So after swearing at my lumpy old futon for the 50th time, and waking up slightly crooked, I have decided to make the investment into a real bed.
As I usually do when faced with a decision that I haven’t faced before, I turn to my friends and family. Dad’s advice? “Get on that’s comfortable.” Thanks, Da. Best friend’s advice? “Futons rock? Why don’t you get another futon?” Cause this one is lumpy after 2 years. “Uh-Oh. I just got a new futon. Dammit.”
So, Dopers, you all are my last hope for mattress buying advice. I know the basics, buy the box spring and mattress together, take the cost of frame and delivery into consideration if they aren’t offered free. I went bed shopping yesterday, and felt VERY Goldilocks, but I found one I like. A Sealy Posterpedic Rosetta Mattress. All the internet mattress sellers I have looked at don’t offer this particular mattress, so I can’t compare prices that way.
Help a poor crooked Swiddles have a good nights sleep.
You realize you just provided all of your “people pages” male fans with masturbation material for the next month, don’t you?
I’m in your boat, too. Moving halfway across the country and leaving my bed behind, so I’ll have to buy one right when I get to Chicago. This reminds me to head over to Mattress Discounters today and pick out the one I want.
New bed huh? The last time I bought a bed was 1978. It was a (then) quite expensive Sterns & Foster, running about $1,200 for the king box spring and mattresses. I still own them and they have only recently begun showing signs of needing to be replaced.
This is so wrong, but I can’t resist.
I’ve been told I’m very comfortable to sleep on… (big shit eating grin on my face right now)
I was in the same boat, and am waiting to still buy the bed I really like. I found also that though I’m comfortable sleeping on even rocks sometimes, It’s not all that healthy. My current futon was $600, 10 inch, very comfy, but sometimes I wake up with an aching back or middle back… So the money isn’t necessarily gonna buy you comfort. The sealy postrapedic was my fave so far, but it’s quite a bit of dough to have it delivered to my place. Have you asked any medical professionals that might know what’s good for your back?
My parent bought a Sealy Posturepedic 15 years ago, and its still going strong. Sealy are one of the top brands available in Australia for mattress/ensembles that provide spinal support. IIRC, they offer a very long warranty.
But seriously, when it comes to the frame and style, I would think you have a good sense of what you like - being as artsy as you are. Pick something unique but not too expensive. Now as to the real deal (which is to say) the mattress, I can tell you that I own a Serta and despite being very non-shiek it is damn comfortable. I have had mine for 9 years and it still feels great.
(And I know what you are thinking, but my sleeping problems have not come from my mattress, but my occupation.)
When you do choose one, could you post a pic of it . . . you know . . . so I can put it in my fantasy ?
FWIW: Our hand-me-down bed came with a Serta Beauty Rest mattress. It had several years of use before it came to us. (and considerable more use since then ) I really recomend this brand. It is so comfy!
I would offer to help you test a new mattress, but the line is already wrapped around the block and I just don’t have that kind of staying power.
We bought a mattress through The Original Mattress Factory and it rocks. It is such a great mattress that most friends who stopped by our apartment wanted to try it since they had heard from others how great it was.
Unfortunately, the closest store to you is in Pennsylvania. I would rather sleep on soulsling than drive to the Keystone State for a dang mattress.
And, a few notes on mattress purchases from a good website.
• Always try out a bed before you buy it, even if you shop as I do, at warehouse discount stores.
• Experts recommend that you look primarily at mattresses and boxsprings made by one of the four major bedding manufacturers, Simmons, Sealy, Serta and Stearns & Foster.
• It is important to buy a mattress with the proper firmness. A decent full-size mattress needs to have at least 312 coils to provide good support.
Price tags
A mattress coming off of an assembly line can be tagged with one of hundreds of brand name labels and model numbers. This makes it impossible for consumers to price shop and compare quality from store to store.
On-line businesses are likely to offer the same confusing and frustrating products.
I still think you should go with one of those cool beds shaped like a race car. You could put some neat Superman sheets on it also.
<<You realize you just provided all of your “people pages” male fans with masturbation material for the next month, don’t you? >>
Maggie, darling, it’s my gift to them.
<<Price tags
A mattress coming off of an assembly line can be tagged with one of hundreds of brand name labels and model numbers. This makes it impossible for consumers to price shop and compare quality from store to store. On-line businesses are likely to offer the same confusing and frustrating products. >>
I just realised this. I called a competitor’s store, and asked for the model name. “I don’t know what a Rosetta is.” Says Mattress Guy. “It’s the model name.” Says Swiddles. “Oh, the model name differs from store to store.” Mattress Guy cheerfully tells me. “So what uniform system from the manufacter can I use to differentiate between them?” Swiddles growls. “There really isn’t one. The best way is to come on down.” Mattress Guy: 1 Swiddles: 0. He then suggested using the coil count and the plush as opposed to firm title. If you can do that, WHY NOT HAVE ONE FREAKIN’ MODEL NAME?
Imagine buying a car this way. I want a Lexus. No, I don’t have the model name, I drove it at another dealer’s and I liked it, but his model name will differ from your model name.
I haven’t owned a bed for about two and a half years now. Before that I had one, but generally slept on my lanai (I lived in Hawaii at the time and I didn’t care for the heat).
I say save your money! The floor is actually pretty comfortable.
Well, hell. You have to go down to the damn store and bounce on a few beds before you make your decision, right? Just choose a reputable dealer, try the mattresses, pick the one you want and buy it. How many months you wanna spend on this?
The brand name isn’t as important as the density your back likes the best…are you used to a soft mattress, due to all those years on a futon? Have you tried something a little more firm?
And definitely go for the King Size. I don’t like to feel cramped.
I have a bad neck/back or else I would, ob. I’m a cheap little snot.
I have figured a way around the seperate model-names scam. The model I am looking at is 620 coils, plush. Off to Mattress.com (which is the internet version of 1-800-Mattress) to compare prices.
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For the record, I’ll have you know my flirting isn’t shameless at all. It’s extremely full of shame, which makes it all the more worthwhile
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You’ll be sleeping on this for years, so get something you are comfortable with.
