Saturday, October 24, 2009

Forget Garden Beds...


Oh hello. I have just thought of a brand new use for my blog. Ahem.

I'm trying to buy a new mattress for me and my wife. The internet is full of scammer comments and opinions, biased sites, and what else. I went to a sleepys in Bay Ridge today, and what a routine the salesman did for me. And I followed it through to leaving a small deposit on a mattress I know nothing about that cost more than I really can spend.

You are gardeners, so occasionally your back hurts from too much digging. You probably value a good night's sleep on a good mattress. What kind do you have and where did you buy it?

Oh, I hope this works.

9 comments:

  1. That's actually a hugely complex situation. The inexpensive mattress we settled for a couple of years ago is starting to give out. A good suggestion I have heard is that if there is a hotel you have slept well at, to ask them what mattresses they use. Of course when we tried that at a hotel with great beds in Holland, it turns out they don't sell those mattresses in the US. The best I can do is wish you luck and hope for recommendations I can steal too.

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  2. Hi sarahh. The crazy thing is this. The model name for the same mattress is different from store to store so that you purposely can't compare prices! I tried this at sleepys. The mattress was a 'spring court', but nowhere to be found on any site or company. Similar names, yes (like subdivsions), but never the same.

    Also, this causes a problem when asking a hotel. Its built in to the mattress business for customer confusion. I called to have my deposit refunded today and of course, they gave me a runaround. Wanted my email, my phone number (again), didn't call back as they said they would.

    After this first experience, I am better prepared. I am a product researcher on anything over 100 bucks. I thought that mattress buying was like any other product, but its worse than used cars!

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  3. As soon as I can get Vince out of it, I'll have a look. I've forgotten...

    I bought it about 5 years ago at, ahem...Macy's (cringe)...and paid $1,000 (I only mention in terms of full research)- what I considered a heck of a lot - for it, but was desperate, and justifying it as a long- term investment. Part of it was also that I couldn't stand the whole routine with the salepeople and just told them to eff off while I lay on all the beds!

    But eschew the pillow top. This one has a comfy pillow top, but whenever I sleep on a totally firm mattress, I am happier. Still, it's a good night's rest. Now if only I knew the name.

    Apparently the mattress trade really is scurrilous. The husband of a guy I work with (yes) used to sell them. I'll ask him for recommendations and the low down.

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  4. Marie,
    Oh, well ask the husband of a guy- that sounds right, but also check yours-I'd like to know.

    The salesman danced with me till he picked my wallet.

    I never got to lay on all the mattresses and think for myself without the salesman leading the way!

    I may go to Macy's cause I think I may be left alone.

    1000 bucks 5 years ago is like 13 or 1400 now. But prices on these things are so misleading! You really don't know what you should be paying, but I want something good if I am plunking down hard earned 1K (even if thats not a lot for a mattress-it should be!). The most I've ever spent on a mattress is , hard to say it, 80 dolllars!

    Oh, my achin back!

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  5. It's a Masterpiece Classic, and also has the word LeVante in a box on the label.

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  6. Huh - I googled it and it's nowhere :-)

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  7. Yeah, me too.

    Harumph, mattresses.

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  8. So the husband of the guy only sold Sleepy's...and the salesmen worked on commission ONLY! He says you shoudl haggle...

    Oy.

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  9. do you have a subscription to consumer reports? i have the on-line one. it doesn't say when the last hard copy report was.

    it could be a good time to buy if people are putting off large purchases (but i don't know this).

    i got lucky & got a floor model half-off. i was kind of yucked out at the idea of floor model until my friend pointed out that i sleep in HOTEL beds. floor model beds have only people with clothes *on* and out in public. so i got it.

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