Just bought a new Flobeds
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I just purchased a new FloBeds. It is the 100% natural Talalay 4 layer mattresses. The top most layer being a soft egg crate 2" piece of Talalay. I purchased the following configuration. On the left side of the bed I have a median top layer, firm middle layer, and extra firm bottom layer. On the right side the top layer is firm, the second layer is extra firm, and the bottom layer is extra firm. I felt that this should give me an opportunity to switch the layers around and come up with the configuration that will work the best for my 6' 2" 210 pound frame. It has been quite a wrestling match, reading all the different descriptions that various people like, when it comes to firmness layers. You also run into this with some of the websites. No two people seem to consider this the same way. So I'm just going to have to experiment. This is one of the main reasons that I went with FloBeds. They have the most liberal exchange policy coupled with a generous return policy. They definitely get more money than some of the other sites. But when you're purchasing something this expensive from the Internet, and cannot lay on it, feel it, look at it, and even smell it, it's good to have a situation where you can make corrections at a nominal expense. Given the fact that FloBeds has an excellent reputation with the BBB, and Dave and Dewey Turner are excellent people to do business with, it just seemed to make good sense to me to consider the extra cost as an insurance policy. One last point I would like to make. I just realize that I have been misspelling FloBeds name. I had been misspelling it "FlowBeds." Wrong! It is spelled FloBeds.com. I hope I have not misdirected anyone. It will probably take about a week to get this bed in my home, set up, and slept on. When I have had an opportunity to do this I will be sure to post back and let you know what my experiences are, as I know how confusing this kind of a purchase can be. This message was modified Sep 22, 2009 by eagle2
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Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
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KimberlyH wrote: Ok, that sounds reasonable. I'm a little worried because based on David/Dewey's recommendations, and their interactive firmness evaluator, I ended up ordering a firm/xfirm/xfirm. I'm a little worried about that because in general I don't like firm mattresses, and I have hip and back pain as a side sleeper. I'm worried about these firmnesses not giving enough pressure relief. OTOH, until the new mattress comes, we're sleeping on my daughter's cheap Simmons plush mattress, which after three years has a big sinkhole in it, is really soft, and is absolutely killing my back. When did this all become so difficult! The last time I bought a mattress, we walked into a discount mattress store, lay on a few mattresses, picked out a Simmons mattress that was plush/firm all at once and had wool filler, not this foam stuff, had it delivered, and it was a delightful mattress for years and years. Now I'm afraid to make a decision on anything! Kimberly, I hear your pain. I'm not sure when it became difficult, as my last bed was a waterbed that lasted for 10 years. But it certainly seems to me that when you walk into a mattress store today, and are willing to spend between 1000 and $3000 for a mattress that it ought at last at least 10 years. As far as the firmness advisor goes, I'm sure it has something to do with your husband's weight as well as yours. I'm assuming this is a king size mattress? That your husband is larger than you are? Did you order the bed in two different firmness levels, from side one side two? Hopefully you did and this will allow you to switch some layers around to get a different feel. I have also come to believe, based on some further reading, that the foundation that you put the mattress on can make quite a difference in their perceived softness or firmness of the mattress. Did you read the thread here, http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/fbm-foam-latex-1-year-update/6943-0-1.html this thread, though it has received few respondents, talks about the foundation that he is using. I made the only response to his post, and it might prove interesting to you regarding this foundation business. Initially I slept on a firm/extra firm/extra firm. When I first laid down on it it felt very firm indeed. It took at least one night and possibly to before it began to feel okay. One thing that helped was that the other side of my bed was medium/firm/extra firm. And I sleeped on that side if the other side was not comfortable enough. But the longer I laid on it the more comfortable it became.I am currently trying out a soft layer over both of the extra firm layers. The other side of my bed is firm/firm/extra firm. Both sides feel comfortable, which side feels most comfortable depends on how I'm feeling. I roll back and forth two or three times a night trying them out. Keep in mind, that all FloBeds come with a 2 inch piece of convoluted soft Talalay glued down the middle so that you have one continuous piece. So as I indicated earlier today, one side of my bed currently has 5 inches of soft Talalay over the two extra firm layers. I find it it sleeps quite well. Come this Friday I will exchange the soft layer for a medium layer and see how that sleeps. One thing I must caution you on again, I know I have stated this before, do not accept your body's initial impressions of what is to firm or too soft. Give it a couple of nights sleep. Do your best to not allow your initial feelings to stampede you into thinking something is either to firm are too soft. You really need to have two or three nights, at least, of sleep before you come to any kind of a conclusion. And then believe me, you can change your mind in another week or two. At least that has been my experience, so far. It would be wonderful if we could lay down on a mattress and within 30 minutes know exactly what is just right for a good nights sleep for the indefinite future. I have come to believe, that except for that very rare individual, it is impossible! This message was modified Oct 14, 2009 by eagle2
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Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
| Kimberly, I ordered my Vzone with xfirm and firm (halves) as the core and 1 firm half and 1 medium half vzone layer. So, I will have many permuations to work with (probably too many). 2 xfirm bases, 2 firm bases, or a combination of the 2. With the 2 Vzones, I will also be able to try soft, medium or firm under the hips and shoulders. So, I am hoping that I can find the right combination from what I get initially without doing any exchanges. Then I will decide what to exchange, if I want to keep both sides of the mattress identical. I may want to keep some flexibility to change in the future, so I may not keep identically sides. The downside is that I may end up wearing out the configation I like better (if I end up not wanting to use one of the sides). I guess I will figure that out later |
Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
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I did read that post about the foundation. Actually, I did not order a slat foundation from Flobeds. I am not a fan of slat foundations, and I didn't like what I saw on the Flobeds website. I just purchased a regular low profile mattress foundation to put my flobed on. In fact. . . it's the low-profile Triton foundation for the Simmons Natural Care latex mattress. I honestly don't think the type of foundation makes much difference as long as it is sturdy enough to support the mattress and allows sufficient air flow. |
Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
| Re: Flo beds layer exchange: The sheet that comes with an exchange layer asks that you try it out for a few nights to see what you prefer, and that you return whichever one you don't want within 2 weeks. I know Flobeds is quite accommodating and willing to work with their customers, so I imagine they are flexible on this, but I wanted to mention that this is written on the instructions one receives. |
Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
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Exchanging & the ability to return are great sales points, but now I'm wondering what dealers do with all the used latex layers that have been returned/exchanged. By state law, Savvy Rest (Virginia) said they cannot resell, so they shred the latex & make other items - like dog beds. But I have no idea what FloBeds & SleepEZ do with returned layers...each state has different rules/laws concerning this. During my research, I do recall that one site that said that while the original layers are brand new, any future exchange layers might not be, so you could get a previously swapped (used) layer...They did say that they check each layer, but that just sounds unsanitary to me. |
Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
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linda wrote: Re: Flo beds layer exchange: The sheet that comes with an exchange layer asks that you try it out for a few nights to see what you prefer, and that you return whichever one you don't want within 2 weeks. I know Flobeds is quite accommodating and willing to work with their customers, so I imagine they are flexible on this, but I wanted to mention that this is written on the instructions one receives. Linda thank you for the heads up. I had not seen this instruction for the two-week time frame. However it does make sense. I will have to watch the calendar on the two layers that I requested for sampling. |
Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
| It does say on the Flobeds website that any exchange layers you get may have come from a previous customer exchange . . . |
Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
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KimberlyH wrote: It does say on the Flobeds website that any exchange layers you get may have come from a previous customer exchange . . . Has anyone had any issues with receiving previously used layers from Flobeds? |
Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
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KimberlyH wrote: It does say on the Flobeds website that any exchange layers you get may have come from a previous customer exchange . . . Kimberly: I think the operative word here is... "may". It is my guess, based on the limited conversations I had about this subject with FloBeds, that if a exchange layer comes back with any kind of damage, that they either cut it up for samples, or sell it as used merchandise at a significantly reduced price. I do know that they inspect incoming layers thoroughly,Dewey told me that they not only visually inspect the layers, but run a vacuum sweeper over them, and check them with some kind of a light that shows up any kind of unacceptable material. They do not send out any used layer that has anything visually wrong with it. If a layer comes back soiled I'm sure that they just dispose of it. They have a great many people who want to buy their mattresses at a reduced price. If any of their layers that are returned do not meet their stringent requirements for cleanliness, they sell them discounted to these folks. This is what I was told by Dewey Turner, and I believe him. I was also told that not every exchange layer is a used layer that get sent to the customer. It all depends on the availability of that particular firmness. They only use the used layers for exchanges, if first of all there are any available, and if they are the proper firmness ILD. They only send these layers when a new layer in the proper ILD is not available. A lot of it depends on the orders in-house and requirements for specific ILD's. They are usually running behind about a week on shipping of new mattresses. So many things factor in to these shipping requirements. I was told that they usually don't have that many used layers available. First of all, most customers just do not send in a lot of exchanges. And rather than have used layers stacking up, they will sell them at a reduced price to some of the local population. I was told they actually have a waiting list for these used mattresses. My used layer was more pristine than the original layers that I received in my mattress. This message was modified Oct 15, 2009 by eagle2
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Re: Just bought a new Flobeds
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spelunk wrote: Has anyone had any issues with receiving previously used layers from Flobeds? Spelunk: I have received two layers from FloBeds on an exchange basis. I have not seen anything wrong with them. In fact they look more pristine than some of the original layers that came with the bed. And I have been told that all beds get only brand-new unused layers. One point I would like to make about this subject, as I have just purchased a new FloBeds and I have thought on the subject a great deal. Other than a layer that had been soiled, in which case FloBeds I am sure would dispose of it, I would think there is very little damage that can occur to a layer. Here is my thinking on the subject.The first layer to come into contact with the sleeper is of course the mattress cover, which as you may recall is a batting of about 1 inch thick wool. The next layer that would most likely receive any damage would be the top layer of latex. This is the convoluted 2 inch soft Talalay topper that all FloBeds have. The next layer that would received any kind of perspiration or other bodily fluids, would be the top three-inch support layer. As you go progressively deeper into the bed the likelihood of any kind of substance migrating this far seems to me to be highly unlikely. My guess is, and granted it is purely a guess and I'm not about to test my theory, is that if you were to take a pint of water and pour it directly onto the mattress cover that the likelihood that it could penetrate even to the first three-inch layer is unlikely. People can become very exercised about a subject like this. But given the kind of customer service that I have received from FloBeds, given the fact that they have a BBB rating that is not only excellent, but has remained so for well over seven years(no complaints of any kind for over seven years), and the character of the people that I'm dealing with at FloBeds, precludes from my mind the thought that any unacceptable layers of latex will be reaching my home. You of course may feel differently about this, which of course is your right. But think on this. Any company that allows exchanges of layers of latex, I am sure, deals with this situation in a similar manner. FloBeds deals with it in an honest and straightforward manner. I'm guessing that not all companies will do this. Savvy Rest has been mentioned as a supplier of latex beds. And it is my understanding that Virginia law does not allow any bedding material to be recycled. So any layers that they receive back must be disposed of and not reused as beds. This is one reason that they charge $170 freight for any return layers. And it would be my considered opinion, that this is the principle reason that they do not allow any returns for a full refund without any restocking fees that FloBeds allows. With Savvy Rest, once you buy it, you own it. Now don't get me wrong, this is not a knock against Savvy Rest. I believe they are a good company selling a good product. They just have a different business model due to Virginia law. This message was modified Oct 15, 2009 by eagle2
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