What's So Special About a Talalay Latex Mattress?

I had a fun little call a couple of weeks ago from a sweet little 80-something young lady… She was frustrated but determined to find a Latex mattress just like the one she had that was finally losing its resiliency - after 30+ years! She lamented about how Sleep Aire, the local Seattle company that had originally made her mattress so many years ago was no longer in business; and she was sad about having to replace a mattress that she had been so comfortable on for so long.

She continued to tell me about how she had been to a few mattress stores around town already looking at Latex mattresses; and the reason she was frustrated was because she was being told about so many different kinds of Latex mattress options, but none of them sounded like her beloved old mattress.

She went on about how “there’s this kind of Latex and that kind of Latex”, and then “you can get layers of this or that”; and she ended the beginning portion of her call with, “I don’t know what kind of Latex is in my mattress now, how do I know what kind I have so I can get the same kind?”

I told her that we know exactly what kind of Latex mattress she has, and YES we still make them the same way they were being made decades ago! It can only be one kind of Latex mattress that holds its shape for 30+ years and that’s TALALAY! That’s why we sell it here at Seattle Mattress, and it's just one of the reasons why we do. If you want to know more about why we sell SOLID TALALAY LATEX MATTRESSES, click here to read up about the Talalay Latex we use in our mattresses.

I'm happy to report that this couple came into our store, determined that - yes - our Latex mattress was indeed the same kind of Latex mattress as their original mattress, and they did purchase one. This couple was looking for the familiar "feel" of their old mattress with the same kind of longevity. But the really cool thing about this story is that this lady and her husband have been sleeping on an all-natural, healthy, non-offgassing, correctly supportive, comfortable sleep surface for 30+ years – before it ever became cool to go green!

No, this is not an unusual story, we have seen Talalay Latex mattresses last as long as 40ish years - talk about a reduction in landfill mass if you are only replacing a mattress once every 20-40 years; AND it is made of a naturally biodegradable product that won't harm humans or the environment as it is decomposing.

Talalay Latex mattresses are long-lasting, non-toxic and COMFORTABLE - This is the difference a Seattle Mattress SOLID Natural Talalay Latex mattress can make. Many people think that Latex mattresses are a new thing that has just popped up since the green movement started, but they are not. They are a tried and true, time-honored, traditional mattress for us here at Seattle Mattress, and well-worth the visit to our showroom.

WHAT IS the DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DUNLOP LATEX and TALALAY LATEX?

The main difference between Talalay-processed Latex and Dunlop-processed Latex is what happens in the mold just prior to the initial curing stage. In the Talalay process, air is extracted to perfectly distribute the foamed liquid inside the mold and to create a consistent, round, open-cell structure. The mattress core is flash frozen to lock the cell structure in place and to prevent the particles from settling.

In the Dunlop process, the molds are filled to the rim, air is not extracted, and there is no freezing stage. Therefore, the Latex cell structure is less “airy". Gravity takes over and the rubber particles settle - creating a denser product that is more firm on the bottom and softer on top than Talalay Latex.

Because of the vacuum/freezing process of Talalay Latex, which gives the Latex a more uniform, supple consistency - in our opinion, it is the best Latex process for manufacturing the most consistent-feeling sleep surface - especially for double-sided mattresses like we make here at Seattle Mattress.

The Dunlop process creates a more dense "higher rubber content" Latex, but the cell structure is not as consistent. In experiments with compressed Dunlop Latex vs. Talalay Latex, Talalay performs and bounces back much better after being compressed - especially over time. And Dunlop is more affected by continuous pressure - which means that the pressure of a body sleeping on Dunlop regularly can affect it more than Talalay. Because Dunlop is more dense, it loses its ability to "bounce back" over time - which is why you often see Dunlop Latex mattresses come with a 10-year warranty instead of a 20-year warranty.

Immediately after the manufacturing process is complete, both Talalay Latex & Dunlop Latex are tested... Talalay averages at a 4%-8% loss recovery rate while Dunlop averages 14%-30% loss recovery rate. Talalay is also the strongest option at a 5.90 Tensile rating (amount of strength it takes to pull apart a piece of Latex), while Dunlop can average anywhere from 3.40 to 4.60. Elongation testing reveals that Talalay will stretch a whopping 287% over Dunlop's 161% to 220%.

Also, because of the inconsistency of Dunlop during drying (firmer on the bottom, softer on top), it is also far more likely to develop air pockets and/or lumps where firmness/softness variations meet within the piece of Latex.

The bottom line is... We choose to use pure, natural Talalay Latex exclusively in our mattresses, simply because if you're going to invest in a good Latex mattress, you might as well make sure it is made of "the best stuff" that you know will provide you with the consistent, long-term, reliable benefits that you're paying for.

Some people are a little turned off by the initial cost of a solid natural Talalay Latex mattress. Even at our low factory-direct pricing, a Queen set starts at $1649 and a King set starts at $1999. And while it is true that they are sometimes (but not always) more money at the time of purchase than a traditional Innerspring mattress; they are also often considerably less-expensive in the long run when you figure in "how long it will last" over time - and on top of that benefit, the additional advantage of having a mattress that will hold it's relative shape for at least 20 years without the formation of significant body impressions or "dips & valleys". You spend 1/3 of your life sleeping, how much would a mattress like that be worth to you?

While you're out doing research and shopping around for Latex mattresses, please be extra-careful of cheaper Latex mattresses layered with other "regular" polyfoams and "soyfoams". Believe it or not, if you're not paying attention, you can spend ALOT more money for a mattress layered with a couple of inches of Latex rather than a solid one that REALLY WILL last.

Buying a New Mattress: Mattress Coil Quality & Innerspring Construction

The mattress core (Innerspring Coils or Foam) is the most important part of the mattress in supporting your body. The foundation supports the mattress and the mattress supports you.

The majority of questions that we receive here at Seattle Mattress are usually centered around the structural quality of mattresses. To that end, here is our best, most up-to-date scoop on mattress coils and Innerspring construction:

Five factors can influence the durability of mattress Innerspring coils:

1. the number of coils
2. coil shape
3. the gauge of wire used to form the coils
4. the number of turns in each spring
5. the distribution of the springs - this final effect will depend on an interplay of all the above factors. So, for instance, more coils aren’t necessarily better if they’re lower in quality.

Number of Coils & Coil Gauge

The belief used to be, that the more coils a mattress had, the more support it would give. Today, this is not necessarily true - the way that the coils are constructed is the main factor in determining the amount of support. Coil counts themselves don’t matter unless that is the only difference between two beds you are considering. The coil type/construction and steel gauge are much more important.

There should be a minimum of 300 coils in a double bed, 375 in a queen-size, and 450 in a king-size. But otherwise, more doesn't necessarily mean better - let comfort be your guide. Rest assured, that EVERY 10-year warranty mattress on the Seattle Mattress showroom floor is well within coil-count parameters for each specified type of coil mattress that we carry!

Most manufacturers stake claim as to having the best coil-to-gauge ratio. However, there are only five general types of coils. The thing to remember is that while there are many different manufacturers and some of them even develop their own coil systems; they all develop them around the same general specs, and most of them will be worn out in about the same amount of time (10 years) if they are put together correctly to begin with - and these days, mattresses are piled so high with comfort layers, the coils don’t have to work nearly as hard as they used to.

That’s why the best mattress for you comes down to personal preference and depends, among other things, on your size and weight, and whether you sleep alone or with a partner – and then you can judge the quality aspects of the bed.

Innerspring Mattress Coil Systems

Bonnell Innerspring
Mattress Coils

Bonnell Coil: These are the oldest and most commonly used type of mattress coil - they are descendants of the antique buggy seat coil. This hourglass-shaped wire coil is joined to adjacent coils by small wire spirals called helicals. They compress quite easily at first, but then get firmer the more they’re compressed (hence offering more support), resulting in a ‘soft but firm’ bed.

The Seattle Mattress
Offset Innerspring System

Offset Coil: This coil system is a descendant of the Bonnell coil. Its construction is similar to the Bonnell Coil, but it has a squared head - which in theory, enables the mattress to contour better. An offset coil is also slightly more cylindrical in shape than a Bonnell coil and is also laced to its neighbors by helicals. 

At Seattle Mattress, we use this type of coil in our SMC brand mattresses. Made in the USA by reputable bedding manufacturer, Leggett & Platt; this is a strong innerspring system with 5 turns as opposed to 3 or 4 so they don't have to work as hard, with an even stronger edge. They work great in our double-sided mattresses; and if they are consistently maintained via flipping & rotating, they often outlast our manufacturer's warranty.

Open-ended Innerspring
Mattress Coils

Open-ended coils: are joined together to form a spring system, but the top (and bottom, for a double-sided mattress) of each coil is free to move independently. This allows each coil to adjust to the weight on it, with the free-moving bit compressing relatively easily for comfort, and the body of the coil offering more resistance and therefore firmer support. Because there’s more turns -- and therefore wire -- in these springs, they tend to be more expensive than other coil systems. The more turns, the softer the bed and the longer the springs will last because the work is spread around.

Independent Pocketed Innerspring
Mattress Coils

Pocket Coil: Also called Independent Coil or Marshal Coil was invented by Simmons, and is an individually pocketed cylindrical spring wrapped in its own fabric “pocket”. This separation construction is designed to give the most contour of any spring support system, as well as lessen motion transfer between sleeping partners. Each coil works independently - each pocket coil absorbs the weight placed on it without distributing the load to other coils. Because of this, the coils may lose their elasticity and provide less support over time, especially for heavier people. This type of coil is a good choice for people with partners who toss and turn, because the motion separation may prevent waking from a deep sleep which is very important for your health and well-being.

The Therapedic "Therawrap" Individual Pocketed Coil luxury mattresses on the Seattle Mattress showroom floor are a particularly strong option for people looking for this type of Innerspring mattress, since they have been manufactured to be a stronger option for this type of coil. Because the coils do not share the stress of the weight of a body being on it, coils that are used most and hardest (where you are heaviest) will wear out quicker. However, for people who are relatively height-weight proportionate, these are excellent mattresses for reducing motion transfer and providing cozy comfort.

The biggest problem we see regarding these types of Individual Pocketed Coil mattress systems is what we hear in feedback from customers coming into our store from other mattress stores. They often come in specifically looking for this type of coiled mattress because they have been told somewhere else that this is the strongest coil on the market today. It's not, and if you and/or your partner are significantly overweight, this is not a coil that we would suggest for you. However, customers are often steered toward these beds at other mattress stores because they are often the most expensive coils - because each coil is wrapped in it's own pocket, more materials are required to make the unit, meaning they can get more money for it. Just be aware of the limitations for this type of Innerspring coil if you are drawn to one. You and/or your partner's weight plays a big role in how long these coils will last.

Continuous Innerspring Mattress Coils

Continuous Coil: The Continuous Coil was invented by Serta and is the coil featured in their best-selling mattresses, the Perfect Sleeper Collection. It is exactly what it sounds like – each row of coils is made of a single wire attached to the next row by helicals. This type of coil is often made into a lattice of coils rather than rows, allowing more coils per mattress than other constructions. This design allows each coil to deflect weight to a great number of springs resulting in less stress on each coil. Mattresses with continuous coils keep their shape longer.

It is very important to note that just because some of these Innerspring systems sound stronger than others, doesn't necessarily mean that you should exclude any of them from your mattress shopping list options. ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING about buying a new mattress should begin and center around your comfort, health and well-being. NEVER purchase a mattress that feels too hard or too soft to you just because it is "the best quality" - you'll regret it. :)

How to Buy a New Mattress: How Much to Spend?

Buying a new mattress has to be one of the hardest things to do as a consumer - even harder, is to try not to get too caught up in name-brand marketing hype. You watch slick TV ads with beautiful beds that look oh-so-cozy or get a cute song stuck in your head, and associate a brand name with a quality mattress.

Generally speaking, most people believe that you get what you pay for in a mattress - the more you pay, the better you get. In fact, we have actually had people walk out of our showroom because they didn't think our mattresses were priced high enough! This "get what you pay for" thing may work Ok when you’re comparing mattresses within a brand, but what about when you're comparing mattresses between brands?

Most of the big-name brands spend a lot of money on research, development, and marketing - and these costs are built into their prices – in fact, you can pay anywhere from an extra 40-55% just for a brand name. This is not necessarily a bad thing - people like things to be researched & developed. Just be aware that you will be paying extra for those things, and a name-brand bed won’t necessarily last you any longer even with the extra research & development that has been poured into it.

You can also get a great bed that rivals the big name brands in quality with a good warranty from most local mattress stores just as you can buy a poor-quality mattress in an expensive name brand - in fact, a lesser-known brand mattress of equal quality may well cost you half as much!

Here at Seattle Mattress, we appreciate the value of both our own locally-made, double-sided mattresses as well as our Internationally-recognized name brands, Serta, Therapedic, Magniflex and EcoMemory Foam.

I know we're starting to sound like a stuck record, but people really are very different when it comes to so many things about buying a new mattress. Some of you are simply looking for the best mattress for your body - which is where your mind "should" be at if you are really serious about getting a good night's sleep.

Other people come into our store looking for "the cheapest mattress available" and could care less about the comfort/quality; while still others of you come in wanting to buy the most expensive mattress because you are "sure" it is the best one. While that may be true, it may not necessarily be the "best mattress for your body". And while we do enjoy an easy, large sale (who wouldn't?), that is not the way we recommend picking out a new mattress. Money is important, however...

You spend about 1/3 of your life in bed, and how you sleep has a significant effect on your daily mood and health - so it is a very important decision. If you are someone who is having a hard time spending money on a new bed, ask yourself how much your cell phone or your laptop cost you, and then how often will you replace it? Now... How important is sleep to you?

You'll find the mattresses on the Seattle Mattress showroom floor to be high in quality for the price you'll pay - always. We never sell our mattresses at full manufacturer's suggested retail price; and in fact - they average $150-$350 less than everyone else around even when we don't have them on sale! How can we do that?

We have one beautiful showroom in Ballard not far from our manufacturing facility that services the entire Pacific Northwest, the Pacific Coast, Alaska and the WORLD in Home, Marine/Boat and Custom-made mattresses! We don't have nearly the overhead that chain stores have; and frankly our priorities are alot different - we love our neighbors and care about helping them find the right bed.

We feature NEW beds made with all-new materials in our own locally-made SMC brand as well as locally-made mattresses from Therapedic (Auburn, WA) and Serta (Puyallup, WA). We also have one of the best selections of Eco-friendly mattresses in town at the best prices - including our best-selling pure, natural, solid Talalay Latex mattress. Our collections come in a wide range of comfort levels and price points to suit just about anyone's wallet:

Twin: $99 - $1249

Full: $149 - $1849
Queen: $199 - $2049
King: $299 - $2599

Before you venture out to any mattress store, set a realistic budget for yourself - what can you reasonably afford to spend? It’s very easy to be convinced by a good sales person that you need a more expensive mattress - and maybe that would be nice and it might even be true, depending. But if you set a budget for yourself and insist on staying in that ballpark, you might be surprised at just how good & comfortable the bed is that you can really afford.

Basically, all mattress manufacturers - including the big National Brands - make "levels" of mattresses - there are the low-ends, the decent low-ends, the good ones, and better ones, and the best ones, etc.

*Table features mattresses only approximate pricing

	Low-End	Med Low-End	Good	Better	Best
Twin / Single	$50-$200	$200-$500	$500-$800	$800-$1200	$1200 and up
Full / Double	$100-$300	$300-$600	$600-$900	$900-$1400	$1400 and up
Queen	$200-$400	$400-$700	$700-$1100	$1100-$1500	$1500 and up
King	$300-$500	$500-$1000	$1000-$1500	$1500-$2000	$2000 and up

What makes one mattress worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars more than another? Sometimes it isn’t much - a different name or a different kind of ticking, maybe. Sometimes the more expensive mattress coil count or configuration is more complex than the cheaper model. Most of the time, if you’re looking at a row of similar beds with small differences in pricing, foam is the factor. Different densities of foam are used to provide the different comfort levels for each bed; and the varying combination of foams is often the thing making one bed slightly more or less expensive than another.

Sales people will tell you all about the coil count & foam in an attempt to sell the bed. They will show you cutouts of the mattress and try to explain its composition. But you are likely to forget everything they said by the time you get to the next mattress. Our best advice is to go by the feel. If the mattress feels good to you, then it might be the right mattress for you. Make sure you give it a good, thorough test for at least 15 minutes; and while you're doing that, ask about the quality next.

It IS possible to get a good quality mattress at a reasonable price from a local company that cares about your comfort and satisfaction. Stop by our showroom in Ballard today and try us! :)

How to Buy a New Mattress: How to Test a Mattress

One thing we have noticed here at the Seattle Mattress showroom is... Whether you are a customer who has just popped in to buy a new mattress on the spur of the moment because you just can’t stand your back pain anymore; or whether you’ve visited our showroom 2, 3, 4 or yes even 5 times and spent 1-3 hours with us each time: there is only a minor difference in the frequency of comfort exchanges between these two types of customers.

In other words, it doesn’t appear to us that spending literally days & weeks on end of tedious, painstaking research towards mattress shopping lessens the likelihood that you will need to exchange your mattress for reasons of comfort within the first weeks of buying that mattress.
That’s because, even if you’ve spent a minimum of ½ hour on your bed of choice several times over and really felt that it was the right bed for you – the story may change for you because of any number of unforeseen reasons that you were not able to determine in the limited confines of a store trial compared to time spent over several full nights of sleep on it.

Comfort exchanges are relatively common for us here at Seattle Mattress, although we’re also pretty good at helping you find the best mattress for you to begin with. We like to believe that is also one of the reasons why there is such a minimum of differences in comfort exchanges between these two types of customers for us. So don’t be discouraged if you don’t happen to choose the perfect bed the first time around, we’re here to help you find it one way or another.

Wear comfortable clothes when visiting the Seattle Mattress Showroom and drop your inhibitions - because the best way to decide on a new bed is to test them out for yourself! Lay down on several mattresses in the position(s) you usually sleep in at home - on your side, on your belly, on your back, etc. How does it feel when you roll over, do you like the bounce, etc? Lie down next to your partner and discuss your likes & dislikes. Take your time – maybe even bring a magazine – we’ll give you the time & space you need to really “test drive” the beds you are interested in - that’s why they are on the floor!

The salespeople on our floor can be an invaluable resource at helping you find the best mattress for your needs - if you are willing to give us your feedback. The more information you give us, the more we’ll be able to help you.

Go back and re-try mattresses you are drawn to and feel comfortable in again and again, eliminating them until you are able to narrow them down to 2 or 3 good options. Take note of how you initially feel when you lay down on them - sometimes a first impression is a good indicator. Does it make you feel all cozy as you lay down, or are you immediately turned off by something about it? What is it that is turning you on or off? That is good information to tell us, so we can help guide you toward your comfort zone.

If a bed feels comfortable initially and if you have the time, lay on it for 10-15 minutes and try as many sleeping positions as possible. Studies have shown that there is a good correlation between impressions formed in a 15 minute trial period and longer-term satisfaction.

Too Firm or Too Soft?

When you’re deciding if a bed is too firm, too soft, or just right, look at two major factors: the support — which is provided by the mattress core — and the comfort, provided by the padding.

The mattress core is the support layer for your body frame; while the comfort layer is what lies between you and the mattress core, and determines how firm or soft the mattress feels against your body. Orthopedic experts generally recommend you go for the firmest (most supportive, not “hardest”) mattress you find comfortable.

If a bed is too firm, you’ll get pressure points at the heaviest parts of your body. This reduces blood circulation in places like shoulder &  hip joints, and signals your body to turn over in an effort to restore blood flow. Because of this, and because the mattress is too hard for your pressure points to sink into the mattress, your upper back takes the brunt of the stress as the muscles in your back and neck have to work harder to keep your spine straight. After a night of tossing and turning, you won’t feel refreshed or relaxed, and you might even feel a bit stiff from the all-night workout.

On the other hand, if a bed is too soft it will take more effort for you to move or roll over, and your spine won’t be properly supported or aligned, causing tension in your back, neck and/or hips as your muscles work to compensate for the lack of support.

While it can be difficult to tell the difference between the relative firmness and softness of the support and comfort layers, the key lies in the alignment of your spine: The mattress should support a natural sleep posture – your spine should be straight when you lie on your side - the ear, shoulder, hip and ankle should be in a natural, straight line to each other - and maintain a natural curve when you lie on your back. You should not be able to slip your hand easily between your lower back and the mattress. There should be at least some support there, according to your comfort preference.

Make sure your new bed will be roomy enough. The average sleeper turns 40 to 60 times during the night, so finding the right size mattress is imperative.

Standard Mattress Sizes
Twin 39” x 75”	Full 2 adults will each have only 27" of width 54” x 75”	Queen America’s most popular size - 30” width per person 60” x 80”	King 38” width per person 76” x 80”
Miscellaneous Mattress Sizes
Crib 27” x 52”	Extra Long Twin generally used in college dorm   rooms 39” x 80”		California King 72” x 84”

How to Buy a New Mattress: Overview

People are different, and everyone has their own way of dealing with buying a new mattress. Some people really dread it and put it off until they just can’t ignore their discomfort any longer. Other people are really on top of things and begin to do research and shop around months before they plan on buying anything.

Most people, however, buy a new mattress about every 10 years, so it is a decision that you have to live with for awhile – we get that here at Seattle Mattress. It is also a decision that has the potential to affect your daily mood and overall health, so making the best decision is very important to you – we get that, too.

Over the course of 10 years, a $1,000 mattress set costs about .28 cents a day or $2 a week or $8 a month. And since you spend about 1/3 of your life in bed, it is probably the best “value” of anything you purchase.

But shopping for a mattress and trying to get the best deal can be maddening. Most of the major mattress manufacturers and retailers offer the same models but rename them, in order to make comparison shopping difficult - plus, all the differences in mattress style and construction can be mind-boggling to keep track of. That's why we're here - to help you sort through the information overload.

The bottom line is, when it comes to mattresses, there is no Universal standard. If someone you know has found a mattress that they like, and claim that it gives them a good night’s sleep - that same style mattress might not sleep as comfortably to you. People come in all shapes & sizes, which means that we all have different things we need from a mattress.

Generally speaking, our best advice is to make your best decision based on:

1)     Comfort & Care for Your Body

2)     Quality / Construction

3)     Warranty

4)     Price

The difference between an $800 mattress and a $2,000 one may not be that great, but sales people will inundate you with “facts” about foam, coil count, and the quality of the mattress ticking - and these things may or may not be that important to you. If any of these details are especially important to you, it is recommended that you do some research ahead of time into the specifics of what exactly you desire in a bed. Keep in mind however, that the most important thing about buying a new bed is your long-term health & comfort. If you put your priority on what kind of mattress ticking the bed has, you may end up with a really pretty bed that you hate sleeping in.

Many people read the mattress comparison shopping reviews on the Internet in order to get information about a specific type or brand of mattress. While this is probably a good idea to a certain extent, keep in mind that unhappy people are far more likely to write a review; and for every bad review you read, there may be many more customers who were satisfied with their purchase.

Don’t worry if you haven’t done all your homework or if you have any confusion about details. A good sales person is an invaluable resource and should be able to help guide you through your bed-buying adventure with a knowledgeable, non-pressurizing demeanor – no matter what your own knowledge level is.

What to Expect on Your 1st Visit

What to Expect on Your First Visit to the Seattle Mattress Company Showroom

We love our job… People are so fun and everyone has a different story. Some of you have been buying mattresses for various households from us for years; while others of you are just coming in for the first time around the age of forty-something to buy your first “adult mattress” after sleeping on your beloved childhood mattress for decades.

If you’ve never stepped into a mattress store before, you’ll find the experience different depending on the type of store you choose to visit. Many larger mattress chain stores have strict sales rules, guidelines and quotas that their sales people need to adhere to during interactions with customers that can make the experience feel a little impersonal for the customer - but a new mattress is a very personal thing, and we believe that the experience should be as personalized as possible!

Here at Seattle Mattress, our sales people are not under any kind of sales pressure… We’re small and local, and we care far more about taking care of our customers than fulfilling rigid sales quotas. So you’re welcome to come on in, relax, and take your time picking out your cozy new bed at your own pace. Yeah, we’re a little different than most other mattress stores around…

We'll greet you at the door and start off by asking a few basic questions, like:

• Do you know what kind of “feel” you like – something on the softer or firmer side, or something “in between”? (Don’t worry if you don’t know, we’re good at helping you find your comfort level.)
• Are you looking for a mattress made out of something in particular? (Like an Organic or Latex Mattress)
• Do you have any issues that need to be addressed – for example, if you’re looking for a bed with no off-gassing; or you have Arthritis or Fibromyalgia; or a bad back; or problems with motion from your partner waking you up during the night, etc.
• What is your bed like now, and what (if anything) would you like to be different about this new bed? (Other than it not causing you pain anymore, that’s a given.)
• What size mattress are you looking for?
• Do you have a budget in mind?

Try not to be put off by the budget question... We have all kinds of mattresses in all kinds of comfort levels and price points on our floor, and we’re simply trying to show you what you’re looking for. For instance, if you let us know that this mattress is for a guest room that is used once in awhile and you’re on a budget, we’ve got some great guest bedroom options at decent prices that we’re only too happy to show you.

Next, we’ll guide you around to the mattresses on our floor that we feel meet your criteria. We like to pay special attention to your initial reactions because they tell us so much. We’ll continue around the showroom until we narrow the mattresses you like down to two or three, and then help you decide between them.

We believe mattress shopping should be a fun educational experience, and you’ll learn a lot from us about mattresses, taking care of yourself, and maybe even a little on the “history of mattresses” while you’re here.