Anyone a member of Consumer Reports? Or anyone - mattress review?

[Taffys Mom]

We are about to purchase a Stearns and Foster - Marseilles Cathedral Mattress (#2462). We shopped a different store after and got mixed reviews. So we went elsewhere and are more confused than ever. I've been on the net for hours and this has been a very long process and we went from sure to very confused. I don't believe all the internet-epinion type reviews are legit. Can anyone get a review of the Marseilles Cathedral off consumer reports? Or the S&F Plaza Grand Ballroom? Or S&F in general?

Or do you have a S&F and how do you like/dislike it?

What are your best recommendations? (No memory foam or sleep numbers or waterbeds.)

TIA

[Dad of Toby]

We bought a Dr's Choice mattress by Denver mattress....most comfortable mattress I've ever slept on...better than Serta....and reasonably priced....it's very comfy and has held up to...well see the top or bottom thread...

[Mygirls2]

We have a S&F. Bought it to replace a S&F we had for years. They didn't carrry the one we wanted, so we ordered it without trying it. It is super firm. Maybe a little too firm for me, but the SU loves it.

I will buy another S&F when we have to replace this one.

[MumtoEllie]

I copied this for you off Consumer Reports (I have a subscription)...

Why Consumer Reports doesn't rate specific models of mattresses
We test mattresses in our labs and with panelists but we don’t have Ratings for specific models. Here’s why.


Among people who bought a mattress in the last two years, one-third can't recall the brand they purchased, according to Synovate, a market-research company.

That weak brand identity might be a result of the confusing nature of mattress shopping. Unlike refrigerators, cars, or other big-ticket items with specific models that you can easily compare at different stores and dealers, mattress are sold in a way that might give you nightmares.

The model names from the top mattress brands such as Sealy, Serta, Simmons, and others change from store to store, so there's no way to truly compare models. What's more, our research has revealed that even for mattresses that retailers claim are similar, significant differences exist in important characteristics, including quilting, padding, and springs, all of which affect comfort and firmness.

Given this lack of consistency—Brand A's ultra-premium firm queen-size mattress sold at one national retail chain will have a model name and composition that are different from Brand A's ultra-premium firm queen-size mattress sold at another retailer—it's impossible for us to be able to make an apple-to-apples comparison that will be useful to you. And that's why we don't publish Ratings of specific models of mattresses, as we do for the hundreds of products we test each year.

Despite that, we have a lot of useful information about mattresses. Read How to Buy a Mattress Without Losing Sleep for expert advice on choosing the right mattress, analyzing prices, understanding how mattresses are made, and for tips on getting the ever-elusive good night's sleep. Be on the lookout for more in-depth coverage of mattresses in the next year.

"It's difficult to compare mattresses unless you cut them open," says Eugene Schayer, who worked in the mattress industry for 46 years, including stints in the marketing department of two major mattress makers. "The retailers demand exclusivity of the cover and label. They don't want their product shopped." Even the Better Sleep Council, which is paid for by the mattress industry, says that buying a bed can be confusing because "it's not easy to see what's inside."

Our testers do delve inside to analyze mattresses. For one mattress report, we dissected mattresses to compare the construction, including in-depth analysis of padding, quilting, and springs of mattresses that retailers told us were similar. We found that when retailers claimed they were selling mattresses similar to those found in other stores, the mattresses often differed. We've also found in past mattress studies that except for the cheapest models, all mattresses are likely to be sturdy.

In our most recent study, we looked at alternatives to conventional innerspring mattress from Duxiana, Select Comfort, and Tempur-Pedic. Couples slept at home on the three different mattresses for a month at a time, while about five dozen panelists tried them out in our lab as they would when shopping.

Based on the findings of our panel tests, we concluded there's no best mattress for everyone—sleep comfort is very personal. So take time to find the mattress that's the most comfortable to you.

[Tundra Aries]

We have to get a new one, I would love to see what everyone writes here.

[Barron Bunch]

I have a 8 yr old S&F and it is the best mattress I've ever slept on. I think I'll always buy S&F from here on out. It would take a lot to sway me away from them. I've slept on a lot of other brands and nothing has ever flet this wonderful.

[Linda1]

I looked in the index for 2008 consumer reports mag. and it doesn't have mattresses listed. My 2007's only have mattress toppers. Sorry I can't help.

[Taffys Mom]

Thank you. This is great so far. I'm happy (and relieved) to read these S&F reviews.
What about sagging? I'm reading the S&F tend to sag. (Although I've heard that about most brands.)

[Jefferson'n'Ted]

The first mattress ever purchased as a married couple was a S & F. Loved it. We had for about 16 years. (and yes after 16 years of use, it was sagging!) Replaced it with a Sealy, because I couldn't find a S & F retailer. (the original one had gone out of business.) Have had the Sealy for about 17 years, but it should have been replaced 5 years ago or more. I would buy either of those brands again.

[LiloBellaJasmine]

We bought a Sealy just a few years ago and I love it! There's mornings I don't want to get out of bed!!!