Comments on: Top Ten Problems With Memory Foam http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/2008/01/28/top-ten-problems-with-memory-foam/ Tips, Techniques and Articles that Lead to a Better Night's Sleep Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:25:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Doug http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/2008/01/28/top-ten-problems-with-memory-foam/#comment-150 Doug Tue, 06 May 2008 18:23:00 +0000 http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/2008/01/28/top-ten-problems-with-memory-foam/#comment-150 Hi Robin, I am sure people will appreciate your imformation. I believe the keyword you used was ” Memory Foam Topper”. For over 22 years dad and I have sold people beds. I am pretty sure this will not be what you want to here, but we flat out refuse to take our customers money with cheap quick fixes such as toppers that more often than not don’t work. I wish I had a dime for every time I heard comments like yours. I know that will draw some criticism from people who have had good luck, but we try to go with what works the best and works most consistently. The reasons most people end up with toppers vary, but these are the common ones. 1. They have a worn out mattress they hope to extend the life of. 2. Their trying to change the feel of one they bought and dislike into something it is not. 3. Lastly they may choose a topper as an alternative to memory foam mattresses, which are more expensive and are simply out of budget. The truth is, if memory foam mattresses are out of budget do not buy one, wait or buy an inexpensive innerspring to allow you more time to save up for a quality visco elastic memory foam mattress. It is worth it in the end. Robin, if it was crushed as you say or (damaged) well of course that’s not normal. I am not sure that is the case here? If you are referring to the mattress being vacuum packed like beef jerky in the shrink-wrap or a package of freeze dried food that would be normal. Many memory foam products are shipped in this fashion. When the vacuum is released it should return to its original shape usually with in 24 hours or less. That is why they call it memory foam. If not it will need to be returned to Target. Full size should measure 54 x 75. I do not want to come across as being critical and I am going to encourage people to learn from your bad experience. That is the great thing about this type of platform people will learn what to do and not to do. So here is my soapbox. It is my opinion that sadly your confusion was brought on from purchasing from a store that chooses not hire mattress professionals to help you make the correct buying decisions and answer your excellent questions. Target as good as they are, really is a nothing more than a department store, not a mattress store or a furniture store. So the service you may be expecting will be lacking. Their employees keep the shelves stocked and know little to nothing about what is being sold in each department. Department managers really aren’t much better. Stores like Costco, Sam’s, Target, Wal-Mart are masters of nothing but cheep prices in my opinion. If a person does not find the necessary and pertinent information they are looking on the box or in the directions then it in fact should be considered a case of buyer beware. Retail mattress stores pay good money for display showrooms where you can see and feel what to expect while eliminating confusion. As for the pricing issue I am going to use the Tempurpedic mattress and the one you purchased for this comparison. A model called the “Original” is the cheapest mattress you can buy from Tempur Pedic and in the Full size runs 999.00 for the mattress only. The prices range up to 2499.00 for the model called the “Rhapsody”. The prices would quite frankly go much higher, if higher end full size mattresses sold better than they do. (Take notice the top of the line mattresses offered from Tempur Pedic are not even available in full size.) Tempurpedic is the brand by which everyone else compares himself or herself to. This is done for a reason they are the best. Now at 200.00 for a topper your purchase price is ½ the typical advertised price of a no name entry-level memory foam mattress. So in comparison take a 400.00 entry-level mattress and a top of the line Tempur Pedic at 2499.00 a midrange priced memory foam mattress in full size should run about 1450.00 If you think taking the mattress back to a store is fun, imagine having to get it into the original box and ship it back to the online retailer, which many of them require. Thanks for posting your comment and please understand I am not trying to pick on you, but answer your questions and comments honestly while helping others in the process. Hi Robin,
I am sure people will appreciate your imformation.
I believe the keyword you used was ” Memory Foam Topper”. For over 22 years dad and I have sold people beds. I am pretty sure this will not be what you want to here, but we flat out refuse to take our customers money with cheap quick fixes such as toppers that more often than not don’t work. I wish I had a dime for every time I heard comments like yours. I know that will draw some criticism from people who have had good luck, but we try to go with what works the best and works most consistently.

The reasons most people end up with toppers vary, but these are the common ones.
1. They have a worn out mattress they hope to extend the life of.
2. Their trying to change the feel of one they bought and dislike into something it is not.
3. Lastly they may choose a topper as an alternative to memory foam mattresses, which are more expensive and are simply out of budget.
The truth is, if memory foam mattresses are out of budget do not buy one, wait or buy an inexpensive innerspring to allow you more time to save up for a quality visco elastic memory foam mattress. It is worth it in the end.

Robin, if it was crushed as you say or (damaged) well of course that’s not normal. I am not sure that is the case here? If you are referring to the mattress being vacuum packed like beef jerky in the shrink-wrap or a package of freeze dried food that would be normal. Many memory foam products are shipped in this fashion. When the vacuum is released it should return to its original shape usually with in 24 hours or less. That is why they call it memory foam. If not it will need to be returned to Target. Full size should measure 54 x 75.

I do not want to come across as being critical and I am going to encourage people to learn from your bad experience. That is the great thing about this type of platform people will learn what to do and not to do.

So here is my soapbox. It is my opinion that sadly your confusion was brought on from purchasing from a store that chooses not hire mattress professionals to help you make the correct buying decisions and answer your excellent questions. Target as good as they are, really is a nothing more than a department store, not a mattress store or a furniture store. So the service you may be expecting will be lacking. Their employees keep the shelves stocked and know little to nothing about what is being sold in each department. Department managers really aren’t much better. Stores like Costco, Sam’s, Target, Wal-Mart are masters of nothing but cheep prices in my opinion. If a person does not find the necessary and pertinent information they are looking on the box or in the directions then it in fact should be considered a case of buyer beware. Retail mattress stores pay good money for display showrooms where you can see and feel what to expect while eliminating confusion.

As for the pricing issue I am going to use the Tempurpedic mattress and the one you purchased for this comparison.
A model called the “Original” is the cheapest mattress you can buy from Tempur Pedic and in the Full size runs 999.00 for the mattress only. The prices range up to 2499.00 for the model called the “Rhapsody”. The prices would quite frankly go much higher, if higher end full size mattresses sold better than they do. (Take notice the top of the line mattresses offered from Tempur Pedic are not even available in full size.) Tempurpedic is the brand by which everyone else compares himself or herself to. This is done for a reason they are the best. Now at 200.00 for a topper your purchase price is ½ the typical advertised price of a no name entry-level memory foam mattress. So in comparison take a 400.00 entry-level mattress and a top of the line Tempur Pedic at 2499.00 a midrange priced memory foam mattress in full size should run about 1450.00

If you think taking the mattress back to a store is fun, imagine having to get it into the original box and ship it back to the online retailer, which many of them require.

Thanks for posting your comment and please understand I am not trying to pick on you, but answer your questions and comments honestly while helping others in the process.

]]> By: Robin http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/2008/01/28/top-ten-problems-with-memory-foam/#comment-149 Robin Tue, 06 May 2008 02:49:44 +0000 http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/2008/01/28/top-ten-problems-with-memory-foam/#comment-149 I just bought a midrange priced memory foam mattress topper from Target. I am confused as to what I should have expected to come out of the box. What I got is a completely crushed, compact, hard, warped thing. I realize that it's been rolled up and compacted for packaging. No info in the box whatsoever as to what to expect. Will this take days to 'undo' itself? It's completely unusable and I am a little irritated as I spent almost $200 on this thing. It says a full size but it seems more like a twin. I wish there was information provided with the product. I am very disappointed, and I don't want to have to try to box this darned thing up to return it! I just bought a midrange priced memory foam mattress topper from Target. I am confused as to what I should have expected to come out of the box. What I got is a completely crushed, compact, hard, warped thing. I realize that it’s been rolled up and compacted for packaging. No info in the box whatsoever as to what to expect. Will this take days to ‘undo’ itself? It’s completely unusable and I am a little irritated as I spent almost $200 on this thing. It says a full size but it seems more like a twin. I wish there was information provided with the product. I am very disappointed, and I don’t want to have to try to box this darned thing up to return it!

]]> By: Doug http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/2008/01/28/top-ten-problems-with-memory-foam/#comment-50 Doug Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:17:41 +0000 http://www.stlbeds.com/articles/2008/01/28/top-ten-problems-with-memory-foam/#comment-50 Correction to # 5 Memory foam mattress compressions or body impression issues This is more of a myth than a reality but we thought we would throw it in. Although all foams eventually break down, memory foam as a whole seems to out perform and out last the majority of low grade polyurethane foams often used for cushioning by its coiled steel spring competitors. Most stores brag of considerably lower rates of warranty return issues when it comes to memory foam mattresses, in particular problems such as excessive sagging, or body impressions. Correction to # 5

Memory foam mattress compressions or body impression issues
This is more of a myth than a reality but we thought we would throw it in. Although all foams eventually break down, memory foam as a whole seems to out perform and out last the majority of low grade polyurethane foams often used for cushioning by its coiled steel spring competitors. Most stores brag of considerably lower rates of warranty return issues when it comes to memory foam mattresses, in particular problems such as excessive sagging, or body impressions.

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