Buying a mattress is a confusing and dark art, but just try to return one. One family got a $2,500 Stearns and Foster mattress that had a hand-width-sized lump running from top to bottom. It was uncomfortable. Initially Sealy refused to accept the return, because the lump was not deeper than 1.5 inches. Their’s was only 1 and a quarter. What a weird rule, right? [More]
mattresses
The $33,000 Mattress
By 6.24.10
How much would you pay to sleep on the Porsche of mattresses? How about $33,000? That’s how much E.S. Kluft & Co.’s king-size Palais Royale mattress and box spring will run you. It contains 19.5 inches of of luxury fabric and materials, including: [More]
Hampton Inn Wants You To Use Imaginary Boxspring Measurements
By 5.21.10
Older stairwells were apparently not designed to handle the massive boxsprings that come with today’s double beds. When Sarah ordered a mattress set from Hampton Inn, she didn’t realize this, and ran up against a no-return policy and an inexplicable $500 markup for a split boxspring. [More]
VIDEO: Why You Should Never Pay Full Price For A Mattress
By 3.30.10
Of all the high-ticket prices available for your home, one that our bookish cousin Consumer Reports won’t rate is your mattress, because everyone’s particular mattress needs are subjective. But that doesn’t mean CR won’t investigate whether or not customers are getting their money’s worth when they spring for their mattresses. [More]
Baby Hammock Recalled After Two Deaths
By 12.8.09
Maybe those hamsters are okay, but these Amby Baby Motion hammock beds are not. Two infants have died–one in June, the other in August–from suffocation, prompting Amby Baby and the CPSC to issue a recall notice. You can make the hammock safe to use after repairing it with a free kit, which you can order directly from Amby Baby. [More]
Buy A Mattress, Get A Free Video Camera
By 11.28.09
A few weeks ago, Macy’s ran this somewhat mystifying promotion. Simple enough: Buy a mattress, get a free video camera via mail-in rebate.
It’s interesting to see a department store modern enough to openly market to aspiring amateur porn stars.
Warning: Actual Consequences To Removing Mattress Tags
By 10.9.09
Through the ages, comedians have made unfunny jokes about the tags attached to mattresses and pillows, and the dire consequences that can (not) befall the person who dares to remove them. Bryan, however, discovered that there can be serious consequences to removing the tag. And it’s even worse if, as Bryan claims, you’re not the one who removed it.
Do We Really Need To Market Beds Specifically To Guys?
By 9.24.09
The Wall Street Journal has some ridiculous looking photos of beds designed for the male shopper. Apparently guys want built-in coolers, safes, TVs, and iPod docks in their beds. Sorry, we mean “man caves.”
Sleepy's Exec Says Bedbugs Come From People
By 8.17.09
Buried in the controversy surrounding the exit of consumer reporter George Gombossy from the Hartford Courant was his article that looks at complaints against mattress company Sleepy’s. We though this bit of wisdom from Sleepy’s COO was worth repeating:
Don't Put Too Much Faith In Select Comfort's 20-Year Warranty
By 7.13.09
If you’re thinking of buying a Select Comfort mattress, you might want to budget in an extra $200+ every couple of years to replace the controllers that let you adjust the bed. That’s the commitment Henry seems to be stuck with. Although Select Mattress keeps telling him it’s a rare occurrence, it’s happened twice now with him with both controllers, and he’s not the only one.
Woman Hides Life Savings In Mattress, Mattress Taken To Dump By Helpful Daughter
By 6.11.09
A woman in Israel hid her life savings—she says nearly $1 million dollars—in her mattress. Her daughter bought her a new mattress as a surprise upgrade and threw it out. Dump employees are now searching on behalf of the family while security has been hired to keep out treasure hunters, but they don’t know which of the two city dumps it was taken to. We imagine it’s the one where the rats are all wearing tiny gold rings and toasting each other with little glasses of champagne.
Simmons Fluffs Hotel Mattress Price By $500
By 6.9.09
UPDATE: Simmons contacted Charles today, and the situation has been settled. As some commenters here guessed, the confusion came from the sales rep misreading the number 3 for an 8 on the computer screen. Everyone can rest easy tonight, even if it’s not on a fluffy mattress.
HealthyBack Forces Free Pillows On Customer, Then Charges Him $120
By 5.18.09
Tony bought a Tempur-Pedic mattress from healthyback.com last December, and they sent him two pillows as a “free gift.” Tony didn’t want the pillows, but HealthyBack refused to take them back, and assured him they were part of a promotion.
Mattress Giant's 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Doesn't Apply To Mattresses
By 9.27.08
Look, if you’re going to call your store “Mattress Giant,” and you’re going to have a 100% satisfaction guarantee, then don’t specifically exclude mattresses.
Reader Gets Sleep Number To Exchange Moldy Mattress
By 7.15.08
Like all those people who joined the class-action suit, Consumerist reader Russ has a moldy Select Comfort mattress. Unlike many of them, he was able to use it to get a new bed, and the old bed taken away, for free. Here’s how he negotiated with customer service:
How To Buy A New Mattress
By 1.18.08
Elizabeth Mayhew of the Today Show gives a primer on mattress shopping, including the basics on types of mattresses, cost differences, what to look for, and when to replace your old one. “If you are a couple, shop together and if possible bring your pillows with you. Make sure you lie on a mattress for at least 10 minutes in your normal sleep position. Cuddle on it, and engage in light foreplay through your street clothes.” Okay, we made up that last sentence.
By 12.19.07
../../../..//2007/12/19/if-you-have-babies/
If you have babies visiting you this holiday season, don’t let them sleep on air mattresses, says the CPSC. They’ve received several reports of suffocation deaths because the mattresses can be too soft for infants. The same goes for waterbeds, although if you have a waterbed then you’re probably living in 1982 and this blog hasn’t been invented yet. [CPSC]
6 Inflatable Mattresses Reviewed
By 11.16.07
Slate’s back with another Average Jane review of a common product: the inflatable mattress, which always seems to become a worthy topic this time of year when people are visiting. The top two mattresses—both with built-in electric pumps—are a $50 model from Wal-Mart that’s a surprising 24-inches tall when inflated, and an amazing $260 AeroBed that looks like a box spring and mattress.
