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I've tested out Pure Latex Bliss mattresses in my local mattress store and really like the Nature model that they are selling, but I've run into a few issues, the main one being that my bed does not accommodate a box spring and not buying and using a "matching foundation" with a PLB mattress would most likely void the warranty. Using a different bed to accommodate the foundation is not an option and I am not willing to take the risk of not having a warranty, especially if I am paying the full price for the mattress. So, I've started looking into buying the latex slabs like a lot of people seem to do on this forum. I was going to order from foambymail.com because of the low price until I saw this post:
http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/forum/foam-mail-latex-latex-international-latex-comparison/5314-A-1.html Also, I was wondering if anyone who has ordered from FBM recently can attest to whether their quality has improved? I know the comparison post was made in May 2009 which was over two years ago... This message was modified Sep 19, 2011 by mechanty
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| A number of people have made recent purchases from FBM and been happy with the quality of the latex slabs they received. By paying more to other vendors you may be purchasing a better return policy. YMMV. |
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sleepswithcats wrote:
By paying more to other vendors you may be purchasing a better return policy. The return policy actually gets WORSE the higher the price goes: FBM: 30 days from product's shipping date to make a return. Will refund 100% less any shipping and handling. All items returnable. (approx. $300 in shipping) mattresses.net: 30 day satisfaction guarantee less all shipping costs, 2" topper not returnable. (approx. $250 in shipping + $219 non-returnable topper = $469) Sleep Like a Bear: 30 day guarantee less all shipping costs and a 25% restocking fee of advertised regular price (price before any sale or discount). (approx. $300 shipping + $339.50 restocking = $639.50) This message was modified Sep 19, 2011 by mechanty
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I had the same questions you do. But buidling a split king with FBM meant them having to cut 1" off the width of their Twin XL latex. Also they have limited options, like no 1,2, or 3" firm latex (they will cut a 6" mattress in half to make a 3"). But, After cutting there is no return policy. I also wanted an organic cover which are pretty pricey. So just ended up with 10" organic sleepez for $2,395, with latex international foam. I was lerry of the "European" latex. Why can't you tell us which country in Europe?
I like american made stuff. |
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Just to follow up with this, I've decided to go with Sleep Like A Bear despite their higher prices and return policy. After reading most of the posts and pictures regarding FBM experiences, the quality of what you might get really seems like a crap shoot. I am looking for the best value for my money and not necessarily the cheapest option. While FBM is cheap, I worry about the quality and hence the value. I also tried talking to the guy from mattresses.net on the phone to get a few very standard questions answered: 1) Where does the latex come from? 2) What is the ILD and the thickness of the toppers on their site, because it was not posted on their website. 3) What is the warranty? Well, first off, the sales guy, Greg, seemed irritated with my questions and made me feel like I was inconveniencing him in some way. I thought my questions were fairly standard and simple, so this confused me. As a (potential) paying customer, I don't like being treated the way he treated me, but I might have looked this over if it were not for his answers to the above questions. 1) He said it comes from Latex International, but this isn't written anywhere on their site, nor are they listed as retailers on LI's site, which made me suspect. I don't believe most things that are not in writing. Strike 1! 2) He said the toppers were 2" Talalay and were 22ILD...but wait, didn't he say they were from Latex International? LI does not produce Talalay in 22 ILD, just 19 and 24. Also, why is all of this information not written on their website anywhere (see the last sentence of #1)? Strike 2! 3) At first he said the warranty was 10 years, and I asked if I could get more details and a copy of the warranty and he said it he would e-mail it to me. I waited around for about 6 hours and hadn't heard back from him so I gave him another call and he told me he talked to the owner and there is not a warranty on the raw latex, it is just on the padded mattresses they sell. First, why didn't he contact me as soon as he found this out? Second, doesn't LI warranty their products? This is another reason why I don't think they are actually selling LI. Third, he initially misrepresented the product and if I hadn't been persistent about getting the warranty details in writing, he would lead me to believe there was a warranty. Strike 3! You're outta here! So, I called SLAB after I finished talking with Greg at mattresses.net and the experience couldn't have been any more different. All of my questions were answered directly and respectfully, the representative was as nice as can be and very helpful (though she did talk a lot!). She even made some really common sense suggestions that I hadn't thought of yet. I ordered a couple of pieces yesterday and will probably add a layer or two on to that once I get an idea of how things feel. I like their layer by layer approach because I think I will end up with the best combination and end up buying the least amount of latex in the end. |
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I took a gamble and ordered 100% natural (Talalay) medium density 6" latex twin and full mattresses for my kids loft beds in early September 2011. Couldn't be happier with the product (and the price after doing tons of research). For safety reasons, the gov't recommends at least 5 inches between the top of the mattress and the top bar of the bed. But I was worried that the medium density wouldn't be comfortable enough and thought I might need to add a 1 inch soft topper. So I called FoamByMail (FBM) directly and talked to a customer service lady directly. The lady said the medium would be fine on it's own and didn't try to sell me more than what the kids needed. She also said the twill cover that it comes with was fine and the extra expense of the terry cloth cover wasn't necessary. (I think she said they recommend the terry cloth cover for memory foam, but don't quote me.) She was correct on both accounts. I laid on the beds myself (briefly) and it felt very comfortable. No smell whatsoever when we opened them up and rolled out. The kids love them and no complaints. I made sure to get quiet waterproof mattress pads just in case they ever disobey the rules about not having any water bottles or drinks in their bed (or if they physically get sick). I've read that the latex soaks up fluids like a sponge so the mattresses would be totally ruined if they got sick to their stomach or wet the bed. Lastly, a couple of other notes as an FYI. I used a credit card to pay for my purchase on-line (the lady said it was easier than doing over the phone, and I didn't want my credit card number floating around on a piece of paper). FBM has some strange policy were if it is over a certain dollar amount, they make you sign a piece of paper that you are authorizing the purchase. I didn't have a working FAX machine, but we took care of it via scanning and emailing. I think this held up my order a day or two and I didn't see any mention of it on their website. After we took care of this, I didn't see an email that they had shipped right away, so I called them. The guy said for my size order it usually takes 7-10 business days to receive. Well, I was bummed that I wasn't going to have the mattresses in the timeframe I wanted with visitors expected and communicated my desire for faster turnaround to FBM. He said he'd do his best. Well, low and behold, the mattresses arrived by UPS at 7pm on a Friday night, two hours before I needed them. So, I was happy that FBM did their best to please me. Once our king size pillowtop bites the dust, we plan on buying a replacement latex mattress from FBM. For ours, we'll probably go with the 6" firm, then get the softer 2-3" topper. Anyway, hope this helps. |
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mechanty wrote: Just to follow up with this, I've decided to go with Sleep Like A Bear despite their higher prices and return policy. After reading most of the posts and pictures regarding FBM experiences, the quality of what you might get really seems like a crap shoot. I am looking for the best value for my money and not necessarily the cheapest option. While FBM is cheap, I worry about the quality and hence the value. So, I called SLAB after I finished talking with Greg at mattresses.net and the experience couldn't have been any more different. All of my questions were answered directly and respectfully, the representative was as nice as can be and very helpful (though she did talk a lot!). She even made some really common sense suggestions that I hadn't thought of yet. I ordered a couple of pieces yesterday and will probably add a layer or two on to that once I get an idea of how things feel. I like their layer by layer approach because I think I will end up with the best combination and end up buying the least amount of latex in the end. |