Which mattress? (merged threads)

Tim_Deegan

Pete_Hodgson wrote: »

Hi, I've just registered on this forum after trying to find out some info about mattresses. Apologies if my questions have already been answered, but I haven't got the time to read all of this thread yet as I'm at work.
I have a Superking size bed with a Dorlux mattress which didn't last very long. It was bought from Bensons for beds about 3 years ago. Unfortunately the mattress got lumpy and saggy pretty quickly, but we put up with it. After getting in touch with Dorlux it turns out it is still just within its warrenty and we are entitled to replace it for £80. However, I'd rather not get the same mattress again, so am hoping we can upgrade. The range of king size matresses is here- http://www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk/Mattresses/SuperKing.aspx
I think the one we have is the Avalon, but as there is only 1 more expensive Dorlux,(we would need to replace it with the same make) would it be worth getting that one instead, and paying the extra? Or should we get the same one for £80, make do for a while, and then buy a decent one in the near(ish) future? (such as a pocket sprung memory foam mattress.
Thanks.

If you do go for a different make then go to an independent retailer where they tend to be more knowledgable, and are less likely to try and fill your head with sales hype and gimmicks (this doesn't mean they won't, but they are less likely to).

It appears that the Avalon was made specially for Bensons, as I can't find it anywhere else.

It also appears that Dorlux have a winding up order in court today: http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/list_companies_winding.htm
So if you do have problems with the new mattress then you could have problems getting a replacement.

You say that you have had the mattress 3 years, and that it would cost £80 to replace. I should point out that if an item is designed to last say 5 years, and a fault develops within that time, then the manufacturer must pay some of the cost towards either repairing or replacing it. This is usually done on a sliding scale. So if they say that your mattress is only covered for 3 years, then it sounds like they are saying that the mattress is only designed to last 3 years.

So if you are on a low budget then go for the replacement, and hope that they can get you one from stock before Dorlux is wound up. If the Warranty was with Bensons, then go for a different brand (but be careful). Or if you can afford, go elswhere and get one made by a smaller independent company.

Tim_Deegan

Gareth83 wrote: »

I have just put my order through today ;-)

Having tried out various beds in Dreams and other bed shops I can confirm that a pocket sprung mattress with a memory foam topping was the most comfortable.

Having read a number of reviews regarding the 'La Romantica Madrid' mattress I was going to order this here:
http://www.bedlum-beds.co.uk/product/LA-ROMANTICA-Madrid-Memory-Foam-and-Pocket-Sprung-King-Size-Mattress.-439.00/

which would have been £474 delivered for a 5' King Size

I have also read reviews of a mattress called an 'Apollo Calypso' which I actually believe is the supplier to 'La Romantica' as the specs are exactly the same.

Anyway as I have a 15% eBay voucher to use by Friday I thought now would be a good time to buy.

So I have just bought this 5' King Size mattress:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260250916153

The listing was incorrect and is actually a 1500 mattress as per 'Apollo Calypso' spec. This was the cheapest I found the mattress as other sellers seem to be selling it for £470 delivered for the King Size.

So it has actually cost me:

Mattress £380
Delivery £35
15% Discount (excluding delivery) -£57
AMEX 5% cashback -£17.90

= £340.10

I also benefit from the exchange rate using my AMEX so will actually be around £330.

La Romantica Beds is owned by a former director of Apollo Beds, and as he was involved in designing the Calypso, the Madrid was made to a very similar spec. However the spec of the Calypso has been inconsitent, and has been lowered (it is no longer two sided) from the original spec, but the Madrid is still made to the original high spec. As for the number of springs, the Calypso has 1000 pocket springs in a king size, the 1500 on the picture was a missprint in their brochure.

Pete_Hodgson

Cheers Tim. The warrenty is with Dorlux, so it will have to be the same make. My wife is on the case, and awaiting a call from them now, but I remember that she said something about it being a sliding scale. I may be wrong about the timescale. I'm quite happy with the offer tbh, and may end up just replacing it for £80 until we can afford a better quality mattress, when I will, as you reccommend, go elsewhere and try to find out a better make to buy.
I did look on the Dorlux site and noticed that they do a bigger range of mattresses, so have asked my wife to see if we can get money off any of them. However, if they are going bust, maybe that would be a bad idea anyway.

Tim_Deegan

Pete_Hodgson wrote: »

Cheers Tim. The warrenty is with Dorlux, so it will have to be the same make. My wife is on the case, and awaiting a call from them now, but I remember that she said something about it being a sliding scale. I may be wrong about the timescale. I'm quite happy with the offer tbh, and may end up just replacing it for £80 until we can afford a better quality mattress, when I will, as you reccommend, go elsewhere and try to find out a better make to buy.
I did look on the Dorlux site and noticed that they do a bigger range of mattresses, so have asked my wife to see if we can get money off any of them. However, if they are going bust, maybe that would be a bad idea anyway.

If you are going for a Dorlux, then you should order it today, or you may not get it at all.

BaileyB

Any good offers on atm in the pre xmas sales, or should i wait untill after xmas?

I've after a euro king size for my ikea bed.

TiTheRev

Most independant manufacturers will make a bed order to size, so you dont need to look for one at that size, just find a decent supplier with a decent product and haggle the price!

Pete_Hodgson

Seems like I need to save up and get a proper mattress when I can afford one, so for now I'll probably get a replacement for £80. When I come to getting a better one I think it'll be a pocket spring turnable one, with or without memory foam depending on price. As its a Super King how many springs are needed/prefered?
Cheers.

TiTheRev

Most spring counts are based on the King version (with more for Super King and less for Double), but look for 1000+ but no more than 1600 or so...

Gareth83

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

La Romantica Beds is owned by a former director of Apollo Beds, and as he was involved in designing the Calypso, the Madrid was made to a very similar spec. However the spec of the Calypso has been inconsitent, and has been lowered from the original spec, but the Madrid is still made to the original high spec. As for the number of springs, the Calypso has 1000 pocket springs in a king size, the 1500 on the picture was a missprint in their brochure.

I have tried a 1000 and a 1400 in Dreams and didn't notice any difference to be honest. So the fact it is a 1000 isn't really a problem for me, and I guess it's the same as the Madrid you offer in all respects.

So for £340 delivered for what you offer for £474 delivered I can't go wrong really.

I would also like to thank you Tim for all the knowledge and advice you have offered in your posts, I have learnt a great deal from you so thanks very much. I would point anyone in your direction but if that bed hadn't come up at that price for me I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a bed from yourself.

I am also awaiting a new bed frame in the new year so the mattress will be going on the floor for the time being. Any advice on keeping it clean? I was thinking to just leave the plastic sheet or an old bed sheet on the underside and use a mattress protector on the top.

Cheers

Tim_Deegan

Pete_Hodgson wrote: »

Seems like I need to save up and get a proper mattress when I can afford one, so for now I'll probably get a replacement for £80. When I come to getting a better one I think it'll be a pocket spring turnable one, with or without memory foam depending on price. As its a Super King how many springs are needed/prefered?
Cheers.

For most of the bed industry the spring count is based on a king size mattress. So for example a super king size mattress is 20% bigger than a king size. So if the king size had 1000 springs, then the super king would have 1200, although it would normally still be called a 1000 pocket sprung mattress (unless it is one of theose companies who try to misslead you).

So you should be looking for a mattress that has between 1000 and 1800 in the king size version.