The Mattress Expert

Is the mattress "New" or a "Floor Sample"

Tina of Stratham, writes:
I just picked up a Simmons Beauty Rest - Lisbon Plush mattress/box spring set.  I paid $796.00.  When the dealer loaded the mattress in the vehicle, he noticed the red tab which showed through the sealed plastic.  It says "floor model".  Does that mean this mattress was either returned by someone else or used as a floor model before coming to me and being sold as "brand new " ?  He said it meant that the manufactuer assumed it was going to be a floor model.  so before I unwrap it, I thought I would check with this blog.  Thanks.  Tina.

Hi Tina. When a floor sample order is placed with the factory, there's a paper label stuck to the outside of the plastic that says so. Theoretically, more attention is given to the tailoring of a floor sample. In the past, it has happened here where I changed my mind about which samples I was going to display and sold off one that I had ordered as a floor sample. You can tell if it's new by the way it's bagged. New mattresses are machine wrapped and heat sealed. When a mattress has been opened and re-bagged at the store, it's taped closed.

Thanks, Pete

 

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
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S&F, Stearns & Foster Emperor's Retreat mattress

Krista of Pulaski NY, writes:
Hi Peter,
My husband and I headed out to our local Raymour and Flanagin today to look at mattresses.  We were overwhelmed from the minute we walked in.  We expected to go in and get their advertised $499 special. Of course they started us at the most expensive Stearns and Foster they had (over $5000) and we worked our way through to the least expensive Sealy Posturpedic (the $499 model) that felt like laying on a piece of plywood.  We selected a Stearns and Foster Emporer's Retreat which is a pillowtop in the Dynasty Collection.  My husband likes mattresses more firm and I prefer a softer one, and we both thought this was comfortable in the showroom. I cannot find this model out there anywhere else.  This is the first mattress we have purchased in 15 years, and am hoping to not have to purchase another in the same amount of time.  We have no particular sleeping issues except that we do not sleep soundly and often wake to find the blankets displaced from tossing and turning so much.  We are of average weight(140/180).  Do you have any comments on this particular mattress or recommendations for a different Stearns and Foster. We have until 1/2/08 to change our minds, and another 30 days past delivery should we absolutely hate it.  I appreciate your input.
Thanks, Krista

Hi Krista. The Emperor's Retreat is a level 5 ultra plush boxtop....same as my Toulous. I don't show that model on the floor because I felt is was a bit too soft....certainly too soft for someone who likes it on the firm side. Given your preferences, I would have shown you the level 1 plush. We have it as the Chateau Orleans. It's called the Zen Garden in the Dynasty Collection.

Thanks, Pete

 

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: themattressexpert@live.com

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

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Michael - Sealy Posturepedic Palatial Crest Hotel mattress

Michael Writes:
Pete - During my stays at higher end hotels, I've noticed that the Sealy Palatial Crest mattress provides a great night of sleep for me.  What Sealy product available to the retail consumer approximates this mattress?  I have also noticed in your blog that you mention level 5 or g grade as the way to go with Sealy products.  Can you elaborate on Sealy's grading system for firmness and other factors?  Thanks.

Hi Michael. Sealy's grading system is one of expense and has nothing to do with firmness.
They start their grades at "C". Most hotel mattresses spec out at about an "E" or "F". "G" is where the higher coil count starts, which is a better choice for home use. Grades "G", "H" and "I" have that higher coil count. Above that, the coil counts increases only a little and there is also too much padding.
I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding a mattress that suites you, from among the 9 models in those middle grades. Those middle grades will wear better than the higher and lower grades.

Thanks, Pete

 

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: themattressexpert@live.com

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

A mattress for spinal surgery and shoulder pain

Can you advise me on a mattress to replace a new Sealy Posturepedic Spring Free latex ultra plush?  I broke my back several years ago and have titanium in my spine from spinal surgery.  This mattress does not provide enough support and causes spinal pain.  I purchased it because my previous, very firm, mattress was causing chronic shoulder pain from sleeping on my side.  The Spring Free eliminated my shoulder pain but created back pain.
I need a mattress firm enough to support my back but with enough "give" to permit me to sleep on my side without shoulder pain.  I do not want a pillow top.
I am debating between a Simmons Beauty Rest World Classic luxury firm and a Simmons Exceptionale Plush.  My concern is that the former is too firm and the latter too soft. 
I need to select the mattress from Sit 'n Sleep in LA. I've eliminated the names since they're different from store to store.
Many thanks for your advice.    

Before buying a new mattress, turn your mattress over and try sleeping on the firmer underside. I have a feeling that it might be just enough of both, firmness and give for your shoulder.

Thanks, Pete

 

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: themattressexpert@live.com

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

S&F, Stearns & Foster Hotel Classic plush mattress

Hi Peter,
I've been reading through your website and blog...  Looking to get your impression on a mattress set I'm currently considering.  It's a S&F Hotel Classic Plush made exclusively for Macy's.  Has a manufacturing date of 2/16/07 - it is a floor model so the bed can not be granted the Worry Free Warranty and I be purchasing it will be "AS IS".  My questions are as follows: 
Should the manufacturer's warranty continue to be in effect?  Is this Macy's bed in alignment with the high quality materials Stearns & Foster uses on all their mattresses?  In the S&F line-up where would the Hotel Classic Plush fall into?  I noticed you mention that S&F mattresses are priced up to $5000.00 what would be a resonable cost for the Hotel Classic Plush?  I've been reading that some S&F beds encounter deflection very quickly (1 month).  What is the possibility of this happening to this particular mattress? 
Some vital stats on myself and preferences are the following: I'm mid thirties, currently 170 lbs (uggg!), prefer firm plush and downsizing to a full set.  I want to pay fair market value and I'm looking for a mattress that will feel the same the day I buy it for at least 5 -7 years. With normal "wear & tear" forward to 10 - 20 years (twenty is a stretch).  Look forward to hearing back from you. 
Thank you kindly, Cheryl

Hi Cheryl. Currently, the Hotel Classic plush is a latex mattress, same as my Sealy SpringFree Beachside latex . You'll need to check with the salesman to see what's in it, as the tend to use the same names for different products as time goes on. If it is the latex mattress, you aren't likely to need the warranty. Any reciept marked, "floor sample, close-out, clearance, as-is, does not come with a factory warranty.

Thanks, Pete

 

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: themattressexpert@live.com

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

S&F, Stearns & Foster Silver Dream mattress

Adam of Northern Ca, writes:
So I am trying to make a decision on a Stearns and Foster Silver Dream.... but I am very concerned with a few posts that I've been reading.
1.  It seems that the pillow top will not last anything close to 10 years!!  I read here than 'sagging' and 'depressions' are 'normal'.  I read that 3rd party inspectors typically find that depressions and 'ruts' are all 'not defects'.  Is this going to be a $3700 mattress that lasts 2 years???
2. How in the heck does one 'rotate' a queen mattress "1/4 turn" every month????????
3.  Will rotating 180 degrees have any impact on the life of the pillow top?
4. If the pillowtop degrades uniformly, so the whole surface gets depressed and lumpy- SUCH THAT THERE ARE NO DEPRESSIONS OVER 1.5" DEEP, but the whole surface is breaking down- will there be a warranty?
So, what's the true story here.
And I don't expect to see a reply on this blog!

Hello Adam. I don't know why you weren't expecting an answer.
The S&F "Silver Dream" is a name they've used for years. Even now, that the construction at the high end has changed, they still call one of the "Silver Dream". The older Silver Dream was a problem mattress. It had much too much padding, which made for deeper body impressions that started forming almost immediately.
The new Silver Dream has a "coil on coil" construction...that is a 3" individually pocketed coil atop their standard heavy interlocked coil. It has a lot less padding than the older model. We've sold a few of them over the last half year without complaint.
You can't 1/4 turn a queen, but rotating does help.
A body impression in a S&F would have to be 1.5" deep or more to qualify for an exchange. Some companies have increased that to as much as 3" on their high end beds. The 1.5" criteria, which had been the standard industry wide for as long as I can remember, was instituted at a time when all mattresses were firm...to some degree. Sealy and S&F have not changed that, even though mattresses have gotten to be so thick and plush.
Upon complaint, an independent inspector is sent to measure the mattress. He makes no decisions...he just takes the measurements. He also notes any signs of abuse and he looks to see if there are any stains and if the mattress has a proper boxspring and frame...which are also measured.
Body impressions, to some degree are normal. They tend to be more prevalent at the high end and with pillowtops. If this is an issue for you, simply stay away from those types of mattresses.

Thanks, Pete

 

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: themattressexpert@live.com

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

Quick fix for a sagging mattress

Kendra  writes:
Hi Pete,
I came across a couple of products on the internet that promise to fix a sagging or uncomfortable mattress. The first one ("mattress rx" is an inflatable pillow type of support, placed under the mattress at its center, inflatable up to 5". The second one (the "contour cloud mattress pad" is a topper composed of memory foam with a built-in lumbar support on a firm base. Do these products work? My Sealy Posturepedic, which was great when new, is already sagging at 3 years, and I am plagued by neck and shoulder pain. Instead of going through the hassle of getting a new mattress, I was hoping for a quick, fairly inexpensive fix.

Hi Kendra. I can promise you that the memory foam won't last very long. In theory, the inflatable unit sounds ok, but I'm not personally familiar with it. Keep in mind that sleeping on plastic tends to be hot. Did you call the store where you bought it? It comes with a 10 year warranty.

Thanks, Pete

 

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: themattressexpert@live.com

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

Simmons Beautyrest Ingram plush mattress

Lynne writes:
I bought a Simmons Beautyrest Ingram Plush from Slumberland and have had terrible problems with deep sleep impressions.  We've already had the mattress replaced once and the same thing is happening again, but they won't replace it this time.  I'm only 135lbs but my impressions are deeper than my husbands.  My torso sinks deeper than my head, neck, and legs.  It is difficult to turn over, and I wake frequently with back pain and need to change positions.  There is a large "hump" in the middle of the bed between our sleep impressions, big enough that you can't sleep in that spot.  My husband's impression is not as deep, but his side of the bed feels like you are going to tip right out.  I am considering a tempur pedic in hopes that I will be able to sleep through the night without waking due to pain, and get out of bed in the morning without aches and pains and more rested.  I'm a little gun shy about spending a lot of money on another bed, as we wasted about $1,700 on the Simmons.  Any and all advice would be appreciated!

Hi Lynne. The coils in the Beautyrest are not tempered, so it isn't as resilient as it should be. It's quite common to hear this type of complaint...that the woman, who is lighter, has a deeper impression than the husband. That deeper impression is usually in the hip area, where women are heavier. That "hump" in the middle is where no one sleeps. That part of the bed is still like new. They usually develope in a king, where you tend to sleep farther apart. A standard king is almost square. It's square enough to rotate 1/4 turn. You should do that every month for the first year. Rotating the mattress in this way will cause the padding to settle more evenly. The Tempurpedic isn't known for holding up very well, either. A latex mattress is what you want. It's, by far, more durable than anything else. The best of the latex is the Sealy SpringFree. The Beachside, their starting model, is the most popular.

Thanks, Pete

 

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: themattressexpert@live.com

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

S&F, Stearns & Foster Rose Cloud mattress

Chris of Herndon, VA, writes:
Hi Peter,
We are downsizing from a King to a Queen and need to replace our Stearns & Foster Rose Cloud pillow-top mattress.  We find the Rose Cloud to be pretty comfortable and in researching the current S & F line-up it appears the Strasbourg Park is the closest to what we currently have.  I have also been looking at the new level 9's, the Chateau Vitre or the Marseille Cathederal.  How would these compare to our current mattress in terms of both comfort and durability.  I usually try to stay away from the top-of-the-line mattresses as I have felt they have more components that can break down and cause pre-mature wear problems.  Anyway, your thoughts on these mattresses would be appreciated.
Regards, Chris

Hi Chris. The Strasboug Park is a level 6 ultra plush euro-pillowtop, with the upgraded edge support. Concerning the level 9, I would normally agree with your assessment of high end beds. I don't usually floor them because they have too much padding, which creates a problem. The current model, however, is an exception to that rule. The coil on coil construction give the mattress an incredible feel...and with less padding than the Strasboug Park. If I were to buy a new mattress for myself today, it would be the Chateau Vitre.

Thanks, Pete

 

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: themattressexpert@live.com

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.

Miralux mattress

Steve of Woodland Hills, CA, writes:
Thanks for your site, wish I found it before I bought this matress. It is a Miralux Firm. I had back surgery several years ago and have had no problems until sleeping on this matress for a couple weeks. I have pain in my leg similar to pre-surgery. Which Sealy do you reccommend? I weigh 180, 5 ft 8 in. Would a topper help? Thanks.

Hi Steve. A topper won't help. You're mattress provides the wrong support for your back problems. The Sealy Posturepedic Cedar Rose cushion firm and the S&F Abbeville would be the 2 I'd have you try first.

Thanks, Pete

 

An Important Note: 

Any kind of moisture, be it from spills, accidents or perspiration causes a mattress to wear prematurely.

Protect your investment with high quality, Waterproof Mattress and Pillow Protectors that sleep cool and won't shrink.

http://themattressexpert.com/mattress-protectors/

 

Phone: 1-856-874-6894 
Email: themattressexpert@live.com

Website: http://themattressexpert.com/

Factory Direct to You....All Items Made Factory Fresh to Fill Your Order

Free Delivery Nationwide....US & Canada...NO SALES TAX.