is a very important part of the sleeping system. There are a wide range of foundations available that are suitable for a latex mattress ranging from @$150 for the steel frame wire grid type to the various types of slatted wood foundations which usually start under @300 to tension adjustable slatted bases to position adjustable bases which sell for @$1000 and up. Here too there are a wide variety of tradeoffs and which is the most important is up to each individual all the way from “I want the cheapest that would do” all the way to "I want the absolute best with all the features that are most important to me.
Post #7 and onwards in this thread, along with this thread, and post #47 in this thread have lots more information about foundations.
I can say for sure though that there is some amazing quality and value that is available through many of the local manufacturers across the country including the manufacturing members of this site. Part of their value is also their knowledge and ability to help you make good choices either in person on on the phone and their commitment to your long term satisfaction. IMO It’s well worth the research necessary to explore all your options before making a purchase either locally or online.
Phoenix