And now it begins...new arrival
Nov 24, 2009 1:49 PM
Joined: Oct 8, 2009
Points: 192
Rhapsody delivered last night (Tempurpedic)

I was sleeing on EMMA or the 10 inch sleep science version sold at Costco and wasnt all that unhappy with it, but had to try the big boy

Last night was the worst night I have had in months...all of my bad back areas were hurting.

Now, the installers warned me that the bed had been in a cold warehouse and therefore stiffer than normal, that it would take a while to warm up and get into its normal condition...

So, I am hoping that is it, as it is really stiff, so I turned the heat way up and will leave it up all day...

Fortunately I have a 90 day refund option available, I lose $150 only  and since it cost over $4000, that is a good thing...

I will keep you informed as to how it goes, fingers crossed.
Re: And now it begins...new arrival
Reply #8 Dec 2, 2009 4:28 PM
Joined: Aug 21, 2009
Points: 486
Was the Rhapsody too hard? Too soft? Can you elaborate?
Re: And now it begins...new arrival
Reply #9 Dec 3, 2009 3:24 PM
Joined: Sep 11, 2007
Points: 116
It took me about 30 days to get used to my Allura.  I've had it for 6 months now and am loving it more and more.  This bed is actually getting better over time, unlike my latex.  I loved my latex and thought I made a mistake going to tempur.  The support is night and day difference.  I like a softer bed, so I walked on it until it felt like it did in the store.  I don't agree with softening you lose your support (The opposite actually).  I know people who've had their's for over 10 years that looks new.  I think your making a mistake by not giving it more time.  Of course I have mine on the adjustable base which I feel is as important as the mattress itself.
Re: And now it begins...new arrival
Reply #10 Dec 3, 2009 4:38 PM
Joined: Nov 25, 2009
Points: 93
randys wrote:
AFter 9 nights on the Rhapsody I am still having back pain that I didnt have with the $800 Sleep Science/Costco mattress...so am returning it and getting Bellafina to try next....

I am hoping that the HD material is what is not working for me and the Bellafina will resolve it, if not I will go to the Deluxe after that.

It is $2700 more to add the ergo adjustable base, this may be the only way, ultimately, to resolve my issues, we shall see

(when i experiment with the adjustable base, the comfot level increases tremendously)


Randy, you problably mentioned in another thread, i've been following a ltitle, but remind me what was the problem with the $800 S.S. from costco- considering that one did NOT give you back pain?  Similarly, to goodsleep- you loved you latex, what prompted you to change?  It started out hard, & you if you loved it, it didn't get soft all of a sudden did it?

M.F. is barely a consideration at this point to me, i'm just curious in gneral reading around what works/doesn't work for different folks.

thanks.

Re: And now it begins...new arrival
Reply #11 Dec 6, 2009 2:30 PM
Joined: Oct 8, 2009
Points: 192
The emma from sleep science was quite comfortable, actually...I am an insurance broker, one of my clients is the local temp authorized retailer, i had gone in and tried them and had sort of promised the owner i would buy one as soon as the new carpet in my house was installed

i was on the hook, so to speak, but was also hopeful that if the cheap costco version was pretty good, the temp had to be better....so far that isnt the case, I am now on the bellafina and it aint cuttin it

i will give it a while and go from there, this is a frustrating and expensive process
Re: And now it begins...new arrival
Reply #12 Dec 6, 2009 2:46 PM
Joined: Aug 17, 2009
Points: 542
randys wrote:
The emma from sleep science was quite comfortable, actually...I am an insurance broker, one of my clients is the local temp authorized retailer, i had gone in and tried them and had sort of promised the owner i would buy one as soon as the new carpet in my house was installed

i was on the hook, so to speak, but was also hopeful that if the cheap costco version was pretty good, the temp had to be better....so far that isnt the case, I am now on the bellafina and it aint cuttin it

i will give it a while and go from there, this is a frustrating and expensive process

randys: You need to give the  FloBeds website a look. Not only do they have the best return and exchange policy on the Internet, that I am aware of, but they have a very wide variety of mattresses. Their principal line is latex. But they also sell memory foam, as well as air mattresses, water mattresses, and a hybrid latex water mattress.

There are other niche market companies, such as Savvy Rest, Habitat, SleepEZ, and Foam Sweet Foam, that offer different types of latex bedding that you might find appealing.
This message was modified Dec 6, 2009 by eagle2
Re: And now it begins...new arrival
Reply #13 Dec 7, 2009 2:46 AM
Joined: Nov 25, 2009
Points: 93
randys wrote:
The emma from sleep science was quite comfortable, actually...I am an insurance broker, one of my clients is the local temp authorized retailer, i had gone in and tried them and had sort of promised the owner i would buy one as soon as the new carpet in my house was installed

i was on the hook, so to speak, but was also hopeful that if the cheap costco version was pretty good, the temp had to be better....so far that isnt the case, I am now on the bellafina and it aint cuttin it

i will give it a while and go from there, this is a frustrating and expensive process

so how did your client react to the tempurpedic causing more back pain than the cheap costco? or did you not completely level on that front?  they can get passionate/testy when doing you a favor like that, then get the feeling you're not fully appreciating it... i once even had a "breakup" with a friend who sells furniture over not seeing things her way. it started out passive-agrresive ("fine waste your money on cheap $%!# i don't care" etc.), until i did spend my money elsewhere ("it's the principle of it- if you call yourself a friend you'd buy from me!").  at least yours is a client, all business.  he might just cancel his policy with you.  but i'll never go there again!

anyway hopefully costco's natural latex is even better, let us know how it works.

Re: And now it begins...new arrival
Reply #14 Dec 10, 2009 4:58 PM
Joined: Oct 8, 2009
Points: 192
JasonRatky wrote:
so how did your client react to the tempurpedic causing more back pain than the cheap costco? or did you not completely level on that front?  they can get passionate/testy when doing you a favor like that, then get the feeling you're not fully appreciating it... i once even had a "breakup" with a friend who sells furniture over not seeing things her way. it started out passive-agrresive ("fine waste your money on cheap $%!# i don't care" etc.), until i did spend my money elsewhere ("it's the principle of it- if you call yourself a friend you'd buy from me!").  at least yours is a client, all business.  he might just cancel his policy with you.  but i'll never go there again!

anyway hopefully costco's natural latex is even better, let us know how it works.


Well, they want me to be happy of course so I am sleeping on the Bellafina now, and it isnt getting any better..I will give it a little while longer...if i end up not buying anything then that is the way it has to be

Flobeds concerns me because as i recall you have to assemble it yourself, then if you make changes to the layers you have to go back and forth and do this and that...probably isnt a big deal but i just want this to be over -

my problem is i have to sleep on something for a while before i know if it works as i have upper back pain that requires soft and lower that requires firm, if i react too soon i might get rid of the layer i need, etc...man, what a pain

i am only 2 hours away from their store so might go look, dont know...

tempted to try the latex sleep science at costco as it is flippable for variable firmness

someone said to me my problem is more physical than anything, they are right...if i could strengthen my back muscles enough i likely wouldnt have these problems, but I am too lazy to do that too
This message was modified Dec 10, 2009 by randys
Re: And now it begins...new arrival
Reply #15 Dec 10, 2009 5:46 PM
Joined: Oct 15, 2009
Points: 966
Randy, it sounds like you are not going to get it the way you like it unless you customize it yourself or happen by miracle to stumble on the right thing.  The Costco one is a good deal, but what if it is not the right firmness?  You may want to call the company to see if the layers are glued together, so you can customize if necessary.

Since you spent a lot on the Tempurpedic, you should be able to get something customizeable for a lot less.  It seems that you like memory foam, since you have bought a number of those.  The question is what would be a good base?  Latex is pretty good because you have different ILDS and it hold up well over time.  A cheaper version of TP might be 5-6" of good latex as a base and 2-3" of MF on top.  I was pretty comfortable last night with 6" of 36 ILD latex (blended Talatech) and 3" of memory foam on top.

Start with 1 3" piece of firm latex, maybe around 36-40 ILD.  Then get 2" slightly softer (or the same if you like pretty firm), maybe 32-36.  Also, get 1" inch of softer latex, around 20 ILD.  Then order  2 or 3 1" pieces of memory foam.  Also, you should get a mattress cover for around 10-11".  You can get all of the latex and the cover from sleeplikeabear.com.   You can get the MF from overstock or amazon (maybe sleeplikeabear, not sure).  Not sure what the total cost will be, but I guess less than $1500.

If you want cheaper, then you can start with a base of PU foam from foambymail or some place like that.  Not sure how much you can vary the ILDs that way. 

Then put the firmest latex on the bottom, next firmest above, etc. and add a couple inches of memory foam.  If too soft, maybe put the 1" softer latex on top or take off the 1" soft layer of latex.   Still too soft, you will have to move the XF layer up above a softer layer.   If too firm, you may need to buy and inch or 2 more of something soft.

If you want all latex and the option to customize, swap layers, etc., consider flobeds, sleepez, etc.

Some people seem to need springs as the base to get enough support.  As another option, you can buy a firm innerspring and add some latex of memory foam on top.  Ideally, you would cut it open and take out the cheap foam they use.  However, you may be able to get a few years use before you have to do that.

Sounds like work, but it may be easier in the long run than to have to keep buying whole mattresses and returning.

This message was modified Dec 10, 2009 by sandman
Re: And now it begins...new arrival
Reply #16 Dec 10, 2009 7:26 PM
Location: L.A. area
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Points: 1161
Randy, my unsolicited advice is to give up on memory foam except as one small layer within a mattress, either a topper or right below the topper.
You want to stick only with mattresses that offer sleep trials, as you sound a bit like me in the sense of having a hard time finding the right mattress.
(I solved the problem by going with mattress surgery.)

I think the CostCo might be a good next try as long as you can return it for a refund if you don't like it.

If that doesn't work, I'd ether a) buy a mattress for the springs and then put in your own layers (to me, this is the most likely way you will get satisfaction); or b) buy something like flobeds because it does have a sleep guarantee, and you can change it around. It's really not much hassle at all.
Re: And now it begins...new arrival
Reply #17 Dec 15, 2009 7:14 AM
Joined: Nov 25, 2009
Points: 93
randys wrote:


my problem is i have to sleep on something for a while before i know if it works as i have upper back pain that requires soft and lower that requires firm, if i react too soon i might get rid of the layer i need, etc...man, what a pain




hey maybe something good for that- cut & assemble your own topper so that it has sections of varying ild's as needed from head to toe (all within one layer).

you could for instance have memory foam in the top 1/3 section where you're upper body needs soft, then firm latex in the midsection etc.  sealy actually does something just like this with their x7 visco/latex layer in their signature mattresses, buried in the comfort layers.  i'd want the puzzle-layer jUST under a thin topper so you could actually feel the difference, but no seams (unless you got fancy & beveled the edges so they overlap a little bit).  that's how many are though, they want it firmer in the hips, where you start siinking & hurts your lower back, then softer in the shoulders where you get pressure points.  it's just wasteful to cut into two toppers to make one, unless you buy it wholesale & can use the leftovers or something.