Ah yes the old coil spring count myth one of my favorites. I read on one website a description that I really got a chuckle over and they said “ Mattress coil spring counts are the bed industry’s equivalent to Jedi-mind tricks.” Higher coil counts don’t necessarily mean you are getting a better mattress. To get more coils in the mattresses they have to make the coils smaller.

I like what one very well respected sales representative told me about coil count. If more is better then why not put millions of springs say like an ink pen spring in them. Wouldn’t that make for a far stronger, more supportive, comfy bed?

The fact is the more coils we add the smaller they get and the wire used to make the springs gets thinner and weaker. Don’t get me wrong these beds can feel marvelous which is my point it really just changes the beds feel more than it does the beds strength. Think of more coils as an easy way for a mattress manufacturer to raise the price of a bed. Making the situation worse is the fact that while shopping you really cannot see the inside of these mattresses making it very confusing.

Our advice, do not judge a mattress on coil count by itself,

they can be misleading and quite frankly are designed to be that way. Mattress manufacturers base their coil counts on various sizes. One may base their 522-coil count on a full size, while another bases theirs on a queen size coil count at 652 coils. The same mattress with 2 different coil counts and the average shopper would miss the small detail of the two different sizes because retailers intentionally don’t discuss what the number is based on and that is the easy confusing example. There are many many other confusing misleading comparisons.

There are so many different kinds of springs made a salesperson could spend an hour explaining them all. Marshall Coil (pocketed coil) Verti Coil, Bonnel or Bonnell Coil, Continuous Coil and it goes on and on.

Finally 2 mattresses having an equal number of coils can have a completely different feel by simply tweaking the quilting pattern or the layers of upholstery on top of the coil spring unit. Consumer Reports said it best coil count doesn’t matter. So go with your gut (or your back) and purchase your new mattress based on its comfort.

We encourage you to take a step back and always take a good look at the source of the information you are evaluating and making a purchasing decision on.

When researching information be sure to get corroborating opinions from other sources that either support or refute products or claims you are trying to research.

Consider the source of the mattress information.

Is it independent or is it just glorified sales commercial disguised as a review or sales pitch. Keep in mind that all the big brand name mattress companies are spending approximately $30-$50 million dollars a year or more on healthy, aggressive, and effective sales marketing campaigns. Some of these companies have been marketing for over 100 years and with that kind of experience you can make your product brand a household name.

Investigate, research, and comparing helps you sort through the mattress muck.

So how can I find out what is true and not true about mattresses and which are the best?

What you’re doing right now is a great start reading and researching on the Internet. What we like about the Internet is that it puts a whole bunch of independent sources and material out there for the world to see. Not all of it is accurate but there is enough out there to make you think and come to your own conclusions. You may stumble across a common theme, for example heat issues, body impressions or even high cost.

It is true you will still have to sift through all sorts of information and decide who has an agenda and if the information is accurate but you will have information, and that is knowledge that you can either do more research on or make a purchasing decision on.

Not so long ago mattress shoppers got their information from TV commercials, magazines, or they bought because a friend or relative recommended it. Not so much today. Interestingly a large portion of our customers are making their purchasing decision based on a large amount of Internet research this is especially true for higher valued products. One issue we run into quite a bit from mattress and furniture shoppers is the skepticism of the information they are getting while shopping. At STL Beds we are never afraid to advise shoppers not to take our word as the gospel and instead highly encourage them to research the Internet about specific products, important details, specific problems, or even product longevity before they buy.

Finally after spending the time researching share what you have learned with others. That is what the Internet is all about. Most importantly don’t just share the negative information share your positive mattress experience too. I see so many complaints about heat with memory foam and many in the industry have solved the issue yet no one is going into mattress forums and chat rooms saying that their memory foam doesn’t sleep hot. I guess it’s just like they say “Do something good and no one remembers but do something bad and no one forgets!”

I have found especially with the new fire code 16 CFR Part 1633 and technical developments in the last 5 years you cannot and should not assume the quality is still there. Today’s thicker mattresses are loaded with low grade padding materials which means more body impressions and shorter life expectancy for your mattress. This is especially true of the new one sided mattresses that didn’t even exist which now dominate the market today.

2“Some people just will not lay on a mattress in the store”.

Frankly this may be the most ridiculous mistake people make. I cannot remember the last time I bought a pair of shoes,  neglected to try them on and then wore them for the next year or so every day. We spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping and is one of the most important purchases you can make that directly affects your health. This is why retail stores often offer a mind blowing selection of mattresses to choose from as opposed to just one model.

3 “Buy what a friend bought and recommended on blind faith”.

Different people have different needs so do not assume that if it’s good for them it will be good for you too. I will just point out that each of us are different and unique and have different tastes. One person’s injured shoulder, hip, or back may require a specific level of support, firmness, or softness out of their mattress that their friend or family member may not require. Keep in mind just like food how good it tastes is subjective to the one who is eating it.

4 “I want a real firm mattress because I hear they are better for your back”.

Most commonly this is asked by elder customers. Unfortunately going back to mistake number three, firmer in many cases is not always better. Softer surfaced mattresses can often offer relief to people that have specific pain due to pressure that can be reduced with a sleeping surface that is softer. It is important to make sure it has a good core base support.

5 “Assume all stores with the same brand have the same quality”.

Some stores due to their buying power can dictate what goes in their mattresses for better or worse. The truth is this does more to improve profit margins than improve mattress support and comfort. It’s our opinion that the product as designed and developed by the manufacture is going to be most comfortable, durable, and supportive for the consumer making it a consumer’s best buy.

Not considering a mattress as an important purchase and budgeting very little can be a huge mistake. Little money means low grade foams and paddings which can break down very very quickly. Just as important is the small amount of steel that will be used to build an inexpensive mattress. Pick one of these low priced mattresses up and then pick up a recommended model. Good quality mattresses will nearly always weigh more and as industry insiders will tell you if you know nothing at all about mattresses then buy by weight.

2. “I don’t need to try it I can feel that this one would be fine”.

Not trying out a mattress before buying one is foolish considering the expense of mattress sets and the number of choices offered today. Stores carry as many as 20, 40, 60 different mattress sets to choose from because people have different comfort tastes and require various levels of support. The reason stores carry more than one mattress is because they know that a one size fits all approach is a huge mistake. Mattress consumers should make time to select the perfect mattress to fit their specific needs.

3. Mattress shoppers don’t spend enough time test resting mattresses

Some mattress shoppers think all mattresses are basically the same. Not only do companies offer different name brands like Sealy, Serta, and Simmons but they also have various types of mattresses like memory foam, all natural latex, softside waterbeds, airbeds, and even gel beds. Within each of these different types of beds there are many many different firmness’s and support levels available.

4. Interpreting a salesperson as pushy instead of informative.

What many people perceive as pushy is sometimes nothing more than a salesperson trying to explain complicated designs, supports systems, and construction differences so people can make an educated decision. Instead many people push the salesperson away sending away crucial information that they may need to keep them from making a bad decision. I was told as a child I would learn more if I just listen so I am encouraging you to do the same and don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you feel the salesperson is pushy run them off or simply leave and go else where.

5. Educating themselves after they have bought.

Unfortunately this is a biggie and happens all to often. Small problems creep up and the consumer begins to question their buying decision after its too late. They get on line, go to other mattress stores only to find out they could have done better. Get on line, shop various retailers, compare apples to apples not just the cheapest price vs. the higher price. Mattress buyers who do their shopping after having bought one, nearly always and I mean always catch a very bad case of buyer’s remorse that just never goes away.

Memorial Day or Labor Day that got me thinking. Are we supposed to believe that Memorial Day or Labor Day Sales typically have bigger holidays sales than other annual holidays? What about after holiday sales? What are we doing living for the holidays?

Lets be realistic, just because a mattress or furniture store advertises that we’re saving a lot of money doesn’t necessarily mean that we are getting the absolute best price for that sale item. What about the other holiday sales Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July and so forth? I think we need to step back from the hype and use common sense here and remember that stores have to pay rent and their mortgage all year long. So why would they have only a sale or two a year say Memorial Day or Labor Day that are big? What makes one or both of them the best savings day of the entire year? Should we really believe that better prices during one of those two days are better than an after Thanksgiving sale? Come on people they have us sold and snowed.

Retailers are smart and know that my wife would love to have her bedroom filled with something gorgeous for her birthday, anniversary, Mothers Day, or Valentines Day helping her convert that old bedroom into her personal sanctuary.  Perhaps retailers don’t think that a hard working laborers’ back deserves a new mattress? Do we really believe that mattress stores are really going to make him wait till Fathers Day before he can get one? What if he is not a father?

My point is this, great sales and discounts are available at various stores all through out the year. We would suggest before buying a mattress or furniture on a holiday that you shop to get the best price on an item you are interested in, in order to establish what it costs before the so called discount or sale. In addition never feel the pressure of an ending sale. Never get in a hurry and rush to close the deal because a sale ends today or Saturday and stop living for the holidays if you know what we mean? There are other holidays and there will be other sales.

Shopping tips:

·    Decide on what it is you want to buy before a sale.
·    Established base line price for that item.
·    Many stores use “suggested”, “retail” or “compare at” prices. These are ridiculous and seem to be inflated to start with so they can discount 50% or more for the “big sale”
·    Consider retail stores that use everyday low prices. Wal-Mart does this and they are the number one retail Department store.

365 days a year
Approximately 47 potential sales a year
What do retailers do for the other 318 days there are no holidays?

Holidays
1. New Year’s Day
2. College Football Championship Game
3. Martin Luther King Day
4. Groundhog Day
5. Super Bowl
6. Lincoln’s Birthday
7. St. Valentines Day
8. Presidents Day and Washington’s Birthday
9. Mardi Gras Carnival
10. Fat Tuesday
11. St. Patrick’s Day
12. Earth Hour
13. April Fool’s Day
14. Good Friday
15. Easter Sunday
16. Tax Day
17. Administrative Professionals Day or National Secretary’s Day
18. Earth Day
19. Kentucky Derby horse race
20. Cinco de Mayo
21. Mother’s Day
22. Armed Forces Day
23. Memorial Day
24. Flag Day
25. U.S. Open Golf Championship tournament
26. Father’s Day
27. July 4 Independence Day USA
28. Parents’ Day
29. Labor Day
30. Patriot Day (a.k.a. 9/11 or September 11th)
31. Grandparents’ Day
32. Step family Day
33. Citizenship Day
34. Native American Day
35. Columbus Day
36. Boss’s Day (National Bosses Day)
37. Halloween
38. Election Day
39. Veterans’ Day
40. Thanksgiving Day
41. Black Friday
42. Cyber Monday
43. Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
44. Chanukah/Hanukkah
45. Christmas Day
46. Kwanzaa
47. New Year’s Eve

Can’t get enough great mattress buying tips? Check this one out.

Top 10 Things To Do Before You Purchase a Mattress

Share your tips and comments below.

1. A salesperson can be very helpful in choosing the correct mattress, use their experience and advise to guide you. You don’t have to agree with them or take their advice but listening to them a mattress shopper can learn a lot.
2. Visit mattress forums, chat rooms, and review sites where people just like you discuss their experiences, likes, and dislikes.
3. Read comfort guarantees from stores that offer them. Many times fees, charges, and restrictions apply so understand the details of comfort exchanges and reselections or refunds. People often draw their own conclusion of how these work and are upset when the actual policy differs from how they believe it should work.
4. Know exactly what a mattress warranty covers and what it doesn’t cover. Warranties don’t cover much and never cover mattress comfort which is one of the biggest complaints consumers file their warranty claim under. Know that long mattress warranties are not an indicator of how long a mattress will actually last which is commonly much shorter than the warranty that covers only manufacturer’s defects.
5. Check out a dealer’s reputation through multiple sources. Several excellent sources can be asking friends, family members, and co-workers who may have already bought where you’re shopping. Ask them where they bought, what kind of buying and or service experience they had. The BBB is another good source for this kind of information.
6. Do your homework take good notes and pay close attention to the dreaded sales pitch. Believe it or not salespeople are generally educated about what they are selling and it is a very good way to get a solid understanding of what you’re buying. An educated buyer makes the best choices.
7. One of the most common mistakes mattress buyers make is educating themselves and shopping after they have already bought. The only thing you will find yourself doing is catching a bad case of buyers’ remorse and that you made a horrible decision.
8. Most importantly test rest different mattresses. There are many different brands try them all. Each of those brand names are going to have many models to choose from. Some offer different types of mattresses that will be built using things like coils springs, memory foam, latex foam rubber, or even air or water. By doing this you will be much more secure with your mattress purchase.
9. While test resting mattresses quickly eliminate mattresses that you don’t like or are ho hum about. Once narrowed down to a few models you really like spend at least 10 -15 minutes test resting each mattress for best results.
10. Don’t be swayed by sales that end today or on Saturday. Sales will come and go and deals are plentiful you just may have to go get the deal at a different store that carries the same of similar mattress.

Here are some more great tips.

Top Ways To Protect Yourself Before and After a Mattress Purchase

Poorly trained sales people and advertising practices

Recently I read an ad for a platform bed we sell. It was an Espresso finished bed with a padded black headboard for $429.00. Theirs was on sale and ours sells for that price everyday.  The difference between our advertisement and our competitors… their sale read,“Espresso finished leather padded black platform bed”. I asked the salesman about it and he confirmed that it was leather. When I pointed out it wasn’t leather he acted like it was no big deal. I felt sorry for those who bought this bed believing they had purchased leather. When advertising something as leather it better be leather not vinyl or even simulated leather. Retailers and sales people have an obligation to know what they are selling.
 
Sales people – Should be well trained and versed on the products they sell. Their job is to educate the consumer about a product, explaining various alternative options, differences, answer questions, and finally is trained to ask the shopper the important questions making sure they ultimately go home with the item they need, want, and are expecting to get.

Order takers- Fulfill the customers’ request. Selling what is asked for with out question regardless of whether it is what the consumer is really needing, wanting, or if there is a better solution. Telling the consumer they don’t make something when they really haven’t a clue, giving BS answers, and telling people how much they are saving because something is on sale is ripping people off. My frustration peeks when they focus on over all money saving, rather than whether or not it is the best overall price apples to apples. I don’t care if I’m saving $400.00 if I can by it down the street for $30.00 less any old day of the year.

Walk out of a store if you don’t like a store, salesperson, or a price

What some people might call pushy salespeople is often misinterpreted and is nothing more than a salesperson being helpful and doing their job. With so much selection these days narrowing down our choices during the buying process is often confusing and overwhelming for instance a mattress isn’t just a mattress when you must select just one from 40 or 50 plus different models. Whether we realize it or not everyone shopping for a chest of drawers needs to know why one chest of drawers costs $199.00 while another costs $399.00 and still others can cost $800.00 or more. The fact is we don’t get a $800.00 dresser for $200.00 we get a $200.00 dresser for $200.00 A good salesperson in this case can be very helpful.

Why won’t that salesperson just leave me alone?

The next time you decide to shoo your sales person away you might consider them a helpful resource rather than a predator. Instead look at it as taking advantage of their “predatory ways”. Use them to gather industry knowledge, learn about construction and other significant differences. Most importantly use them to help you find products that will fit your budget. Consumers and sales people need to work together and in the end everyone wins sale person, retail store, and most of all, the consumer.

If you watch TV or read a newspaper you’ll find it hard to miss the numerous ads proclaiming unbeatable savings on a mattress and boxspring or free financing for 1 year or even longer.  Some slick talking pitchman tosses out deal after deal while photo after photo appears and disappears before your very eyes like a New York minute. So have you ever really just taken a moment and tried to read the fine print? Good luck my eyes are nearly perfect and without TIVO or U-verse DVR type recorder you would never know what the ads actually say.
 
Example 1
“Twin Mattress only $35.00 each piece” is shouted out by the pitchman while the fine print says “WHEN SOLD IN SETS ONLY”

Example 2
“King Mattress set starting at 499.00 each piece” again belted out by the pitchman while in letters you need a magnifying glass to read says again the words “WHEN SOLD IN SETS ONLY”.  In this case the king is 3 pieces which actually costs 297.00 and I’m telling you there isn’t a mattress salesperson in the world that would sleep on this thing themselves.

Example 3
Here’s my favorite thing stores advertise “free financing for 1 year” sometimes 2 years and then in fine print mention that you have to spend $1800.00 minimum or $2000.00 minimum to qualify for the free financing. Lets face it most people purchasing a mattress set don’t spend that much so the entice you to spend more by dangling spectacular financing offers.

“You can buy this mattress for only $47.oo a month!”

Personally I’m fed up with stores trying to bait us in with low prices and financing offers with no payments for years that our purchases will not qualify for. It is no wonder salespeople are often thought of as dishonest and untrustworthy. Recently I went up against a neighboring competitor who claimed to have a mattress that is what we call a “scuff”(a new mattress refused by the customer and returned to the factory due to a mark or scuff) the sales person told the customer that he was giving it to them for half the price with no warranty because of the “damage”. By the way the discount was supposedly ½ price and included no warranty. After the ½ price discount was applied the cost was nearly $1000.00 dollars. I wasn’t buy their claim for a moment and Googled the mattress set online for the customer who was leery of the adversaries deal. We found it on sale new at 2 different places in a matter of a couple minutes for $1149.00 and $1199.00.

The BS that mattress stores continue to feed to their shoppers has got to stop. Keep it up competition you know who you are. I’m going to call you and others out each and every time you tarnish our industry with such antics.
Have you had an experience with a mattress store where you seen an ad and got to the store and was less than impressed with their marketing practices? Tell us about it.

1.) What size mattress do you need?

Size matters and it affects prices, so know what fits your sleeping needs and your bedroom space. Commonly mattress shoppers attention is redirected away from important information they need to know because they are focusing on what size to purchase which should have been decided at home.

2.) How long do you want this new mattress to last?

Cheap does not necessarily translate into quality or long lasting so be sure that the quality of the “mattress” that you purchase will meet the application of its use. Example: you can get away with purchasing a cheaper mattress for a smaller lightweight child than you can for a full grown adult. Spend less for a spare bedroom mattress than one for the master bedroom; it won’t have to withstand daily use. A way to save twice is consider putting your old mattress in the spare bedroom and purchasing a new one for yourself saving you money over the long haul by only buying one bed.

3.) Do you have a realistic budget in mind?

People commonly see low priced mattresses advertised and believe that they can get a mattress of quality, with good comfort, and good back support. Regardless of your budget look at beds with the lowest prices and the highest prices as well. This gives shoppers an accurate barometer by which to measure quality. Price usually correlates to value, hence the old saying “you get what you pay for”.

4.) Are you looking for a cheap new or used mattress?

Used mattresses
· Most mattress stores in the USA only sell new due to sanitary issues and health laws in their states. Some stores will sell mattresses that are used or reconditioned. These should be clearly marked on the law label as having been properly sanitized. Some stores are not honest due to lax law enforcement so buyers beware. Other money saving avenues include Backpage.com, Craig’s List, and Freecycle.com
· Mattresses are very inexpensive and sometimes free.

New mattresses
· Have warranty to assist if a defect should arise.
· People to assist you with all specifications making comparisons easier.
· Stores & online companies want to earn your business and will by beating or matching competitions’ prices, use this to your advantage.
· Dust mites, mold, mildew, and the all things associated with used mattresses are not present in new mattresses.
· Better body support and overall comfort
· Check out store liquidation centers and floor models for extra savings.

5.) Do you know how to properly compare mattresses?

Have a very good idea what kind of cheap mattress are you looking for? Try them all.
· Innerspring
· Memory Foam
· All Natural Latex
· Air Bed
· Waterbed
Although this is made complicated by the industry the Internet is making it easier. Seek out informational websites that offer more than just prices, pictures, and discounts; be sure that they disclose what you are getting for such a meager pricing. Research forums such as www.whatsthebestmattress.com where people are eager and willing to share their information for free, it can be one of the most educational resources a person can utilize while mattress shopping. I use it myself to gain feedback. Utilize knowledgeable sales people and learn from them don’t waste time with sales associates who only push discounts and savings they typically do not have your best interest in mind.