# When did a pillow become one of lifes major expenses? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 6, 2017, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577 "2017-03-06T20:21:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/41 "2017-03-08T02:43:19Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Really? I pictured you as more observant than that. I use a rectangular, white one on top of a rectangular, white one. I would highly recommend them, but I ain’t selling. I got those once. They’re okay, but the white, rectangular ones are better. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/42 "2017-03-08T03:18:21Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > If someone right now put a gun to my head, I couldn’t tell them what kind of pillow I use. Whatever was last on sale at one -Mart or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/43 "2017-03-08T03:52:50Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Americans have been conditioned to think simply everything is or should be free or dirt cheap. > > i blame McDonald’s. the “burger, fries, and soda - pLUS! Change back from your dollar!” > > Good stuff costs good money. On the other hand, some people are just born to be suckers. I doubt there has been any major advances in pillow science in the last few years. We’re probably buying pillows of pretty much the same quality that we were buying ten or twenty years ago. But somebody in marketing found out that you could raise the price and some people would assume the higher price reflected better quality. And once the marketers found that people were gullible enough to pay $150 for a pillow, why sell one for five dollars? The high end prices dragged up the low end prices. ---
**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/44 "2017-03-08T04:10:48Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > Ikea has the best pillows for pretty cheep. They have a feather pillow for $10 that I love. The have 60% down and 90% down for $45 and $65 respectively. Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/45 "2017-03-08T04:40:52Z")
This whole “replace them every 3-4 months” thing has me shell-shocked. The only time I’ve ever replaced a pillow was when it came out of the washer all lumpy. Normally they wash just fine. Most of them I used for 8-10 years before I finally accidentally put them in with the wrong load, or accidentally bleached them (the synthetic down responds badly!) or they just finally went kaput. I am feather-lergic and a side sleeper. So just the right pillow is mandatory. But the majority of them have been $10 Walmart or Target, or (back-when) KMart specials. When my back was healthy, that was all I needed. When my back got really bad, I bought a couple of these [http://www.sleepright.com/side-sleeping-pillow/](http://www.sleepright.com/side-sleeping-pillow/) and I absolutely love them. It’s the breathing channel they carve into the memory foam that makes them so amazing. I sleep much better with one. I think I paid about $65 each at the time. My one dislike is that they can’t go in the washer, so I keep the hypo-allergenic covers on plus a regular terry cloth sip cover and then the normal cotton pillow cover. There is no sign of them needing replacement. I’ve had them about 8-9 years now. A coworker recently bought a new mattress, and also bought two $300 pillows. That was the worst I’d ever heard of up 'til now - that Scandia link is scandalous! I asked him what was so special that made made them worth that much money and he couldn’t tell me. He said “But they were %30 off!” He’s a procurement professional, and I started checking his audit files much more closely after that conversation! He gets the five-figure deals from now on. ETA: I will, however, be willing to pay just about anything, when someone finally makes [one of these](http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20170303/medicline-advanced-positioning-pillow-side-sleepers/) that is wide enough for two people. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/46 "2017-03-08T04:55:10Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > . . . > ETA: I will, however, be willing to pay just about anything, when someone finally makes [one of these](http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/20170303/medicline-advanced-positioning-pillow-side-sleepers/) that is wide enough for two people. God, I wish that gadget had been around when I had frozen shoulders about seven years ago. I can only sleep on my side, but side sleeping was impossible with the pain in my shoulders. That thing has a hole for your shoulder to drop down into, which is just what I needed at the time. I had to make do by lying on awkward piles of pillows. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/47 "2017-03-08T05:58:44Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > If someone right now put a gun to my head, I couldn’t tell them what kind of pillow I use. > [@sitchensis](#): > > Ikea has the best pillows for pretty cheep. They have a feather pillow for $10 that I love. The have 60% down and 90% down for $45 and $65 respectively. > [@Maastricht](#): > > Sigh. > > [IKEA, folks](http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/bedroom/20533/). [Online, too.](http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/bedroom/20533/?filter=online) > [@Doug\_K](#): > > That’s funny. My wife bought some overpriced memory foam pillows about a year ago, and it turned out to be a “what was she thinking” decision. After a few days of waking up with a stiff neck, I went back to my 7+ year old Walmart cheapies and never looked back. Am I to assume you guys agree with me? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/48 "2017-03-08T06:04:41Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But somebody in marketing found out that you could raise the price and some people would assume the higher price reflected better quality. And once the marketers found that people were gullible enough to pay $150 for a pillow, why sell one for five dollars? The high end prices dragged up the low end prices. It’s the Grey Goose of pillows! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/49 "2017-03-08T19:11:30Z")
Talk about the power of suggestion. I got scratched in the face yet again by my down pillow last week and that plus this thread got me buying new pillows last night! Two for $30 at Kohl’s\*. They’re a down substitute but I think they are too full. I was sleeping with two smushed-down feather pillows and these two new ones togther is too high. But one is too low. They also feel like they might be too hot in the summer. They’ll do for now but they’re not perfect. \*Plus “pillow encasements” :rolleyes: on sale for 3.99 each. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/50 "2017-03-08T19:53:57Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Am I to assume you guys agree with me? I’ve gone camping and realized I forgot to bring a pillow. I just rolled up a pair of jeans and improvised a pillow. Slept well. For me, any pillow is fine. I’m a bit surprised by all the pillow extremists who have posted. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/51 "2017-03-08T20:14:42Z")
I use a corduroy pillow. I thought they were popular, they’re certainly making a lot of head lines. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/52 "2017-03-08T21:43:10Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Why? > > I switched to a memory foam pillow about a decade ago and it was one of those “Holy shit, why didn’t I do this sooner!?” decisions. Well I know why, because I couldn’t rationalize paying $100+ for a pillow, even though I paid like a grand for my mattress and I use a pillow every day. > > The problem is that it seems like a raw material, a basic hunk of foam cut into a pillow shape. How does that cost anywhere close to $150 to produce? The profit margins on these things must be insane. > > Or must it? The free market being what it is, there’s nothing stopping a competitor from releasing a $30 hunk of foam cut into a pillow shape. I would buy that. But I can’t, because it doesn’t exist, and until it does, I’m going to pay up to $200 for a good pillow every 5 years because it’s worth not waking up in pain. That’s like, 11 cents per use. I think I can swing it. Go to Amazon and type in “memory foam pillow” and you’ll have pages of options for a quarter of what you’re paying now. Or cheaper. I use a contour memory foam pillow. Got the first one thrown in for free with a memory foam mattress purchase a half dozen years ago. It was starting to wear out and I happened to see that Aldi had them as their “special of the week” for something like $12. Bought one to test out and it was great and haven’t noticed a difference in the last 6 months of use. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/53 "2017-03-08T21:43:15Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I use a corduroy pillow. I thought they were popular, they’re certainly making a lot of head lines. That pun made me wale. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/54 "2017-03-08T21:44:16Z")
> [@SmellMyWort](#): > > Go to Amazon and type in “memory foam pillow” and you’ll have pages of options for a quarter of what you’re paying now. Or cheaper. I use a contour memory foam pillow. Got the first one thrown in for free with a memory foam mattress purchase a half dozen years ago. It was starting to wear out and I happened to see that Aldi had them as their “special of the week” for something like $12. Bought one to test out and it was great and haven’t noticed a difference in the last 6 months of use. Do they get hot? Do you look for ones with some special “cooling” feature? ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/55 "2017-03-09T01:36:30Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’m a bit surprised by all the pillow extremists who have posted. “Pillow Extremists”. LOL! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/56 "2017-03-09T22:16:47Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Do they get hot? Do you look for ones with some special “cooling” feature? It doesn’t have a special cooling feature or blue gel or whatever that I’ve seen on other pillows. It’s Aldi so it’s pretty much just a standard memory foam pillow. I don’t think it gets hot, but I’ve never been one who has to flip the pillow to the cool side anyway. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/57 "2017-03-10T11:43:22Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > “Pillow Extremists”. LOL! 😛 And what’s the deal with the pillows people wear around their necks on an airplane? Do they count towards your carry on limit? Are they really that great that people don’t care how goofy they look? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/58 "2017-03-10T15:34:20Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > And what’s the deal with the pillows people wear around their necks on an airplane? > > Do they count towards your carry on limit? Are they really that great that people don’t care how goofy they look? 😃 I wear my around my neck on my way onto the plane so it doesn’t take up carry-on space. Why is it goofy to wear a comfortable pillow around your neck? It’s not like there’s room to cradle your neck any other way in coach. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/59 "2017-03-10T15:45:08Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > It’s not like there’s room to cradle your neck any other way in coach. I once had a total stranger use my shoulder, in a sorta cuddle maneuver. I didn’t wake her, preferring to see her surprise when she awoke spontaneously when we hit some turbulence. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577/60 "2017-03-10T17:03:35Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > If someone right now put a gun to my head, I couldn’t tell them what kind of pillow I use. All I know is that I hate the big fluffy ones, like the ones you have at most hotels. Other than that, I have no clue. For me to sleep well, I just need a flat, firm surface and a pillow with a decent amount of firmness, but not too thick. I’ll usually stack two of them. I have more expensive tastes in other things, but not mattresses and pillows. My wife did buy one of those memory foam pillows for me, but they just don’t feel right to me. I guess after spending 40+ years with regular cheap pillows, that’s what I’m used to and prefer. I personally don’t “get” the $200 pillows and $1000+ mattresses, but I’m sure folks don’t “get” how I could spend $50-$60/lb on a steak (as an ingredient I still have to prepare for myself) from time to time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-did-a-pillow-become-one-of-lifes-major-expenses/781577.md?page=4)