800 Mattress Question - Serta vs Serta (2x cost diff?)
Feb 23, 2008 3:31 PM
Joined: Nov 15, 2007
Points: 157
So I called 800 Mattress, and amazed that they could bring a mattress TODAY.  Anyway, he said how about a Serta Baldwin Ultra Plush for $1599  I asked why the Serta Ultra Plush Sedona was $800 from Costco. He claimed that the mattress from him is different than the mattress from Costco and you are also paying for service from him (they let you exchange for a different model for $59 within the first month)? 

However, the coil counts seem the same to me from the different Serta models and they are both ultra plush. How can the 800 Mattress.com place be worth TWICE the cost of the Costco one?
This message was modified Feb 23, 2008 by novahelp
Re: 800 Mattress Question - Serta vs Serta (2x cost diff?)
Reply #9 Feb 24, 2008 6:23 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
I think you mean the Sealy Baldwin Hills Ultra Plush, right?

"Comfort and quilt layers contain Sealy foams, FlameGuard Cashmere fiber, convoluted foam, Sculpture foam, memory foam, Sealy latex, Versare insulator and pressure point materials. Innerspring: 640 PostureTech Coil system. UniCased Edge and Base with Support Channels.
Coil Count: 782 in queen size
Mattress height: 15"
Color: Beige
Mattress is supported by a Shock Abzzorber Plus with steel center rail and metal corner guards. Mattress has four handles. "

My concern would be the following:

1) Sealy puts crappy foam in their mattresses and too much of it

2) Since this is an "Ultra Plush" model, chances are it has a whole bunch of crappy cheap polyurethane foam on top of the springs. You might ask them:

How many inches of and what type of foams are on top of the springs including the pillowtop?

Anything more than 2" of soft foam on top of a harder core piece and you are going to have bachaches in a short time.

Better to buy an ultra firm mattress and then add your own latex or memory foam toppers.

Buy the cheapest firmest bed you can find with a guarantee would be my advice.

Re: 800 Mattress Question - Serta vs Serta (2x cost diff?)
Reply #10 Feb 25, 2008 5:50 AM
Joined: Sep 7, 2007
Points: 476
jimsocal wrote:
I think you mean the Sealy Baldwin Hills Ultra Plush, right?

"Comfort and quilt layers contain Sealy foams, FlameGuard Cashmere fiber, convoluted foam, Sculpture foam, memory foam, Sealy latex, Versare insulator and pressure point materials. Innerspring: 640 PostureTech Coil system. UniCased Edge and Base with Support Channels.
Coil Count: 782 in queen size
Mattress height: 15"
Color: Beige
Mattress is supported by a Shock Abzzorber Plus with steel center rail and metal corner guards. Mattress has four handles. "

My concern would be the following:

1) Sealy puts crappy foam in their mattresses and too much of it

2) Since this is an "Ultra Plush" model, chances are it has a whole bunch of crappy cheap polyurethane foam on top of the springs. You might ask them:

How many inches of and what type of foams are on top of the springs including the pillowtop?

Anything more than 2" of soft foam on top of a harder core piece and you are going to have bachaches in a short time.

Better to buy an ultra firm mattress and then add your own latex or memory foam toppers.

Buy the cheapest firmest bed you can find with a guarantee would be my advice.


I agree. But it's not just Sealy that puts the cheap foam under the hood. They all do.

Novahelp, is 800 Mattress the only store around? Shop around. Find one with a better return or exchange policy. And really, I can't stress enough the importance of buying a mattress with the least amount of foam and the best heavy gage coil unit you can find. You will be much better off adding your own toppers than you will buying a mattress stuffed full of crappy PU foam. It will soften up and sag in no time flat. Try not to be swayed by how nice foam ladden mattresses feel in the store. They don't feel that way for long.

Re: 800 Mattress Question - Serta vs Serta (2x cost diff?)
Reply #11 Feb 25, 2008 11:57 PM
Joined: Nov 15, 2007
Points: 157
Thanks for all the advice.

I am sleeping on a crappy spring mattress the last couple of nights, while I wish it had more support (its so soft the thing BENDS when I lay on it!), however  it is much nicer for me than all the foam I was using!  I really think now a decent spring bed and a couple layers nice foam is going to be perfect for me.

I am going to check out the W Hotel plush bed on Wednesday.  Its on sale for $840 california king delivered no tax.  Its basically the Simmons Beautyrest classic.
Only neg, it has NO returns allowed since it is such a "good" deal.
This message was modified Feb 25, 2008 by novahelp
Re: 800 Mattress Question - Serta vs Serta (2x cost diff?)
Reply #12 Feb 26, 2008 2:34 AM
Joined: Sep 10, 2007
Points: 689
You can check out that mattress at various mattress shops. I tried it out at a place called Mattress Discounters. Remember, this will be pocketed coils. They aren't tempered and as strong as those such as LuraFlex and Bonnel or continous.

novahelp wrote:
Thanks for all the advice.<BR><BR>I am sleeping on a crappy spring mattress the last couple of nights, while I wish it had more support (its so soft the thing BENDS when I lay on it!), however  it is much nicer for me than all the foam I was using!  I really think now a decent spring bed and a couple layers nice foam is going to be perfect for me.<BR><BR>I am going to check out the W Hotel plush bed on Wednesday.  Its on sale for $840 california king delivered no tax.  Its basically the Simmons Beautyrest classic.<BR>Only neg, it has NO returns allowed since it is such a &quot;good&quot; deal.
Re: 800 Mattress Question - Serta vs Serta (2x cost diff?)
Reply #13 Feb 26, 2008 7:30 AM
Joined: Sep 10, 2007
Points: 395
And remember pocketed coils aren't as durable or supportive. Generally not as good for heavier/bigger. There is no free lunch. It's not a "good" deal if you have to replace it in the near future. Breathe slowly into a paper bag until you're thinking clearly again.
Re: 800 Mattress Question - Serta vs Serta (2x cost diff?)
Reply #14 Feb 26, 2008 9:04 AM
Joined: Nov 15, 2007
Points: 157
Oh, so a continuous coil such as a sealy is a better idea for me being 210lbs? Well, I will just go lay on it and see how it is...

800 Mattress actually has a store with the W Bed on display so I can try it..

On the other hand, if the thing lasts 3 yrs I will be fine with it as its only $840.  The other california king i can get is about $1600 so not sure i care
This message was modified Feb 26, 2008 by novahelp
Re: 800 Mattress Question - Serta vs Serta (2x cost diff?)
Reply #15 Feb 27, 2008 1:55 AM
Joined: Sep 10, 2007
Points: 689
Serta is the one with the continous coil. Here's Sealy's:

PostureTech Coil
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Description:

Senses an individual's body weight and responds with the appropriate support.

Analogy:

Like "motion sensor" lights in a backyard, dim at first, but bright when triggered by movement, the coil first cushions your body then firms to provide proper support where you need it most.



novahelp wrote:
Oh, so a continuous coil such as a sealy is a better idea for me being 210lbs? Well, I will just go lay on it and see how it is...<BR><BR>800 Mattress actually has a store with the W Bed on display so I can try it..<BR><BR>On the other hand, if the thing lasts 3 yrs I will be fine with it as its only $840.  The other california king i can get is about $1600 so not sure i care
Re: 800 Mattress Question - Serta vs Serta (2x cost diff?)
Reply #16 Feb 27, 2008 8:01 AM
Joined: Sep 10, 2007
Points: 395
"Description:

Senses an individual's body weight and responds with the appropriate support.

Analogy:

Like "motion sensor" lights in a backyard, dim at first, but bright when triggered by movement, the coil first cushions your body then firms to provide proper support where you need it most. "


Don't believe everything you read. It's marketing. Someday we may have mattresses with sensors (electronic or organic) and the equivalent of resistance pumps/valving (actually, I believe they exist now for specialized purposes but are $$$$$$$$$) but we ain't there yet. Sealy's "spring thing" is more like the anecdote about the person filled with wonderment at the ability of a thermos to keep hot things hot and cold things cold, and asking "how does it know?"
Re: 800 Mattress Question - Serta vs Serta (2x cost diff?)
Reply #17 Feb 27, 2008 10:46 AM
Joined: Nov 15, 2007
Points: 157
mccldwll wrote:
"Description:

Senses an individual's body weight and responds with the appropriate support.

Analogy:

Like "motion sensor" lights in a backyard, dim at first, but bright when triggered by movement, the coil first cushions your body then firms to provide proper support where you need it most. "


Don't believe everything you read. It's marketing. Someday we may have mattresses with sensors (electronic or organic) and the equivalent of resistance pumps/valving (actually, I believe they exist now for specialized purposes but are $$$$$$$$$) but we ain't there yet. Sealy's "spring thing" is more like the anecdote about the person filled with wonderment at the ability of a thermos to keep hot things hot and cold things cold, and asking "how does it know?"

That's what I thought when I read the description :)  In the end, it's just a crapshoot with these things. 
Re: 800 Mattress Question - Serta vs Serta (2x cost diff?)
Reply #18 Feb 27, 2008 3:27 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
I don't know how much Simmons may have improved in the past 10 years but I can tell you that as of 10 years ago, their springs were very lightweight (read: apt to lose their support) and tied together so precariously that moving the mattress around can totally wreck them (read: delivery guys can screw them up bringing them to you or you can screw them up moving them to another room, etc.)

I was one of the original "Simmons haters" on this forum, as I had one that didn't even last a year before it was killing me (and that was before I had all these back problems from an accident, etc.)

Read a lot of reviews and do further checking before buying a Simmons.

I still say, go with strong springs (any brand that has decent springs), get the most ULTRA firm you can get (this basically just means "very little cheap foam padding" - as opposed to the pillowtop plush types which have "way too much cheap foam padding") and put your own toppers on top.

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