Mattress Buying Tips Review

My parents owned several bed stores when I was a teenager.  One very common mistake people make when shopping for a new mattress is they do not get on the bed and lay in a position that they would normally sleep.  Maybe it's a little too personal....having a stranger standing at the foot of the bed, talking to you, looking down at you while you are in a vunerable position.  Get dressed for the occasion.  Don't shop when you are wearing a dress or business clothes.  Who can get comfortable with a belt and hard shoes on?  This is one shopping trip you need to plan for. 

1. Find a babysitter.  You cannot relax if your two year old is running all over the store.
2. Wear very comfortable clothes.  Gymwear is an excellent choice.
3. Take your pillow with you.
4. Tell the sales person the type of bed you are looking for.  Sales people understand that you may not make a decision THAT day.  By telling them you are looking for an extra firm mattress for a guest bedroom, you will narrow down your choices and help you find a better deal.
5. Take off your shoes and get on the bed just like you would if you were sleeping at home.  If you normally sleep with your partner, have them lie on the bed with you the same way he or she normally sleeps.
6. Turn over.  Does your partner feel the bed move?  Will this bother you?  Some beds are so well made that you will not know if your significant other, literally, jumped into bed.  This costs extra, so keep this in mind.
7. Lay on one bed for 15 minutes.  Does this support the curves of your body?  Is it too firm, too soft, too anything?  Try out all the beds that fit your needs.
8. Ask about the construction, the life expectancy of the mattress set, the warranty, and the price.  Keep in mind the price will be proportionate with these other factors.
9. Do not let price alone determine which bed you select.  You will spend at least 1/3 of your life in bed.  Mattresses are expensive and a bad decision today will cost you much more than money tomorrow..... and years to come.
10. A lesser known company may offer a better quality bed for a cheaper price.
11. Do not let the terms of the warranty sway your decision.  Manufacturers give 20 year warranties on some sets, knowing full well that you will not follow the guidelines to keep the warranty valid.  At best, the manufacturer, not the store where you purchase the set, will prorate the purchase price of the mattress you buy by the number of years you have owned the set and apply it to the replacement cost of a like set manufactured by them.  Example:  You buy a mid-grade set in 2000 with a 20 year warranty for $800.  IF you turned and flipped the mattress according to the specifications, and the set developed depressions on one side of the bed by 2004, you would then determine the value of your set as it is now.  The prorated years will be 1/5 of the warranty.  $800 X 1/5 = $800 X 0.20 = $160.  A similar set in 2004 will now cost $1100.  The manufacturer will apply $160 toward their $1100 mattress.  You may not get any sales incentives either.  No free delivery.......no free mattress disposal....no free comforter.....etc.  My figures are just a simplistic demonstration.  Each manufacturer handles the proration differently.
12. Write down the name of the bed you like and the name of the store you found it.  Write down what you liked and didn't like about that bed.  It does you no good to go to another store that sells beds and ask how much they ask for the same mattress...they will claim they have never heard of it.  It is impossible to compare apples to apples. 
13. Rate each set you like on an overall scale of 1 to 5 scale.  Go with the best bed you can afford.  This is one purchase you do not want to skimp on. 
14. If the bed is for a child, please buy the best you can afford for him or her.  Too often I heard my parents talk about parents that would buy the top of the line set for themselves and turn around and buy the cheapest mattress for their child.
15. Buy both the mattress and the foundation.  A worn out foundation will make your mattress deteriorate faster and void your warranty.