Mattress advice?

dizziblonde

Tim_Deegan wrote: »

It's very unlikely to be covered, as it is 10 years old.

Ours was under a 25 year guarantee - so we took them up on it and got a replacement

There_Goes_Trouble

Thanks for all the advice, especially Tim - I've now read some of your posts on other threads as well (yes I know I'm supposed to do that before starting a new thread - sorry!) and will take a lot more time now finding a good quality mattress at a price I can afford (or at least, a price I can afford repayments on!!)

I can't find a lable on my mattress, it must have come off at some point because I'm sure it had one. I got it second hand, but from a friend so I know it was well cared for and they hadn't had it long, only about 2 yrs. I've now had it about 8 yrs, maybe 9. It won't be covered under any warrantly because I don't have a reciept. I can definitely feel springs when I press on the mattress but that's all I know. I put the topper on when the springs first started to 'go' because I couldn't afford to replace it then either - it's got me an extra couple of years out of it but I knew it was only a short term fix. My bed base is a pine slatted one, with big spaces between the slats I now notice! I will look at the price of peg board....

I think I need to slow down and do some proper research based on Tim's advice. I can stay in the spare room for now (it's only a single bed in there and mine's a double, so can't swap the mattresses over) as I haven't got visitors now until October.

Thanks for all the advice! If anyone knows a good online mattress store, please feel free to PM me...!!!

There_Goes_Trouble

p.s thanks for the pillow advice too.

Ramble66

Hi,

I'm an Osteopath and would recommend you buying the best mattress you can afford. It is an important investment. Ideally an individually sprung mattress or memory foam. Ikea is your best bet for a reasonable mattress at a reasonable price. Avoid their very cheap mattresses though. They also do 25 year Guarantee and 90day exchange if you're not happy with it. You want something that is firm enough to support you but with enough give to adapt to your body.

Hope that helps.

Tim_Deegan

Ramble66 wrote: »

Hi,

I'm an Osteopath and would recommend you buying the best mattress you can afford. It is an important investment. Ideally an individually sprung mattress or memory foam. Ikea is your best bet for a reasonable mattress at a reasonable price. Avoid their very cheap mattresses though. They also do 25 year Guarantee and 90day exchange if you're not happy with it. You want something that is firm enough to support you but with enough give to adapt to your body.

Hope that helps.

You obviously understand about backs, necks, muscles, joints etc, but I understand about bed and mattress construction. Ikeas mattress quality is terrible. In fact they are so bad that most independent UK bed manufacturers will supply mattresses in Ikea sizes, because there is a huge demand for them. This is because of the huge number of people who have bought Ikea beds (with a mattress), but then found the mattress so bad that rather than take them up on their 25 year guarantee then have decided to buy a mattress elswhere.

For those who don't know, Ikea mattresses are continental size, and not UK sizes.

maypole

There_Goes_Trouble wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice, especially Tim - I've now read some of your posts on other threads as well (yes I know I'm supposed to do that before starting a new thread - sorry!) and will take a lot more time now finding a good quality mattress at a price I can afford (or at least, a price I can afford repayments on!!)

I can't find a lable on my mattress, it must have come off at some point because I'm sure it had one. I got it second hand, but from a friend so I know it was well cared for and they hadn't had it long, only about 2 yrs. I've now had it about 8 yrs, maybe 9. It won't be covered under any warrantly because I don't have a reciept. I can definitely feel springs when I press on the mattress but that's all I know. I put the topper on when the springs first started to 'go' because I couldn't afford to replace it then either - it's got me an extra couple of years out of it but I knew it was only a short term fix. My bed base is a pine slatted one, with big spaces between the slats I now notice! I will look at the price of peg board....

I think I need to slow down and do some proper research based on Tim's advice. I can stay in the spare room for now (it's only a single bed in there and mine's a double, so can't swap the mattresses over) as I haven't got visitors now until October.

Thanks for all the advice! If anyone knows a good online mattress store, please feel free to PM me...!!!

We had bought a mattress and after advice from Tim, just added extra slats to the bed base. They weren't sprung slats mind, just flat.

donmaico

How much do you think I should expect to pay for the kind of mattress you refer to, for a double bed that is?

i am wondering if this one would meet with your criteria?
http://www.bedlum-beds.co.uk/product/La-ROMANTICA-Venice-Memory-Foam-and-Pocket-Sprung-Double-Mattress.-465.00/

Tim_Deegan

sleepcrusader wrote: »

As an experienced bed retailer, I would tell you to avoid that mattress at all costs! I don't know the manufacturer, but anyone that tells you memory foam is meant for support is barking up the wrong tree! Second of all, never, ever buy from a website that doesn't proof read to correct spelling errors. Also, this is the first time I have ever come across a two sided memory foam mattress! Stay away from it at your peril! If you want a decent quality, British made memory foam mattress, have a look at smaller independent companies like Sleepmode or KozeeSleep. Also, make sure you try it in a shop, even if you later hunt for the same thing online, find it cheaper then go back to the store to ask for a price match! Most companies are so desperate for business just now that they'll happily oblige.

It really shows that you used to work for one of the big retailers, as you obviously don't know much about mattresses and their construction. You just spout a load of rubbish if you don't actually know the truth. After all you are trying to promote pillow top mattresses, which are the worst gimmick in the bed industry. Because you may have worked in bed retail may make you an experienced sales person, but it doesn't mean you know what you are talking about. You really do sound like you were trained in the Dreams school of bed retail.

Memory foam is used on mattresses to provide even support along the whole length of your body without causing pressure points....FACT

Two sided mattresses will always last longer than non turn mattresses....FACT (and common sense).

As for not buying from a site that may have spelling mistakes.....you will find that most big sites will have some. So it doesn't exactly mean they are crooks does it?? You really are clutching at straws now aren't you?

Trying a mattress out in a shop can only give a very rough idea, and can in now way tell you what it is like to sleep on. So find a seller who gives a proper satisfaction guarantee, then call them to ask advice, as it is in their interest to make sure that you make the right choice the first time.

Tim_Deegan

sleepcrusader wrote: »

I think we shall just have to agree to disagree! I have not yet encountered any reputable manufacturer selling two sided memory foam mattresses, and don't expect to in the near future! You seem to set yourself up as some champion of the bed industry but from what you say in your posts I can only assume that your bed store is almost empty of products! When top quality manufacturers such as Millbrook, Hypnos, Harrison and Tempur start making two sided memory foam mattresses or stop pillow tops then perhaps I'll agree with you!

You really aren't doing yourself any favours with your ignorance of the bed industry. I first started coming on MSE to tell the truth about all the gimmicks, hype, and rubbish talked by sales staff in the bed industry. And the things you have said have been a prime example. You really should read many of the threads on MSE, and then you might learn something about the business you are in.

Non turn mattresses became popular when memory foam mattresses came out. This is because memory foam was the most expensive part of the mattress, so they only put it on one side to keep production costs down. They would then tell people that the mattress was non turn for their convenience. This of course was complete rubbish. Now this trend has spread to all types of mattress where the manufacturer wants to save money by only putting quilting on one side. They will also be increasing the frequesncy that people buy mattresses, because they wont last as long.

You can often find two mattresses made by the same manufacturer, and that contain the same springs, and where one is non turn, and the other is two sided. On the non turn one they will say that it is 'non turn for your convenience', on the two sided one they will say 'must be turned on a regular basis to prolong the life of the mattress'. Need I say any more?

So when a mattress is pocket sprung with memory foam, then the same applies, and the mattress should be two sided. The ONLY reason most manufacturers don't if for commercial reasons.

donmaico

sleepcrusader wrote: »

As an experienced bed retailer, I would tell you to avoid that mattress at all costs! I don't know the manufacturer, but anyone that tells you memory foam is meant for support is barking up the wrong tree! Second of all, never, ever buy from a website that doesn't proof read to correct spelling errors. Also, this is the first time I have ever come across a two sided memory foam mattress! Stay away from it at your peril! If you want a decent quality, British made memory foam mattress, have a look at smaller independent companies like Sleepmode or KozeeSleep. Also, make sure you try it in a shop, even if you later hunt for the same thing online, find it cheaper then go back to the store to ask for a price match! Most companies are so desperate for business just now that they'll happily oblige.

Avoid at all costs? you have not given one valid reason why i should , just a load of rhetoric with nothing to back it up. Having two sides of memory foam to increase the lifespan of the mattress makes sense to me( provided one turns it over from time to time).
Tim has been involved in several threads on MSE trying to offer helpful advice so we can make informed choices regarding beds.To my mind he has gone to a great deal of trouble so i am far more inclined to take his word