Is FBM legit?
|
I've noticed several posts in here about people having good dealings with foambymail. Since I am looking to purchase a latex mattress i decided to give them a call due to the unbelievable pricing compared to every other site on the internet. After spending a good deal of time on their website I picked up the phone and spoke to a real person. That was good. I have done my due diligence in researching latex mattresses and feel I know a lot about them. The first question I asked received an unbelievable respose- Do you use fire retardant chemicals in your covers? Answer- We realize we have a compliance issue and are working to resolve it. So I guess I don't need to send them my doctors prescription for a non-treated mattress like all the other law abiding manufacturers require. Not that I'm complaining but blatent disregard for the laws of our country definately concerns me. Technically, and I know this because I spoke to another manufacturer about it, the feds can come in and make the recall every single mattress they put out that did not meet the strict fire-retardant standards set forth almost 2 years ago by our government. Anyone who has bought a mattress from this company should check the law label for a statement that says it complies to something called TB-1633. That's the law the feds passed a few years ago requiring all mattresses to be tested for flammability issues. The next major issue I addressed based on the info presented on their website was " who is the manufacturer of your all natural talalay latex"? Answer- It comes from Europe. OK, again I have done my due diligence in this department and with Dunlopillo Foam going out of business Sept. of last year, there simply is only one manufacturer in the world making all natural talalay latex and that is Latex International right here in the good old US of A. So what gives foambymail? Are you deliberately trying to fool and an unassuming public into thinking the second rate latex you exhibit on your web site is the real deal? Or do you have no clue what you are doing? People, look around the internet and the picture they show of a zoned latex core ( which is supposed be that of all natural talalay) is really nothing more than run of the mill Dunlop foam which, in my opinion, feels nothing at all like all natural talalay and is also considerably cheaper. Even the toppers they are selling depict a picture of rolled goods which again is typical of Dunlop foam. My talalay topper has exactly 5/8" between holes center to center and it's #22 ILD. Although I can't verify without purchasing, theirs looks much greater than that and is more like the much cheaper Dunlop foam. Do your research and ask yourself how they can be so much cheaper than everybody else? This always throws up a red flag when I'm buying online. Believe it or not, sometimes you do get exactly what you pay for. This message was modified Apr 29, 2009 by porchdog
|
Re: Is FBM legit?
|
Gary, As I explained, my bed did not come from FBM. We CHOSE dunlop as we feel it is the BETTER product. Many people are looking for a less expensive, but still latex, alternative to Flobeds, SleepEz, Savvy Rest, etc. FBM appears to offer such an alternative. Why the need to rain on these peoples' parade? Philip |
Re: Is FBM legit?
| Time to rein it in here folks. This is a place to share ideas but personal attacks will not be tolerated. |
Re: Is FBM legit?
|
I'm not sure why Gary is attacking FBM without ever seeing/feeling their product in real life. Maybe he's one of those people that needs justification for paying more. I was apprehensive about ordering from them seeing how lame their website is and their vague answers. The other thing that makes it even tougher to pull the trigger, is all mattresses are way over priced even FBM foam if you really think about what you are getting, it's just a block of foam not some high tech electronics device. But I took the plunge anyways, figured I'd learn my lesson the hard way if it sucks. I just recently ordered their 2" core to make sure I like it then ordered the 6" latex core after I was satisfied with what I received. It's definitely not perfect and personally I don't care as I'm not putting these things on display and I'll never look at the foam again for a long long time. I don't care if it's all natural(smells natural) or mixed or even if it's made here, it'd be nice if it was made here but I'm not willing to pay 2x the cost for that assurance. All I care for is it's comfortable, it does the job I need it to do, and it feels even better with 1,000 dollar bills as a mattress topper. If you need specs and data to earn smug points with your friends then FBM is not for you. |
If I get half the life span from this FBM foam versus the name brand stuff I'll still be happy as I'll still be ahead by a couple hundred bucks if I have to buy a second set. All I can say is this FBM mattress set I put together is way better than the old Sealy mattress it's replacing and it's cheaper. A win in my book.
Re: Is FBM legit?
| I'll address the compliance issue. As a former business owner who complied with regulations, permits and licensing requirements for food service, tobacco products, beer, etc., I appreciate porchdog's comments about FBM's noncompliance with fire retardant regulations. I had wondered about this myself and it's probably one reason for FBM's low prices. To this I would add: a low marketing budget (one of the cheesiest web sites I've ever seen), miniscule budget for packaging materials (cardboard packing boxes look like landfill rejects), and a small variety of latex densities. Having spent about six months researching latex mattresses, I have learned that many mattress companies attain compliance by using a barrier system such as a wool filled mattress cover, since wool is a natural fire retardant. Some companies, as porchdog noted, require doctor's prescriptions to sell nontreated mattresses. While legal, I consider it a CYA ploy to enable most people to skirt the regulations. Had FBM offered a wool filled cover at an upcharge, I personally would have paid for one. Maybe this is an alternative they are looking at to become compliant. Nevertheless, I remain extremely happy with my purchase from FBM, which I described in a rather long-winded post earlier this week. As for the latex being dunlop rather than talalay, I don't have the experience to make a judgement about this. The latex I received had imperfections that appear to be only aesthetic in nature and were promptly hidden under a nice cover. I received excellent service from FBM and prompt receipt of a well-priced, high-quality product that fit my budget. |
Re: Is FBM legit?
|
Ditto what Beanie had to say. Obviously some do NOT think FBM is legit, but us readers were asked the question. So..... I have dealt with FBM since 2002 when I bought replacement cushions for a sofa. Next came a 4" thick poly foam mattress topper. Next came poly foam toppers for 2 other beds. Last week I got my layers of latex foam over HD36HQ base. I rate FBM A++++++++++++++++++++++ each time. I would NOT have wanted any fire retardant chemicals on my mattress anyway, but if you think they are being somehow illegal about their lack of chemicals, that is up to YOU to be concerned about. If you think they somehow have found a way of skirting that issue, so therefore they are a rip off seller, then nothing we say will change your mind. I do not know what Dunlop looks or feels like compared to Talalay. I take FBM's word that what they are selling is Talalay. My latex layers have flaws that are obviously bubbles trapped in the liquid latex from the molding process. These are few in number and not affecting the product (IMO). There are also divots that are molded right into the latex that appear to be some sort of components (spacers? clamps?) of the mold itself, not flaws. I got 3" soft and 3" medium latex. I can feel the difference. NOT with pinching it with my fingers, but when layed out flat on the bed, I could tell. Also, the holes were spaced slightly differently between the two. They weighed differently, as well. (Laughing--is FBM in cahoots with UPS to falsify the weights of boxes??? Giggle, rolling eyes...) FBM has always been generous with their cuts, as well. When you order 60"by 80" queen, you get at least 61" by 81". I have seen other things sold as a queen, like toppers and such, and check the fine print: you will be getting 58" by 78" or some such. Anything to save them a buck. FBM gives the customer the extra buck. Yeah, the boxes come looking like they are recycled. CUDOS TO FBM!!! I could not have afforded latex if not for FBM. For those people out there who want pay lots more for what they think is better product, with flashier website and pages more double-talk, they should go for it. Thank you FBM. I give you a thumbs-up. |
Re: Is FBM legit?
| Actually, this thread has encouraged me to look at FBM! We purchased an IKEA Erfjord and it's a little firmer than we had wanted. Still trying to decide if we're going to keep it or not but I'm happy to hear that FBM might provide an affordable alternative. I don't want fire-retardants in my mattress! We don't smoke and we don't play with matches while in bed ;) So I don't want to be breathing in those chemicals for 1/3 of my life. However, I *do* want a Dunlop type latex. So I'm more interested if it is actually Dunlop. Just a question to anyone who has a FBM bed/topper that is larger than twin size...does it have sections glued together at 40"? I read that Talalay can only be manufactured in sections up to 40" and anything greater has to be glued together. Just another thought to look at... |
Re: Is FBM legit?
|
I have a Talalay 2"queen latex foam topper (20 ILD) from FBM on a Sealy PP Signature level 10 cushion firm mattress. Works great for me. Topper is one piece, not two glued together. |
Re: Is FBM legit?
| Despite having a FloBed Latex mattress kit, I bought a 1" Queen Topper from Brylane Home and I love the softness, the no smell, and the no glued seam it has. The topper from FloBed was too thick at 2" for me and I did not like the glued seam despite liking the latex cores and the latex zippered cover and the slat box with the 10" legs. I never heard of FBM or other latex companies at the time and clients and others on another site told me about FloBeds. |
Re: Is FBM legit?
|
Hey Varanoid, I read your post WAAAAY back regarding the Ikea Erfjord and went out to research one ... nice mattress ... but wanted to let you know that I found another foam provider in the Toronto area. You can find out more about them at www.foamite.com They have a neat product called Koosh ... they use Soy Bean oil as a substitute for PU and it reduces the toxicity of the mattress significantly. I am considering order this product for the foam core ... support layer. Anyways, I am grateful to hear that FBM does NOT have fire retardant chemicals ... I don't smoke or play with matches in bed. I am grateful for Gary's comments as it spawned credible and balanced support of a product that I have thought was the only way I could affordably get a latex mattress. As well, I also prefer the Dunlop for the core with perhaps a Talalay Topper. What did you use for your bed frame ... did you get an Ikea box with regular slats? Or go with the "Euro Slats"? I am thinking of this option with a Ikea frame. Jazzsinger |
Re: Is FBM legit?
|
varaonaid wrote: I read that Talalay can only be manufactured in sections up to 40" and anything greater has to be glued together. Just another thought to look at... Different manufacturers have different sized molds. If your Talalay core comes from Latex International it will likely have a glue seam. You can't feel it and it doesn't affect the durability of the foam. Nor is a glue seam the mark of an inferior product. LI makes extremely high quality latex to exacting standards. |