Hi Lynjer,
If you haven’t already … I would suggest reading the tutorial post first. This article and the links that are included will help you bypass much of the confusion and frustration of shopping for a new mattress and help you know about and decide between the different materials that are used in the comfort layers and the support layers of a mattress.
While the Tempurpedics use high quality memory foam and polyfoam support layers … they are certainly overpriced IMO. The iComfort on the other hand uses some lower quality/density materias and are also overpriced. Both are poor value compared to memory foam mattresses that use high quality memory foam at a lower price.
In most cases you will be choosing comfort layers that are made of polyfoam (which are the most common but should be avoided in any amounts over about 1" or so unless it is for a lower budgets and purchased from a very knowledgeable outlet which knows the difference between the different qualities of polyfoam), memory foam (which is often very poor quality under 4 lbs density), or latex foam. All foam no matter what “name” they give it is one of these three types. The comfort layer will be on top of either a polyfoam (OK for the support layers in an appropriate quality), innersprings, or latex foam. While any material can be used to produce a mattress that “feels good” for a while, the different materials and constructions used will make a big difference in how long your mattress works and feels the way it did when it was new. The single biggest durability issue in most mattresses made by the major manufacturers today is the use of low quality cheap polyfoam in the comfort layers of mattresses. The comfort layer is the “weak link” in almost every mattress.
There are a few manufacturers “sort of” near you but none of them are really close. In a case like this I would normally make a few phone calls and tell them my height, weight, sleeping positions and any back issues and see what they suggest would be worth testing in your budget range. I usually tell them that I don’'t want anything with more than an inch of polyfoam in the quilting or comfort layers so to make sure that what they are suggesting meets this “qualification” and that they can tell you the specifics of the materials in their mattresses. That usually weeds out the people that aren’t open about the materials in their mattress and try to get you to come into the store rather than talk about the materials on the phone. Once you have a couple that are more open and helpful … then a trip is worth it and will save you a lot of time over going from store to store and never really knowing if what you are being told is the truth.
The factory direct manufacturers or better retailers or possibilities that are near you are below. This list is a slight revision of a previous list in the previous Sacramento thread and I hope it’s OK that I switched it to that thread to help others from the area.
Within about 50 miles …
http://www.sleepdesign.com/ Folsom, CA. Retail direct outlet. Carries a range of mattresses made by Berkeley Ergonomics which are high quality and include innersprings, latex, and microcoils. Better than average value, and knowledgeable people. Note: microcoils are not a foam and are another type of product like an innerspring that are specially made and used in comfort layers. They can be very comfortable.
http://mattressfactory.us/ Sacramento. Local factory direct manufacturer. They make their own lower end mattresses under their house brand. I would completely avoid the major brands that they also carry. They do not carry or manufacture any latex models.
http://sacramentovalleymattress.com/ Sacramento. Local factory direct manufacturer. In a very brief phone call it appears that they make a variety of mattresses including traditional polyfoam/innerspring, memory foam, and latex. I hope to talk further with the owner to confirm the materials they are using. Added Jan 18th: I talked with the owner and they make innerspring and memory foam mattresses and also offer re-conditioned mattresses. Their only latex models are re-conditioned. He has been in business about 18 years and while he clearly puts effort into making good quality mattresses … he is not as knowledgeable about the different types of foam he uses or more “technical” questions.
http://www.ikea.com/ Sacramento. See post #3 here for more about their mattresses.
http://www.healthybedstore.com/ Folsom. Carries OMI, Savvy Rest, Naturepedic, Ergovea, Suite sleep, and Pure Talalay Bliss latex mattresses along with Nest Bedding memory foam mattresses. Have a good selection but some of the mattresses here have better value than others so make sure you make some good value comparisons. they also have some questionable information on their blog about a competitor.
http://shopmatthewsmattress.com/ Sacramento, Davis, Woodland, Roseville, Folsom, Dixon, Vacaville, CA. Carries Stressopedic which is a regional manufacturer that is committed to being open and transparent about their mattresses (see here)
www.thefutonshop.com/ Sacramento, CA. Carries a huge range of futons of all kinds including innersprings, latex, memory foam, polyfoam, and organic wool and cotton.
http://www.sleepshopinc.com/ Auburn, Grass Valley, CA. Carries OMI latex mattresses and Natures Spa (Paramount) but make some good value comparisons here because they are also in a more premium price range.
http://www.deltabedding.com/ Shingle Springs, CA. Cannon Sleep Products and Easy Rest mattresses.
http://www.laineysfurniture.com/ Vacaville, CA. Carries Easy Rest mattresses.
Further away (up to about 100 miles or so)
Nest Bedding Mountain View, San Francisco, Berkeley, Los Angeles, CA. They are a member of this site and are knowledgeable, experienced, and transparent and carry a range of mattresses including latex, memory foam, and latex and memory foam/pocket coil hybrids. They have also put a great deal of time and effort into carrying mattresses that are good quality and value. I have also talked with Joe the owner on many occasions and he is passionate about what he is doing and left a larger manufacturer that had a somewhat exaggerated focus on “green” mattresses to form his own company because he wanted to “do it right”.
Community Mattress Co Concord. Local factory direct manufacturer with no website at the moment. I’ve talked with Patrick here and he is very knowledgeable and helpful and knows his stuff. He uses quality materials and can build pretty much whatever you want (including innersprings, memory foam, and latex) and has good value.
https://www.foamorder.com/ San Rafael, San Pablo, CA. Local factory direct manufacturer. I have talked with Alan here and he is committed to providing high quality materials and mattresses. Tends to focus more on the benefits of Dunlop latex over Talalay and some of the Talalay information here is I believe is somewhat inaccurate. They also make memory foam mattresses. Also well worth including in your research as they have some good options with good value. Their Natural Sense mattresses are also available at stores in Concord, Arcata, and Albany, CA.
http://www.sleepworks.com/ Berkeley. Local factory direct manufacturer. They make a range of mattresses which include a variety of latex and latex / pocket coil hybrids and microcoil choices which are very interesting and also have good quality and value. They are also very knowledgeable about mattress materials and design and good at “fitting” their customers to a suitable mattress.
http://www.mcroskey.com/index.shtml San Francisco, Palo Alto. Local factory direct manufacturer. Makes premium mattresses with a premium price.
http://squaredealmattress.com/ Chico, Cottonwood, CA. Local factory direct manufacturer. They make a range of innerspring, latex, and latex hybrid mattresses and carry some memory foam mattresses made by another manufacturer as well. Can also do custom builds. Would be well worth a visit.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cozy-beds-sleep-center-chico Chico, CA. Carries Electropedic 2 sided latex mattresses and Spring Air (some with latex). Will call the factory to find out any specs they don’t have available.
http://starmattress.net/ Modesto. Local factory direct manufacturer. I also know little about them as well and their website doesn’t seem to be functioning very well and the links to their models aren’t working.
http://www.thenaturalmattressstore.com/home San Francisco, San Rafael, Palo Alto, Walnut Creek, Los Gatos, CA. Makes a range of high quality latex/innerspring hybrids and all latex mattresses (including component latex mattresses) that can be customized both before and after a purchase. Worth a visit.
http://www.roomandboard.com/ San Francisco. Retail direct outlet for Restwell Mattresses. Carries a range of latex and latex hybrid mattresses with fairly good but not great value. Also good for testing latex
http://www.ergosleepsystems.com/ Berkeley. Retail store. Carries a range of high quality latex mattresses including Ergovea, Obasan, Naturepedic, Organicpedic, Posh & Lavish and Magniflex and Ergosano mattresses well. Many of these are in higher budget ranges so I would make some careful value comparisons here.
http://sleepcitybeds.com/ Various outlets in the area from Santa Rosa to Napa to San Rafael. Retailer. Carries Posh & Lavish and Diamond mattresses. They are knowledgeable about mattresses and materials and as open and transparent about their mattresses as their manufacturers allow them to be. Good people
www.sleepworld.com/ Various outlets in the area. Englander (Dunlop latex), Aireloom, Kluft and others. Probably not the best choice though for value or knowledge … even for testing.
Some wholesale manufacturers with stores in the area that may be close to you and worth including in your research includes …
www.diamondmattress.com/Diamond-Mattress/Store-Locator.aspx Wholesale manufacturer in Rancho Dominguez with retail outlets in Sacramento (check retail outlet finder on their site). Offers a range of mattresses including latex and memory foam which are good quality and can be good value.
http://www.easyrestinc.com/retailer-locator.php?State=CA Wholesale manufacturer in Oregon that makes a range of good quality/value memory foam mattresses. They have a retail outlet finder on their site to help you find the closest retailer to you.
There is also a list for the San Francisco/Berkeley/Oakland areas (with a fair bit of overlap) in post #2 here
While there is some good quality/value on this list … much of it involves a drive and there are not as many options right in Sacramento. An online purchase from a better online manufacturer or retailer such as several of the members of this site listed in post #21 here may also be a good option as well.
If you have questions along the way or need any help in “deciphering” the stories that you will likely be told at some of the “normal” mattress outlets along the way … feel free to post them here 
I’d also love to know if you come across any outlets that I don’t know about that carry high quality mattresses as it is somewhat surprising that Sacramento has so few good options close by when the rest of California … especially southern California … has more than anywhere else in the country.
Phoenix