Memory Foam Mattress - confusion over name - shop vs online

beckstrous

Hi, I would really appreciate some advice on a memory foam mattress I would like to buy.
Our existing mattress (which is a very cheap, open coil type) gives me backache so we decided to get a new one. In Bensons Beds we tried a pocket sprung/memory foam one called the "Slumberland Memory Form II", which was £499 in the store. They said it was a special offer and was normally around twice that, and that the special offer would end on Tuesday (tomorrow).
We liked the mattress a lot but we decided not to be taken in by any marketing speak and to look to see if we could get a better price on the internet.
We could not find a "Slumberland Memory Form II" anywhere apart from at Bensons Beds. Everywhere else (including on the Slumberland website) the name of the memory foam mattress range is "Memory Seal". I am wondering if this is a clever trick by Bensons to stop people from looking for better deals online. I would really appreciate it if anyone could point me in the right direction on this.
This is the mattress on the Bensons website, advertised as a bed but also available as a mattress only:
http://www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk/details.asp?id=161#
This is the mattress on the Mattressman website and I'm sure it is the same mattress:
http://www.mattressman.co.uk/mattress/Double/Memory_Seal_deluxe_mattress.aspx
Is it possible that "Memory Form II" is just the name of the bed or just a Bensons name and that these two mattresses are the same? As I said, I cannot find the "Memory Form II" anywhere apart from Bensons.
Mattressman is a lot cheaper and they also do free delivery (with Bensons it's £30).
I also went and downloaded the Slumberland brochure, and there was nothing called "Memory Form" in it?! All Memory Seal.

roddydogs

I found the same problem- its impossible to compare beds online with so many different names.
argos have beds made for them by Airsprung-but you wont find the same beds online, I went for their "coniston" with memory foam top i got the king size with 2 drawers for just over £300, when it was on offer. the "berkley" is a bit dearer. i couldnt find anything to match it in price.
Its not as good as a £600 bed, but its fine.

Skint_Catt

I bought a memory foam mattress from Sleepmasters last week for our new house. Only sleepmasters do this particular mattress too, so like you I was stuck for comparables, but got it half price in their sale anyway.

C xx

Tim_Deegan

beckstrous wrote: »

Hi, I would really appreciate some advice on a memory foam mattress I would like to buy.
Our existing mattress (which is a very cheap, open coil type) gives me backache so we decided to get a new one. In Bensons Beds we tried a pocket sprung/memory foam one called the "Slumberland Memory Form II", which was £499 in the store. They said it was a special offer and was normally around twice that, and that the special offer would end on Tuesday (tomorrow).
We liked the mattress a lot but we decided not to be taken in by any marketing speak and to look to see if we could get a better price on the internet.
We could not find a "Slumberland Memory Form II" anywhere apart from at Bensons Beds. Everywhere else (including on the Slumberland website) the name of the memory foam mattress range is "Memory Seal". I am wondering if this is a clever trick by Bensons to stop people from looking for better deals online. I would really appreciate it if anyone could point me in the right direction on this.
This is the mattress on the Bensons website, advertised as a bed but also available as a mattress only:
http://www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk/details.asp?id=161#
This is the mattress on the Mattressman website and I'm sure it is the same mattress:
http://www.mattressman.co.uk/mattress/Double/Memory_Seal_deluxe_mattress.aspx
Is it possible that "Memory Form II" is just the name of the bed or just a Bensons name and that these two mattresses are the same? As I said, I cannot find the "Memory Form II" anywhere apart from Bensons.
Mattressman is a lot cheaper and they also do free delivery (with Bensons it's £30).
I also went and downloaded the Slumberland brochure, and there was nothing called "Memory Form" in it?! All Memory Seal.

You have hit the nail right on the head. This is exactly the tactics that many of the large chain stores use. They have enough buying power to get large manufacturers to rename some products, and often have them made to their own (sometimes lower) specifications.

You will then notice either price promises or hugely inflated claims about the full price which they only have to sell at for a few weeks a year to be legal.

I wouldn't actually pay £499 for any Slumberland mattress.

If you want a real bargain on a bed, then have a look on ebay.
I know that many people are very wary about buying items like beds from ebay. However if you follow a few guidelines then you can save up to 75% on the shop prices:

1) most important of all make sure that the seller gives a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

2) check previous feedback for the seller, and even contact previous customers to ask them about the seller.

3) use a company who display their phone number, so that you can talk to someone about your requirements (they want you to make the righ choice because it will cost them if you return it).

4) check the sellers return policy. Many sellers charge for postage on returns.....can work out very expensive if you have unpacked a vacuum packed mattress, and you don't like it.

5) try to use a seller who delivers using their own transport. Couriers often damage or misplace goods (believe me I know from experience).

Obviously you can't try before you buy, but for the saving it is worth the risk if you follow the guidelines above.

rmanpaul

memory foam mattress are a nightmare. very comfy but trying to find teh correct one is crazy

Tim_Deegan

rmanpaul wrote: »

memory foam mattress are a nightmare. very comfy but trying to find teh correct one is crazy

It's not the mattresses that are a problem, it's the sales staff in big stores who will tell you all sorts of rubbish just to get a sale.

Skint_Catt

rmanpaul wrote: »

memory foam mattress are a nightmare. very comfy but trying to find teh correct one is crazy

Not really, sleepmasters had a few different levels from 1 - 10 (IIRC) and 6 felt the best for us. They have a 3month return policy but ours isn't going anywhere! It's brill!

alanobrien

Like all commercial organisations they use various trade names for the same thing in an attempt to confuse you and stop direct price comparisons. Essentially there are only two types of "memory foam" matress. The most expensive which is Latex and the cheaper version which is visco-elastic. The latter now has most of the mass market. The problem with it is that it comes in various thicknesses and densities so all you can do is find something you like at a price you can cope with and buy it! Not an ideal money saving strategy but as you have found out the manufacturers do what they can to confuse.

Tim_Deegan

alanobrien wrote: »

Like all commercial organisations they use various trade names for the same thing in an attempt to confuse you and stop direct price comparisons. Essentially there are only two types of "memory foam" matress. The most expensive which is Latex and the cheaper version which is visco-elastic. The latter now has most of the mass market. The problem with it is that it comes in various thicknesses and densities so all you can do is find something you like at a price you can cope with and buy it! Not an ideal money saving strategy but as you have found out the manufacturers do what they can to confuse.

I'm sorry, but all true 'memory foam' is visco elastic. Latex foam provides good support, but not to the level of visco elastic memory foam.

There are however a few dodgy sellers who are selling reflex foam mattresses and claiming that they are memory foam. They get away with it because most people wouldn't know the difference.

There are three main types of memory foam mattress:

1) reflex foam/memory faom
2) open coil sprung/memory foam
3) pocket sprung/memory foam

Number 1 is the most common because it usually comes rolled up and vacuum packed so is easy to ship. Number 3 gives the best support because it is the only one with the bottom layer that also contours to the body.

The optimum depth for the memory foam layer is 2" to 2.5". Less and it wouldn't be enough to contour to you body, and more would engulf you and make you too hot.

leejo_2

Does anyone know if the memory foam 'toppers' are a good idea. I have a bad hip and can't lie on my side. My matress is fairly new and I just wondered if this would give some relief.
Thanks

Tim_Deegan

leejo wrote: »

Does anyone know if the memory foam 'toppers' are a good idea. I have a bad hip and can't lie on my side. My matress is fairly new and I just wondered if this would give some relief.
Thanks

They are a good second best as you obviously don't want to go to the expense of replacing a new mattress.

What type of mattress do you have at the moment?