The Vine: February 19, 2010
Sars —
I need a bed. I thought you and your readers might have some good suggestions for me.I have never purchased one before and after several frustrating hours of scouring sites for good deals, I need some help narrowing down my options.
My only stipulations are that it must be queen- or king-sized and inexpensive, but not something that will fall apart in a few months.My price range is only $500-$600 tops.
I have found some that look promising, like this one, but most of the beds I have looked at online do not have any reviews, and I do not want to make a large purchase and find out it’s a piece o’ crap.
I can sleep on pretty much anything (spring mattress or memory foam or even the floor) so softness/hardness really isn’t an issue.Even a particular store would be great, as I am a bit nervous about the whole delivery aspect.Any advice you or your readers have would be greatly appreciated.
Sleepy
Dear Sleepy,
With the disclaimers that 1) I like a rock-hard mattress, and the poured-concrete beds they have in prison actually look pretty comfortable to me, but 2) it doesn’t really matter, because I always fall asleep in some crazy position with a book on my head and cats fighting for behind-the-knee space…
I got mine at Sears — a firm queen mattress and a slim box spring (I don’t love a bed that sits up too high) ran me about $800 total including tax and delivery/carting out the old stuff. I’d just buy it online and get it delivered; in my experience, doing a “test nap” in the store doesn’t really tell you much.
If you aren’t a finicky sleeper, don’t bother getting a super-fancy mattress; any basic Sealy-type model will give you ten decent years as long as you turn it semi-regularly and use a box spring with it.(I would be wary of “sleep systems” that tell you they obviate the need for a box spring; box springs do serve a purpose, and even if you plan to put your bed on the floor, you should get one.)
The only other issue I can see is what kind of sheets you have currently, and whether you plan to replace them.I find that it’s actually more difficult now to find standard fitted sheets, versus the ones made extra-deep for the pillow-top mattresses, so if you don’t care either way and it’s the same price, you could spring for the pillow-top just so your fitted sheets don’t go on loosely and form ridges on you during the night.
Readers, any thoughts on basic mattresses, or the companies that deliver them?
Tags: Ask The Readers retail
Try Overstock.com. I think they have mostly memory foam for mattresses, but there are usually tons of reviews and their shipping is basically free. I’ve bought mattress toppers and various linens from them and have always been really happy with them. Apparently their customer service is good, too, but I’ve never had to test that out.
Also, if there is a nearby Ikea, they have loads of inexpensive mattresses. We just bought their nicest latex mattress, which is a bit more than Sleepy wants to spend, but I think almost all the other mattresses would be in that price range. Delivery was $60, which varies depending on where you are, but it was worth it not to try to wrestle a floppy mattress home in our pickup. Or up the stairs, for that matter. Ikea is probably not the very highest in quality, but I read enough reviews from people happy with their mattresses that I was comfortable with my purchase. And I love it so far.
I got a new mattress/box spring at Sears last year. If you wait until they’re having a sale, you can usually get last year’s model for a major discount, even though there’s basically no difference between the different models from year to year. Other department stores may have good sales, too. I would recommend against anything with a built-in pillowtop or memory foam top, though. Those tend to get worn out long before the actual mattress. We bought a plain firm mattress and spent another $80 or so on a queen-size memory foam pad to go on top. When the foam gets all smooshed, we can replace it without having to buy an entire new mattress.
Original Mattress Factory, if they are in your area. Their commercials are obnoxious, but they do have good beds at good prices.
Whatever you do, do not, do not, DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER purchasing a used bed. Great way to spread bedbugs.
If you’re worried about sheets fitting a non-pillow-top mattress, you can always buy an actual mattress topper, available in BBB and the like for under $100 (if you don’t go for down, that is) and are often enough on sale for less. I’ve had one since a trip to Europe sold me on ’em, and: love.
Get a double-sided mattress, though. Some less expensive models can’t be flipped, as the underside is frame and not padding. And if you can’t flip it, it won’t last nearly as long.
My queen-sized Simmons Beautyrest came from Macy’s — I got it on sale and paid $489 including delivery and haul-away. Big stores often have sales and if you open a store credit card, you can save an additional 15% or so. The bed is two years old and is still wonderful!
I have long extolled the virtues of 1-800-Mattress. When I was purchasing my first bed I had no idea what I was doing, and I just called them up and told them I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t want an off-brand, since it is such a big purchase, but I didn’t want too spend much. So the guy walked me through them, starting with the cheapest. He didn’t try to upsell me or anything. (I think mine cost just under $500, with box spring and frame, but that was just a full size, and it was ten years ago.) He told me they would deliver between 4 and 6 that afternoon, and they showed up at 4:15. Came in, set everything up, and were out of my apartment in ten minutes. They’ll also take away your old bed, though I didn’t have one. It was the first real purchase of my adult life, so I was relieved it went so smoothly. I’ve since recommended them to other people, and they have all had similarly awesome experiences. And ten years later I still have the bed!
I agree that testing them at the store is almost completely pointless–almost any mattress will feel good for 5 minutes. That said, this is the one case where I’d probably buy in a store instead of online, just because most stores have free takeaway of the old mattress, which is a nice perk.
For what it’s worth, I’ve had bad luck with pillow tops. I had two different ones at various points in my life, and in both cases, I found that the pillow top part was the first thing to wear out, leaving a pronounced and annoying gully where I slept. For my last mattress, I switched back to a regular, non-pillow top, and I’ve been completely happy. I just tuck extra sheetage between the mattress and box spring.
If you know someone with a Costco membership, they sell good mattresses in your price range.
While I own a bed, I’ve never bought one new, so I’m not any help there. But a friend of mine recently bought a mattress from 1-800-MATTRESS (which apparently also owns, or is owned by, Sleepy’s), and they were AWFUL. Not just the bed, but the customer service in particular.
My parents, sister and brother-in-law, and boyfriend have all gotten beds from Costco in the last two years and have been very happy with them. I forget what brand but if you watch for a sale (which seems to be often) they were around 500-600 for a queen.
@JC: Or get a mattress pad. You can remove them for washing and replace them much more easily.
You should have a mattress pad of some sort anyway. Tiny mites = boo.
I second the Original Mattress Factory, if you are close to one. My family has bought 3 different mattresses from them, and we all still like them. I don’t know if was a special, but Origanal Mattress Factory delivered and took my old bed away for free which was a nice perk.
My sister bought a foam mattress from Costco that she loves. She loves it so much we moved it cross-country by stuffing it into one of those soft duffle-type car toppers and moved it cross country. I wish we had a video of the three of us (my sister, her boyfriend, and I) trying to jamb this thing into the carrier… It worked, but my car got crappy gas mileage on the trip. At least getting it out was easy: unzip->done!
I have a memory foam mattress that ran me about $800, including boxspring, frame and delivery. I love it, even though the rest of my family call it the “rock”. Memory foam mattresses are definately heavier than inner spring mattresses, therefore much harder to move. Also a word of caution: the memory foam has a tendancy to retain heat, and some people find them too warm when they sleep. My mother got one that is supposed to stay cooler, but she’s not convinced. YMMV
I don’t know if this is help so much as perhaps a warning… the last time my husband and I went mattress shopping, we went into The Bedding Experts and were accosted by an extremely slimy salesguy: rude, gross, up-sell-y, etc. We looked around for a couple of minutes to be polite but then headed to the door. THE SALESGUY CHASED US OUT OF THE STORE AND BACK TO OUR CAR. I seriously thought he was going to yank the car door open. I hit the doorlocks just in case.
We ended up getting a mattress from a place called Back to Bed and we love it. We also love the featherbed we got to put on top of it, under the mattress pad. Fluffy sleeping heaven! Good luck – and don’t forget to replace your pillows when you get the new mattress.
Yes to the mattress pad…
Plus I’d like to add a suggestion for allergy barriers for the mattress and pillows. I got mine for $20ish at Overstock. Keeps out mites and dust…
I completely, completely agree with the posters who say to get a nice, firm, no nonsense mattress that can be flipped. NO pillow top. We got a pillow top about 4 years ago, paid $800 for it (ouch) and now it’s all worn and smushy and we can only rotate, not flip. Next time I’m getting a nice, FIRM mattress with good support, and complementing it with a nice smooshy or foam topper that can be removed/replaced.
All that said, I’ve heard good things about Ikea beds, too. Worth checking out.
We were in the same position last year – spending ages trying to work out whether the extra cost of more expensive beds meant improved quality or just that they dared to charge more.
In the end, we contacted a local carpenter who made a bed for us from reclaimed wood (specifically wood joists from an old hospital). It wasn’t cheap but was half the price of the chain store bed we were looking at. We had complete control over the size/design/wood stain and when he brought it over, he gave us some maintenance advice – some screws we’re going to have to tighten in 20 years time.
I’d completely recommend at least exploring that route if you can.
I got my queen sized mattress, box spring and basic bed frame from 1-800-Mattress (ordered it online) for about $450 a about 2 years ago and delivery was free! It a decent mattress, it’s a little firmer than I like, but I got a featherbed last christmas so that helps a lot.
I’d also recommend the Original Mattress Factory, although I’ve also purchased a comfy mattress at Costco- still serves as the guest/cat bed.
I actually think the in-store test can be valuable if you are a side sleeper. You just have to be willing to actually lay there for several minutes. If you sleep on your side, you need to know the mattress will support your shoulder as opposed to just crush it underneath you. When my husband and I shopped for a mattress a few years ago, we spent around an hour laying on different mattresses. Worth it.
One thing about memory foam mattresses (Tempurpedic and its ilk) – they get hot spots. If you are a warm sleeper, think very carefully about a memory foam mattress. The density of the material makes it so that heat doesn’t dissipate as quickly as it does through a conventional mattress. It’s not a problem for everyone, but it was a dealbreaker for me.
Another happy 1800-Mattress.com shopper here. And I second the featherbed. It makes a huge difference. I found mine on Overstock. My bed is very, very cozy.
We got a new mattress and bed frame last summer. Mattress and box springs were from Sam’s Club – the Serta Fairmont Firm Eurotop (king). At the time the mattress was about $550. The box springs were bought later and were extra. They do let you buy a mattress/box spring set or buy them separately, depending on your needs. I think you could find something there that fits your budget.
I was also a little worried by the lack of reviews, but I’m so glad I went ahead and bought it. We tried to comparison shop at lots of stores to get a sense of what the mattress would be like and ran into nothing but frustration. The names seem to change store to store so they can make it seem like have something unique. And, as someone said above, any mattress feels good for five minutes. Anyway, we’re very happy with it.
Of note, we did buy a bed frame from The Room Store. We like it, but the end result was the bed was super high. My husband and are tall people and we still felt like we had to pole vault into bed. So we took out the rails, and put the box springs on the floor inside the frame. Now we have a normal height bed that doesn’t just look like a bed on the floor. All this to say – maybe just get the mattress / box springs and then find a really cool headboard to put between the bed and wall at a flea market or antique store to make it look more grown up. Maybe add a bed skirt to hide the box springs.
Good luck!
I don’t have bed-buying advice, but why is a boxspring important? At the moment, the bed I use (new mattress but frame inherited from family members) is half of a bunk bed, so it just has this almost flat board instead of a box spring. Also how frequently should I be turning the mattress?
We bought an IKEA bed, and like the actual bed.
We had issues with the frame that we purchased for said bed, and quickly came to the conclusion that IKEA customer service is stinky. We live nowhere near IKEA, and made a special trip to buy the bed. They were unwilling to do more to help us out than give us a $50 gift card and extend the time in which we could return the item.
So, shop IKEA if you like their beds, and don’t mind returning things and/or will live with whatever you get.
‘any basic Sealy-type model will give you ten decent years as long as you turn it semi-regularly and use a box spring with it.’
That. And YES! DO NOT get a pillow top! It keep you from flipping and turning twice as much. Ugh! Just buy a topper later.
I also suggest getting a metal box spring rather than a wood frame one, because they have some nice give to them and mine seems like it lasts a bit longer. I bought a $600 Sealy middle of the road set about four years ago and it’s still going strong. It would be going even stronger if I could flip the dang thing. Stupid pillow top!
JC said: ‘I found that the pillow top part was the first thing to wear out, leaving a pronounced and annoying gully where I slept.’
Indeed. My dog loves the gully and will curl up in it. It’s super annoying to me, though. I did find that two layers of egg crate thingees (one under the mattress pad, one above) makes it go away. I also just got a feather bed topper for $35 on mega sale so I’m psyched to try that out then the egg crates wear out. Still, egg crates $20 on sale- no pillow top = mattress lasting lots longer.
IKEA!!! We just got ours for cheap – it was on sale and something like $199 or $219. It is a foam mattress, so no springs, and it came rolled up for easy transport!
The caveat is that we already had an Ikea bed, so we were able to just purchase the mattress only – it fit right onto the slats that came with the bed. Although, I believe the bed (the “Malm”) was only $199, so ostensibly, you could get the bed and the mattress well within your price range.
I also agree you don’t need to try it. We bounced around on a few and they all felt the same. We like EXTRA FIRM and the one that “felt” the firmest to us was the one they had labeled “extra soft”, so go figure!
I’m unclear on one detail – are you looking for just a bed (i.e., headboard/footboard/frame type stuff) or just a mattress set (mattress and box springs), or all of it in one package?
If “all of the above” you might consider a futon and just keep it in the bed position. I don’t find them comfortable, personally, but then I’m a very finicky sleeper with chronic pain issues. I’ve seen several in your price range that are very attractive and appear to be of good quality. Plus, if you wear out a futon mattress it’s pretty cheap to replace. (About $90 when my son had one.)
Otherwise, I can vouch for Overstock.com’s overall quality – I’ve bought several pieces of furniture and lots of other miscellaneous things from them, and I have always been pleased (and usually surprised) by the quality and durability of their merchandise. (Never bought a bed or a mattress set from them, but have bought a foam mattress topper.) I’ve never had to deal with a return or complaint, so I don’t know what their customer service is like in that regard, but they’ve always gone above and beyond in the answering-weird-questions and tracking-down-items departments. One caveat, though – don’t expect what’s on the website today to necessarily be there next week.
Also, if you’re just looking for a mattress set and you know someone else who’s looking for a mattress set and you can agree on what you both want, you can get a pretty good deal at Sam’s with their “multipacks.” The mattress I wanted was $950 to $1150 at other websites, which was about what I’d expected. Sam’s had it in a two-pack (two mattresses, two box-springs) for about $1200 (free delivery, set-up, and haul-away). When I realized I could pay a little bit more than I was planning and then either sell the other set, or keep it until this one wears out in ten years or so, I was pretty happy. If you can find someone to split the cost of a two-pack with, you can probably get a decent mattress for $350 or so, which leaves the rest of your budget for the bed/frame.
Costco is the best! I got a mattress with memory foam on the top and foam underneath from Costco, and it doesn’t seem to have quite the same overheating problems as a full memory foam mattress. It’s also a bit firmer than a memory foam mattress, which I rather like. Besides, it’s fun getting this fairly small (but VERY heavy) box delivered, cutting it open, and watching the queen-sized mattress spring free and start to inflate itself. Costco’s return policy is awesome, the shipping was free, and I can’t say enough good things about them. I think I paid about $500 for the mattress, and it’s very much worth it.
Also, mix and match… (assuming you’re looking for an all-in-one solution).
Here’s an 8″ memory foam mattress, similar to in your first link, for $215, and you can get a frame (no headboard or footboard) on Overstock for as low as $80.
There are several different options for beds/frames/platforms under $250 at that second link, most of them with good reviews, and then you can find a cheap mattress set – or even use an inflatable until your budget’s back where it needs to be to get a higher-quality mattress. A friend of mine swears by inflatable mattresses for her pain issues – I, alas, have cats with claws so I can’t go that route.
“You should have a mattress pad of some sort anyway.”
When my dog was a puppy, she jumped up on my bed and proceeded to relieve herself, through both my sheets. However, that mattress pad was better than freakin’ Pampers. It absorbed the rest of it, and there was not a single pee drop on the actual mattress.
I would also recommend Sears for delivery/takeaway. I’ve bought several appliances from them (just got my dryer installed last week!), and they’ve always been professional and quick.
If i recall correctly, Consumer Reports said that the Sleep Number Mattress and the Memory Foam Mattress were the only ones proven to actually help with back problems and give you a better quality sleep. That was not listed as a goal, but thought it might be useful. No knowledge about current prices.
Another option might be getting a mattress free from FREECYCLE in your area, then getting a mattress topper.
It seems like a lot of people found really good mattresses for under 700 dollars, but if by any chance you’re like me and you have a finicky back, I recommend paying a little more. I just bought a posturpedic and I don’t regret it. After all, I do spend at least 7 hours a night on it. I figure that money is better spent on that than something I don’t get as much use out of. :)
I also recommend going into a store. It can help to lie on it even a little, especially since you haven’t purchased a mattress before and so haven’t had the opportunity to feel what beds other than your old one feel like. Also, although some salesmen are pretty pushy, you can negotiate the price of a mattress, which, since you have a pretty generous budget already could leave you with extra money for new sheets, featherbed toppers, awesome pillows, etc. Include them taking your old mattress in the negotiation.
Speaking of awesome pillows, anyone have a recommendation? We like squishy but supportive (i.e, soft and you sink into them a little, but they don’t smush flat under your head).
If you have one near you that has a furniture store, you may want to look at Macy’s. I bought my bed from them about ten years ago and it’s still in amazing shape. Most of their mattresses are expensive, but they offer great deals on sale; my bed was in your price range. Plus, delivery is free.
Pillow tops are a TERRIBLE idea. AVOID! AVOID! They get lumpy and saggy and that is not at all covered by their warranty. Always better to get a firm mattress you like and put a good topper for it. We have a firm…something, I forget the brand, with a three inch thick memory foam topper. LOVE. THAT. BED. Total price including topper? $500.
Also, for the person who recommended second hand: BED BUGS. Unless you’re 100% certain that it’s been fumigated and cleaned, do not risk it. It will ruin your life.
Also also: shopping this time of year gets you some great deals in stores. Mattresses have model years just like cars and the dealers want to liquidate last years stock ASAP.
Chiming in with another vote for Costco all the way. Mine was a college graduation present seven (erp!) years ago, and it’s still in perfectly good condition.
I am box spring-less too, Katie. My bed is a frame with slats and the mattress plunks down on top. Granted, the bed and mattress combo is the same one my parents got me when I first started sleeping in a bed (so probably at least 25 years old), and I should really get myself a new mattress, but I’m not so sure about the box spring.
Skeevy side note about buying a used mattress….when we were selling our old apartment, we planned to sell it furnished. We got rid of the California king mattress thrown on the floor and bought a Queen sized frame from Ikea. Since we weren’t planning on actually sleeping on it for too long, we found a used mattress on Craig’s List. After buying it, I kept running into the seller everywhere I went. Everytime I said hello, he gave me this vague look and would say, “Did I meet you at *XYZ* club?”, or “Oh, are you that doctor I met at *insert latest nightspot*?” I was totally grossed out at the thought of all the random women he brought home and bedded on that mattress!
And at the end of it all?? The buyer didn’t want the furniture and inertia took over – we slept on that nasty mattress for a good 2 years! YUCK!
I bought my mattress/boxspring set at Sears. Like others here, it was my first real adult purchase, and I didn’t even go to the store. I called them up, said I need a basic firm mattress/boxspring combo and how much will that be. I got the Sears brand, nearly 10 years ago, and its still in awesome shape. (Except the underside of the box spring, courtesy of the cats). I think I paid $400 for it. I have since added a foam egg crate topper and a featherbed, and its the most comfortable bed ever. My mom, who recently bought like a Stearns and Foster for like $1K, says my bed is way more comfortable than hers.
So in sum, go to a basic home store, i.e. Sears, Macy’s, whatever, spend $500 on something basic and substantial, and then improve as needed with memory foam or featherbeds.
But yeah, like Sars said about sheets, its a bit hard to find standard sheets (not really an issue once you add a mattress topper).
For a frame, craigslist.
I just got a bed at Ikea*. My very old (But new to me!) house has super-teeny stairwells and a regular full size box spring couldn’t fit up the stairs. So, I had to get the box spring that came in a roll. It’s like, these slats attached with…bandages? It’s hard to explain, but perfectly comfortable. Also, very cheap. The mattress is fine.
The hipster salesguy at Ikea was really helpful in finding me the right bed for the right price. I think I ended up with the second cheapest frame and mattress. You DO have to buy a frame for the rolled-up box spring. I think you could probably do this set-up in king or queen for your price range, Sleepy!
*One caveat: I did not put it together. My stepdad did. He said it was a bitch. So, there’s that.
@Katie – I think the box spring is important as a foundation? But if you have a platform bed, or something like that, where it’s a solid surface that the mattress sits on, I think it’s not as important. (I might not have that perfectly right, but I think that’s sort of the idea. That’s what our bunk beds were like growing up, anyway, though they are not the most fun thing in the world for me to sleep on 20 years later.) I believe you’re supposed to turn every six months-ish. I am lazy and do not do this because my mattress is so old it yells at kids to get off our lawn, basically, but I have been told more than once that it’s really important to prolonging the life of your mattress.
Both the Bay and Sears will give deeply discounted prices on last year’s mattress models (up to 80%) but their sales staff apparently get commission so usually you have to ask.
There are different kinds of mattress covers. I recommend the ones that stop bedbugs and are essentially very tightly woven polyester. They are a little more expensive but nearly waterproof and just great all around. Don’t get anything with vinyl – they pop (BANG!) and boy is that startling in the wee hours of the night.
I’m interested in some of the comments here about bed gullies. I don’t think we have a pillow top but we tend to sleep spooned together. It’s like we’re one 300lb person sleeping in the middle. After nine years there is a pronounced gully and it is annoying. When we get a new mattress (how often do you change mattresses anyway???) we’ll be looking at ones that are specifically designed for heavier people even though neither of us are particularly heavy. Sigh.
Yes! I agree with everyone, get a separate topper if you want one. I got a feathers-topped-with-down one on Amazon for a very reasonable $150, and the bed is like new when I give it the weekly rotation and fluff up.
This might be strange, but a friend sleeps every night on one of those bed-height airbeds. It looks like a regular bed once the sheets are on, and you can adjust the firmness easily. It’s also portable and even the really fancy ones are usually less than $500. Just and idea.
I have to say, I think that testing beds in the store is embarrassing but important. If you sleep on your side, you need to check out how different types of mattresses feel.
Tip: Do not try to comparison shop from store to store for a mattress. As someone else mentioned, it’s virtually impossible to do the price matching game because every store has a different name for an identical mattress. Choose one store to visit that has several brands (Star Furniture, Macy’s – wherever), throw yourself down on several of them for several minutes, and then write down the info for the ones you like (if it’s a spring mattress, write down how many springs there are; memory foam, note the thickness and construction – how much normal foam vs. memory foam). Then start shopping online to see how different stores price similar mattresses. That’s how we ended up at…
Sam’s, which is the link you provided above. My husband and I bought a memory foam mattress there about 3-4 years ago and it has been wonderful. Ours is a Sealy rather than Sam’s brand, but I’m not convinced that it makes much of a difference in quality. I haven’t had any problems with the mattress being too hot and I live in a very hot and humid area. When we were looking to purchase, we compared Sealy with Tempurpedic. As far as we could tell there was no difference in the construction of the two, but there was about a $2000 difference in price. Ridonculous.
In short: Sam’s is awesome. We have a fantastic mattress and low profile box spring from them. The delivery was great and professional. I would not hesitate to buy an identical set from them in the future. As a matter of fact, we’ll soon buy one for our two year old who’ll be graduating from the crib in the next few months.
Reiterating the “no second hand bed” advice. Bedbugs have made a resurgence — don’t take the chance.
Speaking as one who has sold mattresses (as a co-owner of an organic furniture store), I think there is indeed value in trying out mattresses in a store. The key to it is (as was mentioned by a previous commenter) to take your time. I usually recommended to people who were trying out a mattress to bring something to read (we had books on hand for exactly this reason.) You need to distract yourself from constantly evaluating the mattress (“how does it feel now? how does it feel now?”) because, sure, at first it will feel fine. But read for a while — if you can, in your typical sleep position — and see how long it is before your body signals you to turn over. A mattress that isn’t the right firmness will cause you to shift/turn throughout the night — you won’t wake up, but you won’t be rested. Now, speaking as someone who slept on a futon happily for years and years and years, there’s nothing inherently wrong with an inexpensive mattress — however, Elisa is right — you do spend quite a significant amount of time on your mattress — so, whenever the time comes in your life that you can afford to spend more on a better quality, I think it’s a good investment in your own health.
Seconding the hot issue with the latex mattresses _ I’ve got rid of my near new flannelette sheets becuase we simply didn’t need them and I don’t think I’ve used my winter pajamas since. That said, I don’t find it too bad in summer, because I only use sheets. But as someone who overheats quite easily, I found it hard to get used to.
Also, I have to say buying such an awesomely comfy bed has ruined my life. Not only does my body begrudge loudly any other bed, but I often find myself in situations where I think: is this more fun than being in the cloud like cuddle of my bed? No, no it isn’t. and then leave
Many people have recommended Ikea or Sears and I can’t argue with the general quality of both their products and service but…if you opt for delivery from any store, be very sure to ask if the in-town store controls deliveries or if the service contracted out. I’ve had bad experiences with both of the above stores where they’ve hired an outside transport company to do deliveries.
Sleeping on the floor, with the delivery cancelled and rescheduled at the last moment, for four weeks straight is NOT fun once you have ordered your new mattress and boxspring and are kind of looking forward to having a real bed.
That said, my experiences with both Sears and Ikea plus other stores have been fine as long as it was the store itself managing the delivery schedule.
I bought my last two sets of mattress/boxsprings (unfortunate cat pee incident) at Big Lots, which is a discount store that sometimes has a furniture section. They’re Certa and get the job done, plus I waited for a sale and got a good deal. Not top of the line, but decent.
Incidentally, has anyone actually bought a flippable mattress recently? Because that’s what I set out for when I started looking three years ago, and I couldn’t find a single one anywhere, from furniture stores to mattress places to department stores. Insult to injury was the way they’d act like this was a feature you should be impressed with- no-flip mattress! Not because we’re cheap, but for your convenience! We swear!
I bought a king-sized Sealy or Serta pillowtop somethingorother at Sleep Experts in 2003 for $600 – including box springs and delivery/set-up. Still have it. Extremely comfortable and durable.