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The Secret To Buying A Cheap, Extremely Comfortable Mattress
I cracked the code. I solved a problem that has been plaguing consumers for generation. I discovered a lifehack in a market that has spawned so wannabe “disruptors” that it is hard to keep them all straight. What was this revolutionary development, you ask? I figured out how to get an extremely comfortable mattress for incredibly cheap.
Buying a mattress has never been easy. It used to be that you’d go to Mattress Warehouse, or some place similar, you’d lie down on all the beds in the showroom, then you’d pick one out to be delivered to your house. More often than not, the one you picked was the one you were stuck with until you got a new mattress, either because of limited warranties or because of sheer inertia. Then came the “mattress in a box” boom of the 2010s. Mattresses in a box were better for many reasons, with the two biggies being (1) It is delivered to your front door in a box (no burly strangers from the mattress store required) and (2) very generous warranties, since you were unable to test out the bed in any capacity before having it delivered.
Mattress in a box companies also tended to be rich in venture capital money, and they were therefore rather inexpensive, at least as far as mattresses go. For the longest time, everyone knew that you could not get a quality mattress from a traditional retailer for under $1,000 (except perhaps on Presidents’ Day), and the mattress in a box companies were often able to halve that.
Start-ups eventually grow up, and seed money runs out, and the mattress in a box companies inevitably raised their prices to be in line with the rest of the industry. No question it was still great value—$900 or so for a comfortable mattress, delivered to your doorstep and eligible for returns up to 100 days. It just wasn’t the you’d-be-crazy-not-to-do-this pricing of the mid-teens. If you want a super-soft, knock-you-out-like-a-baby mattress in a box, you can expect to spend about $1,500.
Which takes us back to where we started. Quality mattresses are expensive yet again. Plus ça change…
Except it does not have to be this way! I recently moved to a new place, and when I did so I decided it was time for a new mattress. So what did I do? I bought one of the cheapest mattresses I could find online. My only other criterion was that the reviews still be positive. I was ready for discomfort, but I did not want to end up falling through my bed or anything. I landed on this 8-inch mattress from Zinus. When I bought it, it was only $197. (As of this writing it is $238). Those first few days in my new apartment were utter agony, and I was constantly torn between a desire to end my misery by getting out of bed and a haunting notion that if I tried to get up I would simply keel over. My first action of the day would always be to run to my oCuddle back massager, and it would take a full 20 minutes before I was capable of even thinking about having a normal and productive day.
I know. I know. It’s hard to believe that after writing all that, I am actually recommending the dirt cheap Zinus mattress. But I am doing exactly that. Because after a few truly debilitating nights, I splurged. I decided to get the best mattress topper I could find. Having skimped on the mattress, I resolved to splurge on the topper. That led me to Tempur-Pedic. Since my mattress was a mere 8 inches in thickness, it made sense to invest in the 3-inch Tempur-Pedic mattress topper, giving me the equivalent of a standard 11-inch mattress to put on top of my box spring.
Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR Supreme 3-Inch Mattress Topper, Medium Firm, Queen, White — $399.99
I can’t even begin to describe the difference it has made. Every night, it feels like I am going to bed somewhere in the firmament, nestled amidst the clouds, impervious to any disturbance that might come my way. Now, if I struggle to get out of bed in the morning it is because I am tempted to enjoy the comforts of luxury as long as I can.
Altogether, I spent $600 on my mattress arrangement. And although you can find mattresses available for that price, they are not likely to provide the pure bliss that comes from the Tempur-Pedic mattress topper. So, shout it from the rooftops! Proclaim your emancipation from Big Mattress, and prepare to sleep all the better for it.