# Well shit, I accidentally bought a \*foam\* mattress **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 28, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229 "2015-03-28T20:17:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/1 "2015-03-28T20:17:49Z")
I have no experience with these. It’s currently squished flat and wrapped into a cylindrical shape. I am afraid one I unwrap it, I’ll have no way to return it. (I ordered it online through Amazon.) So… what are the pros and cons here? What’s good about foam mattresses, what’s bad about them? ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/2 "2015-03-28T20:48:25Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I have no experience with these. > > It’s currently squished flat and wrapped into a cylindrical shape. I am afraid one I unwrap it, I’ll have no way to return it. (I ordered it online through Amazon.) > > So… what are the pros and cons here? What’s good about foam mattresses, what’s bad about them? Can you link us to the one you bought? You’re right that if you open it it will expand and you’re very unlikely to get it back into a small enough package to return it. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/3 "2015-03-28T20:50:35Z")
A foam mattress, not a foam mattress _topper_? So…like the mattress on a camp cot or the bottom of a playpen? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/4 "2015-03-28T20:53:43Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > Can you link us to the one you bought? > > You’re right that if you open it it will expand and you’re very unlikely to get it back into a small enough package to return it. Too late. A child has now reduced the number of my possible choices. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/5 "2015-03-28T20:54:45Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > A foam mattress, not a foam mattress _topper_? So…like the mattress on a camp cot or the bottom of a playpen? A whole mattress. Queen size, 11 inches of foam. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/6 "2015-03-28T20:56:42Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > Can you link us to the one you bought? > **[Amazon.com: DREAMFOAM Ultimate Dreams Twin Crazy Quilt PillowTop Mattress : Home...](https://www.amazon.com/Dreamfoam-Bedding-Ultimate-Dreams-Mattress/dp/B00IOXWH88)** > > Buy DREAMFOAM Ultimate Dreams Twin Crazy Quilt PillowTop Mattress: Mattresses - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases You will laugh at the brand name. But it’s precisely because the word “foam” appears in the brand name but not in any of the rest of the title of the product that I missed this one minor detail… My brain was like “brand name, skip it.” It says foam elsewhere on the page of course but I was in a rush when I bought this thing. Was just like “queen, meets budget, medium firmness, check.” ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/7 "2015-03-28T20:59:13Z")
Was it cheap or expensive? There are cheap foam mattresses that are total crap. You might as well sleep on a sofa bed. The expensive ones can be quite nice, but it is different than a conventional mattress. So the short answer is, you might like it and you might not. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/8 "2015-03-28T21:03:12Z")
This one was priced at $1200 but discounted to $300. Don’t know if it’s a trick, or if it’s discontinued, or what. 4.5 average on reviews… ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/9 "2015-03-28T21:05:11Z")
Since a kid has decided to unfurl it, we’ll probably just try it tonight, then sell it on Craigslist or something if we don’t like it. ETA: Dammit, I have now discovered foam mattresses require special foundations, not box springs. I.e. not the thing we just bought to put under our mattress. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/10 "2015-03-28T21:05:38Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > A foam mattress, not a foam mattress _topper_? So…like the mattress on a camp cot or the bottom of a playpen? Or like a very expensive Tempurpedic. All-foam mattresses aren’t all that inexpensive. You are correct that you will not be able to easily return it once opened. They “inflate” to the size of a normal mattress and can’t be squished back without industrial vacuum equipment I have one and love it. A couple bits of advice: thickness is important, as is the types of layers. 10" or less is going to generally be pretty firm. The 12"+ ones are generally going to be a bit softer. The different layer compositions make a difference. The good ones will generally have at least 3-4" of memory foam and the rest being denser “support foam” or something. Speaking VERY broadly, the more memory foam the better. If you decide to keep / try it, there’s a few things worth knowing: They take a couple days to fully inflate. They usually say not to sleep on it for 2-3 days, although I’ve heard it’s fine if you do (but it may not be fully comfortable). They take 2-3 weeks to complete degas. Until they do, your room will smell strongly of the chemicals used in the foam. I don’t find it actively unpleasant, but it is very noticeable early on. In my experience, the smell was entirely gone in a month. You need a foundation or box spring that will support it. It needs a solid support under it every few inches. They have a break-in period. I found it comfortable from day one, but moreso after a month or so. I used to wake up achy, under-rested, and with back pain almost daily. Having a memory foam mattress has massively improved my sleep. I’m sure a high-end traditional mattress would have helped, but foam mattresses are incredible bang for the buck. I paid under $400 for it, and it’s massively, massively better than my last name-brand tradtional mattress (which cost at least $1000). ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/11 "2015-03-28T21:07:39Z")
Looking at that specific model, I think you might be pleasantly surprised. If it’s too stiff or thin, you might want to add a 2-4" topper, but 11" isn’t terrible. I don’t know that brand, but they’re all very similar. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/12 "2015-03-28T21:34:33Z")
I don’t have that mattress, but I have a Dreamfoam that I bought from Amazon last year. I love it. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/13 "2015-03-28T21:41:26Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Too late. A child has now reduced the number of my possible choices. I’m sympathetic to your plight, but this made me laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/14 "2015-03-28T21:41:41Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Since a kid has decided to unfurl it, we’ll probably just try it tonight, then sell it on Craigslist or something if we don’t like it. If the mattress was nonreturnable, I’m sure that the Amazon listing would have been explicit about that. As I don’t see any mention of that in the page you linked to, they must have a solution for people who want their money back. So I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/15 "2015-03-28T21:44:04Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Since a kid has decided to unfurl it, we’ll probably just try it tonight, then sell it on Craigslist or something if we don’t like it. > > ETA: Dammit, I have now discovered foam mattresses require special foundations, not box springs. I.e. not the thing we just bought to put under our mattress. In the questions section on the amazon page, people report using it with a regular box spring. > **[Amazon.com: DREAMFOAM Ultimate Dreams Twin Crazy Quilt PillowTop Mattress : Home...](https://www.amazon.com/Dreamfoam-Bedding-Ultimate-Dreams-Mattress/dp/B00IOXWH88)** > > Buy DREAMFOAM Ultimate Dreams Twin Crazy Quilt PillowTop Mattress: Mattresses - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases > [@](#): > > Can I use this with my regular box spring? > > A: The one i have is made for a RV, it’s about 6 inches shorter than a regular queen. Other than that you could. robert mason answered on March 16, 2015 > A: Should be no issue using a regular wood box spring. I bought a metal one but that’s because I didn’t have one before. As long as u do the obvious queen with a queen box spring etc… > But otherwise it doesn’t need any additional support! Johnathon Fretz answered on March 16, 2015 > A: I have it on my box spring and it works well angel answered on March 16, 2015 > A: Yes. That is exactly what I did. I already had the box spring from my current mattress and I simply swapped mattresses. Worked great! Jamie Winston answered on March 16, 2015 > A: Yes James fourhorn answered on March 16, 2015 ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/16 "2015-03-28T22:08:32Z")
This thread is really helpful, thank you very much for these posts guys. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/17 "2015-03-28T22:17:04Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > If the mattress was nonreturnable, I’m sure that the Amazon listing would have been explicit about that. As I don’t see any mention of that in the page you linked to, they must have a solution for people who want their money back. So I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. Don’t be so sure – the trick isn’t the return policy, it’s shipping back. Amazon’s returns are shipping on your own dime, and given the size and weight of the mattress once it expands, the shipping costs could be extremely high if you can even find a shipper who will take it. This IS a common complaint about these things. They’re “functionally” non-returnable once opened because of the size. The rolled-and-vaccumed process they use to ship them reduces them to something like 1/10 the normal size. It’s also the reason they’re such a good “bargain.” I’ve heard a few times that a big reason mattresses are so expensive generally is due to high markups because of the shipping costs (and the relatively low volume a mattress store will sell). Because foam mattresses compress so small, they can ship using normal shipping options and selling through a national store like Amazon means they can actually sell in volume at lower markups. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/18 "2015-03-28T22:20:33Z")
FWIW, I have a $300 queen sized memory foam mattress that I bought at WalMart 10 years ago. I always dreamed of having a tempurpedic because I have a stupid ridiculous bad back. My boyfriend has an actual name brand Tempurpedic and I sleep on this one from WalMart much, much better. It feels exactly the same as the day I bought it. I rotate it every year or so when I can get someone to help me. You might just love it. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/19 "2015-03-28T22:29:41Z")
I love my memory foam mattress and wouldn’t consider going back to a traditional bed unless it was one that cost a fortune. I don’t use a box spring., it rests on top of a bed frame. It’s by far the most comfortable bed I’ve ever owned and it compares favourably to expensive hotel beds ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229/20 "2015-03-28T22:29:58Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > If the mattress was nonreturnable, I’m sure that the Amazon listing would have been explicit about that. As I don’t see any mention of that in the page you linked to, they must have a solution for people who want their money back. So I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. > > Don’t be so sure – the trick isn’t the return policy, it’s shipping back. Amazon’s returns are shipping on your own dime, and given the size and weight of the mattress once it expands, the shipping costs could be extremely high if you can even find a shipper who will take it. > > This IS a common complaint about these things. They’re “functionally” non-returnable once opened because of the size. The rolled-and-vaccumed process they use to ship them reduces them to something like 1/10 the normal size. > > It’s also the reason they’re such a good “bargain.” I’ve heard a few times that a big reason mattresses are so expensive generally is due to high markups because of the shipping costs (and the relatively low volume a mattress store will sell). Because foam mattresses compress so small, they can ship using normal shipping options and selling through a national store like Amazon means they can actually sell in volume at lower markups. There are several companies (Tuft & Needle, Casper, Yogabed, Leesa, etc.) that sell mattresses in a similar manner. I checked the websites for several of them; they all had no-hassle return policies (most would try to donate the mattress to a local charity). So I expect the same thing would be true of the one that **Frylock** purchased. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-shit-i-accidentally-bought-a-foam-mattress/716229.md?page=2)