I was about to purchase a Stearns and Foster bed until I went on the Internet today and saw an overwhelming number of reviews that state the bed gets saggy and lumpy after about a year. Anyone have any idea if that is specific to the pillowtop, or does the entire mattress fail? Am I safe buying without a pillowtop and adding my own cushioning later? If their beds are junk, then what inner-spring mattress companies have good reputations these days? Also, are all built in pillow/euro tops looked at as a bad investment? Thanks.

I have a high end S&F that did exactly that. I assumed that it was problems with cheap layers of foam in the pillow top, but some industry people said that it was a problem with the coil-on-coil design that they used for a few years. They have now gone to a coil-in-coil design, but it's too early to know if it fixed the problem.

At this point, I believe the best strategy is to buy a solid flippable mattress that has a good set of coils and minimal cushioning - then achieve the desired cushioning with latex toppers. That allows you to replace the toppers as needed without the high cost of replacing an entire mattress.

A lot of people with pillowtop beds experience sags and craters in the top layer. I think it happens to most brands, not just Stearns and Foster. So, if you really like spring beds, you may want to get a firm one with little or no padding on the top. Then you can add some layers of latex, memory foam or whatever you prefer on top to get the right level of softness for you. If that top layer wears out, you can just replace it instead of the whole bed. You may have to try some beds to see what kind of feel you like.

Some people cut off the top fabric of the mattress, so they can remove whatever cheap foam may be on top of the springs. Then they add their own high quality foam. Another popular option is to design your own bed out of latex or foam. Basically you buy a zippered mattress cover and put layers of latex/foam in it. That way you can get the firmness you want, and replace layers later if necessary. Latex should last pretty long. Foam is cheaper, but generally will not last as long.

Good luck!

Thanks to both of you for the fast and helpful responses.

MiloMinderbinder wrote:
See this thread:
http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/mattress-surgery-performing-foam-ectomy-my-englander-mattress-w-photos/6161-A-1.html
Your springs are probably fine. It's the crappy foam that is the problem!