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USEFUL TIPS > THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING A MATTRESS

	THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING A MATTRESS. AN HONEST GUIDE TO PURCHASING A MATTRESS Buying a mattress can be just as complicated as buying a new car...it needn’t be!   Remember, a mattress at one store will not be named the same at another store. Unfortunately the auto, mattress and many other industries do this intentionally.   The best way to compare mattresses is quite simple.   Just lay down and try it.    Go from store to store, list the benefits that are important to you and then compare the feeling in each. NEGOTIATE .  You can - and should - negotiate price on almost all mattresses.  Most major mattress brands have negotiable pricing and you will find it worth your while to haggle with the salesman.  At the very least you should be able to get your sales person to throw in some free pillows or a mattress protector.   Remember smaller outlets have far less overheads and therefore are likely selling the mattress at close to their lowest possible price to compete with the giants.  They will also likely be able to provide you with a more close customer/saleperson relationship as they are likely not quite so busy and can extend the extra effort.  Keep in mind that the product you are purchasing is not made by the store itself but a local or interstate manufacturer.  The same product in a more reputable and well known store is still the same product.  For example, X Brand of Tomato sauce from Coles will certainly be cheaper than the same X Brand from a Convenience or local store.  This does not suggest an inferior product in the slightest.  Same goes for a mattress bought from one of the bedding giants or from a small supplier.  In the end, your warranty is with the manufacturer not the store you purchased it from.  Therefore cost and customer/sales relationship is much more important in this instance.  If you are happy with the price, AND you feel that the sales person is easy to talk to and has explained your purchase with you in great detail, then this is probably where you should conduct your purchase.  Try to understand that smaller stores also have less room to move and some added extra’s like a pillow or two is a good win for you.  Small stores may also offer you free delivery for your mattress within a certain distance.  This can save you between $60-100 and should be considered a very generous offer as oppose to thrown in pillows which probably only cost $20.  One thing to make note of, asking for a King size mattress to be delivered free of charge is not being fair.  King size matts are cumbersome and very heavy and usually require 2 strong men to manipulate especially if stairs are involved.  You should consider your budget when opting to purchase a King size mattress and add at least $100 to your final price for delivery.   WARRANTY (It is so important to understand it) . Most mattresses in Australia come with up to 10 years manufacturers warranty/guarantee.  However, this warranty can be void if the mattress is returned with stains on it.  Australian health regulations will back the manufacturer 100% not to have to handle a mattress that has body fluids such as blood, semen or urine on it.   If you want to have a hope of using your mattress warranty at some point it is critical that you purchase a suitable mattress protector at the time of purchase and wash it regularly.   Some warranties also require that the bed be flipped every few weeks or so, do ask your salesman about all of the details.   Another important note on warranty of mattresses is that the supplier (ie: shopfront) from where you purchased the mattress, is not responsible for its warranty.   Warranty’s and Guarantee’s are the sole responsibility of the manufacturer of the product.   Of course you may want to contact the point of purchase to organize warranty work to be carried out on your mattress, however once the shopfront has done this for you, abusing them for the delay in repairs will just end up getting you more frustrated and the shop possibly taking legal proceedings against you for abuse.   After the point of sale, it is normal in Australia for manufacturers to collect your mattress, and return it to you within 7 working days, if the mattress is less than 12 months old.   After 12 months, it is almost always your responsibility to take the mattress to the manufacturer to have it repaired/replaced for the remainder of the warranty period, if you have lost your sales docket, you will have also lost your warranty with the manufacturer.   In this instance, it will be well worth the effort to contact the shop and ask if they can produce a copy of your sales docket.   Also remember, that the manufacturer is an expert in manufacturing mattresses, complaining that the mattress is so damaged that it requires replacing sounds ridiculous to a manufacturer.   If a spring has come out sideways, don’t expect the supplier to replace the quilted top of your mattress just because you think it’s a good time to get a brand new top and can use the power of “this mattress was faulty when I bought it so it should be replaced.”   You would be surprised the number of people who take a mattress back to the manufacturer to complain that the mattress is faulty in the last month of the 10 year period and say that the mattress was faulty at the time it was delivered and they expect a new mattress.   So for 10 years the mattress has been faulty, yet the owner has never once complained to the shop where it was purchased or the manufacturer of its faults.   The manufacturer will open the top of the mattress only to find that the mattress is in perfect condition for its age, resew the top back onto it, bag it and return it to you.   You may wish to discuss the matter further with the ‘Department of Consumer Affairs’, however this kind of story has been heard many times in the past.   If you have a genuine need for warranty work, simply discuss the problem with the manufacturer and if genuine it will be fixed.   In most cases, the manufacturer is very proud of its product, and may provide you with a newly quilted top should the top need to be removed for warranty work.   You should consider this a very nice gesture from the manufacturer as it is well within the rights of the manufacturer to fix only the fault at hand.   If the spring is damaged, then the spring will be fixed and only the spring and then the mattress returned to you in the same visible condition you gave it to them in.   TAKE YOUR TIME !  Don't rush through the purchasing process.  There are many different types of mattresses (innerspring, foam, air, water, futon) and even more manufacturers (sealy, serta, simmons, tempur-pedic, king koil, spring air, etc.).  Don't just lie down on a mattress for 10 seconds; take your time and relax on it, then try another.  If you sleep with a partner be sure you bring that person with you to test.  Lie on the bed facing away from your partner and see if you can figure out when he/she is getting in and out of bed. FIRMNESS . Firmer is not necessarily better.  There is a common sentiment that a firm bed is good for the spine.  In fact, this is not the case.  A very firm mattress doesn't "give" which can force your spine to bend at the hips and shoulders.  A softer (more plush) mattress can allow your hips and shoulders to sink into the bed slightly, keeping your spine straight when you sleep on your side.  Don't confuse firmness with supportive - they're two different things. Like Goldilox, sometimes it's best to pick the mattress that is not too firm and not too soft (plus) but somewhere in the middle: just right. SIZE OF MATTRESS . Pick the right size for your height.  If you're a tall person (over 6 feet) you will probably want to go with a King Single, Queen or King Size bed.  For most couples under six feet tall, a queen size or double bed should provide enough space to sleep comfortably. SIZE OF PERSON .   If you go into a store and you are clearly overweight, it is not point getting upset when the sales person recommends a mattress that is outside your budget or says that do not have a mattress in your price range to suit your weight.   Mattresses are generally designed to support persons up to approximately 105KG in body weight.   This is about the weight of a very tall person with a muscular physique.   Cheaper mattresses around the $299-$699 price point will likely be unsuitable for persons over this weight category.   Most suppliers stock a range of very firm/extra hard mattresses for people of very large builds.   Unfortunately, with more dense foams comes an increased price point.   If you are over this weight range, you may be forced into price point above your expectations.   Naturally sales people will do their utmost not to offend you in any way, they are simply guiding you to the most suitable mattress for you to get a good nights rest.   And you should be supportive of them doing so as it is in your very best interests. COILS .  More coils are not necessarily better.  As most salesmen will tell you when you first start shopping, the two main types of innerspring mattresses are interlocking coil (Bonnell) and independent coil (Pocketspring).  Interlocking coil mattresses actually require fewer coils because the coils are tied together with wire.  Independent coil mattresses require more coils because each one must work on its own to support you.  The benefit of an independent coil mattress is that it is less prone to movement if your partner is getting in and out of bed.  This can be an important factor to consider if you're a light sleeper. HYBRIDS .  Sometimes a hybrid mattress is worth considering.  The lines between the different types of mattresses have blurred in recent years with the advent of innerspring mattresses with memory foam, innerspring latex mattresses, and innerspring mattresses that have a combination of both.  Don't get sold on too much hype - the ultimate test is how it feels to you. BUDGET .  Consider a budget before you go in the store.  Mattresses can be quite expensive in the upper range - it will typically cost you at least $599-$799 for a decent mattress with around a7 Year – 10 Year Guarantee, more if you require a matching foundation.   There are many cheaper mattresses in stores, however keep in mind that cheaper mattresses will normally mean that there is less supportive material between you and the spring system, it is not the fault of the supplier or the manufacturer if you only wanted to spend around $299.00 and the mattress is not as comfortable as you expected.   Mattresses in this price range from the biggest suppliers to the smallest suppliers are generally not suited for continued comfortable sleep durations and are generally for spare bedroom or guests who come to sleep for a week or less.   Foamies while they are great for overnight stays to at least get your guests off the cold hard floor, have little benefits in the way of support for you spine.   Many people spend $1,500 or more on a comfortable ensemble.  As you test different mattresses you will undoubtedly notice that the more expensive the mattress, the more comfortable it feels.   This should not deter you from sticking within the boundaries of your budget.   Talk to your salesman about what mattress will be comfortable within your price range. Don't be afraid to lay down on mattresses in store, there is not a single mattress store owner who would not hope for you to do this, “We want you to lay down on our mattresses that is why we provide plastic protectors for your shoes”.   You wouldn’t   buy a used car without taking it for a test drive, so don’t buy a mattress thinking it will be perfect because it is over $1000.   We all hope that mattress salesman are knowledgeable in the products they sell, however some of them no nothing about them.   Ask lots of questions, if you cannot be given straight answers about things such as spine alignment, warranty, comfort layers, body depressions etc, go elsewhere.   Its far better to pay a little extra and know what you are purchasing, than to pay less and buy a mattress that will not allow you a great nights sleep within 6 months of purchase.   You'll be much happier you asked the questions up front rather than getting burned when you see the bill or getting denied on a warranty claim.  If you're going to spend $1,000 be sure you don't get taken for a ride. What to Look for in a Mattress? Does the mattress conform to your spine's natural curve, keep your spine aligned when you are in bed and distribute pressure evenly across your body?  Is there edge support around the perimeter of the mattress? This will usually be a heavy gauge border wire that will provide increased comfort and support from edge-to-edge. If the answer to these questions is 'yes' then your mattress will help circulation, decrease disturbance from body movement and enhance the quality of your sleep . Pocket/independent coil innerspring mattresses and viscoelastic memory foam mattresses generally do a better job of providing adequate support than other mattress types. Remember, if you are comparing similar size mattresses, more coils of lower gauge (thinner) wire may give better support and last longer than fewer coils with a higher gauge (thicker) wire. Firmness factor, Softness factor, Both or Neither? Unless you've come from another planet, you are limited to three main sleeping positions: on your back, on your stomach, or on your side, though it is common for people to use more than one position during the night. Depending on what position you are sleeping in, different parts of your body will need to be supported. Some say that a "firm" or hard mattress will provide better support. But what really matters is that a mattress distributes pressure evenly across your body thus providing better support. Some experts recommend firm mattresses because back and stomach sleepers will not sag into the surface and will prevent spinal bending that can result in back pain. Back sleepers usually benefit from mattresses that offer support to fill in the gaps in the contours of the back, but at the same time provide enough comfort as not to feel like a board. Keep in mind that it is easy to add some softness to a firm mattress with padding. Bedspot has has great deals on latex mattress toppers. Keep in mind that firm mattresses are designed to feel hard, so in some cases adding a pad will not make it feel like a soft mattress or soft enough. Side sleepers experience a great deal of pressure from putting the majority of weight on smaller areas of the body, reducing circulation and causing increased tossing and turning. A softer mattress can help a side sleeper by minimizing pressure in these areas. A recent study of adults with chronic back pain showed that sleeping on a medium firm mattress will create less back pain than on a firm mattress. For those of us who can't decide, some manufacturers produce air mattresses with seperate controls to make the mattress firmer or softer on each side to allow for the different comfort preferences of you and yor partner.		Price:	QTY: