Buying a new bed

[photo]

I hate buying beds. I've purchased several over the years, and every time, feel that they're terribly overpriced.

Our current bed is 3 years old. I allowed myself to be seduced into buying a pillowtop (very poor choice), and both hubby and I have been waking up with sore backs, although we've never had back problems. To test, we've been sleeping on other beds in the house, and the back problems disappeared. We went back to our pillowtop with the predictable outcome.

We've tried several beds in local stores and have decided to get the firmest mattress. However, no salesperson will negotiate down from inflated prices. There are beds on sale, but even those are over $1,000. What I've read on the web suggests that salespeople, especially in this economy, will bargain with you, but I'm finding that not to be the case, even when I offer cash on the spot.

I'm tempted just to buy a mattress from Costco online but hesitate since we can't see it in person.

Does anyone have any mattress-buying tips or ways you've managed to bring the price down in your local area?

I'd actually pay a lot for a bed, but only if I were guaranteed it would last for many years, but since that won't happen, I don't want to invest that much into something that may need to be replaced in only a few years.

[photo]

I was looking at Costco's Sealy Posturepedic "Alanson," and found in the reviews:


The mattress is not very firm.

It is VERY VERY firm.

It is a comfortable bed - not too firm and not too soft.

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11504425&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eC at=BC|93|1924|67412&N=4018920&Mo=29&pos=4&No=25&Nr =P_CatalogName:BC&cat=67412&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDe sc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC11879-Cat1924&topnav=


I realize we all have different points-of-view, but it's odd how the same bed can have such varying degrees of firmness. The couch is starting to look good about now.

[disneysteve]

The advice I usually give is to point out that prices are negotiable, but you already know that. The last time we bought a mattress, we found one we liked and then I told the salesman that it was more than we wanted to spend. He asked how much we were looking to spend and then cut the price of the one we wanted to just about that amount.

As for reviews, they're worthless as you've discovered. The same goes for restaurants, travel destinations and just about everything else. Anything that is subjective just isn't a good topic for reviews.

[irmanator]

I am not a professional or an expert in anything but me, however my experience with a mediocre mattress set and back pain has been that it went away when I started doing yoga excercises. I do the Jillian Michaels one, well only half way as much as I can. But even that has erased my back pain. Just an idea, and it may or may not work but it did for me so I thought I'd put it out there. btw I did first go to the Dr. and she said that there was nothing really wrong but my back was a little weak. This probably would not work if you have serious back issues. Again this is just an idea that worked for me and I am most certainly not an expert.

[photo]

Thanks, irmanator. We've been playing musical beds in the house, and as long as we stay away from our mattress, we're fine. However, I think we will look into incorporating some back exercises into our regular routine, as well.

[bjl584]

I hate buying beds. I've purchased several over the years, and every time, feel that they're terribly overpriced.

Our current bed is 3 years old. I allowed myself to be seduced into buying a pillowtop (very poor choice), and both hubby and I have been waking up with sore backs, although we've never had back problems. To test, we've been sleeping on other beds in the house, and the back problems disappeared. We went back to our pillowtop with the predictable outcome.

We've tried several beds in local stores and have decided to get the firmest mattress. However, no salesperson will negotiate down from inflated prices. There are beds on sale, but even those are over $1,000. What I've read on the web suggests that salespeople, especially in this economy, will bargain with you, but I'm finding that not to be the case, even when I offer cash on the spot.

I'm tempted just to buy a mattress from Costco online but hesitate since we can't see it in person.

Does anyone have any mattress-buying tips or ways you've managed to bring the price down in your local area?

I'd actually pay a lot for a bed, but only if I were guaranteed it would last for many years, but since that won't happen, I don't want to invest that much into something that may need to be replaced in only a few years.

Check Sears Outlet. Sometimes they have defect and scratch and dent items for sale for a discount.

Some furniture stores will also come down in price if you: 1) have a wad of cash in your hand, and 2) buy the floor model.

[GrimJack]

I slept on a waterbed for most of my adult life (bought my first one in 1971); a couple years ago, my last one 'popped' along a seam and the bedroom was flooded. We tested all sorts of replacements and while searching, we bought an inflatable camping mattress. This was so comfortable that we bought (we being DW) a Sleep Number bed. DW splurged and we got the adjustable version. I believe that the basic bed with separate 'sleep comfort' controls is about $1000. You can get them with various different paddings - just a thought.

[photo]

Cash does not talk, which surprised me a lot. I visited 4 stores yesterday, and with the exception of one, no one would budge on price. It isn't a matter of not being able to afford a bed, but beds in general just don't seem to be made as well as they used to. My husband and I are not at all overweight, so it isn't like heavy people are wearing out the mattress. But I vehemently dislike spending a lot of money on something that may end up being no better than a cheaper version.

Consumer Reports adamantly states that beds are overpriced and that you should never pay more than 50% of the original cost.

The Sleep Number does sound interesting, but I wonder how it will hold up in the long run.

[snafu]

I recall my dad had a piece of plywood cut to measure between the box spring and mattress when an injury required a very firm mattress during recovery. It wasn't visible and didn't require any special bedding.

Costco has an incredible return policy. If the product can be returned it would be worth the hassle. [Costco re-sells returns via it's auction house contract].

[Frugal]

I don't know what to tell you. My spouse paid over $1,000, and I think around 1,500-1,700 for a mattress before we met. It is nice, but will need to be replaced. Nice pillow- top ones are expensive!

[photo]

We're going to buy from Costco. I don't like when people abuse the return policy, but it is nice to know that if we really can't stand the bed, we can get a refund.

[Gary Barzel]

Ask a store manager after you decided on one you like if they have any of the same ones in their warehouse that were either returned or defected (obviously a minor defect, due to shipping etc) if they'd be willing to sell it to you for a cheaper price. It may work out well for the both of you.

[riverwed070707]

Thanks, irmanator. We've been playing musical beds in the house, and as long as we stay away from our mattress, we're fine. However, I think we will look into incorporating some back exercises into our regular routine, as well.

Potentially silly questsion here... why not just swap your bed with another one in the house if yours is the only one that bothers you? Or if you can't swap, buy another one like one you already have.

As far as bed advice goes, i can't speak to frugal bed shopping. DH and I have a king tempurpedic rhapsody (the firm one) and have never regretted our splurge. DH has back problems and used to not sleep at night -- now he's sleeps like a baby. I consider sleep to be a very worthwhile investment.

[photo]

Potentially silly questsion here... why not just swap your bed with another one in the house if yours is the only one that bothers you?

The bed has just broken down inside somewhat and sags, so no one likes it (we are not heavy people at all). However, Costco is refunding our money, and we've already ordered a new bed from them. We'll see how the new one goes. It should arrive in a couple of weeks.

DH and I have a king tempurpedic rhapsody (the firm one) and have never regretted our splurge. DH has back problems and used to not sleep at night -- now he's sleeps like a baby. I consider sleep to be a very worthwhile investment.

I've been tempted but am afraid that we'll find out that we don't like it after the warranty is void. Sleep is definitely a worthwhile investment, no doubt. In fact, I would almost consider part of the cost of health care. The problem is that it's sometimes hard to tell if the investment was a good one until after it's too late to back out.

Does the Tempur-Pedic ever get warm? We like it cool at night and some of the reviews say that the foam can become warm in the summer.

[elessar78]

I bought the floor model bed from the show room after college. It took a lot of deep thinking on whether this was sound. It's no longer my primary mattress but it's still in the house. Almost a decade later, no problems. Didn't contract any major diseases from it, no bed bugs.

I just thought about people's behavior in mattress showrooms and it was never even close to what I can imagine happening on hotel beds (and I sleep on those).