PRICE:
At £175. for a 1000 pocket sprung double mattress this fits in with many peoples budget. This budget would normally see you palmed off with a cage sprung mattress and to avoid this – the reason for the recommendation – this is a well made pocket sprung mattress, and for your money it is highly unlikely you could get better for your money.

COMFORT:
When you come to read the finer details of this model you will see that although it is a 1000 pocket sprung model the quality of the fillings and waddings really are exceptional. Being 1000 pocket springs gives you a relatively firm support but with the huge level of waddings used gives you a perfect comfort level – A true medium – not hard and not soft.

CONSTRUCTION:
There are two main considerations on this model that makes it a Highly Recommended buy. 1000 Pocket Springs and dual layers of polyester – Both Sides!  I also have this model manufactured  with an additional layer of Reflex foam above the spring unit for added comfort and durability. Damask fabric is above average and as a whole I can categorically say you will be unlikely to find better for your money.

READ COMPLETE DETAILS HERE .. DOUBLE SIZE

Summary:
To put all this into perspective, you will need to know what else is available at this price. If  your budget is around the £200 mark then it will become quite apparent that there are very few options available to you – in particular you will see that it is virtually impossible to find a mattress that is traditionally upholstered on both sides. There are of course countless one sided models that have cage sprung interiors from manufacturers whose name you recognise but remember this – the branded (cage sprung) mattress that is cut open on the first page of this site is compared to my Rennes 1000 pocket sprung  mattress both retailing at £175!

The images do not do the mattress any justice whatsoever, and it is because of this that I know it will far exceed your expectations. Once again, I have broken this down into three main reasons why it is exceptional value for money and thus, Highly Recommended.

PRICE:  
At £295 for a double this really is an exceptional buy. As far as I can see there are NO models on the internet at all that can compare to this.

COMFORT:
It will not take you too long to search for 1500 pocket sprung mattresses. This level of support is amongst the best you can get (incidentally, the majority of Rest Assured mattresses are based on a 1400 pocket sprung unit) and with the multi layers of polyester waddings including a layer of Reflex foam either side of the spring unit the comfort and durability is superb.

The Limoges (from Deluxe Beds) can be classed as a medium to firm although it is the hand side stitching, the waddings and the hand tufting and particularly the 1″ layer of Reflex that give it this feel. The 1500 nested pocket springs (Built by Agro – one of the notable spring manufacturers) give you the best in support and even if there was just a blanket directly on top of the springs it would still be a beautifully comfortable mattress.

CONSTRUCTION:
The build quality of this mattress can be broken down into four areas for comparison:
1. Price:
2. 1500 pocket springs (Agro)
3. Two rows genuine hand side stitching
4. A substantial 1250gsm dual density polyester layer. 
5.  A layer of Reflex foam  above the spring unit – both sides.
This is both sides, it is not a one sided mattress.

READ COMPLETE DETAILS HERE - DOUBLE
READ COMPLETE DETAILS HERE – KINGSIZE

Summary:
Summary. This is a well constructed mattress and for the money, an absolute bargain. If your budget is less than £300 or so, I don’t think you will be  able to find much better. 

Deluxe Beds is a huge independent manufacturer in Huddersfield occupying well over 150,000 square feet of factory space.

Their reputation of using premium components in all their models (even in their economy range) is well known throughout the industry. As an independent manufacturer Deluxe produce own label mattresses for many well known national High Street retailers – many of whom you will have definitely heard of, even though you may be unaware of the brand.

I have used this factory for years, and extremely satisfied that their pride and commitment to the quality of their products (and particularly their customer service) means that I am able to offer my guarantee of ‘Love It – Or Return It without hesitation. I know full well that any customer dissatisfaction will not be because of an inferior product I select from this company.

As a matter of fact, the model used in the opening clip (mattress slasher!) was The Rennes 1000 pocket sprung mattress also from this company. For a dual sided 1000 nested pocket sprung mattress able to be retailed at £175 really is remarkable. Unless you actually saw the insides of the mattress for yourself it would of been fair to assume that it was either a pricing error or the components could not possibly be what they are said to be.

This goes to show that Deluxe Beds, in comparison with many other manufacturers, can offer a mattress containing premium components at an affordable price. This benefits me as well as you. Now consider that The Rennes 1000 is a low to mid range mattress in their collection, it stands to reason that the components in their top of range models such as The Limoges 1500 will be absolutely premium. So much so, that I could quite confidently compare them like for like to many well known brands and be certain that the quality of the components in the Deluxe mattress will be equal to, or far superior for a much lower selling price.

Another benefit to you (and me) from buying their products is that they have an unbelievable fast turnaround from order to manufacture. Meaning that I am able to order and collect your mattress usually within less than 24 hours. This is particularly beneficial when you require bespoke components or additional layers within a core model. Your order is processed immediately unlike many manufacturers where the wait can be in excess of four weeks.

Over the years my site has been developed to share with you the information that I gain through my work the best I can. I dont profess to know everything, but I do know considerably more than most. The mattresses I have chosen to be on this site are those I currently believe to be the best built mattresses you are able to get for your money – From £99 to £500. The descriptions are detailed, but you will know exactly what you are spending your money on and what you will be able to compare it to.

My ultimate selection: To save you looking through all the models on this site I have chosen two mattresses that should fit more or less into the average price range. These two have been specially selected for price and quality of build - the two main factors that you should be using when purchasing your mattress. These are not my cheapest or my dearest – but two good examples of two very good mattresses.

1. The Limoges Pocket 1500. - PRICE GUIDE: £295. Double
2. Rennes Pocket 1000. - PRICE GUIDE:  £175. Double 

Finally. I’m John (aka Mobilemattressman) My business and reputation has been built around my customer service combined with my 14 day, (no small print) guarantee of Love It or Return It on all my mattresses. If what I select or recommend for you is unsuitable then it is only right and proper I collect free of any charge and all your money refunded in full.

Read also How much should you be spending?

Bed retailing is still a business that still defines itself on personal service and I want to be the best. You wont be able to try my mattresses, which is why I give you the very next thing – My Service.

Please Note: All the above deliveries will incur a nominal £25 delivery charge paid direct to the driver. Ryan will be the chap who will be taking care of these deliveries and  he will be happy to assist you any way he can.

If you have any questions about the products or if you are unsure if your delivery address is en-route then please do not hesitate to call me direct on 07999 007 000 and speak to me direct.

For London deliveries please arrange adequate access and parking for the van - please remember that assistance will be required with your mattress / bed. Please inform us prior to delivery of any potential inconvenience [limited parking - Flat - Congestion Charge etc]

Although settlement of fillings occurs in every mattress it seems that mattresses with comfort layers of memory foam, reflex or other high density foam and latex are less susceptible  to this. Mattresses with very soft layers such as wool, wool cotton, polyester are more prone and therefore constant twisting and rotating of the mattress whilst new is extremely important to even out the wear pattern.

Even Vi-Spring -one of the premier mattress manufacturers – gives this essential information on their site advising that initial body impressions are not a fault of the mattress but an intrinsic part of the mattress bedding in period.

In my experience settlement can be a cause of unnecessary concern. It shows itself more in mattresses with a bigger span area such as Kingsize or Superking sizes. It is obvious that you are only sleeping in an area the width of your body and therefore the central and perimeter areas will be under utilised. After a few weeks it may look like the sleeping areas are wearing quicker than the rest of the mattress but constant turning and rotating will in time equal out this pattern.

Cheaper end mattresses with minimal layers of wadding will undoubtedly show body indents more quickly and of course if you are not prepared to take measures to minimise this then you will not be  doing all you can to prolong the life of the mattress.

So what can be done? Firstly not many people realise that the underlying layers used in the mattress will have an effect on how they settle. Foams as bridging layers are extremely resilient to this and in many of the high end mattresses I sell I always try to add an inch layer of Reflex foam above the spring unit as the resilient bridge between the springs and the primary comfort layers . If this was not there then when you are compressing the comfort layers you will be doing so directly on the springs with absolutely nothing taking the strain. 

A valid argument is that having a foam layer above the spring unit (pocket sprung) detracts from the mechanics of the springs themselves. Posibly true – but I would argue that the foam is acting like a dampener for your bodyweight and distributing the load over a greater area than being directly over the springs themselves.

Final layers of wool or soft polyester are included entirely for softness and comfort but has absolutely no support or resilience. Therefore the layer directly below must be a component that offers a degree  of support to prevent you sinking right in to the spring unit. As I mention in another post, manufacturers will include Cashmere, wool, silk etc often just for marketing purposes – these luxurious layers (often minimal and at times utterly useless) offer nothing for support and everything for comfort. Unless they are backed up with some kind of resilient layer then you will find the mattress will be more prone to body indents a lot quicker than necessary.

Protecting your mattress is key. So is adding an additional layer such as a soft blanket or basic topper beneath the top sheet to suit your own personal comfort level. This will in the long run have an enormous impact on the life of the mattress and be extremely easy to keep clean and hygienic.

So what are the benefits?
Looking at the advertising material, it tells us that it removes the need for turning.  Anything else?  Err, not that I have seen or aware of.

What are the benefits to the manufacturer?
Aaahh. Now were talking. It all started with the introduction of memory foam mattresses. People got used to not having to turn them and so manufacturers thought they could apply the same principle to all other types of mattress. Thereby, using half the normal quota of fillings and keeping their profit margins stable.  The lifespan of the mattress is obviously directly halved so you will be out looking for another mattress a lot sooner.

Turning a mattress does not feature high on everyones list of household chores, for elderly and infirm people it can be quite a challenge. This is why I say that for these type of mattresses you should be paying proportionately less than a traditional double sided mattress – Not Equal To and certainly – Not More!

There are a couple of obvious exceptions as in the case of mattresses with memory foam or latex as the comfort layer. With latex being extremely durable and expensive it will rarely be on a double sided mattress (unless it is one complete core). With memory foam, it is available as a two sided mattress but weigh up if you are paying proportionately twice as much as a single sided mattress.

What are Pillowtop Mattresses?

What use are they?..umm, ..err..

OK. What is wrong with them?
Lets start with the construction method. It is built in two parts. 1) The support section and the 2) The pillowtop section  [also known as box top].
The pillowtop is stitched directly on to the top of the support creating a two tier mattress.  Up to this point there is really nothing wrong with this – all you have now is a fancy shmancy one sided mattress.

The support part of the mattress can be any type – Pocket Springs / Foam / Suspension Springs, even cage springs.
The Pillowtop can also be comprised of anything – Polyester / Memory Foam / Latex etc

The main objection to pillowtops come into what you are expected to pay for them and the lifespan you will get out of them. Just like a one sided mattress you will be unable to turn it so when the pillowtop layer becomes indented and worn, you will eventually have to replace the entire mattress even though the spring support will be sufficiently OK.  At this point I must admit that Pillowtops with a  natural latex comfort layer do not fall into this argument although pricewise you will be expected to pay a lot more than for a non-pillowtop version. 

As a summary to this, there is a good simple solution:  Purchase a decent pocket sprung mattress and purchase a separate   2-3″ deep topper that suits your exact requirements. A decent mattress protector will keep these two parts together. You will the be able to Twist, Turn and Rotate the mattress, and Twist,  Turn and Rotate the topper. Thereby getting maximum use out of both of them. It is highly probable that the topper part will wear out quicker than the mattress but the replacement cost of the topper will be  a lot less than the replacement of an entire mattress. Also, as the mattress will not be taking the brunt of nightly activities  it should stay as  good as new for considerably longer.

Vi-Spring: Majesty – £52.000 - 7ft Complete Set – Exclusive to Harrods
Made entirely by hand and filled with more springs and sumptuous natural fillings than any other Vi-Spring. 6,240 hand-nested springs (for  217cm x 215cm) in individual sewn calico pockets and topped with layers of silk, cashmere, blended lambswool and cotton, The Majesty mattress is partnered by the President divan.

Vi-Spring Magnificance: £11.000 (average) Kingsize Mattress Only
2812 Pocket Springs – 1.32mm wire springs, 49mm in diameter, in individual sewn cotton calico pockets, hand formed into a honeycomb nest unit. Constructed with two layers of springs. Upholstered with 900 gsm blended lambswool and cotton then 1,650 gsm of hand-teased long-stranded black horsehair, lambswool, mohair and cashmere, enclosed in a hairproof cambric cover and overlaid with 1,200 gsm of lambswool and cotton. Hand tufted with hand-tied woollen tufts and twine. 5 rows hand side stitching. Border edges upholstered with coir.

Relyon Emperor: £3000 (average) Kingsize Mattress Only.
A top of range showpiece set. 3400 two tiered pocket springs. Upholstered with cashmere, silk, lambswool and mohair. 4 rows hand side stitching.
  
Hypnos Sandringham: £ Price not openly available: Kingsize Mattress Only
[Hypnos is a Royal warrant holder] 3700 pocket springs [Kingsize Mattress] Upholstered with; Hand teased white hair, Cashmere, Soft Pure Wool, Natural Cotton, Vertically lapped wool. 4 Rows hand side stitching.   

 Somnus Superior: £  Price not openly available (average) Kingsize Mattress Only
5500 Pocket Springs. Upholstered with Lambswool, Mohair, Silk, Egyptian Cotton, Horsehair, Hand Teased Horsehair. Cotton Rich. 4 rows hand side stitching.  

 Somnus Imperial: £ Price not openly available (average) Available only as a bed set.
6000 Pocket Springs in the mattress and 1800 in the sprung edge base. Unsurpassed luxury with the superior six tier spring system and the ultimate combination of filings including hand teased horsehair, double layered soft Egyptian white cotton, cashmere, mohair, lambswool and the finest silk. Four rows of hand side stitching. 

Savoir Beds: No1. No2. No3. No4. £7000 – £11.000. (average)
The most famous bespoke bed company. Originally the in-house mattress manufacturer of The Savoy Hotel.

The following tries to break down exactly what lies behind the brand name;
All images are attributed to the copyright holder

Posturfil®:
From Spinks Springs (part of the Harrison Spinks / Spinks and Edgar stable) . These are sheets of mini pocket springs, designed as an enhancement to the contouring properties of the mattress and helping to reduce the settlement of the finer fillings. 

Tensions: Posturefil is available in 4 tensions going from soft to firm- 1.0mm. 1.32mm. 1.42mm. 1.60mm

Specifications:
Diameter: 45mm
Height: 38mm
Turns: 3 (est)
There are no maximum widths or lengths.

Benefits:
Less use of superior fillings – Latex etc
Superior venting properties
Easy to combine with other units

High Density (HD) Pocket Springs
From Spinks Springs (part of the Harrison Spinks / Spinks and Edgar stable) . These are also mini pocket springs, smaller in height than posturfil designed to distribute your bodyweight over a greater number of springs to reduce build up of pressure points.

Specifications:
Diameter: 33mm
Height: 18mm
Gauge: 1.0mm
There are no maximum widths or lengths

Open Coil / Bonnell Springs
A well made unit will have about 300 or so interlacing springs in a Kingsize. The manufacturing process allows manufacturers to have more or less springs than this by expanding or reducing the spacing in between the springs. They are measured by gauge – the thickness of the spring – with the lower the number = the thicker the wire used.
12.5g – Orthopaedic (firm)
13g -
13.5g –

Miracoil®  [Registered Trade Mark of Silentnight Group Ltd]
This is known as a continuous spring system where the strands of wire makes up a series of continuous springs running from head to foot as opposed to Bonnell springs where the individual coils are held together by interlaced springs runnning from side to side.

As far as I know the spring construction patent does not belong to The Silentnight Group Ltd.
As far as I know, this method of spring construction system is available to  all manufacturers.

Silentnight Sales Pitch:  The unique Miracoil® Spring System is manufactured from one continuous spring that runs head to toe distributing body weight up and down the bed. This ensures that the bed gives you and your partner the support you need, irrespective of differences in size and weight. The Miracoil® Spring System is combined with a number of different fillings to offer a complete range of comfort levels. Silentnight have developed two different types of Miracoil® spring system Miracoil® 3 and Miracoil® 7. [end]

Miracoil 3: 750 springs - three zoned unit
Miracoil 5: sold exclusively in Bensons for Beds stores. This has the addition of 800 mini pocket springs above the 750 (approx) Miracoil 3 springs.
Miracoil 7: The addition of 1350 (approx) mini pocket springs laid above the 750 (approx) Miracoil 3 springs.

Sealy Edge Guard®:
Sales Pitch: The Sealy Edge Guard®  a construction around that edge of the mattress that gives it more stability. This means you can sleep right up to the edge of the mattress without it buckling so your sleep won’t be disrupted. The Sealy Edge Guard extends the sleeping surface of your bed by about 6 inches compared to other mattresses and also helps retain overall mattress structure.

Sealy Postur Tech® 660:  

Revolution Spring System® - [Harrison Spinks Beds Ltd]
Sales Pitch:  Soft on the outside and firm on the inside responds to the variable pressure applied by different parts of the body adjusting automatically to individual support.  [end]

Also known as the Spring in Spring system with 1438 pockets in a KS. These are used solely on non turn mattresses.

 Sensa® Pocket Springs: [Harrison Spinks Beds Ltd]
Unique to Somnus – Available in Regular Support or Firm Support.

 Harrisons Beds as a company, is regarded by all mass produced mattress companies as the factory they would each aspire to own. And no small wonder. They are constant innovators in mattress / spring technology – hence the reason why ALL manufacturers  take an extra keen look at their trade shows.   

Pocketzing.

Despite it’s name, spring edging covers the entire top of the base. The most usual method is a 3-4″ layer of bonnell springs fixed to the top of the base construction covered with upholstery prior to the covering being attached.

A cheap way of offering a sprung edged base is the use of snake springs. These are similar to the spring support in a cheap sofa where a series of snake shaped wires are stretched across and fixed to the edge of the base. Not an ideal method at all and even though it is the most economical form of sprung edging – you do not usually benefit from paying a lower price.  

Sprung edging on top of range bases consist of pocket springs and superior upholstery such as wool etc. This is not my market and so the details on this post refer to mass produced mattresses and bases.

The benefits of a sprung edged base is the increased comfort level from your mattress. Think of it like your mattress being on top of another mattress. It also contributes greatly to the lifespan of your mattress as the spring edging acts as suspension pistons taking any excess strain.

A sprung edged base is really only viable for pocket sprung mattresses, acting in conjunction with the pocket springs to give  more suspension . Lo cost mattresses will gain no particular long term benefit. Also, as I say in my post about Divan Bases.. consider a purpose built bedframe rather than paying more for a souped up divan base.

There are not many [if any] downsides with a sprung edged base. The main one is that any storage drawers have a reduced height due to additional springs taking up 4″ of base height. Secondly, there is no edge support, so if you are prone to sitting on the edge of the mattress (a bad habit) the concentrated weight on a small part will make you feel like you are sliding off.

To add a sprung edge to your base see the options in the ‘upgrades‘ section. I have kept the prices at just above cost price, for example to have a full Superking Zip and Link set sprung edged will be just £95.  A double base will be £65.

Pocket Sprung mattresses seem to have the raw deal on many of these comments. With the theory being that if the slats are too wide the individual pocket springs will drop down through the gaps. Now, a bit of common sense has to be applied here. If the gaps are too wide say, in excess of 4″ then there will be insufficient support for the mattress and improvements to the slat spacings should be made  - If the gaps are standard, say 2-3″ apart then any weight on the mattress will be evenly distributed with absolutely no need to worry. Equally so, on traditionally built double sided mattresses, there will be more than sufficient fillings and waddings to prevent the entire contents of your mattress spilling on to the floor.

There is too much fallacy around about mattresses that are or arn’t suitable for slatted bases, or bedsteads or divans.  So how did these stories come about?

It all seems to have started with Silentnight. Retailers were plugging the benefits of their Miracoil Spring system with an explanation that as the springs run North to South there was no way that the springs could fall through the gaps which run East to West. Quite a logical and well thought out explanation and really no room for disagreement. Unless ..

Did we ever have a problem with springs falling through the slats prior to SN Miracoil ? I can’t ever remember it being a problem. And I cant think of one instance since where I have ever heard this to happen. ..Unless you know differently.

[Update] It has recently come to my attention that some bedframes have a frame of precisely the same dimensions as the proposed mattress. For example a double bedframe will have the frame at  precisely 4′6″ the same dimensions as the double mattress – However – A well made  mattress will usually have additional upholstery on the side panels making the dimension slightly wider (and longer). This will then have an overall detrimental affect. ..

To fit the mattress into the frame you will obviously have to squash it in.  This will cause the mattress to rise or buckle in the middle and therefore give you the uneasy feeling of sliding off. Solution: If you are purchasing a mattress for use with a bedframe, ensure   that the frame has an internal dimension in excess of the mattress size. It must be said that this is only found on cheaper range framed bedframes but it really is worth checking before purchasing.

What you don’t know is -
If the ‘Was‘ price has any bearing on the  ’Now‘  price.

Trading Standards’ rules on ‘Sales’  are vigorously enforced. With that in mind, it can rightly be assumed that items with a ‘Was’ and ‘Now’ price can only be right – after all, these are usually big companies who do not want to fall foul of the law – so it must be true!

Note: *I make no claim that I am an expert on Consumer Law. I can only state on practices that I know to happen. If you can clarify or confirm or even disagree what follows, then please do so using the comments section below.

Half Price Sales!
You see a mattress advertised - Was £500 – Now £250. How can you tell for sure if this is correct? Firstly, it will be correct BUT – the ‘WAS’ price could have been any price you care to think of – Even, Was £1.000.000 – Now £250. The ‘Was’ price has absolutely  NO BEARING  on the supposed ‘worth’ of the mattress.

I heard a story of a manufacturer who makes beds for a retail bed chain. One  bed in question was produced specifically for an upcoming sale. While the order was being manufactured, a few of these beds were displayed in stores at a retail price of around £1000. At SALE time it was advertised at Half Price- Was £1000 – Now £500.

The bed in question, even when sold at £500, was *probably still overpriced for what it was. But the impression you would have come to in a sale, was that it looks like such a bargain. If a bed or mattress  is advertised at Half Price then logically, twice that price should be the real ‘worth‘ of the item.  If you had compared the specification of the bed above, to others with a value of £500 you would have easily found out that you could have got a much better spec bed for your £500. 

The same is true with RRP [Recommended Retail Price]. or SRP [ Suggested Retail Price] These terms mean diddly squat.  Manufacturers have no *legal say on how much a retailer should sell their products for – they can of course refuse to sell retailers who don’t toe the line  on the retail price of their products!  

On Silentnight’s website, they advertise some models from their core range. One for example is the ‘Radiance’ [Miracoil 3 / Memory Foam] Silentnight gives this model [SINGLE] a guide price of £419. And yet, as far as I can see online, no one sells it at this price – The lowest price I have found is £279 but tagged with – RRP £419. – Save £140.  In this case SN gives a disclaimer on their site *(11/2/10) with regards to the price to say that ” *These indicative prices reflect those offered by retailers as at October 2009.  However you may pay more or less than this.”

So what does this tell you? Silentnight have placed an indicative ’Value’ of £419  for this particular single mattress. They give their selected retailers a choice of selling it for more or less than this. With the above (true) example you have found it for £279. Have you actually saved £140? or have you paid £279 – the actual  ’worth‘ of the mattress. Only by comparing it to other ‘like for like’ models will you  know the real answer.

When doing price comparisons, even in store, always price up the mattress only, and the (no storage) base separately. You will then get a truer price of the supposed mattress quality. You will soon come to see that either the mattress is overpriced with an equally overpriced base or there will be no option to buy the mattress separately (see below).

Example: (Argos May /2010) Silentnight Sherwood Memory (Kingsize);

• Mattress Only: £779.99
• Base and Mattress: £1229.99
  Incidentally, another little thing to keep an eye on is the way the stuff is priced. How many of you I wonder have already worked out that the  no storage base above has a massive cost of £450.00? The nines are there not to add less than a quid on the price of a £800 mattress, but  just a guess –  to deter you making a quick mental calculation. If it was rounded up to:
• Mattress Only: £780.00
• Base and Mattress £1230.00
  It is a lot easier to calculate and to work out how much you are being asked to pay for the base.

Update 1: (May) This is absolutely scandalous! Have a look at the base - For starters, the castors are what you would expect to find on a basic divan set, not one that you are being asked to pay £450 quid for. My betting is on the fact that sooner, rather than later this will be on offer for Half Price. I shall keep my eye on this model and if I am right (or wrong) I will post the result here.

Update 2: (End May) What did I tell you.  The Silentnight Sherwood no storage Divan is now HALF PRICE at £614.99 (Was: £1229.99).  The mattress has also been ‘reduced’ to HALF PRICE to £389.99 (Was: £779.99).

Update 3. (End Aug) The link above does not work anymore and as far as I can see the Sherwood model has been removed from the listing.

 Bensons For Beds is another prime of example of ‘ *I’m not sure what the best word is’. I want to say Collusion but I’m sure that’s wrong.
They sell the Silentnight Miracoil Zone 5 double mattress for £425.52  – but after the ‘Sale’, it will be £999.99  (price checked 11/Feb/ 2010). Now there is no other retailer that sells this model – it is exclusive to BFB, so how can it be valued at £999.99 ?  Either BFB normally has an incredibly high mark up or Silentnight are selling BFB an incredibly expensive mattress. Incidentally, when I did my price checks in January the Sale was still going on – still with the claim – “After Sale Price – £999.99″.   
Update: The £425.52  ’Sale’ price has been increased to £499.99  with the ‘Was’ price still at £999.99
Checked – (Feb 2010) (March 2010) (April 2010) (May 2010) (June 2010) (July 2010) (Aug 2010) (Sep 2010) … How long is this sale going on for?

*The point of this small example is that “there is no such thing as a Genuine Half Price Mattress Sale”. If there  were, it would mean that the retailer would be selling a mattress at half the ‘worth’ price.

This was a difficult topic to write openly about. Obviously I had to resource my limited comments with due diligence. If anyone has any objections or criticism to my post  then  please publicly place them below. All other comments are very welcome.

John Szponarski.

Firstly, there are a few things that you should know in relation to retail pricing.
All components used in mattresses cost the manufacturer relatively the same price. Just because ‘Brand X’ uses a container full of springs on a weekly basis does not necessarily mean that they are paying substantially less for them.  It then follows that it will be the same  for fabrics,  waddings and fillings.

The raw cost price of a mattress will generally be the same, for a ‘like for like’ model, for all manufacturers. You are then quite right  to wonder why there are such huge price differences for essentially the same mattress. Well, once the mattress has been manufactured, additional costs have to be added by the manufacturer to the raw cost such as Advertising and Promotion, Transport and Logistics, and so on…

Depending on the size of the manufacturer depends on how high these additional costs can go. The bigger the manufacturer, the higher the costs. After all these have been added, and the mattress is in the shop,  there is then the retailer’s costs to consider. Shop Costs of Rent and Rates etc, Staffing costs to sell the bed, Delivery Costs to get the bed to you, and so on. After all that – the retailer adds on his mark-up, or share of the profit in order to keep his business growing or to divide between the shareholders.

What fillings should you have in your matttress?
Even though there are well over 2000 models of mattress out there  – you really don’t have much of a choice. . How so?  For a budget of around £400 the main upholstery will be either/or Polyester or Visco Elastic Foam nothing more. And when I say nothing more, I mean any other waddings added that can offer the slightest significant improvement to the mattress , other than having it contained in the specification.

 Mattresses that contain natural fibres (lambswool, cashmere, hair, cotton, mohair etc,) in such a quantity for them to be beneficial just do not exist for budgets less than £800. 

So now, for an idea on what your money can get you.
Take a quick look through the models I have on offer. Use this as a starter point as I think it would be difficult to beat. Lets say for example your budget is £200 (Double). I say that this amount can get you a 1000 pocket springs, Double Sided with a decent polyester wadding (1000gsm both sides) and an above average damask fabric [Buckingham 1000].

Using only two of these main comparison  details -1000 Pocket Springs  and  1000gsm polyester you should then search each shop or site looking for a similar mattress for less.  When you have a list of  posible candidates for comparison you then look at all the additional details such as fabric quality, detail, service, guarantee etc  

Use the same initial principle no matter what your budget – Find out what it can get you and then try to match it – or beat it –  for comparison.

In General using Double Sizes as an example:
I say that less than £100 will not get you much – at best a 13.5gauge with an acceptable polyester layer.
£100 – £200 should get you a fairly decent orthopaedic mattress or the beginnings of pocket springs with 800 – 1000 count.
The £200 – £300  mark  should get you away from most low-mid ranges and into the pocket spring models. £300 – £400 should get you an excellent pocket sprung mattress. £400-£500 should get you many manufacturers top of range models. There is absolutely no need whatsoever to pay over £500 for a double mattress – no matter whose name is on the label! I’m adding a disclaimer here. If you are looking at high end mattresses with premium weight natural fillings as the main components then prices may well be in £800 plus ballpark. My comments relate to mass produced mattresses able to be retailed within a certain  price range – typically £99 to £500.

The rule of thumb is get the best ‘components’ your budget can buy. If £200 can get you a pocket sprung mattress – why settle for a cage sprung mattress for the same money? Or. if £50 extra can get you a 2″ memory foam comfort layer rather than polyester – It is well worth the difference.

Finally. Keep notes on what you see – and make sure that you are comparing like for like.  After visiting a few sites without them, you will become lost and forget the important specification details. .. However, and unfortunately, you will soon see that these fundamental details are missing from many descriptions.  If they are vague – then phone / mail the retailer or manufacturer and ask what they are.

There are only four ‘classes’ of fabrics used for mattresses;
Stitchbond / Damask / Knits  / Specials.

Stitchbond: This is the cheapest grade of fabric that can ethically be used on a mattress. Any lower grade will probably be sackcloth! It’s rather rough to the touch and used primarily on budget and economy mattresses. It is a printed material, patterns are not woven like damask or any other mattress fabric.
Damask: This is a woven fabric that will be on the majority of mattresses. It has become generally termed ‘Belgian Damask’ even though many of the damask fabrics described as such has never been through Europe, never mind Belgium. There are plenty of fabric manufacturers that produce material for mattresses, each with their own speciality and it is unusual for a manufacturer to stick with just one fabric supplier. Most come from Europe, France and Italy being favourite sources. But also, from as far afield as India and Malaysia.

Knits: Although commonly referred to as a microquilt – which is tecnically a finish, it is also a term of reference to the fabric (which is  a knitted fabric rather than woven as a damask is). These types of fabrics fall in the luxurious ranges. Extremely soft and because of the flatter surface used mainly as a covering for Memory Foam or Latex topped mattresses. It would be unusual to have this fabric on the side panels or indeed on a matching base. A complimentary damask or other woven fabric would be used for these parts. It is also worth pointing out that this fabric, although termed microquilt – can also be tufted depending on the mattress.

Specials: In the past few years a multi million pound business has grown in relation to fabric coverings for the mattress industry. The latest innovation soon to hit the shops are Probiotic Fabrics  such as Purotex®, Bugshield®, that actively neutralises bed bug allergens and suppress noxious bacteria. This means that as bacteria builds up on your mattress these good bacteria within the fabric comes alongs and kills them. When the job is done they lie dormant until more bad bacteria comes along.

Currently we have an absolute  huge selection of specialist mattress fabrics. Ones impregnated with Aloe Vera,  Ylang Ylang, Tea Tree Oil or scented with Vanilla, Lavender, Apples etc all designed to aid you in a restful nights sleep.  Climate Control fabrics such as Coolmax®, Outlast®, Climasmart® etc, Organic and Eco fabrics,  Naturals such as Cotton, Merino Wool, Bamboo, Health fabrics to reduce static build up such as Stressfree, Silver particles, Silver Flec, Copper threads ..   and so on ..  and on ..

As you can see just by this extremely small example, much can be made of fabric coverings. The fight between textile merchants really is cut-throat, each one vying for a slice of the mattress market. Knowing this, it makes absolute sense that these magical properties of fabrics should not influence you in any way prior to selecting a mattress based on your budget.

If you find a well constructed mattress at the right price that has a premium fabric then consider it as icing on the cake. Always be aware of how much is made of the fabric and so little of the actual construction of the mattress.

To create mattresses with two different tensions a great element of skill has to be employed, What you are asking the manufacturer to do is to place different springs, quantities, qualities, depths, weights etc of waddings and fillings into the same mattress to create a mattress of differing tensions whilst keeping the surface at an equal level. It’s no mean feat and comes as close as you can get to a tailor made, hand built mattress at reasonable cost.

So how do they do it?
There are several different ways of doing this and the main two are detailed below. Before you read those there is an important factor to bear in mind. In order for the manufacturer to know what to put into the mattress you have to accurately describe how different the tensions that you are asking for should be. I mention this because I wonder whether you actually need to go down this route. Read about Soft / Med / Firm Mattresses . However, I find that when people do ask about differing tensions there is a fundamental reason for them doing so. The main reason is usually a large weight difference between couples making it uncomfortable/impossible to sleep together. If so, it may be that you bought the wrong mattress last time and you just need additional help in choosing the perfect mattress for you both without going to additional expense.

The main change a manufacturer can do is to use differing spring counts – 1000 PS side 1 (Firm) and 2000 PS side 2 (Softer) they can also add a firm Saturn pad on top of the 1000 PS to make it firmer still.

The comfort layers can also be adequately be altered without compromise if the layers are similar. For example memory foam can be on one side and firmer Reflex (or any HD foam) on the other. The same goes for Cotton blend pad one side and softer wool blend pad the other. This list of combinations is endless, but only the correct combination can be used if you yourself know how different you want the two tensions to be.

And this will be the main problem with your intended purchase. Will you be able to accurately describe  How firm and how soft  you want the mattress to be? The following list of questions are the minimum of what I would be asking;

What are the reasons for two different tensions
What tensions do you want?
Do you want to alter the spring count?
Do you want different sleep surfaces?

Finally. In my opinion Milbrook Beds are amongst the best in manufacturing differing tensions on ziplink beds. They do this as a matter of course and so this experience is probably justified in the prices they charge. If budget is not an option then they are at least worth looking at to see what they can do. Alternatively, give me a call and I will do my best to help.

Do you need to try the mattress?
No!  But I would say that wouldn’t I? 

It is a well known and accepted statistic that most people (80%) try out a mattress in a shop for less than two minutes.. This is not long enough at all. This is also why I will collect and refund (in full) within two weeks if any of my matts I have selected are unsuitable for you. Two weeks is more than enough time to decide whether it is suitable.

This guarantee is perfect -  and it is there for your complete peace of mind. The reason for this guarantee is that I know it is unlikely you will be able to find a better mattress for the money you paid. I know the build quality of well known brands and I also know that more often than not there are manufacturers who can  build a better quality mattress for the same cost price.

Also, a lot of nonsense is made about trying out mattresses. As is with which level of comfort do you like –  Soft, medium or firm?  True, some people really do prefer sleeping on a brick but if you tell me that, I can select the best firmest mattress for you because I know how all the other ‘firm’ mattresses compare.

And what are you trying these mattresses against?  Usually it is the mattress you already have at home – one that you are looking to replace because it is worn out. Sales staff know this and they also know that anything they show you will infinitely be better than the one you are looking to replace.

When I select mattresses for this site I select them from a huge range of similar spec mattresses from different manufacturers. I then select the top two or three that I think outranks the rest based on price, quality and comfort. My experience of ‘trying out’ mattresses is obviously far greater than yours. This is what I do for a living and it is the basis of my website. I have selected, chosen  and tried out the mattresses so you do not have to – all with the knowledge of the actual build quality – not some spin that a salesman tells me.

As you will by now have found out, mattress buying is confusing and complicated. Finding someone you can trust is like finding a garage mechanic you can trust – never forget who it is. This trade does have its share of rogue dealers and the reason for this site is that I do not want to be tarred with the same brush.

Read also about SMoF mattresses

Tufted / Deep Quilted / Light Quilted / Tack and Jump / Microquilted

Tufted: Often described as Traditional Hand Tufted. This finish involves a ‘tuft’ being completely passed through the mattress with the benefit being that all the fillings will be securely held in place. Cheaper mattresses will have have nylon jiffy ties used with felt washers (the button looking thing) whilst high end mattresses will generally use twine ties with woollen washers or buttons. This finish, because the  fillings are further compressed when tufted, will usually give the mattress a firmer feel.

Deep Quilted: This (machine) process gives you a flatter mattress surface. The outer fabric is quilted to the underlying layer(s) of wadding to create ‘finished pads’ ready to go on to the mattress prior to being stitched up. These finishes can be be a myriad of designs as the machines used are computer controlled and can keep churning out these pads ready for assembly.

Light Quilted: This (machine) process is used for budget or economy models. The outer fabric is stitched to the underlying layer of wadding as well as to the insulator pad. The quilting pattern is the giveaway as it will usually be basic diamond shaped or heart shaped – using the least amount of thread to speed up the process.

Tack and Jump: This is another machine process used to create pads ready for mattress assembly. The ‘branded mattress’ on the opening video on this site shows a mattress that utilises this method. You will see that when the layers are peeled back the whole section is in one piece held together by the “tacks”. The ‘benefit‘ of this type of finish is that there are literally hundreds of design combinations which is why it is a popular method of construction by nearly all major mattress manufacturers. It enables them to be able to sell ‘exclusive’ models to a variety of retailers – The difference is only in the fabric and the design of the Tack and Jump. The insides will [usually] be the same!

Microquilted: This is really a reference to a type of fabric, one that would be usually used as a covering for memory foam or latex. Generally the fabric will be quilted to a thin sheet of polyester for added comfort. This finish is mostly done by the fabric manufacturer and  not the mattress manufacturer. Again it can come in various designs even embroidered.

The finish and look of the mattress is a retailers best friend, knowing that it is this look that will sway you towards a particular model without giving too much thought as to what is actually on the inside! Be careful out there.

My answer would be - “spend as much as you can – to get what you want”.  The tricky part is; Do you actually know what you want?

 For some, it can be an easy choice. For everyone else it is more difficult to actually pinpoint what you need. Your partner fidgets, differing weights, rolling together, back problems, heat problems, neck problems,  problems, and every single problem absolutely individual to you. Is the mattress you need actually out there?

Maybe<br>. Bear in mind that there are well over 2000 differing mattress models out there. How do you go about finding the one that suits your needs as well as suiting your budget? The simple answer is you can’t. It is not physically posible. I’m five years down the line and still looking. So, if during your subsequent searches you come across something that would (ahem) interest me then please mail me.

My product list is entirely open and for all to see.
I would say that for a budget around the £300 mark you will be able to get a decent mattress that should suit pretty much everyone . it will be pocket sprung and have decent waddings. It won’t last forever, or anywhere near ten mystical years with kids bouncing on it, but you will certainly be getting your moneys worth.

To go further than £500 or so on a mattress needs serious research and thought.  This is the price range where not many other components can be added without carrying a genuinely hefty retail price.  Consider this. The finest Cashmere costs around £8000 kilo. How far down the Cashmere Quality chain do you think the mattress is that contains this product in any great quantity?

Summary. There is a claim that the more you spend on a mattress the better it will be.  This is true when you are talking about premier league manufacturers. Mass produced mattresses are not in the premier league. Please comment if you will.

 The list below is not yet fully authoritative and I would be grateful for any additional information that you may be able to supply particularly in the region of own label brands.

Hilding Anders Group (Sweden)
Dunlopillo – Hilding Anders
Slumberland – Hilding Anders
Myers – Hilding Anders
Staples – Hilding Anders
Jensons Beds – Hilding Anders
Sleepwell – Hilding Anders
Ikea (Own Label – Tbc)

Silentnight Group
Silentnight – Silentnight Group
Layezee – Silentnight Group
Sealy – Silentnight Group
Pocket Spring Bed Company – Silentnight Group
Rest Assured – Silentnight Group
Stearns and Foster – Silentnight Group

Harrison Spinks (UK)
Somnus – Harrison Spinks Beds
Nu-Bed – Harrison Spinks Beds
Harrison – Harrison Spinks Beds
Spink and Edgar – Harrison Spinks Beds
Dreamworld – Harrison Spinks Beds [Tbc]
John Lewis (Tbc Own label)  -  Harrison Spinks Beds [amongst others probably]

Highgate Beds Ltd (UK)
Highgate
Healthopaedic – Highgate Beds
Sleepwise – Highgate Beds
Sleeping Comfort – Highgate Beds

Simmons Group- (Parent Company – Cauval Industries [fr] )
Simmons – Simmons Group
Sleepeezee – Simmons Group
Cumfilux – Simmons Group
Nestledown – Simmons Group

Steinhoff (UK) International Holdings Ltd
Homestyle Operations Ltd
JW Carpenter Ltd
[tbc - In one way or another the following brands / stores are intrinsically linked through the above companies]
Relyon [Brand] (Steinhoff)
Sprung Slumber [Brand] (tbc – Steinhoff)
Bensons for Beds (Homestyle Operations)
Sleepmasters (Homestyle Operations)
The Bed Shed (Homestyle Operations)
Harveys (Steinhoff International – [tbc]Wholly owned / Part of Homestyle Operations)
Cargo (Homestyle Operations / JW Carpenter)
Homestyle (Homestyle Operations  / JW Carpenter)

Keen and Toms Holdings Ltd
Hypnos (Royal warrant holder)

Millbrook Beds Ltd
Millbrook

Flex Equipos De Descanso, S.A.
Vi-Spring Ltd (Subsidiary)

Icon Designs Ltd (UK)
Concept – Icon Designs

Airsprung Furniture Group Plc
Airsprung
Gainsborough Beds
Hush Sleep Collection
Hush-a-Bye
Gainsborough Sofa Beds
Cavendish Upholstery
Airofreem (Foam Supplier)

AJ Foam Ltd. (UK)
Postureflex – AJ Foam

Kaymed (Award winning – deemed to be amongst the best)
Kaymed
King Koil
Odearest
Kaymed SleepSpa
Kaymed Wellbeing
Kaymed Foam

Breasley Consumer Products Ltd (UK)
[Manufactures for many own label retailers]
Breasley 
Salus 
Flexcell 
Amor
Postureform

KozeeSleep Beds Ltd (Dewsbury)
(Not to be confused with Kozeesleep Beds – West Midlands)
KozeeSleep
Restus

Healthbeds -[Family owned (Smeaton family)]

Burgess Beds – Exclusive bespoke manufacturer

Savoir Beds – Exclusive bespoke manufacturer

GNG Group
Komfi
Implay
Dream Machine