What happens to a mail-order mattress after you return it • Hacker News Board

Re: What happens to a mail-order mattress after you return it

#111

Post by rahimnathwani » Thu, Feb 20, 2020, 9:36 PM UTC

dole wrote: post #28

jrockway wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was happy with the two IKEA mattresses I bought. I have one super-cheap foam one that I used for many years and keep around for guests; guests say they like it more than their mattress at home, and I think it only cost $30 and has lasted going on 15 years at this point. I also had one of their more expensive latex foam mattresses, and that kind of developed a sunken in spot in the middle where I slept on it after ~…

One caveat about IKEA mattresses: being a multi-national company, verify the mattresses and linens you're buying complies to the same sizing in your region of the world; they can differ and there's always stories about how IKEA sheets don't fit standard sizes or fit them well, at least.

I've bought mattresses from Ikea in the UK, China and USA.

In all three of those countries, Ikea sells mattresses in the regular local sizes. I recall that, maybe 20 years ago, Ikea in the UK only sold beds and mattresses in their native (Swedish? Euro?) sizes. But, in the last few years, I've bought both beds and mattresses from Ikea that are standard UK and standard US sizes.

Of course, it's always good to double check the actual measurements of your old/new mattress before pulling the trigger.

Re: What happens to a mail-order mattress after you return it

#112

Post by giarc » Thu, Feb 20, 2020, 9:36 PM UTC

fwip wrote: post #26

Reedx wrote: post #25

“In California, a lot of charities can’t accept a used mattress,” So those in need of mattresses don't get them and more likely to go to landfill... regardless of condition. Are used mattresses really that risky? Are charities themselves not able to make a reasonable judgement call on what they accept?

It's risky for the charity. For instance, if the mattress has bedbugs, it stands a good chance of contaminating everything they've got in storage, requiring them to purge their entire inventory, sanitize, and build up from scratch again.

Off topic somewhat but there was a news story of a library that lost a ton of books because someone return a book infested with bed bug eggs. Went on the shelf and spread throughout the library.

Re: What happens to a mail-order mattress after you return it

#113

Post by stronglikedan » Thu, Feb 20, 2020, 9:36 PM UTC

Johnny555 wrote: post #91

bsanr wrote: post #30

I'd thought I'd get around the madness of mattress shopping by using just the technique mentioned in the article here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22377160 At least, until I found something I liked. I purchased a Purple 3, thinking that if I loved it, I'd just stick with it. I did love it, but I couldn't justify spending $2k on a twin(!). I returned it, and purchased from another company for ~$700. I didn't…

I purchased a Purple 3, thinking that if I loved it, I'd just stick with it. I did love it, but I couldn't justify spending $2k on a twin I don't understand this -- you loved the mattress and you knew the price when you ordered, so what other outcome did you expect if you couldn't justify the price to yourself even if you loved it? It seems that you'd have been better off going with a more affordably priced mattress…

Probably more along the lines of, "if I love it thiiiiiis much, then I'm willing to spend the $2k, but I only loved it thiiis much, so I couldn't justify the expenditure."

Re: What happens to a mail-order mattress after you return it

#114

Post by giarc » Thu, Feb 20, 2020, 9:38 PM UTC

wycy wrote: post #44

jacob019 wrote: post #14

Forgive me if this is off-topic. I am currently in the market for a queen size mattress in a box. The last one that I bought on Amazon was perfect, it cost about $300. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F8NNL8X It is no longer available. Now it seems that you can get a decent one for under $250. Here are some that I found: Ashley: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0777K9RGX Vibe: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074NDQ143 PrimaSleep: h…

I have the AmazonBasics mattress: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C49ZPQG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b... It's my guest room mattress but I do sleep in the guest room occasionally, and when I do I sleep better than my normal mattress. That said, the edge support isn't great. Being close to the edge makes it feel almost like you're at a slight slope. Still, no regrets for $250. Edit: I'm 6ft / 165 lb. It's possible that it wo…

I agree with the edge support and foam mattresses. A friend of mine asked me about whether he should recommend a foam mattress for his grandparents. I specifically said no because of the edge support. I fear someone with mobility issues might not be able to support themselves if they were to sit on the corner.

Re: What happens to a mail-order mattress after you return it

#115

Post by Johnny555 » Thu, Feb 20, 2020, 9:50 PM UTC

simonsarris wrote: post #95

Johnny555 wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I purchased a Purple 3, thinking that if I loved it, I'd just stick with it. I did love it, but I couldn't justify spending $2k on a twin I don't understand this -- you loved the mattress and you knew the price when you ordered, so what other outcome did you expect if you couldn't justify the price to yourself even if you loved it? It seems that you'd have been better off going with a more affordably priced mattress…

1. Testing cars you can't afford is awesome. Knowing the full range of experience in a good can be very enlightening. How much better is a $10,000 camera from a $1,000 camera, or $400 wine from $4? I used to run a tasting group which is basically a way to pool money and try liquors that are vastly out of our individual price range and I highly recommend it. You can try expensive cars and mattresses for free, that's e…

Testing cars you can't afford is awesome

I can see the value in test driving a car a class above your level so you can see what you're missing. When I was looking for a car, I tried out a low-end Acura in addition to a high-end Honda, but those are $35K and $45K cars.

I could probably justify the $10K jump in price if the Acura was spectacular, but no matter how much I love an $80K car, I could never justify buying one.

Re: What happens to a mail-order mattress after you return it

#116

Post by chihuahua » Thu, Feb 20, 2020, 9:50 PM UTC

mech1234 wrote: post #53

Get a firm or very firm innerspring mattress from IKEA. You can do this for less than $300 and it will fit in the back of a sedan in it's roll-up-package. Sleep on it for a bit. If you don't like the feel, which you probably won't, add a memory foam mattress topper for ~$50. Use a thicker or thinner topper to suit your needs. Congrats! Because your mattress is firm, its foam will not break down for a long, long time.…

I've had an Ikea foam mattress for a few years, and I really like it. I think it cost around $900 for a queen size (?)

Re: What happens to a mail-order mattress after you return it

#117

Post by egdod » Thu, Feb 20, 2020, 9:58 PM UTC

135792468 wrote: post #82

bsanr wrote: post #30

I'd thought I'd get around the madness of mattress shopping by using just the technique mentioned in the article here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22377160 At least, until I found something I liked. I purchased a Purple 3, thinking that if I loved it, I'd just stick with it. I did love it, but I couldn't justify spending $2k on a twin(!). I returned it, and purchased from another company for ~$700. I didn't…

I didn’t read the article but I’ve worked for one of these companies that was a startup and have a local mattress company as a client. So a little perspective. These companies are all marketing companies. There is no “science” they literally get rolls of foam from foam makers, throw them on in layers and try to find the right combo. I was there, I’ve done it myself. The companies that end up winning have fantastic ma…

Any thoughts on why markup stays so high if the industry is actually cutthroat? Competition should be driving margin way down.

Re: What happens to a mail-order mattress after you return it

#118

Post by reaperducer » Thu, Feb 20, 2020, 10:00 PM UTC

giarc wrote: post #109

reaperducer wrote: post #58

This isn't exclusive to mail order mattresses. I went to a big-name department store just last week and bought a mattress. For the first time, I chose a "memory foam" mattress because I liked how it felt in the store. (Thought the traditional spring mattress felt more familiar and "right," there's something about the foam that was nice.) When the giant delivery truck arrived three days later, there was the usual box…

Be careful with brick and mortar mattress stores (although you said department store). Many will have "restocking" type fees for returning a mattress.

I asked about that. The only thing I would have to pay is the same delivery fee again for the truck to pick up the old mattress set (reasonable, IMO), and the price difference if I chose to replace it with a more expensive set.

Re: What happens to a mail-order mattress after you return it

#119

Post by kazinator » Thu, Feb 20, 2020, 10:00 PM UTC

egdod wrote: post #117

135792468 wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn’t read the article but I’ve worked for one of these companies that was a startup and have a local mattress company as a client. So a little perspective. These companies are all marketing companies. There is no “science” they literally get rolls of foam from foam makers, throw them on in layers and try to find the right combo. I was there, I’ve done it myself. The companies that end up winning have fantastic ma…

Any thoughts on why markup stays so high if the industry is actually cutthroat? Competition should be driving margin way down.

Could depend on where the markup is and whose margin.

If all those retailers are themselves buying from a small number of suppliers, they could be paying a lot of that markup, while their own margin is razor thin due to cutting each others' throats.

Re: What happens to a mail-order mattress after you return it

#120

Post by nradov » Thu, Feb 20, 2020, 10:01 PM UTC

135792468 wrote: post #82

bsanr wrote: post #30

I'd thought I'd get around the madness of mattress shopping by using just the technique mentioned in the article here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22377160 At least, until I found something I liked. I purchased a Purple 3, thinking that if I loved it, I'd just stick with it. I did love it, but I couldn't justify spending $2k on a twin(!). I returned it, and purchased from another company for ~$700. I didn't…

I didn’t read the article but I’ve worked for one of these companies that was a startup and have a local mattress company as a client. So a little perspective. These companies are all marketing companies. There is no “science” they literally get rolls of foam from foam makers, throw them on in layers and try to find the right combo. I was there, I’ve done it myself. The companies that end up winning have fantastic ma…

Exactly. If you want to save money on a foam mattress you can literally just buy one or two pieces of industrial foam and cut them to fit your bed. There's no special material, no magic formula.