Slumberland Memory Foam and Bensons Bed gives me backache

fi3007

I recently bought a Slumberland Memory Foam bed from Bensons as I was told that it was the best for your back.

After the first day my back was hurting, the second day I went back to the store but they told me I should give it at least two weeks before I complain and noone had ever complained anyway so my complaint was unfounded.

If I did want to complain they could change the bed for another Slumberland bed in store. They only had a choice of three other mattresses: one was harder, one was a cheap one, and one wasn't quite right.

So I went home and tried another night. The third morning I was virtually in tears and I don't normally suffer with a bad back at all. I just do lots of aerobics and yoga and wanted to look after my back.

I've gone back to sleeping on my old mattress.

It is the biggest/most expensive household purchase I have ever made and I thought I was buying the best at £800 for the mattress and divan. I have emailed both Slumberland and Bensons but no reply.

I just want them to take the bed back - even if I lose 25% on the cost - I want some money back. Noone seems to take my complaint seriously - because no one has ever complained about the memory foam mattress before.

Is this fair?

Nile

Hello fi3007


Welcome to the MSE site.

I hope you don't mind but I've moved your thread to the 'Vent' board, where it will get more views and responses.

Regards

Nile

Ted_Hutchinson

Pain support discussion on Memory Foam Mattresses

I don't really know that you have any real grounds for complaint. Unless the company you bought from offered a 30 day trial or other money back if not totally satisfied offer you are buying a product and unless their is misselling or a fault in the product you have only yourself to blame.

The companies that do offer trials or money back offers tend to charge a lot more than those that don't. Several MSE folk have tried the WWW.MIRAFLEX.CO.UK mattress and found despite initially commenting on its hardness that it was reasonable value for money.
given the fact that some people with back problems have found problems with memory foam mattresses (although the vast majority prefer them) only if you were definitely missold the mattress could you complain.

fi3007

Looks like I'll have to put the bed on ebay and I've only had it five days!

fi3007

I just thought I would add that I have received a reply from Bensons and Slumberland - be aware of the following:

1) Buying a bed with Bensons they sell you a Slumberland bed and tell you if you don't like it you can return it under their comfort guarantee of 40 nights.
However a) you have to keep it for 40 nights and
b) what they didn't tell you is you also have to buy a Slumberland mattress protector (which I didn't) so the comfort guarantee is nul and void.

2) Slumberland answered my problem by saying I quote "we can only assume that you have unfortunately selected a bed which does not satisfy your requirements.
Therefore we are unable to offer your any further assistants." (their typo not mine.! It seems crazy that if you buy clothes etc. you can return them if you don't like them, any other furniture can be returned - except a mattress, but since the mattress came with the divan, they won't take any of it back! CRAZY!

Hermia

It did take me 2 weeks to get used to my Slumberland Memory Foam mattress. I did have some back pain during that time and then it was fine after that (I did find that I needed to use less pillows to get comfortable with this mattress). I can't cope with sprung mattresses at all.

Darksun

You could try complaining that you were missold the item - if they said it was good for your back but instead causes back pain then it's clearly not as described. If they're unmoving, try contacting your local Trading Standards office for advice.

The Sales of Goods Act 1979 states that goods must be 'Fit for the purpose that goods of this type are generally sold' and 'As described'. I don't know if you'd have a valid complaint under that legislation, but check with trading standards.