NovaForm Gel (Costco) Major Issues...............
Oct 15, 2011 6:52 PM
Joined: Aug 16, 2011
Points: 26
We suffered through high end (S&F) pillowtops for years (yeah, I now know, don't buy a pillowtop).

 

So after reading plenty of reviews on foam and laying on, but deciding not to spend $5K on a King size Tempurpedic or $2500+ on the "S" brand new age foams, we decided to try the NovaForm Gel 12" foam mattress from Costco both due to the price and the liberal return policy.

Well, all was good.................. for a while.

Purchased King size Novaform Gel Memory about 1 1/2 months ago. Let it air out for 2 days and complaints about the smell were non-existent.

There is however a huge issue with the mattress.

It took a few nights for myself and my wife (both average size) to become accustomed to the mattress. No problem, as that is to be expected.

After the initial adjustment period, we both loved the mattress, or so we thought. After a couple of weeks, the weather started getting cooler, and I would wake up with lower back pain every morning. (never an issue before) and that escalated into leg/foot pain. My wife still sort of liked it.

Now that the weather is cool every night, both my wife and myself get no sleep (tossing and turning) and we both wake up with aches and pains.

Problem? The mattress is as hard as a rock in cool weather. What will happen when it actually gets cold? Might as well sleep on a board.

Sleep Innovations specifically states NOT to use a common box spring type foundation. The mattress therfore is on a custom built platform (2x4 frame with OSB top & bottom, with quilted moving blankets on top of the platform) and is no different than laying it on a floor, so it gets the full support they call for. Bed frame itself also has side to side & center supports

Can't wait to bring this back to the store. Maybe then we can get a decent nights sleep.

I would like to stay with Costco as in my state, mattress returns are not legal (though Costco allows it, probably because they can ship out of state)

So now the big question is , where do we go from here?

This message was modified Oct 15, 2011 by robertwhite
Re: NovaForm Gel (Costco) Major Issues...............
Reply #1 Oct 15, 2011 6:55 PM
Joined: Aug 16, 2011
Points: 26
Should have also mentioned that there are no "chain" bed stores anywhere near us. It is either a rinky dink mattress store, store that pushes high end stuff, Sams, or Costco.
This message was modified Oct 15, 2011 by robertwhite
Re: NovaForm Gel (Costco) Major Issues...............
Reply #2 Oct 15, 2011 8:30 PM
Joined: Jun 2, 2011
Points: 481
What is the indoor temperature in the room?  Can get a cheapo wall thermometer for $2.  Where are you from btw?

Recommended sleeping temperature is roughly 65 to 70 F for most people.  My room temp has started dropping just under 70F, and my Cloud is not any harder at that temp. 

We've got the digital thermostat set to 65 F through the night.  Hasn't kicked on yet, but we don't plan on letting room temp drop to 60 F.

btw, $5,000 for a TP king is an Allura set, but that is awfully high end.  I'm fine on my 'lowly' Cloud.

Took me 5 months to finally roll with the leader, but finally did, and glad for that.

This message was modified Oct 15, 2011 by slpngoc
Re: NovaForm Gel (Costco) Major Issues...............
Reply #3 Oct 15, 2011 8:44 PM
Joined: Aug 16, 2011
Points: 26
slpngoc wrote:

What is the indoor temperature in the room?  Can get a cheapo wall thermometer for $2.  Where are you from btw?

 

Recommended sleeping temperature is roughly 65 to 70 F for most people.  My room temp has started dropping just under 70F, and my Cloud is not any harder at that temp. 

We've got the digital thermostat set to 65 F through the night.  Hasn't kicked on yet, but we don't plan on letting room temp drop to 60 F.

btw, $5,000 for a TP king is an Allura set, but that is awfully high end.  I'm fine on my 'lowly' Cloud.

Took me 5 months to finally roll with the leader, but finally did, and glad for that.


Temp in room is around 67-70, so that should be fine for any foam mattress.

 

Reason I didn't go with the Tempurpedic is the ones we tried "Cloud" and Cloud xxx felt Ok, but there is no way in the world I am willing to take even a $2500 risk on a mattress after years and years of buying "superior" quality such as S&F latex, yada, yada, and getting pure crap. If I put down $2500 for a Tempurpedic, and we decide we don't like, or its not comfortable, etc. then what are we to do? I take ANY store or manufacturer "guarantee" with a grain of salt as they will do whatever they can to back out of any "comfort guarantee".

Plus, I have read tons of Tempurpedic reviews that loved them in the store, but they didn't feel like that at home, etc. What does one do after that?

 

Basically, I don't believe anyones hype anymore. I'm back to the thinking of "buy a $500 mattress and throw it away in 2 yrs when it gets crappy" school of thought.

Re: NovaForm Gel (Costco) Major Issues...............
Reply #4 Oct 15, 2011 9:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2, 2011
Points: 481
robertwhite wrote:

 


Temp in room is around 67-70, so that should be fine for any foam mattress.

Reason I didn't go with the Tempurpedic is the ones we tried "Cloud" and Cloud xxx felt Ok, but there is no way in the world I am willing to take even a $2500 risk on a mattress after years and years of buying "superior" quality such as S&F latex, yada, yada, and getting pure crap. If I put down $2500 for a Tempurpedic, and we decide we don't like, or its not comfortable, etc. then what are we to do? I take ANY store or manufacturer "guarantee" with a grain of salt as they will do whatever they can to back out of any "comfort guarantee".

Plus, I have read tons of Tempurpedic reviews that loved them in the store, but they didn't feel like that at home, etc. What does one do after that?

 

Basically, I don't believe anyones hype anymore. I'm back to the thinking of "buy a $500 mattress and throw it away in 2 yrs when it gets crappy" school of thought.

So far I've found that both the Tempurpedic and the iComfort feel just about the same at home as at the store.  Very close.

I don't trust all things people say on internet reviews.  I believe some things are legit and accurate and many other things are innacurate and some cases outright lies.  Some people lie often.

Sounds like Tempurpedic makes one try mattress for 30 days minimum and that's reasonable.  They will honor a 90 day return period, but yeah, a $200+ return shipping fee would stink. 

There are no major retailers near you?  Wow, that makes it tough.  Our Sleep Trains (big chain) will take a 100 day return with no cost, but cannot purchase another mattress after a return for 6 months.

Yeah, it kinda sucks to think about $2500 for a king set.  Can't say I like spending $1600 with tax for a twinXL Cloud set.  But, it's MUCH better than paying some other amount for a mattress set that's too soft, too firm, feels too firm by the morning, has horroble pressure points on its recommended foundation, etc,etc....

Big Q -   Do you or wife feel that you sink into that Novaform mattress quite a bit?   This is very important issue in my opinion and something you defintely want to avoid.  If your pillow feels abnormally tall, that can be a sign the mattress is too soft.  I think on memory foam you want to sink down in the mattress about same amount as you would on a preffered conventional bed.

* Too much sinking in will lead to back / neck / spine misalignment / problems. *

 

As for 'comfort guarantees or exchanges, I would never use that because that means that 2nd mattress is yours for good.  If you bought a Tempurpedic shipped or SleepEZ, etc, they will honor their 90 day return policy.  You will need to pay some shipping to return though.

The Tempurpedic Cloud in our Sleep Train was fully broken in, I could just tell.  When mine arrived it was firmer than the store for sure, but it wasn't hard.  It started softening up within a night or two.  I believe every type of foam breaks in somewhat.  I've seen that in 5 new mattresses in 5 months.

I was very leery of the claims and complaints about Tempurpedic too.  How they sleep hot, or sag after a while, give allergic reactions. So, I held off while trying 4 other mattress brands and going through tons of hassle.  Also losing $1300 on a too soft iComfort.

But, the knowledge I had was 'Don't go too soft on memory foam'..  In my opinion, good memory foam has an ability to feel good through the night where cheapo batting in quilts and comfort layers just compress and firm up.  

So, I went leaner with a 5.2" Cloud core with 2.8" memory foam.  Support is fine.  Comfort is very good.  Today marks 5 weeks on it, and all is still well. 

As I've said before, the only downer I see with this TP is the slight odor.  No reaction to it, but it does linger for some weeks. ... from the mattress and foundation.  Sure I hope there are no effects over time.

One thing about Tempurpedic is they make the mattress exactly as they say.  Says 5.2" core foam, 1.2" ES foam, that's what it is, no BS.

TP says the foundation is reinforced ..... heck yeah it is.  I was able to peer in side of fabric to see the reinforced top board.  Wow is it a heavy foundation too. 

So, in my opinion, TP is building quality beds.  Sorry I can't say I've had mine for 7 years and it's like the first week I got it, but I look forward to that. 

 

This message was modified Oct 15, 2011 by slpngoc
Re: NovaForm Gel (Costco) Major Issues...............
Reply #5 Oct 15, 2011 9:39 PM
Joined: Jun 2, 2011
Points: 481
One more thing about the Sleep Innovations Novaform gel memory foam topper from Costco I tried for 1 night .....

it did basically nothing the package said it would do

* package said it would be supportive - I sank so far into that 2.5" gel foam topper, it was ridiculous.  Granted it was on top of a latex bed, but I sank far into the foam too.

* Package said it wouldn't sleep hot - I was cooking hot that night.  Where is the air supposed to go anyway?  Was there any airflow channel? No

* Pack said it would have great pressure relief - oh nooo it didn't

 

So, the Sleep Innovations topper got returned the next day.

Re: NovaForm Gel (Costco) Major Issues...............
Reply #6 Oct 15, 2011 9:58 PM
Joined: Jun 2, 2011
Points: 481
Are you saying when you lay on mattress on a cool night, there is very little give, or it becomes like an ultra firm mattress?

Is it plush when it's warm and ultra firm when it's cool? 

Are you using a mattress pad on the mattress? 

Not supposed to use any kind of fiber filled mattress pad on memory foam mattresses. 

Just use a super thin Protect a Bed type of mattress pad.

Re: NovaForm Gel (Costco) Major Issues...............
Reply #7 Oct 16, 2011 5:19 AM
Joined: Oct 2, 2009
Points: 30
robertwhite wrote:

Basically, I don't believe anyones hype anymore. I'm back to the thinking of "buy a $500 mattress and throw it away in 2 yrs when it gets crappy" school of thought.

Then you are  left with buying crap that will need to be thrown away way before two years.

NovaForm Gel redux.

I have seen many complaints about TP,about 15% of customers, but don't recall one saying that they bought direct from TP or a major retailer and refused to honor the 90 try it /return it if you don't like it guarantee.

I think the minimum is IComfort or $1200 or so on a DIY/generic latex bed or $1000 or so on a DIY memory foam bed.

$500 buys a POS mattress in 2011.

 

Re: NovaForm Gel (Costco) Major Issues...............
Reply #8 Oct 16, 2011 10:15 AM
Joined: Aug 16, 2011
Points: 26
slpngoc wrote:

One more thing about the Sleep Innovations Novaform gel memory foam topper from Costco I tried for 1 night .....

 

it did basically nothing the package said it would do

* package said it would be supportive - I sank so far into that 2.5" gel foam topper, it was ridiculous.  Granted it was on top of a latex bed, but I sank far into the foam too.

* Package said it wouldn't sleep hot - I was cooking hot that night.  Where is the air supposed to go anyway?  Was there any airflow channel? No

* Pack said it would have great pressure relief - oh nooo it didn't

 

So, the Sleep Innovations topper got returned the next day.


OK, this is not a topper, it is a 12" mattress as stated above. Kind of hard to compare the two.

Re: NovaForm Gel (Costco) Major Issues...............
Reply #9 Oct 16, 2011 10:19 AM
Joined: Aug 16, 2011
Points: 26
slpngoc wrote:

Are you saying when you lay on mattress on a cool night, there is very little give, or it becomes like an ultra firm mattress?

 

Is it plush when it's warm and ultra firm when it's cool? 

Are you using a mattress pad on the mattress? 

Not supposed to use any kind of fiber filled mattress pad on memory foam mattresses. 

Just use a super thin Protect a Bed type of mattress pad.


No, there is very little give at all times, it just gets like a rock in cooler weather. Basically, it goes from firm to extra firm. Not exactly how it is described or was designed as far as I am concerned.

When I lay in it, I barely sink, even after several minutes, and I am 185lbs.

We just have a protect a bed. NO mattress pad.

Re: NovaForm Gel (Costco) Major Issues...............
Reply #10 Oct 16, 2011 10:27 AM
Joined: Aug 16, 2011
Points: 26
DeeAgeaux wrote:

 

Then you are  left with buying crap that will need to be thrown away way before two years.

NovaForm Gel redux.

I have seen many complaints about TP,about 15% of customers, but don't recall one saying that they bought direct from TP or a major retailer and refused to honor the 90 try it /return it if you don't like it guarantee.

I think the minimum is IComfort or $1200 or so on a DIY/generic latex bed or $1000 or so on a DIY memory foam bed.

$500 buys a POS mattress in 2011.

 


As I said, there is no major retailer anywhere near me, much less a TP factory store. I might have to take the 2 hr ride (each way) to a major city and find a TP factory store or reputable chain type store. I will be calling Tempurpedic directly tomorrow and getting straight facts about their return policy. There is no way I am laying out $2500-3000 just to "try" a bed for <90 days and then when it doesn't work out, and we have to return it, we lose 10% + tax. I can't afford to just throw away $400 to try out a bed.

As for the iComfort, you do realize it is made by Sleep Innovations, the same company that makes the Novaform, right? And BTW, if you can find an iComfort Revolution or whatever they call it for $1200 in a King size, please let me know, as I will buy it just to try it out. A King size is WELL into the $2K range without an adjustable base.

DIY foam is not going to happen. Why would I take the chance on an unknown feel if we are having trouble with a known memory feel? That makes zero sense.