Buying new mattress can be mind-boggling experience

Dollars and Sense

If you haven’t purchased a new mattress in 8-10 years and you’re ready to shop, you’re in for some surprises, and not all of them are good.

The good news is that the number of selections has increased. There’s memory foam, innerspring, water, futon and air to choose from. There is the kind you still flip and the kind you don’t. Most people choose the innerspring mattresses, in spite of all the advertising hype for memory-foam mattresses.

The bad news: There is no easy way to comparison shop for mattresses. It’s not like buying a car. With mattresses, there are a limited number of manufacturers, and they take the same basic mattress and change a few things — color, fabric, name, degree of firmness — for the retailers. You can’t price shop one brand and model at different stores.

The only real way to shop is by specifications. Number of coils, coil gauge, type of padding and construction are about as close as you can get to comparison. Ask for the spec sheet on any mattress you consider. Ignore the cutaway model in the store unless you have the spec sheet for comparison.

Innersprings, or coils, can make a difference in the comfort of the bed. If a bed has 600 coils, it doesn’t tell you anything unless you know the gauge of the wire. A lighter gauge coil will feel springier and won’t be as sturdy over the long term. Too many springs can make a bed too firm.

Then there’s the top selection: pillow top, quilted polyester fiber or polyurethane foam. Pillow tops, whether foam or fabric, will flatten out and the mattress will appear to sag. The foam can hold heat.

Spend a minimum of 15 minutes on any mattress you’re considering. “Ultra Firm” or “Lofty Soft” are only marketing tools. Test for yourself. That means lying down and assuming your natural sleep position.

Read the fine print on the warranty. Not putting a mattress on the matching foundation might void the warranty. Check the warranty for full replacement value, too. Some companies might deduct for annual usage.

Ask about a 30-day guaranteed return or exchange if the mattress doesn’t work for you.

Rule of thumb: Expensive is not necessarily better.