What do we have box springs?

[Mahaloth]

In China, I have never seen a box-spring on a bed. I've stayed in 5-star hotels in Shanghai, Xi-An, Beijing, and many other cities, and I've never seen one. I've even stayed at American hotels like the Sheraton and Rennasaince and there are no box springs.

Having said that, I also never had box-springs in my pre-furnished apartment in China.

Guess what? It made no difference. Sure, I couldn't bounce up and down and hear springy noises, but the beds were equally comfortable.

Now most beds in China don't have frames like ours, they tend to be solid wood/immitation wood that the mattress lies directly on. It feels weird when you first lay down(no bounce), but it is equally comfortable to sleep on.

Why do we have them in America?

[Mahaloth]

Forgive that terrible spelling of Renaissance. That was just plain lazy of me.

[Beware of Doug]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

Why do we have them in America?

Don't you mean, "What do we have them in America?"

[missbunny]

I think he means "Why do we have them in America."

We have them because most beds (until the past few years) were not platform beds. They were made with a frame that was empty in the middle. The box spring sits on the frame and provides a support for the mattress to sit on. Other countries have a different style of bed that is the most popular and that style doesn't require a box spring.

[robcaro]

Here in Colombia, the beds have a layer of boards under the mattress. Don't know why they use box springs except to earn a little more cash. My mattress is as comfortable as any.

[zagloba]

The sales people, at least, have always told me that the box spring prolongs the life of the mattress.

[Sage Rat]

I live in Japan, and my "bed" is a mat(tress) about two inches thick resting on the floor. Hard floor.

Perfectly comfortable.

I suspect that 99% of everything you are paying for in bedding is an increase of 0.1% of improved comfortability per $100.