Mattress type help

Tim_Deegan

bargainbagger wrote: »

Help! Arguments needed to save me £1000.

We have been looking to replace our 20 year old Vi-Spring Herald king-size divan with a new super king-size (2x180x200cm zip-linked) - possibly with memory foam. Taking my (learnt from MSE) advice to look for independent UK manufacturers, the OH has found a nice local independent bedshop who steered her towards Somnus beds - an independent "quality" manufacturer based in Leeds.

Apparently Somnus have just introduced a new model, the "Cheltenham" which has a mattress combining visco elastic memory foam, 3000 pocket springs and talalay latex foam for which she was quoted a "best price" of £1950 for the zip-linked super kingsize with 4-drawer platform base. The memory foam comprises 3.5 inches of V70 "granules" apparently - only on the top so can't be turned but salesman says that "putting memory foam on the bottom would just result in it deteriorating against the firm platform base" (Comments please?). The 3000 pocket springs are arranged in the Somnus patented unique "Sensa Pocket Spring System" which gives a double layer of springs in the mattress. There is a 5-year manufacturer guarantee but no retailer satisfaction guarantee because of the size requirement.

I, on the other hand, would prefer to save £1000 by going for the much-vaunted Madrid - but would it be as comfortable, would it last as long? Does anyone know for how many years has the Madrid been made and any feedback on long-term usage?

The OH is not at all sure about memory foam and would probably opt to stick to all Pocket-Sprung if it wasn't for my influence. Indeed she was most taken in the shop by the quality and comfort of their Somnus Marquis model (4000 multi-tiered pocket sprung mattress on a sprung-edge base(with another 1500 springs!) which would come out at £2600 (eek!).

I know Tim normally advocates 1000-1800 pocket springs as sufficient "to do the job" and any more means they are smaller,thinner,more liable to break but arranged in a double/multi tier - does that make any difference? Anyone with experience of Somnus (good or bad)?

All help to counter the "you only get what you pay for" argument gatefully received.

It sounds like you have been bombarded with sales hype and gimmicks. They have pushed you towards the beds that will earn them the most commision.

3000 pocket springs in a mattress is far to many as you already understand. There is no point in having latex foam and memory foam in the same mattress, as they do the same thing. As for having memory foam granules in a mattress. If you have even owned a memory fill pillow (which is filled with memory foam granules) then you will know that you really have to puff it up in the morning to make it regain it's shape. You can't do this with a mattress.

The Multi tier spring sytem is just another gimmick to push the spring count up. You will also notice that they include the springs in the base in that number.

As for it being non turn..............you know my thoughts on that.

Snake_Plisk

Please be aware that its not always better to have more springs in a mattress. Some Manufacturers quote more springs when other manufactures stay with the standard spring counts.
Quality fillings play a big part when considering what is the best

poorbabe

I would never have thought there was much to consider in buying mattress outside of 'firm/soft/price and size'. How wrong was I? :eek:

I'll come back here when I'm ready to retire my current one

SuzieSue

I've been reading through the thread can understand how important it is that you are able to try the mattress without taking off the plastic.

I just wonder what the companies which offer to give you a refund eventhough you have taken the plastic off actually do with the used mattresses? I can't believe they would throw them away. Do you think they re-sell them? If so, I would be worried about bed bugs and would probably prefer to buy from a company which doesn't offer to refund your money once the plastic has been taken off.

Tim_Deegan

SuzieSue wrote: »

I've been reading through the thread can understand how important it is that you are able to try the mattress without taking off the plastic.

I just wonder what the companies which offer to give you a refund eventhough you have taken the plastic off actually do with the used mattresses? I can't believe they would throw them away. Do you think they re-sell them? If so, I would be worried about bed bugs and would probably prefer to buy from a company which doesn't offer to refund your money once the plastic has been taken off.

Why not ask them?

They wouldn't be allowed to resell them as new.

bargainbagger

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

It sounds like you have been bombarded with sales hype and gimmicks. They have pushed you towards the beds that will earn them the most commision.

3000 pocket springs in a mattress is far to many as you already understand. There is no point in having latex foam and memory foam in the same mattress, as they do the same thing. As for having memory foam granules in a mattress. If you have even owned a memory fill pillow (which is filled with memory foam granules) then you will know that you really have to puff it up in the morning to make it regain it's shape. You can't do this with a mattress.

The Multi tier spring sytem is just another gimmick to push the spring count up. You will also notice that they include the springs in the base in that number.

As for it being non turn..............you know my thoughts on that.

Thanks for that, Tim.
So the "memory foam on the bottom will disintegrate" argument is false - just a made up reason to justify why it can't be turned?

What do you think of Somnus otherwise - they do have cheaper lower spring count models apparently but OH felt that they weren't as substantial and high quality as the Marquis?

Tim_Deegan

bargainbagger wrote: »

Thanks for that, Tim.
So the "memory foam on the bottom will disintegrate" argument is false - just a made up reason to justify why it can't be turned?

Yes it is complete rubbish. You will find that any sales staff in shops that don't sell 2 sided memory foam mattresses will come up with some reason that it won't work. But you will find that they probably sell non turn reflex foam/memory foam mattress (so the reflex foam is on the bottom). Reflex foam is made up of loads of bubbles which in time will start to burst. Memory foam is open celled, so doesn't have any bubbles to burst. So memory foam will last far longer, in fact it will usually outlast springs.

bargainbagger wrote: »

What do you think of Somnus otherwise - they do have cheaper lower spring count models apparently but OH felt that they weren't as substantial and high quality as the Marquis?

I haven't actually looked into the prices or specs for their cheaper mattresses. But I wouldn't trust any company that uses so many gimmicks to try and get people to spend a fortune.

SuzieSue

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

Why not ask them?

Thanks, I did actually do that when I bought my Tempur mattress a few years ago because they had a free trial offer and they said they destroyed them, but, of course, I had no way of checking, and because I only wanted a Tempur, I didn't have any choice but to go to them.

I just wondered if anyone who had worked in a bed warehouse knew the answer.

Tim_Deegan

SuzieSue wrote: »

Thanks, I did actually do that when I bought my Tempur mattress a few years ago because they had a free trial offer and they said they destroyed them, but, of course, I had no way of checking, and because I only wanted a Tempur, I didn't have any choice but to go to them.

I just wondered if anyone who had worked in a bed warehouse knew the answer.

I can't speak for all of them, but some sell them at a lower price as tried out and returned items. Just like shops sell ex display stock that have had hundreds of people laying on them.

rosie383

As with almost everyone here, we are wanting to buy a new bed as ours has broken. We need a kingsize and have a max budget of £700. I would love to buy the La Romantica Madrid bed, but once you add on delivery, sprung base etc, it takes us to just over that.
My question is..... there are only a couple of independent bed shops in Luton, and they all sell the sleepeezee, rest assured etc. Does anyone know where we can go and have a look at the bed we want. We did drive up to Baldock the other day to go to Bedlum Beds (as per the address on the website), but it's only an online company and we really don't want to shell out that sort of money for something we have never seen. I know there is an assurance that we can return it if it is not as it should be, but would have to pay if it is 'unsuitable'.