Mattress Return Distance Selling Regulations

*Chattie*

from my previous reading of these threads had it been any other mattress Mr Deegan would have told you that you need to have the mattress for at least a year before giving a factual review as he suspects any review that is posted only two weeks after getting the mattress of being false or posted by the supplier?

Rdel

I've no idea chattie but I wasn't looking for tim's approval of my review anyway. It was on a post where two or three of us were talking about what bed to buy and when i decided on what one I was getting I said I'd let them know how i got on. Anyway I hardly gave it a rave review at the time for anyone to think it was less than honest, it killed my back for near enough the first week.

Orrin

Perhaps Tim should have a disclaimer sig like the financial adviser types:

"I am a bed and mattress retailer and MSE rules prevent me from advertising my business or making specific product recommendations. I aim to be impartial but readers should be aware of the potential conflict of interest when considering any advice that I give."

If it was all in the open then people are free to judge for themselves whether his advice is impartial or commercially motivated and perhaps there wouldn't be so many accusations of covert advertising or other disruption on mattress threads.

WallyBird

If my mattress improves in the same way as Rdel's did, I will be happy, as having to do the exchange is a nuisance (even though it is a great service to be able to exchange if needed). If I get an exchange for a Venice and I like it as much as Rosie383 likes hers, for example, I will be happy too. (There are possible outcomes, but I am blocking them from my mind!)

I think it is reasonable to give the Madrid a fair try, as it seems that these types of mattresses do take some breaking in (e.g. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Mattress-Buying-Decision---Memory-Foam-Or-Latex?&id=4735477).

However, I can also understand someone who is in pain not wanting to continue sleeping on it. At least now anyone trawling through these forums (as we have all done) will know what to expect, which might make things easier. If I thought there was no chance at all of my Madrid improving, I would probably feel the same as Allstar. But since I have read reviews like Rdel's and the article quoted above, I can continue to hope!

Mine does have a smell, but I assumed that was part of the chemical manufacturing process and would disappear with time.

WB.

Pinkypants

Orrin wrote: »

Perhaps Tim should have a disclaimer sig like the financial adviser types:

"I am a bed and mattress retailer and MSE rules prevent me from advertising my business or making specific product recommendations. I aim to be impartial but readers should be aware of the potential conflict of interest when considering any advice that I give."

If it was all in the open then people are free to judge for themselves whether his advice is impartial or commercially motivated and perhaps there wouldn't be so many accusations of covert advertising or other disruption on mattress threads.

But Tim is not impartial, he always always recommends a double sided mattress. That has memory foam or latex on both sides. Yes in the idea world this is THE BEST combination. However many people enjoy the benefits of a one sided mattress. If you google such a thing you nearly always end up on a certain site.

This is never taken into account, if someone suggests mattress A or mattress B Tim always says mattress C.

Despite the double sided mattress being the best, out of the 1,000's and 1,000's of mattress being made and sold very few are like this. You have to ask yourself why.

WallyBird

Orrin wrote: »

Perhaps Tim should have a disclaimer sig like the financial adviser types:

"I am a bed and mattress retailer and MSE rules prevent me from advertising my business or making specific product recommendations. I aim to be impartial but readers should be aware of the potential conflict of interest when considering any advice that I give."

If it was all in the open then people are free to judge for themselves whether his advice is impartial or commercially motivated and perhaps there wouldn't be so many accusations of covert advertising or other disruption on mattress threads.

Orrin, this sounds a good idea, if it would stop all the accusations, as you suggest. I think Tim says things similar to this quite often anyway, so it would just be a formal version.

PinkyPants, just seen your post, but found it a bit confusing. If this kind of mattress is "THE BEST", as you say, then Tim's advice is as objective as it could be. Presumably that is why he sells these kinds of mattresses and promotes them more than any others (he also sells other kinds).

I would imagine totally impartial advice is almost impossible to achieve. For example, my experience relates just to one person, as does that of Rdel. Tim has a Madrid Mattress himself (he told me on the phone when we were discussing which one I should get), so he has his own experience to draw on. He also hears from lots of customers what they think. But even all this does not add up to being able to predict 100% what would suit a person he has not even seen. As an advisor on the forum, he gives what he considers the most objective information. But as a seller, he does the best he can to help customers choose an appropriate mattress for them, and then offers to exchange if, after giving it a fair trial, they find it is not right.

As far as I can tell, he is doing the best he can - I would not expect him to say things that were against his own interest, it would be naive to expect that of anyone. If we stopped him posting because of possible conflict of interest, I think that would be a loss to the forum and we would be throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

WB.

Orrin

Pinkypants wrote: »

But Tim is not impartial, he always always recommends a double sided mattress. That has memory foam or latex on both sides. Yes in the idea world this is THE BEST combination. However many people enjoy the benefits of a one sided mattress. If you google such a thing you nearly always end up on a certain site.

This is never taken into account, if someone suggests mattress A or mattress B Tim always says mattress C.

Despite the double sided mattress being the best, out of the 1,000's and 1,000's of mattress being made and sold very few are like this. You have to ask yourself why.

Tim has been posting on this site for several years and from what I can tell has always been a controversial figure. I expect if the powers that be were going to ban him for covertly advertising his business then they would have done so by now.

Tim is the only person who really knows if he's here to covertly promote his business or not. I think looking at his posts you could make a reasonable case either way.

My point was really that someone new to the forum who comes here looking for mattress advice probably won't be aware of the history and is likely to take what he says at face value. At least with a disclaimer attached people can judge for themselves what his motivations may be.

Rdel

When have you to decide by Wally? I'll be interested to see if you exchange or not.

I'm defo glad I stuck with the Madrid but I'd hate you to keep it on my say so and then 8 weeks down the line you just didn't like it. If you think about it though it's good we can talk about it like this. We're talking about trying it out and after two weeks still thinking ok maybe I'm still not sure but bought from Dreams or places like that from day 1 you've got it and that's it.

Orrin

Rdel wrote: »

We're talking about trying it out and after two weeks still thinking ok maybe I'm still not sure but bought from Dreams or places like that from day 1 you've got it and that's it.

Dreams do offer a similar satisfaction guarantee actually.

The Dreams 'Comfort Exchange Guarantee' applies to mattresses only (sold to customers who have not had an individual/special discount) and not divan bases, bedsteads, odd sizes or Showroom Clearance mattresses. If after 30 days, allowing time to get used to your new mattress), and before 40 days from delivery (or collection) the customer decides their choice of mattress is proving uncomfortable, they may then re-select an alternative Dreams mattress of the same size and for the same (or higher) value than the original. Any accompanying divan base or bedstead cannot be exchanged. Any difference in price must be paid at the time of re-selection. The original mattress must be kept in good condition (not marked, mis-used or soiled in any way) so we strongly recommend the use of a mattress protector. Delivery charges will apply for a Comfort Exchange if delivered.

I think you'd have to check carefully at the time of purchase if your mattress was covered (the individual/special discount exclusion sounds a little fishy to me) but assuming that you were covered then it's a good thing.

Tempur also offer a 60 day satisfaction guarantee on their products.

Given that for many people it looks like a new mattress can take several weeks to get used to, I'm surprised that internet retailers aren't offering 30 day (or more) returns as well.

I expect someone who didn't like a mattress the first few nights would be less likely to return it immediately under DSR if they knew they had a month or two to get used to it. This could potentially mean retailers having to deal with fewer returns.

Rdel

Pinky if you agree that double sided memory or latex is the best...do you not reommend that combination yourself?

you also said 'Despite the double sided mattress being the best, out of the 1,000's and 1,000's of mattress being made and sold very few are like this. You have to ask yourself why. '

Do you know or are you just posing the question? I'm honestly not trying to pick holes in what you've said I'm just wondering what is the reason? The only thing I can think of would be cost to manufacture?