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10 mattress myths
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| Illustration by Carl Wiens |
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Although our reporter encountered fewer pitches than when he shopped for our 1997 mattress report, salespeople still disparaged
certain products and tried to persuade him to buy a pricier mattress. In our online poll, 19 percent of innerspring-mattress
owners complained about pressure to trade up to a costlier bed, and 15 percent said that the salesperson used a hard-sell
approach. Below, the myths you may hear--as sales pitches or common wisdom--and the truth behind them.
1. Firmer is better. The best bed is the one that’s most comfortable to you. Medical experts we interviewed say there have been no well-controlled
studies to indicate the best firmness overall.
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2. Coil count is critical. Any number above 390 in a queen-size mattress should be plenty. Our consultants concluded that coils in all but the cheapest
mattresses--less than about $800 list price for a queen-size--are “overdesigned for their function” and ought to provide years
of service for most people.
3. Silk, cashmere, and wool make a bed more comfortable. The small amounts usually used in the upper padding only make a bed more expensive. When you cover your mattress with a pad
and sheets, you can’t directly feel the surface anyway.
4. A higher price guarantees a better bed. Anything but the cheapest mattresses can be a fine choice. To find out how one $700 twin mattress set compares with a $1,400
set, see Price differences.
5. If you move in your sleep, the bed is to blame. Turning is normal; it’s a problem only if it disrupts your sleep. The mattress may or may not be at fault.
6. A mattress should be used until it sags. Changes in the human body tend to make a mattress less comfortable long before it wears out.
7. You must include a box spring, to save the warranty. Despite sales pressure to buy both mattress and foundation, it’s not always required. Check with the store or company. You
may be able to keep your old box spring, if it’s in good shape.
8. Warranties cover a sagging mattress. Manufacturers say a mattress can compress by as much as 1 1/2 inches before it’s considered defective.
9. Stores sell the same mattress under different names. Retailers often claim that their mattress A is comparable to a competitor’s mattress B. Though you may find beds that are
truly alike, most “comparables” we bought had little in common.
10. Salespeople are always objective. Manufacturers dangle financial incentives known as SPIFs (for “sales person incentive funds”) to push various brands and
models. Commissions can amount to about $100 a bed.
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